What is a fair rate for a teen pet sitter?

[ptrbryant]

Is there a reason? It would really help us understand the situation much better.

Karla B.

 

[Msslaydbug]

Wow - you DISers sure know how to be harsh on a gal !

I am starting to get the idea some of you are jilted disgruntled petsitters

I'm glad some of you pay your petsitters more and are happy with the deal you are getting

If the teen is OK with the pay he is going to get and you trust him then that's all that matters.

Now - back to our DISing

 

[NikiM20]

Im reading this thinking thank goodness I don't have to pay anyone to keep my crew. In exchange for watching my dogs on vacation, I watch my best friends dogs while she goes on vacation. It works out very well all the way around.

OP have a great trip and I hope your animals are in good hands!!

 

[Jynohn]

I have three Great Danes, and we pay the girl across the street $30 a day to come over twice a day to let the dogs out into the kennel in the morning, feed them, and bring them back in at night. That ends up being $15/per visit and I'm pretty sure she doesn't spend more than a few minutes with them each day, but it's still a bargain compared to what I'd be paying a kennel, and I know the dogs are happier being in their own familiar surroundings.

How old is the teenager you're talking about? I can see a younger teen being happy with less, but I know when I was around 16-17, it wouldn't be worth the hassle to me to be responsible for someone else's animals for less than $10 a day. I would do it as a favor for a friend for free, but as a paid job, I would have rather been at the beach.

 

[Kath2003]

Wow. As a teenager, I did it for free. My friends returned the favour for my pets when we went on vacation. In fact, I still feed my neighbours cats 2-3 times a year for 5-7 days at a time. I don't mind - they're great cats who love to be fussed, and it's just a case of changing the litter and feeding them and brushing the long-haired one.

 

[elgerber]

Regardless of how much I think a pet sitter should get, to me the point it that he was told he would get $10 a day. I think once you've told him what you should pay him you should honor that.

 

[Nana Annie]

Wow! That's nice of them to help you out like that. That's 5 dollars a day. And here I am getting slammed for $6 for one 30 minute visit.


Just to let you all know. My initial question was NOT to sound cheap or shady or to get one over on a kid. That is not me. I would do just about anything or give just about anything to the people I care about. It was an honest question and yes while I asked for opinions, I had no idea I would be called cheap, not a person of my word, etc, etc. I didn't intend for this to turn into another slam fest. Think of me what you will, my question was not stated in a snarky manner and I honestly did not expect the responses to be that way.
I see lots of people paying (or getting paid) $10 a day for multiple visits. So if you want to call me cheap, I guess it is all in your perception of the math. If he were to actually work an hour, that would be $12 an hour. I don't know of anyplace a 14 or 15 year old can go and make $12 an hour. And I can't think of any employers who pay an hourly wage that will pay an employee a full hour's wage for working half the time. If he was WILLING to stay that long, which he isn't, then it would be different. And the ORIGINAL agreement was for 2 visits a day at $10 a day. That is no longer what my needs are. Would you be ok being charged for a say landscaper's full day of work for only doing half a day? Probably not. You would pay on the amount of time and work that was performed. I do not see how this is any different. It's like going to get a hair cut and being charged for highlighs.
Anyway, I said earlier I had it figured out. I ran it by him and he was ok with it too. ($6 a visit plus additional money for checking the mail every couple of days, etc) I offered $10 for 2 visits and he said no. He only wanted to come once a day. I also spoke to his mom and dad and they were totally ok with it as well. He is coming over on Saturday to go over things. At that time I will give him half of the money that he has coming to him. He'll get the rest when we get home along with a tip if the job was done well. I do have my neighbor and my Mom doing check ups here and there.
Anyway, thanks again for thsoe that gave their opinions in a reasonable manner. I appreciate the insight. I am comfortable with what we have decided. My Mom always taught me, you don't get something for nothing. And she has the BEST work ethic of anyone I know. I think that completely applies to this situation.
Anyway, thanks again.

If I had a contract with the landscaper to pay for a full day's work, but then I decided I only needed 1/2 the work done, I would still expect to pay the fee of the original contract. It was what was negotiated with the landscaper. I would not expect that just because I needed less done that the landscaper should just ignore our agreement. That is NOT how business is done. You make an agreement, you stick to it.

Now if the landscaper (or the teen) had come to you and said that he would only be able to do half the work, then I would be in the right to say that I will only pay you for 1/2 the work.

But when I have agreed to a price, and I change what needs to be done, I am still liable for paying the agreed price.

As for your example of hair cut/highlights - you have it backwards.

If you asked for a haircut and the hairdresser gave you highlights, then no, you wouldn't have to pay for the highlights because it was the service provider that changed the terms.

However, if you agreed to pay for hair/highlights and the hairdresser is expecting hair/highlights and has blocked out the time for you, if you change your mind, you should still be expected to pay for the services you agreed to pay for. You changed the terms, not the service provider.

 

[Nana Annie]

Regardless of how much I think a pet sitter should get, to me the point it that he was told he would get $10 a day. I think once you've told him what you should pay him you should honor that.

It is all about honoring your word. Not what you think the job is worth.