Lets See If I Get Different Answers This Way?

The time to talk to her about it should have been when she told you $25. You should have said then that she had told you $15 and asked if there was a reason for the increase. Because you didn't say anything, to me that means you accepted it. Too late in my opinion.

I would have answered the same in BOTH posts. If you were quoted a lower price by one sitter, I too would have gone with that one - which you did. But once you said you'd go with her, she immediately upped her price $10. YES - I'd say something - after all the bait and switch method is unethical in ANY situation!!

Ask yourself this question - what do you hope to get out of talking to her about why she changed her rates?

She isn't going to lower them, most likely, right? And if she does, there will probably be some tension on both ends because she felt obligated to lower them. She will also probably feel slighted that she has to explain herself and her reason for her rates.

Did she only know about the other, more expensive rates from the other sitter because you told her about the higher rates? If so, this one is on you.

Pay the rate and leave it alone. Again, talking about why she raised them will get you nowhere other than "well, that is the going rate, right?"

Good luck!

If I were her, as a friend of yours, I would be hurt that you expected me to accept a "below market" rate - since you so kindly provided me with the "market" value of child care in your area (or at least what probably seems that way to me now). I would feel taken advantage of, and that would probably lead to resentment over the long haul.

I'd either pay her what she asks, or go to someone else. When my kids were little I did not believe in "beating down" my child care providers on their price. That was the last place I wanted to be cheap.

Hope that didn't sound harsh - it's honestly how I feel about it.

I think I would have asked right then and there: “Hey, didn’t you tell me $xxx, last week, why the $XXX now?” Since you waited it is more awkward to address the issue. If it is bugging you that much, I would say something like; “I’m curious about something, why did you…” You can let her know that you don’t think it is fair to be charged more for your son, who is there for such little time, compared to what she is charging the other kids. You just have to be careful to not upset or antagonize. That will be the hard part.

tehehe, ok, ok, I guess what I SHOULD'VE said, is I'D just let it go, not bring it up. So really, if your HUSBAND has an issue with it, then YOUR HUSBAND should discuss it with her!

Sorry!

:)

I wonder if your friend answered the question as "what do you currently charge the existing kids" versus "what will you charge me, a new aftercare client"? If she's in the process of raising her rates, she might be applying those changes to new children only. Either way, it sort of stinks and I'd probably mention it offhandedly - "hey Gina, I thought you said you charged $15/week. How come it's $25 now?" and when she tells you whatever her reason is you say "Oh ok... just wanted to know".

.

Well I thought you got a lot of ideas as to why she may have changed the price.

She said she charged one price when you were asking is the other price reasonable. There is a difference between discussing is one price reasonable and an actual quote.

Say you ask, what do you gain? That is my basic decision criteria. If I cannot come up with an upside I don't bother with further investigation. So what is the upside of asking. Perhaps you will save 10 dollars a week but at the cost of the friendship. She will be less likely to help you out in the future. Perhaps she will not change the price but your friendship will still be damaged.

So ask yourself is it worth the damage when the price she is quoting is reasonable?

Hmm that's a tough one. I totally see your dilemma and understand that your question is not about the absolute rates involved but rather the rate increase seemingly precipitated by you telling her how much someone else would charge. I understand why the day care providers on here are responding to your questions the way they are, of course either rate is incredibly reasonable. But that is not your question.

I guess it's hard to imagine how you could bring it up now, after the fact, without it turning awkward/ugly. On the other hand, it would always bug me if I didn't know why she had decided to change the rates and the further away you get from the incident the more exponentially unlikely it is you will ever find out the answer, even if you ask.

So, if you (or your husband) really want to know, perhaps try the following. Assuming you are going with it either way, the next time you see her in person (I wouldn't do this in a call, email or text) you might say something like " I was reviewing the childcare budget with my husband, and he wondered why watching "johnny" 1 hr a day was costing us $25 instead of the $15 you had originally quoted. I told him that I didn't know as the first time we talked it was going to be $15 but when I made the final arrangements with you it was raised to $25. What should I tell him for an explanation?" Something like that might be less confrontational since you are "blaming" your husband for wanting to know.

I think that if you make your husband himself ask it will be even more awkward BUT if he wants to know and you truly do not, then that's also an option.

Sorry to not offer much more than a wishy-washy opinion, but I wanted to let you know I "get" your question.

Personally I would ask her about it and then ask her if she is comfortable putting the agreement in writing. She may have a good reason- that may in telling her that your neighbor charges more she realized she is under-charging!

It's her responsibility to keep up on "current rates" in your area and she just found out that she's a bargain... so she's raising her prices accordingly. By all means- get your agreement in writing to avoid this again!

Is she worth what you would pay your neighbor? I would leave it alone. I would want to pay her at least what my neighbor pays because my kids are worth it as is my friendship.

Who is to say that she isn't raising the rates for the others as well. I charge $40 a week for after school care. Let it go.

You shot yourself in the foot. You told her she was too cheap. Its like telling a used car dealer up front that you want $5000 for your car, but would be willing to take $2000. Duh?!?! Do you really think he will still offer you the $5000?

But we all make mistakes. Good luck to you and yours.

I would mention it. She was dishonest, regardless of how cheap her care is. I am a music teacher. I have set rates and if I quote a rate, that is the rate I charge. No surprises!

If you want to pay, that is fine, but it's okay to let her know that you feel scammed. You'd be doing her a favor by making her aware because if she uses this tactic with more people, she is going to lose business.

Edit* SLM, you were unkind in BOTH posts. There is no need for you to carry offense for the day care provider.

Hmmm . . . this wording makes it harder to answer. I think I would have to ask her about it. I would tell her that I am fine with paying more, but that I would like to know what prompted the rate increase from one week to the next. If I didn't ask, it would bug me forever.

I realize this is completely opposite what I posted on the other question . . .

yes
Think about the quaity of care, you know here, she has kids of her own and you like the way she is raising them, your kids are comfey there, and you are okay with her being alone with them. I don't sugest you not talking about it you need to be honest but start out with "I don't want a price change but I was wondering why the price increase?" Maybe she needs new toys for the kids, crayons, paper, snacks ect. Offer to help with those things if that is why there is a price increase, and try not to worry about what others are paying, maybe there is a reason theirs are different than yours. Hard ships or maybe she owes them money. You never know but unless she is open about that issue, I would tread lightly.

"Friends" don't gouge you with a higher price. Please see my advice on the other post.

If you don't talk to her about it, it's going to eat away at you.

I read both and it is a sticky situation. I think the only communication mistake you made was possibly asking your friend what she charges bc you thought the cost was too high with the neighbor. From what it sounds like you asked her as a friend not as a "what are you going to charge me if I come to you". Then when you went to her more as a business negotiation to actually set things up her prices had been raised. It could have been bc she found out others were charging more but that really isn't your deal bc she is in business. Now as friends I do think it is odd that she told you one thing then charged you more, as a business perspective, rates increase all the time and that's life. I mean I am paying Wal-Mart a lot more for butter these days;) So I could have gotten this wrong, if you went to her and said something like "I'd like to send my son to you after school and I am comparing rates, what will you charge me if he starts with you on X date?" and she said $15, well she quoted you and should honor the quote. If you went to her and said "Hey, my neighbor is charging $25 to basically see my son off the bus, what do you charge your after school kids, I think she is too high" and then she said "oh only $15" well that wasn't really a quote for you persay, that was two friends talking. I realize you may not have approached her in a business sense bc you didn't know the whole bus deal, but still she was quoting her current price for her other kids. Now do I think the whole thing is sticky, yeah. If I am her and I know what I told you, I would honor that price, but well people are funny. She raised her prices going forward and you came to her after that decision was made. Her husband, if she has one, probably told her that you are customer like any other blah blah blah. So I said ALL that to say, if you prefer her care over that of the neighbor then use her and let it go. If the neighbor is more convenient go that way. She is not going out of her way to do you any favors so do what works best for you. Take care ;)

Unless either one of them is specially trained to be a better babysitter then really you kinda set yourself up for this since you told her your neighbor charged more. I wouldn't want to stay at myrate either if I was cheeper especially if it was by a few dollars. She probably didn't know a good rate especially if she has never done this before. So if what your neighborwanted is a reasonable going rate in your area then I would leave it be.

Well, when you do business with "friends" you have to kind of respect the fact that at least O. part of the relationship is now "business", right?

The part that makes no sense to me is why the other kids are still $15 and YOUR son is $25. She had no problem adjusting your price, so why not everyone else?

I would definitely mention it. As you husband suggested just say "Hey--why the higher price? last week when we talked you quoted me $15."

I know you'll likely end up paying the larger amount, but this way at the very least, she'll KNOW that you noticed the discrepancy in her business.

I also would not feel "obligated" to use a friend instead of a non-friend, because, obviously, she feels she has you by the short hairs now...

My biggest question, but I didn't post it on the other question, is that it looks like she is charging you more for your 1 hour ($25) than she is charging other people for longer.

I would just ask if she is raising her prices for everyone, since it seems that there is some rate discrepancy?

I am still unclear about what you are paying for. Are you paying $25 per week for all 3 kids or is she charging you an additional $25 for just your son and you already have an agreed upon price for your 2 other children? I originally thought she was giving you a discount because if after school care is $15 per child you would actually be paying her $45/wk for 3 kids and I would not say a thing because she gave you a great discount.