The two week stay for the sitter begins July 4th and ends July 19th. I am being told I have to pay the holiday rate the whole duration because of the 4th of July. This does not make sense to me at all.
It is what is known as peak season pricing. Airlines, hotels and others charge holiday/peak rates from mid-November through New Year's Day. The time around other major holidays are considered peak periods and higher pricing usually is incurred. This pricing model is also used by other boarding facilities, like kennels. The holiday rate is not only applied to the one day itself.
https://support.rover.com/hc/en-us/ar...
There is much higher demand for sitters during these periods, so a peak rate is appropriate.
Wendy, IMO that sounds usurious. I can see a 4-day holiday weekend extending 2-3 days in either direction and still considered part of the holiday's higher demand. But, two weeks past? There should be some reasonable limits to how far the holiday is considered to extend. I.e., an argument could be made that most of your absence is outside the holiday and the holiday rate shouldn't apply at all. (The sitter will get a long, unbroken stay which has value.).
I'd negotiate with the sitter. Start from that position (no holiday premium at all). Then ask for the non-holiday days to be "one-time adjusted" down to the normal rate. Then ask if you can book two contiguous stays (which illustrates the absurdity, IMO, of this policy without any apparent bounds).
Good luck.
This is confusing for many new Rover customers, but Karen is correct. If the booking includes the holiday, the whole stay is booked at a holiday rate in its entirety.
Some sitters may be willing to offer a little flexibility with their pricing, as Mary suggested. Since you are booking two separate weeks, perhaps your sitter would be willing to create two separate bookings. One week you would pay the holiday rate, and the second you would pay a normal rate. Ultimately, however, the sitter will determine if such an adjustment will work for them.
Hi Wendy: This doesn't sound right to me. The holiday rates should only apply from July 3 thru July 5 [noted on Rover's Holiday rate guide for 2016]. You should contact Rover Support at 1-[Edit: Rover’s contact options have changed. Visit the Rover Help Center at https://support.rover.com/ to find the phone number, help articles, or chat with the team].
Mary, you need to read the paragraph underneath the dates: "If a booking includes any dates within the holiday period, the holiday rate will be applied to the entire booking. This rate also applies to each dog booked, replacing the normal additional dog rate."
I personally don't agree with that and always adjust my rates for my clients that book me over the holidays. I also have a discounted 2nd dog rate, that shouldn't get a first dog holiday rate, especially for non-holidays included in the stay; in my opinion.
Sitters can adjust their rates however they want. In fact, they don't even have to have a "holiday rate." I was quoting Rover's policy and your misreading of it.
Got it, thanks
It's all good, the sitter worked it out with me and we're all set, thanks!