How do you have the conversation about pay? The 24 hour Rover rate?
payment or underpayment
2 Answers
If you are running into problems with people coming home well beyond the 24-hour mark, the way you handle it is to find out at the M&G before you accept the job what time they're going to drop off the dog and then pick it up on the last day. If they drop off the dog at 8 am and then tell you they won't be back to pick up the dog on the last day until 8 pm, then you tell them sweetly and professionally that you need to adjust the booking to reflect the extra time. You explain that each "night" of boarding is good for up to 24 hours of pet care. While you may give them a couple of hours leeway, a full day (with concomitant walks, etc.) has to be billed. I have never had a single client balk when I told them. Some did adjust their schedule or had a friend pick up the dog earlier, but it has never been an issue.
Since you also do house sitting, the same principle applies and goes according to when they require you be on premises and when they return home, unless they say you can leave earlier.
Don't be afraid to establish the rules. It is your business and we are all underpaid as is.
Comments
Thank you so much. This really helps me. I've been struggling with that communication and noticed that people are getting a lot of extra time for free.
The conversation has to be done at the very beginning, as a matter of course. That way customers understand the ground rules and you are less likely to be taken advantage of.
Hi Angela, Sorry but your question is very vague, can you provide more detail?