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5

Where does it show that a night of BOARDING is basically a 24 hour period?

I have a client that thinks a 36 hr. period is fine for boarding -- i.e., drop off at 9am Saturday and p/u at 5pm Sunday. When I called her on it, because its happening repeatedly and getting longer and longer, she accuses me of being inflexible which is what she liked about me. I tried to explain that working drop offs around her baby's nap schedule, or her husbands work schedule is being flexible. Being expected to watch her dog for 36 hrs. for the same money another pays for 24 hrs. is unfair. She eventually cancelled the booking, and I bet won't contact me again. I saw several postings of similar situations and people made reference to this being on the Rover site. I can't find it. Can anyone tell me where or send me a copy? Appreciate it -- great dog -- would like him back. Thanks!

Comments

Personally, as a petowner, having used other boarding options, I would always think that 24 hours was standard.

I didn't realize that was a thing. I have many clients who drop off 8 am and pickup 10pm due to flights and sometimes my schedule. You can always modify the price too. Or offer pick up, drop off fee if they are local.

3 Answers

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score:
8

Rover's info on this is:

https://support.rover.com/hc/en-us/ar...

Many sitters, including me, charge a late pick up fee. It's in my profile, is covered in texting before the MnG, and at the MnG. I am very accommodating on when folks can drop off and pick up, but they will...and do...pay for this, if they need extra hours. This is business not a volunteer work ☺️

I would suggest you cover this with clients before the booking.

Comments

May I ask... how do you go about charging after the booking has already been paid for on their end?

Hi — I’m a brand new sitter. I believe I read we are not supposed to be paid outside of http://Rover.com. How do sitters charge a late fee? I cannot find this in service settings...

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I ask for pick-up and drop-off times prior to booking. I explain that my pricing is based on 24hrs and that I charge by a daycare rate beyond that. Of course, it's subject to my availability, and I don't get into hourly pricing. I charge for extra time based on half day (<4hrs) or full day (>4hrs). Getting clients to commit to specific times is important to me and I find that making them pay generally works. If someone doesn't abide the time frame I'd hesitate to work for them. But, I haven't had this issue because I think the advance notice weeds out the moochers.

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I have a pretty relaxed policy about pick up and drop off, or at least I did and still do for some clients. The short of it is that I realized that it's not fair for the clients that always pick up within the 24 hour window that other clients have their dogs with me 29 - 36 hours consistently to pay the same amount. That being said, I give them a grace and even a discount on that last day or a previous night drop off if they have an early flight or something. I've also had some clients pick up early and not requested a discount or have tipped me. So if they go a bit over a 27 hour period I don't sweat it because I know it will all even out or even come out in my favor. However, if a client consistently expects a late pick up without a charge I nicely let them know that I've been giving them a break but to be fair to all clients I need to start charging extra if they go beyond 27 hours on the last day. I don't do hourly; I charge either half day for less than 6 hours past the 24 and a full day for more than 6. So far I haven't had any client's balk at this but if they did I would let them know many sitters don't have a grace period at all. Good Luck!

Comments

I'm having this issue now. I don't want to lose this repeat client (3dogs). This visit they want to drop off at 6:40am on a Sat, and pick up at 9:30 pm on Thurs (which is Halloween). That is 15 hours extra, well more than a day of daycare. I'm not sure how to word this and not lose the client.

So how do you execute this policy? Do they pay you the extra in cash? If not, how does Rover know to charge the extra?

How do you handle adjusting the charge for additional time in Rover?

I upped my prices (2020) which covers the “over 24 hours by just a couple hours”people. If an additional 6 hrs are added then I charge a daycare fee. My days are pretty fully booked so, if my perimeters are a deal breaker for the customer then they can choose another sitter. I EARN every penny!

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My question back to this: so Rover only books what it thinks is a 24 hour period? So for me ... they dropped her off at 630am Friday and will not be picking her up until about 930p Sunday ... this is almost 3 full days. However, Rover only charged them for 2. This is so much extra and I wasn’t aware. Do I go in and adjust the booking after a talk with them? Do I discuss the difference and then have them pay it to me? How does this work? Rover should have times be entered when booking for this kind of thing.