Reply to Going rate for teen shoveling?

Forum Index » Off-Topic

Reply to "Going rate for teen shoveling? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think the difference is that it is a state of emergency where I am, and not a typical occurrence to have snow so deep that power is going out, the grocery stores were running out of food, roads are not passable, etc so the right thing to do in an "out of the norm" and possible emergent situation is to help the elderly without expecting payment.

If it was typical lawn mowing, getting mail, or things that are frequent and expected I would agree that a discounted rate would be appropriate, but in the case of a freak snowstorm it feels a bit predatory and opportunistic,
and therefore inappropriate to have your 12 year old out hustling an 85 year old lady for money for a safety issue such as slip/falls and the necessity of being able to get out of the house safely or allows others in safely.

Just my two cents and I realize the OP was not specifically asking about this situation.
Fwiw we called all of our elderly/widowed neighbors when my DH and teenage son walked to the store last night to see if anyone needed anything, and wouldn't think of trying to make money off a grocery delivery service. We have called every day and made sure their walks are shoveled (granted they are not driveways).
I would be mortified if my sons asked for money rather than just cleaning them off for a nice surprise when they look out the windows [/quote]

OP here.

Not one person on this thread is remotely suggesting having our middle schoolers going out trying to take advantage of the frail and elderly to make a quick buck and it is insulting for all these other posters to suggest otherwise.

The neighbors approached my son, in advance, about hiring him to shovel their driveways for this snowstorm.  He did not approach any of them and quite honestly, usually shovels for free for the older neighbors.  They asked him for his rate. He said it wasn't necessary but they insisted (likely because they know how heavy three feet of snow is, and also because they like the idea of giving the neighbor kid his first "job."

He usually does the neighbor lady for free, including earlier this week and even last night. For this snow, she is insisting upon paying him which I believe is fair given the amount of work. If he doesn't come up with a number she will likely come up with a larger one than my son asks for. Before my son got big enough to shovel she used to pay her lawn service to shovel her out.

He or any other kid getting paid to shovel today is NOT taking advantage of anyone.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics