Have you ever canceled a date-night babysitting job for another one that pays better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's unprofessional and I wouldn't use the nanny again if I can't rely on her. I expect any nanny/babysitter we hire to be an adult and clearly state her rates. If I accept that rate I rightly assume we have an agreement.


If a sitter cancels on you because she was offered a better rate, significant enough to justify the action, its probably not some huge loss to lose you as a client, FYI. If she gives you a few days notice, and it doesn't happen often, I fail to see how that's unreliable. That is unless you're an MB who pays the full amount when she cancels, which I so highly doubt you are. It goes both ways lady.

Different MB here. I think this is where we disagree. This isn't a justification for breaking a commitment. If I accepted your rate and booked your time, you committed to that rate and time. If you cancel for another job, you are unreliable and don't honor your commitments and I would not hire you again or recommend you. You may not care and that's fine. But that's what you're doing. Make no mistake.

And if a sitter books with you for $25/hour, and you realize that Becky, the high school girl down the street, charges $10/hour, is it some heinous commitment breaking to cancel with me (tell me grandma is in town, you decided not to go, blah blah blah) and you hire Becky instead? Parents do this ALL.THE.TIME. It really is just business. If you book with me at a low enough rate to make it easy for someone to hire me away from you, that really is your own fault, just like the sitter that overcharges. I find it hilarious that MBs are all for letting the market dictate this or that when they're in control, but the second a nanny/sitter uses it to her advantage its a moral crime. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's unprofessional and I wouldn't use the nanny again if I can't rely on her. I expect any nanny/babysitter we hire to be an adult and clearly state her rates. If I accept that rate I rightly assume we have an agreement.


If a sitter cancels on you because she was offered a better rate, significant enough to justify the action, its probably not some huge loss to lose you as a client, FYI. If she gives you a few days notice, and it doesn't happen often, I fail to see how that's unreliable. That is unless you're an MB who pays the full amount when she cancels, which I so highly doubt you are. It goes both ways lady.

Different MB here. I think this is where we disagree. This isn't a justification for breaking a commitment. If I accepted your rate and booked your time, you committed to that rate and time. If you cancel for another job, you are unreliable and don't honor your commitments and I would not hire you again or recommend you. You may not care and that's fine. But that's what you're doing. Make no mistake.

It is INFINITELY easier for a babysitter to find a new client than it is for an MB to find a reliable babysitter.
I doubt a babysitter would be heartbroken if you stopped hiring her.
I have heard so many MBs here complain about cancellation fees when they cancel on a babysitter.
Why is it a business arrangement when you want to cancel on us but it is "not honoring our commitment" when we cancel on you?
Which is it ladies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's unprofessional and I wouldn't use the nanny again if I can't rely on her. I expect any nanny/babysitter we hire to be an adult and clearly state her rates. If I accept that rate I rightly assume we have an agreement.


If a sitter cancels on you because she was offered a better rate, significant enough to justify the action, its probably not some huge loss to lose you as a client, FYI. If she gives you a few days notice, and it doesn't happen often, I fail to see how that's unreliable. That is unless you're an MB who pays the full amount when she cancels, which I so highly doubt you are. It goes both ways lady.

Different MB here. I think this is where we disagree. This isn't a justification for breaking a commitment. If I accepted your rate and booked your time, you committed to that rate and time. If you cancel for another job, you are unreliable and don't honor your commitments and I would not hire you again or recommend you. You may not care and that's fine. But that's what you're doing. Make no mistake.

And if a sitter books with you for $25/hour, and you realize that Becky, the high school girl down the street, charges $10/hour, is it some heinous commitment breaking to cancel with me (tell me grandma is in town, you decided not to go, blah blah blah) and you hire Becky instead? Parents do this ALL.THE.TIME. It really is just business. If you book with me at a low enough rate to make it easy for someone to hire me away from you, that really is your own fault, just like the sitter that overcharges. I find it hilarious that MBs are all for letting the market dictate this or that when they're in control, but the second a nanny/sitter uses it to her advantage its a moral crime. Please.

This 110%

[Anonymous]

I am the MB that said I wouldn't hire the nanny again because I think canceling is unprofessional behavior. In the many years I have had a nanny I have always paid if I have cancelled. So often on DCUM nannies complain they aren't treated like professionals. If you want to be treated as a professional you have to act like one and that means following through on commitments. It is business 101....

[Anonymous]

You gave your word when you agreed to sit with first family. How would you feel if they found a sitter who charged $5.00 less per hour and cancelled on you.

You are not a nice person and karma will catch up with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the MB that said I wouldn't hire the nanny again because I think canceling is unprofessional behavior. In the many years I have had a nanny I have always paid if I have cancelled. So often on DCUM nannies complain they aren't treated like professionals. If you want to be treated as a professional you have to act like one and that means following through on commitments. It is business 101....

Market rates and supply and demand must be business 201, since so many of you don't understand. If you pay someone less than they can get elsewhere, you risk losing them. Its on you to offer competitive rates. When you are hiring a nanny, supply outpaces demand, wages are driven down, and MBs can get away with paying very low rates. The sitter market is vastly different. Supply and demand are about equal, if not in the sitters favor. You have to be competitive. Basic business principles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You gave your word when you agreed to sit with first family. How would you feel if they found a sitter who charged $5.00 less per hour and cancelled on you.

You are not a nice person and karma will catch up with you.

It has happened to most of us! I don't take it personally...as it is business.
I don't babysit for families who cancel on me frequently, just as a family wouldn't rehire a sitter who cancels frequently.
It is a business arrangement. This isn't a moral issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You gave your word when you agreed to sit with first family. How would you feel if they found a sitter who charged $5.00 less per hour and cancelled on you.

You are not a nice person and karma will catch up with you.

It has happened to most of us! I don't take it personally...as it is business.
I don't babysit for families who cancel on me frequently, just as a family wouldn't rehire a sitter who cancels frequently.
It is a business arrangement. This isn't a moral issue.

+1 What is this silliness about karma

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You gave your word when you agreed to sit with first family. How would you feel if they found a sitter who charged $5.00 less per hour and cancelled on you.

You are not a nice person and karma will catch up with you.

It has happened to most of us! I don't take it personally...as it is business.
I don't babysit for families who cancel on me frequently, just as a family wouldn't rehire a sitter who cancels frequently.
It is a business arrangement. This isn't a moral issue.

+1 What is this silliness about karma

They haven't stopped to think that maybe getting canceled on is due to their own karma.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for all of yoi who say this is just business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for all of yoi who say this is just business.

Do you work out of the kindness of your heart?
No, you work for money. No different than babysitters.
I love kids but I don't do this for free.
If MB's follow their own logic, they would never quit their
Job for a higher paying one because they made a commitment to their current employer.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I never cancel on a sitter without offering the full payment. That's only happened once or twice in 5 years. If someone cancels on me, I wouldn't hire them again. If that's not a problem for them, so be it. It's not meant to be punative, I just don't want to deal with people that would cancel. (Except in real emergencies for a normally reliable sitter)

And, sure, I would quit my job for a better one. But I'd give the agreed on notice. There's a difference between changing jobs and breaking a specific committment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I never cancel on a sitter without offering the full payment. That's only happened once or twice in 5 years. If someone cancels on me, I wouldn't hire them again. If that's not a problem for them, so be it. It's not meant to be punative, I just don't want to deal with people that would cancel. (Except in real emergencies for a normally reliable sitter)

And, sure, I would quit my job for a better one. But I'd give the agreed on notice. There's a difference between changing jobs and breaking a specific committment.

I agree. I will still cancel on a parent though if it is financially better for me to do so. It's their right not to use me again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I never cancel on a sitter without offering the full payment. That's only happened once or twice in 5 years. If someone cancels on me, I wouldn't hire them again. If that's not a problem for them, so be it. It's not meant to be punative, I just don't want to deal with people that would cancel. (Except in real emergencies for a normally reliable sitter)

And, sure, I would quit my job for a better one. But I'd give the agreed on notice. There's a difference between changing jobs and breaking a specific committment.

A babysitting job is just...a job. No different than yours except duration.
OP did state that she gives 3 days notice.
As a babysitter, I would give sufficient notice as well.
For your job it is 2-4 weeks (in most cases).
For a babysitting job it is 24-48 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
It's unprofessional and I wouldn't use the nanny again if I can't rely on her. I expect any nanny/babysitter we hire to be an adult and clearly state her rates. If I accept that rate I rightly assume we have an agreement.


If a sitter cancels on you because she was offered a better rate, significant enough to justify the action, its probably not some huge loss to lose you as a client, FYI. If she gives you a few days notice, and it doesn't happen often, I fail to see how that's unreliable. That is unless you're an MB who pays the full amount when she cancels, which I so highly doubt you are. It goes both ways lady.


Different MB here. I think this is where we disagree. This isn't a justification for breaking a commitment. If I accepted your rate and booked your time, you committed to that rate and time. If you cancel for another job, you are unreliable and don't honor your commitments and I would not hire you again or recommend you. You may not care and that's fine. But that's what you're doing. Make no mistake.


And if a sitter books with you for $25/hour, and you realize that Becky, the high school girl down the street, charges $10/hour, is it some heinous commitment breaking to cancel with me (tell me grandma is in town, you decided not to go, blah blah blah) and you hire Becky instead? Parents do this ALL.THE.TIME. It really is just business. If you book with me at a low enough rate to make it easy for someone to hire me away from you, that really is your own fault, just like the sitter that overcharges. I find it hilarious that MBs are all for letting the market dictate this or that when they're in control, but the second a nanny/sitter uses it to her advantage its a moral crime. Please.

You don't seem to understand business and you make a lot of assumptions to "justify" your bad behavior. You assume that parents will cancel on you. You also assume when a parent books you, it is at a low rate. I book babysitters at the rate they charge. If you charge a rate and I accept and book you, you made a commitment to my job. If you cancel, you have broken a commitment and are now blacklisted with me and everyone I know. Smart business people don't break commitments and chance their reputations.

I get it. You don't care. You think you have an endless supply of jobs. Fine. But if you keep acting unprofessionally and ruining relationships, eventually, it will catch up with you. What you are doing is not a moral crime, it is a stupid one and you are more than welcome to be stupid.

I'll stick with sitters who stick to their commitments. Contrary to what you think, such sitters are not hard to find.