MB's: wwyd about this pay issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you say in your ad "non-negotiable"? Nanny rates typically are negotiable, FYI.

OP?

[Anonymous]

How is it unprofessional of her to tell you what she charges when you weren't professional enough to even bring up salary? Unless you specified NON NEGOTIABLE, which I doubt you did or else you would've griped about that in your original post--you have nothing to complain about. Looks like you'd be doing this nanny a favor by not hiring her.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be very off putting to see "pay is non negotiable." That doesn't scream friendly, warm family here.

It's just a casual babysitting gig, not a FT job. So it should be obvious that negotiating the set pay would be odd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted an ad on sittercity for a casual babysitter who I would use on a weekly basis for evenings out etc. After a couple of emails back and forth with this particular woman we set up sort of a working interview. I have no reason to think she wouldn't work out, but I would just be home for the first time and let her watch the kids while I do things around the house and she would be our sitter from them on. Everything is set; she has my number, address, the time and date etc. and then decides to email me saying that we never discussed pay and she charges x amount.

She's right -- we never discussed pay and I feel really stupid about not bringing it up. However, I clearly stated in my ad (which she replied to), the dollar amount that I am willing to pay.

I have an uncomfortable feeling about this, it just seems very unprofessional. I'm not sure if this is a tactic to get me to agree to the higher rate since it's so last minute, or if she somehow skipped over that part of add where I stated what the hourly rate would be.

I do have 2 other good options I could contact (and I will be sure to bring up the pay next time) but before doing that, I would like to know what other moms think about this situation?

I would give her the benefit of the doubt and say "This was the amount in my original ad. If that works for you, great, but if not..." (then either tell her you won't budge or give a compromising figure) because maybe she really did miss it (and if the ad has since expired, maybe when she went back to look it up she couldn't find it? I've never used sittercity, but I think sometimes care.com ads are no longer viewable once they've 'closed'). If she's not willing to work for what you're willing to pay for, don't feel guilty about calling one of those two other options.