Do you respond to ads where the rate is lower than you would accept?

[Anonymous]

Of course everyone wants to save money and I understand that. But are parents who post lower rates than you would accept worth responding to?

There was a job posting in my area this morning that was posted as $15 to $25 range. But the job profile said they "...would like to pay $12."

I would accept the job for $17 an hour. Is it worth answering?

TIA

[Anonymous]

It never hurts to ask. I doubt they'll go for it, though.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've done it before.
It took a lot of time to negotiate, but in the end I got what I wanted (also $17 per hour.)
The parents didn't like it, but they really needed someone to start the next day and I was available, so they agreed.
A few weeks later they told me I was worth every penny.

Give it a try. You never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I've done it before.
It took a lot of time to negotiate, but in the end I got what I wanted (also $17 per hour.)
The parents didn't like it, but they really needed someone to start the next day and I was available, so they agreed.
A few weeks later they told me I was worth every penny.

Give it a try. You never know.

But doesn't it make you feel uncomfortable when there is that much negotiation. I have worked in positions where I could tell they didn't want to pay me my rate and then they end up trying to nickel and dime me over EVERYTHING. The family wanted to figure out pay to the nearest 5 minute increment. It made for a very uncomfortable work environment.

[Anonymous]

I think for most jobs, when there's a posted salary range, it's shared for a reason. They don't want to waste your time or theirs on a candidate who wants more than they will offer. Most job ads don't share the salary range, so when an ad does - it's for a reason. I wouldn't ignore that signal.

[Anonymous]

Parents who nickel and dime you, are in a way creating a hostile environment, even if they don't understand that.

For some of these people, it's the only way they know how to do business. So sad, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

No, I feel that families post what they can afford or intent to pay for child care. One a family set a rate/ h, I would accept or leave it.

[Anonymous]

I only respond if it's date night type thing in neighborhood I'm already in or close to home. For example there's a family whose ad wanted a Thursday night sitter for a flat rate of $40 for 3-4 hrs a couple times a month. I responded and have gotten a lot of other work from them at my regular rate plus they've referred me to their neighbors who I now work for regularly full time. So you never know what it can lead to.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why someone would write an ad that way.

I hired a nanny recently and in the ad I included the number of hours, the hourly/overtime/weekly rate, the ages of the kids, the basic parameters of the job, and the core benefits.

I was astonished by how many people did not read the ad and sent applications that were totally non-responsive. I even interviewed someone who said she had read everything, thought it sounded perfect, etc... and then informed me that her rates start $4/hr higher than what I was paying. It was a total waste of time for both of us. (And fwiw, my rates are competitive - well above the $15/hr mark.)

So people can be ridiculous on both sides of the equations. I would assume that someone who advertises a range that large doesn't know what they're doing and wouldn't waste my time - especially once they then tried to undercut the rate they had posted. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Thank everyone - I don't think I will respond to this ad. It was confusing because the rate quoted was $15 - $25 but then in the body of the posting, she stated that she would like to pay $12 an hour. So why didn't she list her rate at $10 - $15 an hour?

[Anonymous]

Deceptive advertising. I see it often. Beware.

[Anonymous]

It's so annoying when people put the salary range like that on websites like Care.com. I wish they would make it so you had to write an exact rate or something, because I see so many families that just write $10-$50/hr, and I have no idea what that means.

I often find people advertising $20-$25/hr in my area on Care, which is the rate I charge, but then I come to find out either in the body of the ad or through further communication that they actually want to pay $25/day. I had someone who wanted M-F 7:30-4 care for 2 kids at $200 per week. I don't think people actually put this stuff through a calculator!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's so annoying when people put the salary range like that on websites like Care.com. I wish they would make it so you had to write an exact rate or something, because I see so many families that just write $10-$50/hr, and I have no idea what that means.

I often find people advertising $20-$25/hr in my area on Care, which is the rate I charge, but then I come to find out either in the body of the ad or through further communication that they actually want to pay $25/day. I had someone who wanted M-F 7:30-4 care for 2 kids at $200 per week. I don't think people actually put this stuff through a calculator!

That's exactly why I stay far away from care. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's so annoying when people put the salary range like that on websites like Care.com. I wish they would make it so you had to write an exact rate or something, because I see so many families that just write $10-$50/hr, and I have no idea what that means.

I often find people advertising $20-$25/hr in my area on Care, which is the rate I charge, but then I come to find out either in the body of the ad or through further communication that they actually want to pay $25/day. I had someone who wanted M-F 7:30-4 care for 2 kids at $200 per week. I don't think people actually put this stuff through a calculator!

That's really ridiculous, in my opinion. Is there a report feature for ads like that? $25/day? I paid more than twice that for a spot in an in-home daycare several years ago, and I thought that was a steal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's so annoying when people put the salary range like that on websites like Care.com. I wish they would make it so you had to write an exact rate or something, because I see so many families that just write $10-$50/hr, and I have no idea what that means.

I often find people advertising $20-$25/hr in my area on Care, which is the rate I charge, but then I come to find out either in the body of the ad or through further communication that they actually want to pay $25/day. I had someone who wanted M-F 7:30-4 care for 2 kids at $200 per week. I don't think people actually put this stuff through a calculator!

That's really ridiculous, in my opinion. Is there a report feature for ads like that? $25/day? I paid more than twice that for a spot in an in-home daycare several years ago, and I thought that was a steal!

No, there's no report feature that would ever get a response.

Care.com thrives on scamming people.
Both nannies AND parents are their victims.
Such a real shame they've been allowed to do this.