Give Rates Out Or Not?

[Crazy8]

would love to do this in poll format (does a moderator have to do that)??? Wondering how many will give rates over the phone, on their website, email, etc. and how many will only give in interview.

ETA: I think I was able to make it a poll, yay!

[Blackcat31]

I will give rates to anyone who asks (in person, on the phone, via e-mail etc) but I don't have a flat rate per hour/day/week.

Each family has a rate that depicts their needed times. For example a full time family who attends 7-5 will have a higher rate that a full time family that attends 8-3.

I try to let families know a rough estimate but explain that the rates vary based upon their individual needs.

[Truly Scrumptious]

I don't give rates over the phone...I wait until the 1st interview. I want families to meet me and hear about my program before deciding if the price is right.

[Heidi]

I do, but I prefer it be at the end of the conversation. When someone calls me, and their first question is rates, I usually think it'll probably not be a "good fit".

[cheerfuldom]

give out! no point wasting time on even a conversation if the rates arent something they can afford

[Crazy8]

when I first registered 11 years ago they told me not to give them out over the phone, I didn't for a while then I started to in order to "weed out" the ones who would waste my time with an interview but lately it seems all I'm getting is calls "fishing" for rates and I don't think they are people looking for child care at all so thinking of going back to interview only.

[momma2girls]

I have went both ways, and still wonder about both of them. If you don't give rates over the phone, then you could waste for time, cleaning, looking nice, and your time to do the interview. If you do, they could say, ok, thanks, and not schedule an interview with you. Then maybe if you are lucky though, you could defiantely weed out the ones, that cannot afford you right away.

[Meeko]

In today's economy, most folks have a strict budget. They know what they can afford.

Only a few parents can take the approach of "Price doesn't matter...I just want good care" even if that is what they would LIKE to do.

I have never had to shop for day care for my own kids. But I would hate to have to go to 5 different providers..giving up hours of my time.....only to find I couldn't afford any of them and could have found that out in a few minutes of phone calls.

I would never buy any item or any service without knowing up front what I was getting into. My time is precious to me and going from interview to interview that may not be for me would be irritating.

Can you imagine going to buy a new car, but the salesman refuses to tell you the price on the car until he's sat you down for an hour and told you all about it's gas mileage, plush seats, navigation system etc. While those things are great to know....it's a useless waste of your time if you can't afford the car.

[ritah]

In today's economy, most folks have a strict budget. They know what they can afford.

Only a few parents can take the approach of "Price doesn't matter...I just want good care" even if that is what they would LIKE to do.

I have never had to shop for day care for my own kids. But I would hate to have to go to 5 different providers..giving up hours of my time.....only to find I couldn't afford any of them and could have found that out in a few minutes of phone calls.

I would never buy any item or any service without knowing up front what I was getting into. My time is precious to me and going from interview to interview that may not be for me would be irritating.

Can you imagine going to buy a new car, but the salesman refuses to tell you the price on the car until he's sat you down for an hour and told you all about it's gas mileage, plush seats, navigation system etc. While those things are great to know....it's a useless waste of your time if you can't afford the car.

Ditto for me! Very well said.

[renodeb]

Its really a mixed bag. I hate giving rates over the phone b/c it sounds like a lot of money until they see what that goes towards. Usually if there first question is rates we never make it to the home interview stage.
Debbie

[familyschoolcare]

I give rates after find out some information. Gendar, age/grade, what school they attend "normal drop off and normal pick up.

[Ariana]

I give out rates when asked. Whether that's over the phone, email or at the interview. I don't post it in my ads though.

[My3cents]

needs to be a sometimes button here.

I want to say that I don't give them out on the phone but sometimes I get caught up in giving them out. Then I am like why did I do that.

I want them to see my space/place/me etc.. then decide.

So I put no but I would have to say that sometimes I do- it just depends on how the converstation ends up going.

[KEG123]

I give it out as well. I feel that if I'm priced too high for them, then it's best to get that out of the way before wasting my time on an interview. Most families know what they are willing to pay before speaking to me.

[daycare]

i said yes....don't want to waste anyone's time...if its the first questions that is asked when I answer I always say $800.00 a week. Then wait for the silence, then I laugh and will ask another question. That is if I am not hung up on....