What Would Your Response Be?

[RosieMommy]

Yeah that's what I was thinking..we haven't even signed a contract and you are negotiating. I want to address each thing she pointed out but my friend says its not worth it. Thanks so much you guys!!! I will be using one of your responses to send back to her.

Well before you signed the contract is when you'd WANT to negotiate its terms, not after. Now you know right away if this is someone you want to deal with rather than taking on someone who seems like a great fit and then after the fact all of these issues come up etc. In my opinion this lady is saving you lots of time and grief because if your terms are non-negotiable you can respond with a simple response declining or whatever it is and keep it moving.

[Laurel]

This!

I wonder if she would write to the local grocery store business owner and start doing the same thing.

"Your 9AM opening time doesn't work for me. So I will be by at 8:30AM to do my shopping. Also...the cost of bread there is not what I want to pay, so I will expect you to discount it for me. The meat department is not on the most convenient side of the store for me, as I like to shop left to right. I hope you will consider remodeling the store......"

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Laurel

[Laurel]

Dear Daycare Parent,

Thank you for considering placing your children with me.

I can appreciate that my policies will not meet your needs but I feel it would be unfair to the other parents to charge them for days that I am not charging you for or have different policies for them than I have for your family.

I'm sure you can understand. If your circumstances should change, please give me a call. It was nice to meet you!

Ms. Daycare Provider

[Patches]

I would like to post an email that was sent to my by a parent that I had an interview with about 2 weeks ago and tell me what you guys think and how you would respond to this.....

Hi Tonya,

Sorry for the delay in sending you these questions or concerns regarding your contract. We have to see one more provider early next week. My husband and I will be making our final decision on which childcare provider to watch our two sons most likely by the end of next week, around May 18.

First and foremost is it possible to get the names of everyone who resides in your home. We would like to do customary background checks for safety reasons.

As I mentioned to you before, I only work 25 hrs a week, Tuesday through Friday. As a part time employee I am not entitled to paid sick days, personal days, holidays etc. Therefore I am not in the financial position to pay for all the paid "off" days you specify in your contract.

As I explained before with my current provider, my mother or I watch watch the kids every other Monday that my mother is off. So if you choose to be our provider you'd watch the kids Monday through Friday one week, Tuesday through Friday the next week, then Monday through Friday, then Tuesday through Friday, etc. Therefore the pay would reflect that. You also mentioned that you could give a 15% sibling discount on our 6 yr old's rate.

I will be listing page#'s from this point on from your contract...

On pg 4... We'd be dropping the kids off about 7:45am in the morning to 6:30 pm in evening (as mentioned in our interview).

On pg 6... If a federal holiday falls on the every other Monday that my mom watches the kids, I don't expect to pay for that day.

On pg 7... I can't pay for 2 weeks vacation time and 5 personal days off, especially since I will have to take a day off (unpaid) or pay someone else to care for my children. My other concern that is that during the school year, I have to pay someone else to pick my older son up and he will not be there a full day. I don't think I should pay a full day's rate when my older son is attending school since he will only be at your childcare 3 hrs or less.

So aside from those points I agree with the majority of your contract. I hope we can come to some reasonable agreements regarding these details.

Thanking you in advance,

This was me when I read this


Glad you didn't agree to that

[AfterSchoolMom]

I wouldn't reply, I'd RUN, fast and far!!!

[LeslieG]

This is YOUR child care business, so if people don't like it and/or can't abide by your policies/contract, they should be going elsewhere for child care.

If I were you I would not take them... even if you really need to fill spots. There is just way too many red flags!!

Like someone else said, I would tell them the spot has been filled.

[Laurel]

Well before you signed the contract is when you'd WANT to negotiate its terms, not after. Now you know right away if this is someone you want to deal with rather than taking on someone who seems like a great fit and then after the fact all of these issues come up etc. In my opinion this lady is saving you lots of time and grief because if your terms are non-negotiable you can respond with a simple response declining or whatever it is and keep it moving.

I agree. I have changed some things for parents from time to time. I just haven't changed the most important things. I don't mind someone asking. If their request is reasonable, I can give a little.

For example, I used to have the policy of not taking part timers (or taking them but they still paid full time rate). But then someone called me and their part time schedule was great for me and I was thinking a little break for a day or two would be nice. Less children on say Tues. and Thurs. So I told them I would think about it and call them back. So I charged them a little more per day and had a 3 day minimum so it was fair to me and they didn't mind paying a little more beings I couldn't fill the 2 days they didn't need.

Laurel

[e.j.]

Thank you for getting back time, Unfortunately, my services are not a perfect fit for every family and from the sounds of it, it does not sound like we would be a good match for each other.

I appreciate you taking the time to see what our program has to offer and wish you and your family the best of luck finding the right care that best suits your entire families needs.

I am including the number for our local RR.

Regards,

Polite, professional and to the point. I would have replied the same way to her. Glad to hear you're not taking her on. You'd be taking a big financial hit trying to meet her demands.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Honestly, I would respond that the spot is no longer open. I could go on for HOURS about all the red flags in that email!!

Amen.

[rmc20021]

Thank you for your interest. I do not believe that we would be a good fit at this time.

short and simple. I would NOT suggest IF she wants to follow your policy that you'd be glad to take them on. Too many red flags from the get go. This family will be nothing less than a full time migraine

[rmc20021]

Polite, professional and to the point. I would have replied the same way to her. Glad to hear you're not taking her on. You'd be taking a big financial hit trying to meet her demands.

I like this one even better....

[MissAnn]

I'm feeling sorry for whoever ends up with this nut!

[DCMom]

This!

I wonder if she would write to the local grocery store business owner and start doing the same thing.

"Your 9AM opening time doesn't work for me. So I will be by at 8:30AM to do my shopping. Also...the cost of bread there is not what I want to pay, so I will expect you to discount it for me. The meat department is not on the most convenient side of the store for me, as I like to shop left to right. I hope you will consider remodeling the store......"

::::::

Exactly.

I would simply say "Thank you for your interest and good luck with your search for child care."

[LaLa1923]

My answer may be different than others, but I do contracted care not generalized care.

First on the Monday thing, I'd contract them just as they ask. Monday through Friday of one week, and Tuesday through Friday for the other week etc.

If they refuse to pay for your vacations and holidays, then I'd say that they aren't a good fit for your care if that is a policy.

I don't charge my parents for my vacations. I don't close on federal holidays. I'm only closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, thanksgiving day, and Good Friday. That's it. But if its your policy, then stick to it.

During the school year, if you are only doing after school for the oldest, then give them a rate for after school. I would never charge a full time rate for after school.

Maybe she'll see the after school rate and the contracted hours to give her Mondays as a compromise. If not, she could always seek care elsewhere??

What do you mean by that? ( I made the letters bold it)

[LaLa1923]

This was me when I read this


Glad you didn't agree to that

! how did you do that?? We should add this smiley