With Winter Weather Coming

[jen]

i think anyone would have a hard time getting parents to pay for a week they were closed no matter how it "should be."

I think that depends on how much people value the service that you provide. If a parent feels that they can get equally good service elsewhere, for the same price or less, they will likely move on.

Look at it this way, there are Comparison Levels, CL's, which are the services that an individual expects to recieve. Then there are Outcomes, the actual services that an individual gets, and then there are CLalts, which are the available alternatives.

If a parent is getting MORE than they expect out of their provider AND they feel that the alternatives are not likely to be as good as what they are currently getting, the will likely pay for the week. IF they think they can get alternative care that is the same or better somewhere else, without having to work to hard to get it, or pay more for it, they will likely not want to pay the week and leave.

Childcare is NOT a gallon of milk, where one is just as good as the other. In childcare there is the McDonalds variety and the Five Star variety. Providers that provide 5 star service have to work harder, but reap more rewards.

[DancingQueen]

WEll said Jen,

Do you know I have a mom that just got pregnant that is willing to pay the FULL weekly tuition for the newborn starting NOW to hold the spot. She would be paying me 165.00 week ontop of her current son's tuition just to make sure she doesn't lose me.

I'm not requiring her to do this however. But it goes to show how much a valued provider is worth to some parents.

[jen]

if the gym closed down because of a flood then yes - i'm pretty sure they would let me make up that time. if the theater closed down because the power was out then yes, i believe i would get a refund. if i rented a parking space and the parking lot was shut down then yes, i'm pretty sure i would get a refund.

we're not talking about a service being available and not being used, but a service being paid for that isn't available. there's a huge difference.

I don't know about where you live, but in Minnesota, you are not getting a refund from the parking ramp or the health club if they close because of bad weather. And to be a bit more relavent, you wouldn't get one from preschool either.

I Personally, I don't close for bad weather. I'm not going anywhere, if they want to haul their butts out, go for it.

[SimpleMom]

I charge unless I close for a snow day...which I've never had to do.

[QualiTcare]

I don't know about where you live, but in Minnesota, you are not getting a refund from the parking ramp or the health club if they close because of bad weather. And to be a bit more relavent, you wouldn't get one from preschool either.

I Personally, I don't close for bad weather. I'm not going anywhere, if they want to haul their butts out, go for it.

the topic changed and we weren't referring to simply bad weather, but the chilcare closing due to a power outage or some other event for several days.

[QualiTcare]

You're right about that, definitely. I'm talking strictly about days when you MUST close, like when the power is out. As I said, our power has been known to stay out for a week or more. What then?

this was the question extending beyond the childcare being open and parents not being able to make it.

[DancingQueen]

What is your policy about snow days? I am leaning towards if there is no travel, no way of getting out, I will not charge. If it is iffy out, but I am going to remain open, I will charge for that day. What are your policies?

this is what I was responding to

[AfterSchoolMom]

Sorry if I threadjacked!

[QualiTcare]

Sorry if I threadjacked!

it was a good/relevant question - i think there was some misunderstanding.