Have you ever had a parent negotiate you between you and another provider?

[daycare]

I have a daycare family that has one child with me and their younger child in another local family daycare becuase of age. I only take 2yrs and up. Well the younger child has just turned 2 and the family has began a back and forth price/hours negotiation with me and the other provider.

The family has been with me for over a year and it was always a plan that when the younger turned 2 for him to come here with the older sibling. The DCM came to me at the start of the week requesting specific rates and hours. Said she was going to give noitce to whichever provider could not meet her needs. I was a little taken back that she came right out and said that, but I guess she was looking for a bargin. I basically told her, you know my program and my prices, take it or leave it....

Have any of you guys ever had this happen to you before? Also, she is requesting that her 2year old get the old client rate of $50.00 per day instead of $55.00 per day....Should I bend on this?

[daysofelijah]

I've had a couple parents try this. I never gave in and they always stayed with me. Some people like to haggle on prices like this is a garage sale or something. I wouldn't give in in this situation.

[laundrymom]

Don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord ,.......

[daycare]

Don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord ,.......

.... I hear ya!!
I do feel like this family is looking at me like I am a garage sale item. I honestly don't really think you could put a price on the saftey and well being of your child. Also, my program offers a TON more than the other provider....Yes I am tooting my own horn...

So don't budge on the price??

[AnneCordelia]

I had a DCM try. She was interviewing for her two kids...she said that she was interviewing a few daycares and one across town said they'd take the 2nd child for $15/day less than regular price. I said, I'm sorry but this is what I offer and I can't discount my prices because I offer a quality program.

They ended up coming to me regardless. I wouldn't discount and I wouldn't bargain.

[cheerfuldom]

Don't bargain. It sets a precedence. Plus $5 cheaper a day really adds up! Thats $35 a week, $140 a month!

[daycare]

Don't bargain. It sets a precedence. Plus $5 cheaper a day really adds up! Thats $35 a week, $140 a month!

very good way of looking at it.. I am going to make a point of this when I talk to the DCm later today..

[youretooloud]

I'm going through something similar right now. I'm extremely bitter over it too.

I haven't slept well in two nights since she pulled that crap.

She doesn't want a price change. But, she wants me to spend 30 minutes a day teaching her son to "Write, cut and color in the lines. No more painting, no more free play". She wants workbooks and worksheets.

Number one, I do not believe in color and cut preschool programs. I am play based, creative based "It's the process not the product" type of person. I do NOT teach reading, writing or anything that should be left for grade school until the year before kindergarten. They paint, glue, cut... but, they don't cut on the lines because there are no lines.

Number two... this kid is FIFTEEN MONTHS OLD. I would never even dream of that for a toddler. He still needs to learn to hold a crayon without eating it.

THEN... she found a provider who would do that with him. 90 minutes of play time, two hours of nap.. the rest is "lesson time". He'll go home with a full folder every night.

BUT THEN, she talked two other families into leaving me to go with this other provider because they will learn to read before kindergarten, which will surely accelerate them right through the public school system.

Sorry for the hijack. I'm just still upset.

This lady takes six weeks vacation time.. they had the nerve to ask me if I'd take their five kids back when teacher is on vacations.

[daycare]

Ugh hugs to you....I feel for you.. I had a parent do this to me awhile back about the progam. I found some useful information on the web and printed it out. I basically talked about how children under 5 learn best through play and how important it was for them to learn "the other things in life" that school won't teach them.

Hugs hugs hugs and don't let anyone tell you that your program is not a good one. If they dont like it they can leave....

[wdmmom]

Are you wanting to keep this family

Are you really set on that rate?

Are you at all able to offer a discount?

Do you see them going with the other provider?

Essentially, you would be giving them a 10% discount if you accepted this child in at the previous rate.

I'd take the 10% loss to keep the family and bringing in more income!

[Cat Herder]

I have had it happen before and it worked almost as well as when my teenaged daughter says "...but ****'s Mom is letting her!!! Why can't I?"

[daycare]

I am doing what I can to keep this family, however, they are asking for me to extend my hours and not raise my rates? That is not going to happen. I do know for fact that the other provider charges more than I do on the daily rate. I also do offer a 5% discount for those families that pay using the childcarepay.com online payments and pay one month in advance. So they are already getting a discount. I allow one discount per family.

[daycare]

I have had it happen before and it worked almost as well as when my teenaged daughter says "...but ****'s Mom is letting her!!! Why can't I?"

funny how much adults act like children when they don't get their way....geer

[MommyMuffin]

I have a daycare family that has one child with me and their younger child in another local family daycare becuase of age. I only take 2yrs and up. Well the younger child has just turned 2 and the family has began a back and forth price/hours negotiation with me and the other provider.

The family has been with me for over a year and it was always a plan that when the younger turned 2 for him to come here with the older sibling. The DCM came to me at the start of the week requesting specific rates and hours. Said she was going to give noitce to whichever provider could not meet her needs. I was a little taken back that she came right out and said that, but I guess she was looking for a bargin. I basically told her, you know my program and my prices, take it or leave it....

Have any of you guys ever had this happen to you before? Also, she is requesting that her 2year old get the old client rate of $50.00 per day instead of $55.00 per day....Should I bend on this?

If you need the money and dont think you could fill the spot then maybe think about barganing with her but if not then dont. It sounds like she wants to pay you nothing.

Keep your prices what you want them. I would even tell mom "I set my rates as such to provide quality care," then I would hand mom that nice checklist that R&R has about quality childcare.

I am not a forward person and if a dcp told me she was price shopping I would feel that she didnt care about the "care" I was providing her child.

[daycare]

If you need the money and dont think you could fill the spot then maybe think about barganing with her but if not then dont. It sounds like she wants to pay you nothing.

Keep your prices what you want them. I would even tell mom "I set my rates as such to provide quality care," then I would hand mom that nice checklist that R&R has about quality childcare.

I am not a forward person and if a dcp told me she was price shopping I would feel that she didnt care about the "care" I was providing her child.

I am not a forward person and if a dcp told me she was price shopping I would feel that she didnt care about the "care" I was providing her child.

this is exactly how I feel!!

Yes I am not going to lower the price to where I would feel I am getting taken advantage of.