Rogunngsd
Registered: 11/25/06
Posts: 118
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Reply with quote | #1 |
I have a client who has two dogs, they are small dogs. She wants me to bath and trim up only. She is bringing them on Sat morning and wants to leave them for 4 hours while she has a breakfast meeting with some church woman. She doesn't want the dogs there since they will bark the whole time. She will drop them off at 9:00 (which I don't open that early, but I told her ok) and then pick them up around 1:00 or 1:30. Would you consider this pet sitting?? and should I charge her for it? If so, how much? She said that her last groomer would watch them but since she had a big business she had like 30 cages. I groom from home so I only have 6. The other dogs that I have on Sat are bigger dogs so I won't need the use of the small cages where her dogs will be. I guess I don't mind since I am going to be working anyway. I don't want to take advantage of her, but on the other hand I don't want to be taken advantage of either.
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snowflake
Registered: 11/10/07
Posts: 2,886
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Reply with quote | #2 |
I would charge at least something. I work form home and ive had people take advantage of me like this.i only work Sat mornings so i can get them in early and then enjoy the rest of my day with MY family.Ive had people drop off at 9am and not return til 6-7 pm...they seem to think its just ok?????Like i have nothing better to do all day. I feel like if the dog is here i cant go out.
So now if i work Sats i tell people "as long as you can pick up as soon as i call you" If they cant then they need to schedule during the week and i still need to know if the dog will be here longer than the groom time,i have to schedule accordingly.... I dont have lots of cages to be able to keep dogs long.
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MsAcer
Registered: 08/25/05
Posts: 2,519
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Reply with quote | #3 |
I wouldn't charge, but I would make sure that she knows that this is not your norm and you are doing her a favor. I would just work the dogs in around my other grooms. I would also tell her you will only be at your shop till "fill in the blank" so you don't get stuck with the dogs.
This is a case where tipping comes in  a tipper would get a little something extra, like dog sitting 
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cattitude
Registered: 11/19/08
Posts: 435
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Reply with quote | #4 |
I agree with Msacer.
IF you love her personality, and can tell that she loves pampering her little dogs and will do so quite frequently, I would do her a favor. I have had cats in my cages for a couple hours after grooming because the clients are so wonderful and grateful. But I have had idiots drop their cats off and ask to stay for half the day while they go to the mall and I say boarding is $15 day, but sure they are more than welcome to stay.
Also, if you have that long with them, bath, HV, and cage dry. Take one out, trim a bit, get another dog out and finish it and so on. Just take your time with them and make it the BEST bath and tidy she has ever had 
And yes, make sure she knows she has to be back by at least____, otherwise your door will be locked, you have a party to be at, and they will have to spend the night at $____. I have done that as well!!!
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topknot3
Registered: 08/18/05
Posts: 3,658
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Reply with quote | #5 |
I'd say, that since I'm a small groomer, I don't NORMALLY have the extra cage space. If someone were to call and want their dog groomed this morning, I'd have to turn them away. I'm not really in the business of boarding so I'm not set up for that. Can you arrange for a relative to pick the dogs up for you?
I'm getting away from boarding altogether. However, my business is well established and you are still trying to build up. So I'd say in your case, DO IT. Put up a sign BEFORE they arrive that says $3.00 per hour for babysitting. Be nice, but not TOOOOO nice.
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http://www.barkingbeautiessalon.com |
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snowflake
Registered: 11/10/07
Posts: 2,886
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Reply with quote | #6 |
That souds really good TK,because thats my situation.I can only hold 4 dogs at the most at any one time(unless they are in the same family and can go in the same cage), so its really where i get stuck if someone deosnt pick up right away or within the hour. |
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michele
Registered: 07/30/05
Posts: 233
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Reply with quote | #7 |
what i do is...
if they are there to get a bath only and it takes 1 hour that hour is free after that i just charge a $1 a hour but they must be picked up by closing.
if they are here for a full groom and it takes 2 hours that part is free and then $1 ahour same as above
its not much, i don't take them outside either unless its a urgent need---but you would not believe how people get back on time to save a $1
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Epona
Registered: 01/07/07
Posts: 715
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Reply with quote | #8 |
We have a couple of very good customers who have asked us this same thing. We tell them... "Of course! because you are such a good client and we looooooove (fluffy or what the pets name is) we will be happy to do this for you, it is not an ordinary circumstance but for you? Yes"
It has been some of the best PR we have had, we do get referrals from these folks who tell everyone they know about how nice we are. We have had some really scary situations happen too... we have had a couple of families who have had 'emergencies' like have to go pick up a sick family member, or they have to go visit a sick friend or something like that and we are seen as warm hearted and loving because of it. Dont let people take advantage of you, but it is not a real hardship if you do it every once in a while... you just look better and better!
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In life, a sense of humor will always prove an asset. Find the joy and humor in all you do and you shall never regret a thing.
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Rogunngsd
Registered: 11/25/06
Posts: 118
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Reply with quote | #9 |
This lady called tonight just to confirm everything for tomorrow. Before I had mentioned anything, she told me how much she appreciates what I'm doing for her and that she would give me some extra $ for my time. Whoo Hoo!! She just made this situation a lot easier for me lol. She is a nice lady, but she has also knocked on my door at 8:00 at night to buy a bag of dog food. I guess this is the price you pay for working from home, they know that you are probably home, so why call?
My whole problem, like I said would be cage space, but since I won't need the smaller cages for the other dogs coming it should'nt be a problem, plus I will be in the shop so it's not like I have to babysit them without me working. Thank-You all for your opinions, everyone made some good points 
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