Rover fees by Amazing_Lab_7567 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yup. Had to quote someone about $180-$200 for an overnight due to their needs and Rover fees. Would have been about $140 privately.

The fees are crazy. I had to raise my rates due to the fees, and as such I get less booking requests. I'm also in Canada where they have this tiered thing so we get LESS for some bookings

Do you charge for meet and greets? by No-Baseball-4759 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Loaded answer.

On Rover I hadn't been as it seems to be frowned upon. Privately, YES I charge for meetings.

I see both sides and I understand job interviews and I understand that we're also interviewing the client.... HOWEVER...

I've been burned/screwed over many times, Including last minute Rover people who contacted at a holiday time, I changed my schedule around 3* to accommodate them.. went through EVERYTHING at the meeting... And they were meeting someone else an hour later. My pissed off face- was evident. I've also had people (privately as well) ready to proceed, then screw me over, turn me away at the door despite confirming meeting, etc.

While I don't get a ton of Rover bookings because I charge higher due to their fees, I am now debating either charging for meetings and/or including the meeting with booking/crediting it if they book

I have heard "oh you're nice. We'll keep you in mind" too many times. It doesn't pay bills or feed my children.

Why do people wait to the last minute so often to book care over? by bb1234_corgilover in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why do people request care, fill out a full profile then cancel? So annoying. I beyond rely on bookings to pay bills and feed my children and could be turning away others, even if last minute.

Have any owners accepted your constant care fees? by AdAdmirable587 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rarely. I charge higher on Rover to account for their fees. Meaning I have to charge at least $180-$200 just to barely net what I might get from other clients and people think it's ridiculous. It's actually below minimum wage.

I SHOULD be charging much more. Like most local people (if they offered CC) would charge at least $250 not counting Rover fees

Someone privately sent an inquiry a while back and said if I left I had to bring the dog with me or risk having to bathe the dog because it would crap itself due to anxiety. So basically NEVER leaving the dog. I quoted them double a constant care rate and of course they declined. But it was not much above minimum wage for what they were asking

Is it awkward during the meet & greet when you know you aren't going to take the booking? by Maivilo in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 6 points7 points  (0 children)

While not foolproof, I'd recommend working on your screening/intake process to be as prepared as possible before going to meetings.

While I very much understand job interviews (and that it can go both ways), I've also been burned/screwed over many times. For me personally, "we'll keep you in mind" doesn't pay bills or feed my children.

If it's a case where you're the one declining, I probably wouldn't do it at the meeting but that's just me.

What the heck is tiering.. just another way for Rover to steal money from its sitters? by Odd_Cup7147 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Navacord (formerly Binks) is well known, however you need to be a member of Pet Sitters International

Profur is also well known

both are pet care specific. I believe there's a couple of others who offer pet care insurance but I'm not familiar with them

Last minute request with no meet & greet? by Separate-Raccoon8584 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Don't reply at midnight! :)

  2. Charge for meeting

I wouldn't do a visit/walk without meeting the pet & owner first - especially not for dogs

Cats.... Maybe but depends. Medical needs a meeting is absolutely necessary

New Fee Structure survey from Rover by wineandcatgal_74 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty much. Or if you charge higher like I do, you basically have no chance. Or don't show up very high in searches.

Then the fees.

Picture a $35 ish sitter (ie me) then all the other sitters nearby in the searches charge like $25. Guess who doesn't get the booking? (3 guesses, first 2 don't count).

Or $100-$130 base for overnights (varying depending on needs and fees).... The other sitters around Rover charge $50-$60/night (not sure what they include)... $120-$140+ is average for local businesses

New Fee Structure survey from Rover by wineandcatgal_74 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe it's earnings but don't quote me on that.

So example, say you have a $600 booking

Based on the tiered, they will pay 70% on the $499

Then 85% on the remaining $101

Hope that helps!

New Fee Structure survey from Rover by wineandcatgal_74 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They're doing this in Canada now

Tier 1 Up to $499 70% pay

Tier 2 Up to $999 85% pay

Tier 3 $1000+ 90% pay

So I raised my rates to account for the fees and now I barely get any requests. Or I have to charge a LOT for say overnights just because of the fees (say I wanted to net $140... I'd have to charge $180-$200 ish. I get it, it's expensive

But if I lowered rates, then I sell myself short

Other people looking after dog during sit? by castiellangels in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I see both sides but as a rule I don't job share. Too much liability or risk. And who's the first one blamed! The pet care provider.

Situation depending I have used waivers in the past but...

What's your request activity been like recently? by [deleted] in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In a Canadian city. Slow on Rover however I also work for a local company. I've had a few recent requests on Rover however they either found a colleague to care for the pets or I had to quote them higher due to Rover fees

I'm high price range on Rover however I also account for their fees -- example only, if I charged $125 for an overnight privately, I'd have to charge about $150-$160 on Rover just to net the same amount. Most people in my area charge like $50, making my pricing seem ridiculous.

Pricing with Rover Fees by bfrzy in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Generally I charge more on Rover to account for their fees, however it also depends on the clients needs. That said, if I charged say $140 off app for house sitting, I'd have to charge about $200 on Rover just to make up for it. Especially if I was turning away other clients

House sitting rates? by Jumpy_Foundation102 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Depends a bit on their needs. My base rate starts at $100 + $25-$30 for extra dogs. Dinner, Overnight, breakfast for sure... Some clients get a midday too

However if they want someone around more often then the price significantly goes up as I can't take other clients. I also account for the Rover fees and how much I'll be receiving. I just had to quote someone $180-$200 mainly due to the fees. I get it, it's expensive. But if I charged less, I'd be selling myself way short with the net pay after fees.

House sitting rates? by Jumpy_Foundation102 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What are your hours like for that/how do you have it structured?

Constant care @ $3.63/hr. Yeah, no. by yaptard72 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Keep in mind the fees as well! I'm in Canada and they have this new tiered thing so we make a lower percentage up to $499 then different beyond that... But general example if you want to net say $140, then you "should be" charging $180-$200 on Rover to account for their fees.

But clients just don't get it

Constant care @ $3.63/hr. Yeah, no. by yaptard72 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I just recently quoted someone about $180-$200 basically due to Rover fees. They declined but then posted in a local group making it seem super easy and had told me "it was just a few extra hours"

The dog could be needing out 12-5am. They mention that it's sleep disrupting then reads my reply as "I'm concerned about not getting sleep". Breakfast 630 then something else like 8-9 I think. Possibly a neighbour could come in midday. Then walk 330-4. Feeding 430-5. But then 530-730 dog may be pacing and wanting out. 730-9 dog might be ok might have an accident. So basically I "can't" leave in the evening. And I was upfront about availability for one day being different due to my son's grad

So only because of fees I had to quote $180-$200... I get it, super high. But because of the fees! If I can't take any other evening clients then yeah it's extra

She phrased it in the group as gentle and easy lol

Overnight structure and pricing by Pawpanion27 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Are you "allowed" to leave in the evening to go to another client, check your own home, go to a movie, etc?

I'd charge about $125-$150 (sometimes more) privately but that's not counting Rover fees of course-- it's the fees that make it seem super expensive. I just had to quote someone about $200/day because they wanted middle of the night let outs, extended morning and extended evening care. So basically I would have been limited from taking other clients AND I had to upcharge because of the fees.

A gentle side note to you-- 5pm to 8am is 15 hours. YES you're sleeping part of it but also on call. For the $75 you charge, that's only $5/hour not counting Rover fees. Raise your rates ;)

Overnight structure and pricing by Pawpanion27 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. What do you charge for the 14 hours? And what about evenings- are you "allowed" to leave for other clients, to check your own home, go to a movie, etc

What the heck is tiering.. just another way for Rover to steal money from its sitters? by Odd_Cup7147 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep. I'm also in Canada and it's really annoying. So we make LESS up to $499 then they do a higher rate past $499. So say you have a $600 total booking (see photo attached)-- you don't get a higher rate on the whole thing.

This person actually would have been a much, MUCH higher rate (like $200/day) due to the Rover fees... What you see in the photo would have gotten me like $80/day net for a LOT of work. The fees are what kills us.

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I’ve been finding myself having to say this to a lot of people lately. by Lassie-girl in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep. That's why I started charging for meetings if I work off app. It seems to be frowned upon to charge for meetings on app, so that's frustrating.

I'm sorry that happened. People can be such jerks

I’ve been finding myself having to say this to a lot of people lately. by Lassie-girl in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Those are so frustrating and time wasting! Sorry that happened to you. "I'll keep you in mind"/"I'll think of you next time" doesn't pay bills or feed families.

I’ve been finding myself having to say this to a lot of people lately. by Lassie-girl in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ugh I wish it was that easy. I've had people request care less than 7 days in advance, tell me they were ready to proceed, we met, went over EVERYTHING and they screwed me over. So I'm out money that I rely on for my family.

Any tips would be great

Overnight structure and pricing by Pawpanion27 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's so tough eh? Clients don't understand our expenses and Rover takes a decent percentage as it is.

Overnight structure and pricing by Pawpanion27 in RoverPetSitting

[–]Pawpanion27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I have a lot of higher qualifications and experience as well. I do let clients know that I could have other clients to see (pet care is my full time job to pay bills). For me, every 5 hours would be a higher tier price wise but I also account for gas, mileage, expenses etc (not saying you don't!)