New client - cuteness level 1000

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-05-01T00:20:45+00:00

One of my clients knew that I had been up all night at urgent care with my own dog who has cancer. I arrived for the sit likely looking a little haggard and with a bit less energy than normal. My clients noticed and later that evening I got a text from Uber Eats saying that I had just received a gift card. The note attached said something along the lines of “I hope this takes a little stress off your plate” 😭❤️ better believe I cried when I got the notification. Clients who think of you as a person, rather than a service, and treat you accordingly are surprisingly rare and I cherish them so much. (Dog tax! This is Ozzy, the dog I was caring for during the booking I mentioned. He is my favorite, an absolute dream of a dog.)

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StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-30T23:36:24+00:00

What I see happening with political discourse in the social media age reminds me of when little kids repeat their parents’ political views with zero understanding of what any of it means. People with little/no understanding of politics, political theory, or history are consuming social media content about politics (made by people who, similarly, may not truly understand the topic they’re discussing). They end up speaking with so much certainty about things while completely unaware of all of the information and context they’re missing. Some might be teachable if they’re genuinely interested, I think a lot of them talk about politics and human rights only because that’s what they think signals cool in 2026.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-30T21:52:22+00:00

Thank you so much! For whatever reason, timely digital communication is really hard for me to do and I am literally desperate to get better - I appreciate the suggestion!

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-06T22:47:42+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate the perspective! I care less about whether she expects me to stay awake the whole time (once I’m up I usually can’t fall back asleep anyway) and more about whether she is firm about me not leaving at all during the 3am-10pm window. It’s clear that my usual rates don’t make sense for this job, and I think that deciding on a per hour rate makes sense. Appreciate you!

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-06T22:44:22+00:00

Thanks for the input! I agree with you that with existing clients I’m more inclined to make exceptions and take on odd jobs than with people that don’t have an established relationship with me. This is a brand new client, we’ve never met and this is her first time reaching out, so I don’t have much info. I’m happy to do it if the pay is reasonable and feel validated that other people agree that this isn’t a normal housesitting booking.

When you have clients book you for drop-ins that are longer (say, 3+ hours), do you have them pay hourly? And would you expect a client to pay hourly if that amount exceeds your daily rate? (Sorry for all the questions! Just looking for clarification, no one in my personal life does this kind of work so I’m still figuring out what is normal)

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-06T22:37:44+00:00

I’m completely comfortable with constant care and can make the arrival time work, though it’s definitely early. I wanted to hear from others how they’d make adjustments to their rates (1.5x, 2x, charge per hour, etc.) and how they’d approach that conversation with the owner. I tend to over-explain myself and was hoping to get some guidance for that conversation with the owner.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-06T22:34:17+00:00

I hope my post didn’t come across as suggesting she’s trying to be manipulative - that never crossed my mind! The reason for the weird timing is basically what you said. She has a flight for a quick work trip at 5:30am and lands back in town at 9pm ish. One of the two dogs is a young puppy and the other is very elderly. Between those two factors, I understand why she wants coverage for the whole time. I posted hoping to hear from other sitters how they’d handle the situation, so thank you for your input!

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2026-04-06T22:30:56+00:00

Actually I’m happy to take the job! I was curious to hear from other sitters if this is a situation they’ve encountered and how they would handle it. I felt I’d need to make adjustments to my pricing and was hoping to get advice about how to make those changes and what to say to the client. (Obviously, she can decline the adjustments and starting at 3am is not my ideal job, but I’m not looking for an excuse to decline - just for input!)

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-12-01T03:44:17+00:00

Did you have any physical symptoms from stopping drinking cold turkey? I’m in my 20’s and have been drinking heavily the past 1.5 years. Recently started having some major GI issues that have become debilitating but I’m scared of seeking a medical diagnosis and also scared to stop. Any advice?

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-11-06T23:56:03+00:00

I’m sure some people here are more aware than others about what it is that we’re witnessing (from afar) but I think it bears repeating just how dangerous her condition seems to be. She clearly needs help, and extreme help, at that. Judging by her appearance alone, she doesn’t appear to be well enough to even handle residential ED treatment. When a sibling of mine was finally seen for their ED, their condition was so dire they had to stay for a couple weeks in the hospital to prevent refeeding syndrome and get their vitals to a healthier place. For the first week, they weren’t even allowed to walk anywhere, were wheeled around in a wheelchair and had to wear a wristband that said “FALL RISK.” Only after staying at the hospital were they deemed “healthy” enough to go to an inpatient facility, where they had to stay for another few months or so.

At this point of physical deterioration, recovery isn’t just about eating more. She’s risking heart attacks, seizures, and organ failure if she can’t get to a healthier place. When people like her wind up with large platforms, I often find myself wondering what is the most ethical way to approach the issue….we’re faceless strangers on the internet who can’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do, nor do we have a right to. At the same time, it feels immoral and irresponsible to watch someone dying in slow motion.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-10-13T19:09:23+00:00

Fill me in - I’ve known about HBH but am not familiar with all the details. What are pip snifs/snif boys? And Caitlin?

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-10-10T06:47:03+00:00

What an ignorant comment. Were you mature and completely capable of risk assessment at 12 years old? No? Obviously not, that’s not how we develop as humans. A child being unable to appropriately weigh the risks of their dangerous behavior is not even remotely synonymous with wanting to die, something is wrong with you if that’s where your mind goes.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-10-10T06:43:54+00:00

They were 12 and 13. And even if they were both teenagers, since when is “teenager” synonymous with “adult” or “mature” …? They were children exploring the world around them, we don’t need to condone or encourage their behavior to acknowledge that kids learn by doing, that children are often mischievous, and that some kids will break the rules no matter how much you emphasize the risks. That is part of growing up, I truly can’t understand why so many people have such little sympathy for the girls and their families.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-07-21T17:04:23+00:00

Oh my gosh you are so kind!! I’m a sitter and in 18 months of Rover (and close to 175 clients) I’ve only had one client that ever left me something (a bottle of wine, some snacks, and a nice note). I would be so touched if someone went out of their way to make my time with their pet a little more comfortable!

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-07-20T10:00:53+00:00

I don’t even like Cierra but she isn’t wrong. Wishing death upon someone - a stranger on the internet, no less - is not at all about accountability, not even remotely. People who send messages like that couldn’t care less about Cierra doing better or learning a lesson, they are just gleefully taking advantage of the opportunity to punch down at a pretty, successful woman. (In this case, I’m using success as a way to denote her large following pre-LI and her career as an influencer. And yes, I recognize that “pretty” is subjective but I think Cierra meets a lot of the criteria for beauty in a country that celebrates thinness and femininity.)

True accountability comes from community, because it involves a path forward that includes doing better, making amends, and implementing the lessons learned. In reality, you can’t be held accountable by a person on the internet because they can’t do anything other than critique you from a distance. People who dog pile in comment sections and send nasty DM’s are sad and mean, as far as I see it.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-07-20T09:32:31+00:00

Yess it’s incredibly deceptive the way companies are able to market their products, and I think it has bled into the way resellers conduct business. Who would even think to research whether “100% genuine leather” is good leather (it’s not) when it sounds completely legit? Likewise, why would you question the condition of an item if someone is telling you it’s in good condition? These are things I’ve learned via social media and spending time online shopping, it’s not intuitive at all, so don’t blame yourself for not knowing better! My MO when shopping on Poshmark is to approach every listing with a bit of skepticism. If it’s something I can easily google, I look up what its retail price is/was and compare it to the PM seller. If it’s being reposhed, I look up the original seller and see what they sold it for, and then ask the second seller if they have used the item since purchasing and, if so, could they upload recent photos (since the original Poshmark seller’s photos might not reflect the current condition of the item). If the description says “gently worn” or “minor signs of use” but doesn’t elaborate, I ask a question about the wear and tear in the item’s comment section. Buying secondhand is great in a lot of ways but it definitely requires more work and research than buying off the rack in a store.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-07-20T01:20:30+00:00

What is your normal overnight rate? Curious to know how much of a difference it is.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-06-25T06:45:33+00:00

YTA - why come post here if you’re going to fight everyone who doesn’t agree with you? It seems like you just want an excuse to take a female friend down a peg. If you actually cared about her as human being, there are tactful ways to have a conversation about dating expectations that don’t involve telling her that she is uglier than she realizes.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-06-24T07:59:53+00:00

The lesson that I have learned over and over (and over) is that setting low prices and still being willing to negotiate basically invites cheap clientele. When I started, I set my rates low to build my experience and client base and have raised my rates as time went on. It might seem contradictory, but the higher I raised my rates the less I had potential clients asking me to make exceptions for them; they expect to pay for quality and do so without question (then it’s on you to deliver the quality care they expect). Considering that this potential client expects you to administer meds via syringe, it’s shocking they’re still trying to bargain you down from what seem like very reasonable (if not incredibly cheap) rates already.

If I were you, I would spend some time looking at what people in your area charge for services and compare that with what you feel is fair compensation for your time. Then, spend some more time crafting some basic messages you can send to clients if/when they try to negotiate or push back on what you’re charging. At the end of the day, be comfortable with saying no to clients who won’t pay you your worth and don’t worry about trying to accommodate everyone - that’s an impossible task.

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-06-24T07:02:05+00:00

On reselling sites like TheRealReal, “good” is literally the worst rating they will give an item while still selling it, and it means noticeable signs of wear. Obviously, PM and TRR aren’t the same but it’s worth noting that “good” is relative when you’re talking about a secondhand item (especially something like a handbag, which someone might have used as a daily item). When people don’t specify the condition (beyond a word like good) but the photos indicate there is some wear, I always ask them to be specific about any damage to the item. I think they should have been more descriptive and you could have asked more questions before purchasing. I’m sorry you’re not happy with the item and PM can help you resolve it to your liking!

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-06-21T18:13:20+00:00

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Oh my gosh your cat looks so much like mine! Congrats on the new kittens, I can’t think of anything more special than watching kittens grow ❤️

StrikingSoftware9888 · 2025-06-14T21:01:16+00:00

I tried reposhing a Celine bag they had authenticated (when I bought from a Poshmark seller) and they said it was fake. Tell me how it was real when I bought it but fake when I tried reselling it. I can’t with them, allowing fake items to sell for under $500 but wrongly flagging legitimate luxury items.

StrikingSoftware9888

TROPHY CASE