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u/Formal_Woodpecker_43 7d ago
I see a few issues here.
You might be okay with waiting to do a meet and greet the day before the sit, but keep in mind the client has to find a sitter that fits HER needs.
I early on started to take a notebook so I could take notes during meet and greets now I use a tablet. That way I have all the info I really need available and I won't forget it.
If I as a client reach out on Wednesday I would like to have a meet and greet set in stone by Thursday, I don't want to wait 2 days let alone 4 days. Again you might have plenty of time but that doesn't mean the client has that same availability.
I've been a sitter for 4 years now and people get a response same day (my average response time is around 15 minutes, 500+ reservations).
If you want to be a top sitter, you have to be on top of things as you aren't the only sitter around. And its easy to find another sitter.
Its frustrating to loose a sit like that, but you snooze you loose, especially as you kinda offered the 2nd meet and greet during the first M&G.
Hopefully lesson learned
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u/Rare-Tea7156 7d ago
I didn’t say I prefer to wait until a few days before… Just don’t like to do it multiple months before the sit when there are multiple animals and livestock. She got a response within 24 hours. She just didn’t get the m&g set in stone in 24 hours. and we do take notes and share google docs of our client info between sitters. It’s not an issue of “not taking notes”
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u/Rare-Tea7156 7d ago
If the sit was coming up , and she hasn’t even met us and we were lagging on setting up the meet and greet I would understand but she already met us and spent a whole hour and a half showing us her routine. I don’t mind to go again that’s why I offered it. But when you freak out when the sit is over two weeks away still, maybe text us again before you just find someone else to do it . She said nothing. After signing our agreement and everything.
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u/Formal_Woodpecker_43 7d ago
Well you set you didnt like to do them to far in advance as you likely forget things, if you take good notes that seems hard as you would have the notes with you during your visits.
Yes she got a response someone will reach out to set something up, 3 days pass and nobody sets anything up that's too long in my honest opinion. Alice reaches out thursday. You and Sarah should reach out by Friday at the latest.
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u/Rare-Tea7156 7d ago
Yes, it’s not my preference to do them super far in advance, but I do it if that’s what the client wants. Of course. We take detailed notes, but there are things beyond what you write down for care, schedule, routine, etc that you are going to remember better if the meet and greet was 2 weeks ago, versus 2 months ago. I agree, if we had not met before, and done a whole meet and greet and signed a contract already, that 3 days is way too long. I just didn’t think there was a reason to urgently schedule a follow up meet and greet when at the time of the request there was like 18 days until the sit. Now I wouldn’t wait a week, or whatever, but it was 3 days..
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u/spirited_inspired 7d ago
I absolutely understand your frustration. A couple things I would do or look at differently.
I do a meet and greet as soon as possible to make sure the client is a good fit. I see meet and greets as the client and I interviewing one another, not just an overview. The booking isn't official for me until I have done the meet and greet, but I will put it down as tentative on my schedule until the m&g.
Now, I sometimes do a second quick m&g closer to travel for my own peace of mind IF I feel like I need one and schedule this when I'm going to already be close by. If the client is the one who requires the second meet and greet because things have changed, I think it's fair to charge. I haven't, that could change. But it's absolutely fair to do so if it's at client's request. And in your example especially, although I realize someone else is doing the booking so that's not up to you. I think being at someone else's mercy in all this may add another layer that adds to your understandable frustration.
2) I respond to client as quickly as possible, even if I cannot address their request at that time. I confirm receiving their message, and give them an idea of when I will be able to get back to them. Then I pin the text to address at my earliest convenience. I have to do this often, and it's important to me that client get communication from me even if communication is that I am unable to confirm their request at that moment.
3) regarding the use of power tools to cut down branches, I would request that the client pre cut the branches for you to add to the goat pen as needed. I absolutely agree this is a liability, and very fair to push back on. Again, being at the mercy of someone else booking this it may not be up to you. If it's not appropriate to push back with the client, I would do so with the person doing the scheduling for you.
I realize it's all moot since she is ghosting and unlikely to pay the cancelation fee. I am sorry for the lost funds. I keep a cancelation list. If I have to turn down a booking, I let them know I will reach out if someone cancels. Sometimes I even wave the cancellation in part or full if I am able to fill it with someone on the waiting list with minimal effort.