u/ihatebeetles22

I put out a number of outdoor furniture items in excellent condition (my local charity shops don't have room to stage outdoor furniture) and a bunch of random household goods including a gigantic soft-sided dog travel crate. Within the day someone had come by to collect everything except for the dog crate.

I unfolded it and structured it properly so it was visible and clear exactly what it was. Since it was the only item out there I suppose, a nice young lady came up and actually knocked on my door to see if it was in fact available for the taking. After all the FB and ND flakes, I was delighted that someone would be so polite and conscientious! I thanked her for collecting it and wished her and her dog much enjoyment with the crate!

I've been sitting for decades and I've noticed quite a distinct change in definitions of overnights. I'm curious as far as marketing goes as some people post rates, others do not and attribute that to customization. Is it harder to market the clients if you are posting rates but your definition is very different than that of another sitter. The clients who shop by rates just see $50 for an overnight but don't necessarily quantify that rate. I wonder if it works to your favor or against you?

How do you define an overnight? I have seen all sorts of structures: pet dinner time at 5:00 p.m. to the next morning, 8p to next morning, 24-hour cycle with night time to morning and one or two included drop-ins during the day. What constitutes morning? What constitutes evening? Do you include a drop in? Is it straight time night to morning with drop-ins extra? Maybe include your geographical area in case that has any effect on it too. Thank you so much!

I'm a pro sitter, 40 years experience, full-time past 10 years. Started a job yesterday, second gig for this client. Client declined an afternoon drop in for the day they were leaving and I was just supposed to start on the overnight. However, client left early afternoon and I was going to head over early just for the courtesy to the dog not the client and at 6:30 p.m. we were having torrential downpours in my area. I texted the client about the weather situation and just said I'm going to wait out the storm because driving is unsafe.

On my way over 45 minutes later I get a phone call from client who wanted to know if I was on my way . I stated I was and client advised her neighbor stated that there was no extreme weather in their area, essentially challenging me. First off, I was going over early as a courtesy as she didn't want to pay for an additional drop in, and it wasn't like she had asked if it would be safe to drive, did we need to have the neighbor pop in on the dog if it will be a while, or is everything okay?

Nope, it was not an interest in the dogs comfort, my safety or anything other than seemingly trying to "catch me" in a lie about the weather. I was so annoyed that she was essentially challenging my integrity that I'm done with her after this sit. I have never had any issues with clients, no complaints no complaints from this client either. All of a sudden though, I was essentially being accused of lying. I will complete the job but I'm sick of people who treat pet sitters like second class citizens while their expectations are wild and they consistently decline to pay appropriately for services. I've just had it with the disparity in clients - I have some fabulous ones and then you have the other ones that just suck. Rant over.

I’m a professional pet sitter with a recently tightened service radius because my city is huge — 104 square miles — and it can take 35–40 minutes just to get from one side to the other.

A new client reached out for a one‑night sit. They described it as “easy” — feed dog dinner, let him out, come back for the overnight, feed and let out in the morning. Because it was a one‑off, I even gave them a discount and included one drop‑in for free (I know, shouldn't have done that.)

They gave me cross streets that looked like an 8.5‑mile drive, which is outside my new radius but manageable for one night. They said they’d get back to me about the meet & greet.

A week goes by, no communication.

I assume the sit is dead.

Then suddenly, one week before the actual sit, they message asking to schedule the meet & greet —and they pick a date three days before the sit, which leaves almost no room for adjustments and just assumes that everything is going to be hunky-dory on both sides.

They finally send the exact address and it turns out the sit is actually 13 miles away, not 8.5. With the meet & greet + the sit itself, that’s three round trips, about 78 miles total. At the federal mileage rate, I’d lose half the profit before even factoring in time.

They suggested a meet & greet time that falls at the end of peak work day traffic. I politely asked if we could do it earlier because it would take me 35–40 minutes to get there at that hour.

Instead of offering another time or even suggesting the weekend (which would’ve made more sense), the client responds with:

“Then you must be in [neighboring city], not [our city].

Not a question.

Not an offer of an alternate time. Just… a weird, presumptive challenge, as if I don’t know where I am.

It came off rude and dismissive — like I’m just sitting at home waiting, or like my time isn’t real. Even if I were coming from Timbuktu, I still don’t want to drive 40 minutes unpaid for a last minute meet & greet.

I waited overnight thinking maybe they would realize the tone was off and offer another option.

Nothing.

So this morning I sent:

“I’m going to respectfully decline this sit. Thank you.”

No drama. No explanation. Just done.

AITA for declining?

I had a service call at my house that is based on a USD125 base rate for the call regardless of if it's a 5 minute or 30 minute or hour visit. The service I had was 8 minutes to program a water system which I didn't know how to do myself. They made $125 for 8 minutes. Then I got the invoice and it gives you an opportunity to tip with the suggested minimum of 15% 20% 25% and custom. Do they genuinely think anybody wants to pay $150 for 8 minutes using the standard 20% gratuity rate? Absolutely insane. Not even creative labor not anything hazardous not anything stupendous. Just predatory. I hate the mandatory or now newly suggested fill in the blank tip culture, it sucks.