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Changing pet sitters based on price - awkward situation

coconutcurls
coconutcurls Posts: 221 Forumite
100 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
edited 16 October 2022 at 8:21PM in Pets & pet care
Hi 

I use a dog sitter from time to time which I trust and recommend 100%

However I just came accross another sitter who seems just as good and charges half price for the same service

I have already cancelled on my current sitter once since my daughter would be at home and could look after the dog herself - saving us money - if money was not an issue I would have not cancelled

However I booked her for an important day coming up but now with the prospect of paying half price instead I am tempted to cancel again - which I don’t feel good about

But the main issue is - the two sitters live very close to one another and most likely will run into each other at the dog park - and this could cause an awkward situation especially if I am not honest with sitter 1 before using sitter 2

Am I overthinking it? 
What would be the best way to go about it?

Should I use sitter 1 for the day already booked then explain that I will have to go with sitter 2 in the future for financial reasons? Or just cancel and save money?


It is just facts that one day with sitter 1 equals two days with sitter 2. 

Fun fact - both sitters seem to be better off then me anyway, judging by their lifestyle and home location - but I need to go to the office sometimes and pay for doggycare. 

Comments

  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,277 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I would suggest you complete your booking with your current sitter, and then use the less expensive one in future. Although saving money is usually a good thing, in this case, you booked the current sitter knowing that you could afford to pay them. 

    I would also suggest that you try to book the new sitter for a day when your daughter could also cover if the sitter lets you down. You are effectively paying money you don't need to (if you daughter is able to cover), but I think it is probably worth it to check that the new sitter is reliable. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • 74jax
    74jax Posts: 7,930 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I would go with your original sitter for the day booked in. Then do a shorter session with the new sitter when you are available, to make sure all is OK and you are on hand for any issues. If all OK use them in future. 
    Forty and fabulous, well that's what my cards say....
  • Nearlyold
    Nearlyold Posts: 2,380 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If your current sitter has always been reliable, does what they say they're going to do with no shortcuts and it's for an "important day" then stick with your original sitter, otherwise you might be faced with a last minute no show. 

    You can always give the cheaper one a trial at another time to see what they're like on a day when a no show wouldn't be too much of an issue.

    We used to run a pet sitting business ourselves and would get the occasional customer wanting to jump ship and use someone else who was just starting out, cheaper, a friend of a friend or whatever.  Most of the time a few weeks later they'd be asking if they could come back to us.
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