$2,160...loyalty tax?

Hi All,

For those that have little or no patience...don't read my post!!! For those that do have patience, I value your feedback and thank you in advance for your time to read and comment. In an effort answer questions that may come up, I am adding details that are not relevant to my question but add to my mindset.

I am in the USA. I have a request today for a 36 night sit out in Colorado. This is one of the two families that started with me years ago that I still have and maintain a relationship with.

My current rate is $150/night for sitting, I only sit. I charge the same for 1-3 animals, cats and dogs only. Weekends/holidays/puppies/kittens...whatever, $150/night. My only exception to this, is my 6 hour rule. I want the luxury to go hiking/skiing/biking, so if I can't be away from a home for 6 hours, I decline sits or offer an alternative. The alternative is to double my rates. Some people get nasty but three people have paid me the high rates, and two of them ended up becoming repeats. I do have one of those sits (repeat) booked already in December for 7 nights. Tipping...I never plan on them, frankly I am happy with a bottle of wine and don't really care about a tip because I charge enough for myself in the first place so I don't rely on tips. But some people do tip, most don't and I like them all the same.

For this family, my rate started out at $90/night and I continue to hold this rate for them. Rewarding loyalty is something I believe in. They were the first sit that was non-local to me and at that time, I was charging $90/night. Last year, I did two sits for them, 7 days and 13 days.

But, while I genuinely love animals and don't have my own right now, I am doing this to make money, not to be a nice guy. I started doing this when my dogs died and have enjoyed it. But keeping my old rates for them takes $2,160 from my gross. So, potentially missing out on thousands of dollars has me thinking.

For what it is worth, the sit is in a $6MM home in the mountains with two adult cats that need to be fed once a day. The cats are awesome. The couple make sure the home is well stocked for me, I have the option to use the old car in the garage (I decline that) and I am permitted to have friends and family over. I have flown friends and family out every other time I stay so they can experience what I am paid to do, which to me is a luxury. The generosity they extend to me is rare. I also make sure to arrive a day early to enjoy a nice dinner and they have allowed me to stay for a couple days once they return as a guest. Please note, a tip is appreciated and never expected so I don't include that as part of this situation. But for those that will ask this couple also tips 20% (cash off Rover) as well. It doesn't mean they will...but they have in the past for every sit.

I am also doing quite well, I am booked as much as I want to be and I am very picky with my sits...AI formulas Rover creates don't matter to me. I still decline many sits and still get new families.

Part of me wants to charge them more...maybe not $150/night more but at least start bringing it up a bit. I mean, compared to my normal rate, it is starting to add up. That isn't chump change to me. For this sit as it stands, I will gross $3,240. At my current rates, this sit should gross $5,400. So, just think about that.

Some options to consider;

  1. Just be happy with the $90/night sit for 36 nights and keep my rates the same for this couple. Considering all the extra perks and just how good they are...I am likely going towards this option.
  2. Let them know my rate has been $150 for all of 2024 (this sit is in 2025) and that after this sit, I will raise the rate for them to $115/night.
  3. Counter with $115/night and remind them I charge $150/night.
  4. Something else?

Thank you for feedback. I WILL answer questions (same or next day) and I WILL provide an update once this is all booked!

EDIT

  1. MINOR GRAMMAR CHANGES, THANKS TO u/-dogs_are_good- (did I do this right???).
  2. ONCE MY SCHEDULE IS CLEARED TO DO THIS SIT, I WILL MAKE A DECISION. I WILL UPDATE WITH A NEW POST SOMETIME THIS WEEKEND OR VERY EARLY NEXT WEEK WHEN I HAVE TIME TO TYPE THIS FROM A COMPUTER VERSUS MY PHONE.
  3. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE THAT COMMENTED, FROM THIS POINT ON I WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO COMMENTS AS I GOT THE FEEDBACK I REQUESTED. I WILL BE POINTING OUT A COUPLE SPECIFIC USERS THAT HELPED THE MOST. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!
  4. 10/31/2024, 06:12 CDT. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!