I could seriously CRY here...

[Bookworm]

Hugs to you! Sorry that things are difficult right now. Hopefully things fall in place soon.
That's kinda funny that she emailed you back for an interview. Your email must have made her look at daycare from a different perspective, hopefully. Here's to hoping she is everything you are looking for in a client, and that she decides to sign on.

[Skysue]

Have you considered a price to quote to clients without reciepts? When they come for an interview say my rates are $38.00 a day with reciepts and $30.00 a day without? If you can't beat them join them 1/2 way.

Does your ad say this in the info line so you can ween out the "CHEAP" daycare clients?

I know people will come for quality over cheap daycare you just haven't met them yet!

Breath

You will meet them soon, I just know it! I wouldn't send anymore e-mails like that though as these kinds of people will never get it! Or amybe they will, glad to hear she wants an interview! You are better than them so rise above it!

HUGS

[sunnydays]

Have you considered a price to quote to clients without reciepts? When they come for an interview say my rates are $38.00 a day with reciepts and $30.00 a day without? If you can't beat them join them 1/2 way.

Does your ad say this in the info line so you can ween out the "CHEAP" daycare clients?

I know people will come for quality over cheap daycare you just haven't met them yet!

Breath

You will meet them soon, I just know it! I wouldn't send anymore e-mails like that though as these kinds of people will never get it! Or amybe they will, glad to hear she wants an interview! You are better than them so rise above it!

HUGS

Although I understand your sentiment and I know that many daycare providers do this, I would NEVER have an agreement to not provide reciepts! This is actually illegal and even if the person agrees to it, they have a legal right to ask for reciepts come tax time...or report you to CRA. Alpha, I think it's great that you answered the email as you did...obviously it worked as you got an interview out of it! sometimes parents just don't understand at all what kind of costs we have or how much more it costs to run a quality program versus the cheapo operations. I am crossing my fingers for you

[Sunflower]

First of all((hugs)) to you, I KNOW how trying it can be to be brushed aside for cheaper care.
I am in Quebec and here, if you have an unlicensed daycare the average price per day is $ 25 !!!!
If you are licensed it's $ 33 per day but here parents are subsidized if they get a spot in a licensed daycare so they only pay $7 !!!
When I first opened I was private and charged $25 per day, it seriously took me months to finally fill spots. I had people say $25 was too much and go with providers who charged $20 per day.
At first I felt defeated but after a while I realized I was WAY better than those daycares and if the parents were too ignorant to realize that then too bad. I didn't need those kinds of parents here anyways.
You should be proud that you provide quality care and don't worry, there ARE people out there willing to pay for it

[dodge__driver11]

I would never do under the table for the reasons kanga stated I think its just better to keep it above board

[mom-in-alberta]

<<BIIIIIIGGGG HUUUUGGGGS>>
That sucks, but you had a great response, and it seems like she understood. I know it's so hard to remember, but you WILL find the right families. And in the end, you'll be glad that you're working with parents whose children are more than just an expenditure.
"Fill 'er up vibes" to you!!!

[jec]

((((Hugs))))
When I started up my daycare here, I experienced the same!! Seems like every other house is charging less but offers less as well with more kids.
It's taken me about 9 months with having to terminate one family to rebuild after we moved. Seems talking to other providers who have established daycares....that move, have to rebuild just like someone starting off again.
Stick to your guns- you offer quality care which again soon you will have your reputation as an excellent daycare provider to back you up again!!
Don't know if this will help but I found that there were sooooo many in my area and when I posted on Kijiji ( which is where they do in this area) my web site was just getting stripped of ideas and showing up on the other provider's sites/advertisements. So I had to think outside the box to attract new clients. I changed my way of advertising and posted that anyone can paint a playroom, fill it with toys and have someone create a web site. The best way to know a provider is through references. I got a few past and my current 2 famlies at the time to write me a testimonial for my site- putting that forward- I got more calls. Maybe it will work for you too?
Good luck on your interview with this lady again
Keep positive- hard to do when your getting so many doors slammed but you know your worth every penny.