Birthday Idea for a Mom

[apples and bananas]

I appreciate your point of view Judy. I agree with you to a point. I think if I offer something like... you don't pay for stats, I'm setting a new standard for the community. So when that client goes to the next provider and they charge for stats, they don't understand why. I'm raising the clients expectation. If I make a card then the next provider looks like they don't care because I did it and they don't feel they have to. I'm raising the expectations of the proffesion by offering more then what someone else feels is "there job".

I spent an hour last night price matching with 5 different grocery flyers in prep to do my shopping this week. So, if the superstore offers price matching, I go there to shop. And I take all of the cheap no frills and basics prices with me. But at the end of the day, The Superstore gets my business. Basics can be as ticked off as they'd like, they're just advertising for another store in my opinion.

I think it's called being competitive. I do these things for my clients and my kids because it keeps me competitive. It's a small thing that means a lot. My clients will stay with me because I do these extras and they will recommend me because I do these extras.

In response to your tim hortons/mcdonalds analogy. Things have changed. They work much harder to maintain that client and be competitive. Now they have starbucks, coffee cultures, fancier coffee's, latte's. Mcdonalds has harveys and wendy's along with the effort to stay healthy, combat new fast food trends like sushi etc. They have had to educate themselves because they're not just selling burgers and donuts anymore. Just like we've had to educate because clients expect more then free play and tv time.

So, I choose to stay competitive. I choose to LOVE my job and what I do. And I choose to come onto forums like this to gain advise, support and other views.

I appreciate your view Judy, I think it's a horribly negative way to look at life and our carreer choice, but I appreciate it just the same.

[Nottellin']

So, I choose to stay competitive. I choose to LOVE my job and what I do. And I choose to come onto forums like this to gain advise, support and other views.

I appreciate your view Judy, I think it's a horribly negative way to look at life and our carreer choice, but I appreciate it just the same.

So if you choose to get other opinions why were you so offended when Judy gave hers?

I have to ask...how long have you been running a daycare? I can garuntee that Judy has way more experience and child care hours under her belt then you. Maybe instead of getting defensive you should try to hear what someone with a ton of experience was trying to tell you.

Sometimes things like "make a birthday gift" trickle into other expectations and thus lead to real problems.

And I know you think what you are doing is valued...but it isn't. When someone values the job you do, the don't ask you to do more because they already think that you already do more then enough. This parent implied that you don't do enough and so he asked you to do more.

[KingstonMom]

This parent implied that you don't do enough and so he asked you to do more.

I think you are over thinking this.
Its just a Dad dropping off his kid to a daycare simply asking a favour of the provider.
Relax people!!!!

Whats next?? You are the kind of people who dont hold doors open for others because "If you do it for one, you will be stuck doing it for them all!!"
Where is a little common courteousy and generosity?!

[Nottellin']

I think you are over thinking this.
Its just a Dad dropping off his kid to a daycare simply asking a favour of the provider.
Relax people!!!!

Whats next?? You are the kind of people who dont hold doors open for others because "If you do it for one, you will be stuck doing it for them all!!"
Where is a little common courteousy and generosity?!

I'm not over thinking it.

Please tell me in what other service industry that it would be ok to ask for a favour?

Daycare is a business. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with courteously and generosity. Do you think my server at the Olive Garden would run out and get me a bottle of Dom Perignon to be courteous and generous? No, that isn't their job.
Do you think that Walmart will special order me the flavour of coffee I want to buy? No, it isn't their job.

Why is daycare any different?

[apples and bananas]

I'm not over thinking it.

Please tell me in what other service industry that it would be ok to ask for a favour?

Daycare is a business. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with courteously and generosity. Do you think my server at the Olive Garden would run out and get me a bottle of Dom Perignon to be courteous and generous? No, that isn't their job.
Do you think that Walmart will special order me the flavour of coffee I want to buy? No, it isn't their job.

Why is daycare any different?

This is where we differ in opinion. That server should do his/her best to satisfy your request. I come from the service and tourist industry. I worked for a company that worked towards "wowing" customers. We went above and beyond every chance we could, and celebrated that.

You go to disney world and you are wowed left right and centre. Their job IS to satisfy the customer in any way they can.

That's how I look at my job. I go above and beyond to satsify my clients.

[monkeymama]

This is where we differ in opinion. That server should do his/her best to satisfy your request. I come from the service and tourist industry. I worked for a company that worked towards "wowing" customers. We went above and beyond every chance we could, and celebrated that.

You go to disney world and you are wowed left right and centre. Their job IS to satisfy the customer in any way they can.

That's how I look at my job. I go above and beyond to satsify my clients.

Disney world sure isn't handing out all those "wow" factors for fee. You pay a pretty penny for them.

[apples and bananas]

Disney world sure isn't handing out all those "wow" factors for fee. You pay a pretty penny for them.

Absolutely! I don't care for kids for free either. I have a business. I do charge to care for children. I know I'm not going to get rich doing it. If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it. And making clients happy, making kids happy, going above and beyond makes it enjoyable for me.

I also have a full daycare and am booked solid for the next 2 years. I have referrals all over the place. I have people call me because they've heard about me. I'm sure you all do to, but this is how I maintain my business and this is the model I choose to follow.

[Nottellin']

This is where we differ in opinion. That server should do his/her best to satisfy your request. I come from the service and tourist industry. I worked for a company that worked towards "wowing" customers. We went above and beyond every chance we could, and celebrated that.

You go to disney world and you are wowed left right and centre. Their job IS to satisfy the customer in any way they can.

That's how I look at my job. I go above and beyond to satsify my clients.

You can "wow" your customers and still say no.

Can you imagine if I went to Disneyland and said " I don't like fireworks, I want a light show instead". Do you think they would do it or would I get a "No"?

Do you really think your server is going to run to the liquor store for you and neglect all, her other tables and miss out on tips just to do you a favour?

Do you really think Walmart is going to go out of their way to contact a supplier and create a ton of paperwork just to get you your coffee?

No. I have also worked in the service industry, and big companies aren't in the habit of saying yes, they are in the habit of saying no , but not making you feel bad about it.