Would you ever contact another provider for information?

[Spixie33]

No I have never done that nor do I think I ever would.
I did check other people's ads when I was starting to see what they were offering and the pricing etc....and occassionally I will look up other daycares to see if they have pictures and what their set up is like etc....but beyond that I can't imagine why you would need to go 'undercover' for info.
I see other providers at the park and at early years and if I have a question I sometimes will ask them or else I come on the forum to get feedback. Beyond that I am not sure why people would do that.
Sometimes I find that other providers are too nosy with me. They will ask me all about my set up, rates, number of children, MY ADDRESS (WTH?) and how much I paid for certain things, what I serve for lunch and snacks etc. I don't mind sharing the info most of the time but sometimes I do get the REALLY nosy ones like the one who asks me about my house size, address, etc and I know she wants to do a driveby and check me out and look me up. Those are kind of annoying but whatever floats their boat I guess.

[Sandbox Sally]

I agree. It IS sneaky and dishonest. But, would you condone it if you were highly suspect it was a warehouser or someone otherwise operating illegally?

Most definitely.

[Bugaboo]

I have contacted another provider for information, however, I was completely honest about who I was and where I was coming from. I told her I was a new provider and that I had heard of her "through the grape vine" from other people in the neighbourhood- she has a reputation of being an excellent provider. We have actually talked quite a few times since then back and forth. I would have not issues doing it again or having someone contact me AS LONG as they are honest and up front.

[VictoriaChildCare]

I'll admit to being nosy - I LOVE seeing other provider's set ups, we can all use a 'freshen up' from time to time and you never know what ideas someone else's daycare might spark for you. When I was doing 'orientation' when I was first licensed we were required to spend the morning in 2 different home daycares. I have to say that was the best thing they could have done for me. I got to see a home daycare in action and ask any questions that came to mind and I got real answers. I have become very close friends with one of the providers I visited 11 years ago and we still talk daily.
That being said; I would never contact another provider under false pretenses and I'd be pissed if someone did that to me. Don't waste my time. I'd be happy to talk to you about opening your home daycare, in fact I think it should be mandatory for new providers to visit experienced providers. If this would prevent even 1 daycare injury/case of neglect/abuse it's worth it.
I have people email me with questions often when I have a dc space posted on kijiji.
Actually I find that after I post on kijiji a few ads look awfully similar

[Judy Trickett]

.........in fact I think it should be mandatory for new providers to visit experienced providers. If this would prevent even 1 daycare injury/case of neglect/abuse it's worth it.

Statistically, most kids who are abused or die from purposeful acts on the part of the provider, come from homes with "experienced" older providers who have been in business years.

[playfelt]

It isn't illegal to discuss fees but you have to be careful that out of that discussion doesn't come the price-fixing which is illegal. If for example a group of caregivers in an area got together and discussed their daycares and decided you know I think we could get more for our services - if we all charged teh same amount parents would just have to pay it. That is the part that is illegal - why they were investigating price fixing at the gas pumps, etc. It seems silly but we do come under some of the same rules as major corporations, etc.

Indirectly we do the same on our own by checking out the ads of other caregivers to find out what the "going rates" are in our area and generally set our rates at the same as everyone else. But that is ok - it is just the I can't talk to you and together we agree to set our rates at a certain amount - limiting competition. We were warned that there is such a fine line that it is better to leave fees out of as many discussions as possible.

[Judy Trickett]

It isn't illegal to discuss fees but you have to be careful that out of that discussion doesn't come the price-fixing which is illegal. If for example a group of caregivers in an area got together and discussed their daycares and decided you know I think we could get more for our services - if we all charged teh same amount parents would just have to pay it. That is the part that is illegal - why they were investigating price fixing at the gas pumps, etc. It seems silly but we do come under some of the same rules as major corporations, etc.

Indirectly we do the same on our own by checking out the ads of other caregivers to find out what the "going rates" are in our area and generally set our rates at the same as everyone else. But that is ok - it is just the I can't talk to you and together we agree to set our rates at a certain amount - limiting competition. We were warned that there is such a fine line that it is better to leave fees out of as many discussions as possible.

Ah, don't you know already that I live in the grey area of life?!

[sunnydays]

Well, this is all new to me, but I suppose I at least understand where the rule came from. I think it is very important for new providers to find out what other providers are charging though so that they can set appropriate and fair rates and not undersell themselves or bring down the fees of everyone else (although I don't condone the sneaky methods the original poster was talking about...I have never and would never do that). Daycare centres are surely privvy to what the rates of other centres are when they set their fees (or raise their fees) as are agencies. I don't see why we shouldn't have the right to the same information.

[Momof4]

I keep all my emails and notes from interviews in a book too so I can refer back if anything looks suspicious, like a family who jumps from daycare to daycare. Have you ever had an interview and something tells you that the woman is pumping you for intormation so they can open their own dayare? Now I find that sneaky.

[playfelt]

That is one of the reasons I won't interview a mother without the child. I did have one mom come a few years ago who had set up appointments to gether info from several daycares as a way of ruling out the ones she didn't want and then once she had narrowed it down to 5 she was going to bring hubby and child for a second interview. I just didn't like her attitude at the interview so didn't allow her to come for the return interview.

I have had a potential daycare provider ask to come over during the day to sort of observe and decide if she was as committed to it as she thought. I let her come because I knew her but not sure I would let a stranger do that. Would totally depend on how they got my name.