What would you make of this email?

[laura_jayne]

Someone i used to work with has started up a childcare service where she will be like a nanny, come to your home and provide childcare. So i emailed her for a quote for my requirements. What do you make of it? It seems reluctant/wishy washy...

"Hi Laura,

Thank you for your Email!

I hope you are all okay!

Being honest, my childcare would probably not be your cheapest option. For the two sessions ~ Wednesday @ 3hrs and Friday @ 4.5hrs ~ You would be looking at £45.50 (£6 per hour), which is very expensive for you on a weekly basis.

The reason for this is that I am not a childminder, I would come to your home and provide childcare for Abigail. This would allow Abigail to keep to her usual routine and remain in familiar surroundings. I have completed my exam part of my Childminding course, but my home has not been assessed as yet, so I am unable to provide childminding services from my own home. This should be taking place in September. Until then, I am classed as a freelance nanny.

I am aware that compared to nurseries and chilminders, my fee's are high. My services are mostly aimed at emergency situations or evening babysitting, as for weekly arrangements, as my quote shows, it can get quite costly.

The majority of childminders however charge anywhere between £3.50 per hour and £5.00 per hour. Their fee's are cheaper, because they are able to care for more than one child at a time. As I am going to someone's home, I only get income for the amount of children in that home.

I do not charge if I am not providing childcare services. If you do not need my services, there is no charge. The majority of childminders and nurseries do charge, so that they do not loose their income.

Sorry about the long and drawn out email! I am more than happy to come and meet Abigail and also set up a weekly childcare service, but I also feel the need to point out that if you look in the area, you may find a childminder that does not charge as much! It all depends on what you are looking for in your childcare. Whether you want one to one childcare, or childcare where she can socialise! Own home or somewhere new etc.

Anyway, let me know what you decide, I hope I have been of some help! If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind Regards,
*********"

 

[Charlotte-j]

Reading it I got the idea she doesn't really want to do it, and possibly not because she thinks you won't be able to afford to do it often? Like you have very little money so won't be a regular income for her?
sorry if I just insulted you, just reading it and replying how i'd feel about it

 

[Whisper]

I think she is just warning you about the reasons why she charges so much, i think its quite good considering she would come to your home and fit around your schedule whereas other carers you have to fit more into their timescales (especially nurseries etc).

It also sounds as come September when her home is assessed she will be taking kids into her house to look after and wont be able to provide the kind of care she has quoted for now, so perhaps she is also warning you in a roundabout way that its most likely a temporary thing.

 

[laura_jayne]

Someone i used to work with has started up a childcare service where she will be like a nanny, come to your home and provide childcare. So i emailed her for a quote for my requirements. What do you make of it? It seems reluctant/wishy washy...

"Hi Laura,

Thank you for your Email!

I hope you are all okay!

Being honest, my childcare would probably not be your cheapest option. For the two sessions ~ Wednesday @ 3hrs and Friday @ 4.5hrs ~ You would be looking at £45.50 (£6 per hour), which is very expensive for you on a weekly basis.

The reason for this is that I am not a childminder, I would come to your home and provide childcare for Abigail. This would allow Abigail to keep to her usual routine and remain in familiar surroundings. I have completed my exam part of my Childminding course, but my home has not been assessed as yet, so I am unable to provide childminding services from my own home. This should be taking place in September. Until then, I am classed as a freelance nanny.

I am aware that compared to nurseries and chilminders, my fee's are high. My services are mostly aimed at emergency situations or evening babysitting, as for weekly arrangements, as my quote shows, it can get quite costly.

The majority of childminders however charge anywhere between £3.50 per hour and £5.00 per hour. Their fee's are cheaper, because they are able to care for more than one child at a time. As I am going to someone's home, I only get income for the amount of children in that home.

I do not charge if I am not providing childcare services. If you do not need my services, there is no charge. The majority of childminders and nurseries do charge, so that they do not loose their income.

Sorry about the long and drawn out email! I am more than happy to come and meet Abigail and also set up a weekly childcare service, but I also feel the need to point out that if you look in the area, you may find a childminder that does not charge as much! It all depends on what you are looking for in your childcare. Whether you want one to one childcare, or childcare where she can socialise! Own home or somewhere new etc.

Anyway, let me know what you decide, I hope I have been of some help! If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind Regards,
*********"

In fairness i was trying to determine whether or not it would be cheaper to have her or the nursery as she wouldnt charge me during the holidays so would pay more during school time, but nothing during the school holidays.

 

[amie-leigh]

it does sound a bit like she doesn't really want to do it, yes she has pointed out a childminder may be cheaper but she has mentioned it a few times rather than just one

 

[MNORBURY]

I think she was just trying to explain as much as she could the full picture

Maybe she isn't used to writing formal e-mails and condensing information (which might be why it's a bit long drawn)

I'd consider her though like you said she could work out cheaper and then if she does accomodate her home I'm assuming you will get a place for Abigail which will bring your fees down.

It's also a bonus that you know her

 

[_Vicky_]

god I hate email you cant tell tone or anything so really you can tjudge by this - doesnt seem to me like she doesnt want to do it - sounds quite good really

 

[ginab]

If I read that email from a girl i knew/friend I would make up my mind straight away not to use her, I cant pin point one thing but the letter just comes across as her pushing you away, Rather than telling you what she does THEN asking you to let her know if your interested.

Also, She sounds very formal in the words that she uses and the way she's written the email but thats just me, Im pretty laid back and it would just put me off her.

I hope Ive not offended anyone as its just my personal opinion..

 

[sausages]

Hmm.. I would say that shes probably just not very good at writing letters/emails. She probably wants to be brutally honest with you as she knows you personally and the price thing was probably first in her mind, so it ended up first in the email. I also think she mentioned that other childcare would be cheaper cause she doesn't want you thinking she is trying to rip you off or anything, so she is going into detail about why they are cheaper. I don't think she is trying to put you off at all, just wanting to be really honest from the start, but doesn't know how to word things without coming across the wrong way.

That's how i read it anyway.

 

[aimee-lou]

Sounds like a few things to me.

She's not able to offer mates rates so is explaining why she is £6 per hour - maybe a bit embarrassed asking a friend for that amount of money.

She's only doing this as a stop-gap until she gets assessed, so maybe she doesn't want to say 'No' so is trying to tell you that she wouldn't be able to do it for long.

She also sounds a bit inexperienced and maybe trying to use her 'pitch' on you, rather than just saying, 'this is what I do', selling herself when she doesn't really need to. A common mistake on new business materials.

I wouldn't think this to be odd, I think she's just learning her trade and she probably didn't proof read what she sent.

 

[laura_jayne]

So what would you mummies do? Take it further or leave it there?

 

[ellie27]

I think she is really pointing out that it is not a permanent position - it is like babysitting. She can come on emergencies etc.

Most folk want something more permanent and sending them to a nursery provides this.

Sounds like in September she will be a childminder and therefor will not offer the service she is talking about now....she will then have kids at her house and charge less.

If you are only looking for something til september then go for it, but think if its something in the long-term you are looking for then she cannot provide coming to your own house longterm -she is only doing this til sept.

 

[Blah11]

Sounds to me more like she just wants you to be 100% certain on her charges and putting in a little disclaimer too as to why she charges so much. + Like ellie said, just to make you aware that it wont be forever, just on the short term.

 

[cherryglitter]

i'm not too sure that she doesn't want to do it as such but it does come across like that.
i think she's just trying to let you know why she's charging that much as she doesn't want you to be ripped off i guess?!

there must be some nice people out there somewhere

 

[aliss]

I think she talks (writes?) too much. A bit of verbal diarrhea. I don't think she intends that - she is just trying to be up front and somewhat self-apologetic, rather than adhering to any sort of concise business email. I think there's no malice or any sort of negativity behind the email, she just writes in a redundant manner and could use some instruction on business/email communication.

 

[MotherBeth]

So what would you mummies do? Take it further or leave it there?

I would ask, "Would you prefer not to do it? Your rates actually sound quite reasonable to me for the one-on-one attention that she would get. But if there's any reason you'd rather not, please let me know!"

I think that would draw the response you need ....

 

[vix1989]

hmmmmmmmmm
my sister asked me to be her childminder for her daughter, my neice.
She said she wanted me to do it because my neice knows me very well, im a stay at home mum and she knows shed have my kids to play with her daughter and i knew what i was doing.
We arranged that i would have her 3 days a week 7-5 at my house and she would pay me £40 (starting to think i was ripped off lol).
Anyway it started to get really awkward after 3 weeks, because she would take the mick being 3 hours late to pick her up, or not paying me, then id feel embarrassed asking for my "wages".
In the end we had a huge row and she got rid of me.

My point is because you know each other really well maybe she was trying to get the important info out the way so there no embarrassing money issues to discuss and was trying to sound proffesional maybe to be taken seriously.

i think you should try her out always best to have someone you know and trust doing it! xx

 

[jam-on-toast]

The points are very clear in the email: Cost, availability, current situation and future situation too.

I just don't think she knows how to structure a formal email structuring all the info in a more professional positive way.

 

[New2Bumps]

I think she is just warning you about the reasons why she charges so much, i think its quite good considering she would come to your home and fit around your schedule whereas other carers you have to fit more into their timescales (especially nurseries etc).

It also sounds as come September when her home is assessed she will be taking kids into her house to look after and wont be able to provide the kind of care she has quoted for now, so perhaps she is also warning you in a roundabout way that its most likely a temporary thing.

This is exactly how I read it. She's trying to say in a polite way that she's happy to provide services for you now as long as you understand that it will be quite costly and it will be on a temporary basis.

So what would you mummies do? Take it further or leave it there?

I would ask, "Would you prefer not to do it? Your rates actually sound quite reasonable to me for the one-on-one attention that she would get. But if there's any reason you'd rather not, please let me know!"

I think that would draw the response you need ....

Exactly this

 

[Stargazer77]

Sounds fair to me. Sounds like she doesn't want you to think she is ripping you off.