I feel awful writing a not-so-positive review. This might be my first one, however my experience was very strange with Wiggling tails. I had a great experience with Martha on the phone, but when both her & Michael came, it became awkward--fast.
I'm writing more so that I hope Martha (& Michael) are a little better at communicating or at least less awkward. They didn't take care of my pets just as a disclaimer. We both didn't feel comfortable working with each other after our 1st encounter.
I spoke with Martha on the phone, and she was quite pleasant. She was nice & asked quite a few questions about my pets. I made arrangements for her to take care of them the following week, which was great on short notice. She even offered to throw feeding my fish in for free; very sweet. I thought the pricing was a bit steep. $40/visit @ 2 visits/day (= $80) to feed my rabbits--this included cage cleaning, but I wasn't sure that was needed for the 2 days I'd be away. But hey, she was coming to me, so I got it. In the past, I've paid $25/day with 3 feedings, cleaning & all food & in the bay area, but I realize that's an awesome price. Martha even offered to charge less for days where she didn't clean the cage. Very nice!
She was quite busy that week, so the meet and greet would be the next week--I had class soon after when she was coming, so I asked if she could email the forms, so I could fill them out to expedite our meeting. She ended up having an emergency, so she sent them to me just a few hours before meeting up. It was a work day, so I didn't quite have time to finish them. Again, not upset. It happens.
Then she calls to say she's at my house. Cool. I come out and it's her & Michael--hadn't heard of him before, but no worries. I greet him, & he had this air of seeming like I was lucky he/ or they (still not sure what he was doing at my house) were taking care of my pets. Again, whatever, some people don't always have good first impressions (which is what I think he thought about me).
So I tell them about my fence being a little weird to close. Then I take them to the house and say, "so here's the key in the lockbox." Martha tells me they don't do lock boxes, because it's inconvenient for them, & they like to take the key. I might've seemed slightly irritated--I've had tons of sitters both professional & friends, & they're all fine with it. I then said that they could take the key, and if they could just return it to the lockbox, that'd be fine. Martha tells me that's fine, but they have to do it when I'm home from my trip & it'll cost $25. But usually they hold onto the key (something I'm not supposed to do--I rent).
I said that I was fine with them leaving it when I wasn't home in the lockbox. They say that they can't do that, because what if I'm delayed, how will they get the key. I say in the lockbox. They tell me it's not secure, which felt a little insulting, because it is a choice I've made. I asked if I could pick it up at their office, which they said yes, but at this point I'm just in shock that this is going so horribly so fast and I've known her and Michael all of 5 minutes.
After a bit of back and forth, which was extremely awkward, Martha mentions she could maybe waive the $25 fee this time, but then seems to take it back. I told her that this just made me uncomfortable, because I only have two keys, and I don't have time to make another spare before I leave, & I'd prefer not to leave a key with someone indefinitely--I haven't used them before, so I want to reserve the right not to without having what feels like my key is being left hostage. And what if she loses it?
I tell them that now I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable with this exchange, because I wish Martha would've mentioned this in the phone call, esp the $25 key return fee. She says it's all in the paperwork she sent (the one sent a few hours before on a *work day* that was 14 pages). I looked at the paperwork, and no where did it say they didn't allow for lockboxes.
Maybe I'm crazy, but I think it's fair not to want to leave a key with someone indefinitely you've met the one time; and a big part of why I was feeling so uncomfortable was because they sounded very irritated with me for what I feel is reasonable, and continued giving each other alarmed glances. I used to work as a vet tech, and I get how crazy animal owners get, but I like to think I'm not one of those.
At this point Michael jumps in and says that he thinks we should part ways, because clearly we both gave each other bad first impressions. I agree, but it was still so strange the way he said it.
I think this whole thing could've been avoided. I just don't think this is how you do business. If when I mentioned my concern about having the key and being charged $25, Martha could've just offered to leave it in the lock box the one time or waived the fee right then. Crisis avoided, and potentially a long-term client with dog, fish, & rabbit sitting plus daily walking. read more