Planning a date night

Say you want a Saturday dinner out: a sitter from 6 to 10 pm for two kids, with bath and bedtime. This guide takes that evening from posting the job to paying your sitter, with the real cost at the end. Posting costs nothing, and your card isn't charged until the job is done.

Before your first date night

If this is your first job on Wyndy, two things happen once, when you book: you add a card and verify your identity. It takes a few minutes, so leave yourself a little time the first time. After that, booking is one tap.

Post the job

1. Open the Jobs tab and tap Post a job.

   The post saves as a draft as you go. If you stop part-way, pick it up from Me, then Draft Jobs.

2. Choose One-time, then the date and times on When do you need care?.

   Pick Saturday on the calendar and set the Start time and End time. A start time that has already passed is rejected with "That start time has passed."

3. Pick the kids on Who needs care?.

   Tap each child. Their age, specific needs and notes go out with the job.

4. Describe the evening on Describe the job.

   Write the plan in a few lines, then tap the tasks: Feeding, Bathing and Put kids to bed. If the kids will already be asleep when the sitter arrives, choose Kids will be in bed instead.

5. Choose your address on Location.

   Then fill in Parking instructions and a Meeting spot (Front door, Back door or Other).

6. Set the rate on Hourly Rate.

   Smart Rate suggests a rate from what families nearby pay for similar jobs, and the screen shows the range sitters nearby charge. A rate above Smart Rate tends to draw more sitters; below it, fewer may apply. Rates go from $16 to $150 an hour.

7. Choose who sees it on Post to.

   Tick All sitters ("Everyone available near you"), or tick Previously booked, Favorites or both (all of them, or the ones you select). For a Saturday night, All sitters reaches the most people.

8. Check the Job Summary and tap Post Job.

   The payment summary shows the rate times the hours, the Processing Fee, the Service Fee, any Wyndy credit, the Est. Total and Due Today: $0.

You'll see "Your job is posted! We notified nearby sitters." and three steps: sitters will apply, choose your favorite, book a sitter. Every screen is covered in Posting a job.

Book your sitter

You get a notification each time a sitter applies. Open the job from the Jobs tab to see your applicants, then tap View profile on anyone you're considering. When you've chosen, tap Confirm Booking, then Confirm & book. Your sitter is booked at once, and you can message them in the app until the job is complete.

For what to look for on a profile, see Choosing the right sitter.

What it costs

Here's a 4-hour evening at $20 an hour, with the 15% tip the wrap-up suggests. The sitter's pay and tip are the same either way. What changes is the fees.

Members save $19.59 on this evening. If you go out once a month, that's $235.08 a year against a membership of $191.99. See Does membership pay off? for more scenarios.

If you're home late

Pay is worked out by the minute at your hourly rate, from the start and end time your sitter submits. Back at 10:30 instead of 10, and the sitter's pay for the evening is $90 instead of $80. Message your sitter as soon as you know you'll be late, so they can plan their night.

On the night

• You'll get a "Job Reminder" the day before and again a couple of hours before the start.
• Send private details by message once you've booked: your phone number, the door code, the Wi-Fi password.
• While the job runs, it's at the top of your Jobs tab under Happening now, with the time left and a Message button.
• If your sitter hasn't arrived or something isn't right, tap Get help on the job.

Pay and finish

1. Open the "Time to pay" notification.

   It arrives when your sitter submits their hours. The job also moves to Needs your attention as Ready to pay.

2. Check Hours worked and tap Edit if they're wrong.

   The wrap-up says when the submitted time is longer or shorter than the time you booked.

3. Keep or change the tip, rate the evening and add a favorite.

   Tips are 10%, 15%, 20% of your sitter's pay, never the fees. "100% of your tip goes to your sitter."

4. Tap Pay & finish.

   Or leave it: your card is charged automatically 24 hours after your sitter submits their hours. A receipt is emailed after payment.

Good to know

• Cancelling is free while no one is booked, and free up to 24 hours before the start once someone is. Later than that, a $20 fee goes to your sitter, members included.
• If nobody is booked by the start time, the job lapses and shows as Not filled under your past jobs.
• If your card fails at payment, nothing is charged and the job shows Payment failed until you try again or change the card.

Questions

How far ahead should I post?

As early as you know the date. More notice gives more sitters time to see the job and apply. For tonight or tomorrow, see Finding last-minute care.

Can the sitter drive the kids somewhere?

Yes, if you tick Driving as a task. Every sitter who applies agrees that if the job includes driving, they have a valid license and auto insurance.

Is the tip required?

No. A tip is suggested and you can tap Remove tip. All of any tip you give goes to your sitter.

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