Butlers?

[Pam]

My first two butlers stayed awhile, until they were ready to age up to elders.  I fired the third one because she annoyed me with the way she cared for the toddler.

[Leto85]

My first two butlers stayed awhile, until they were ready to age up to elders.  I fired the third one because she annoyed me with the way she cared for the toddler.

In what way was she annoying? My butler was pretty good with the toddler. But that was maybe because I've somehow forced him to, putting his bed in the same room with little Sim, so that when the last one begin screaming the butler wakes up (glad he didn't have the hard-to-wake-up trait) to take care of him.
He also does read books with him which I really find practical . The only thing the parents have to do with the kid (in learning aspect) is potty train, learn how to walk and talk and of course building up a good relationship. The rest is up for the butler and babysitter.

[Sara]

Had to reset a butler when she was stuck and behaving oddly: somehow all the sims in my house want to "resume cooking" a pan or whatever which is not in the house (also not under furniture). Resetting her made her return to the rabbit hole home and no longer was she my butler. After re-hiring her, she had all the butler options, but also casual options such as telling her to leave the house or chasing her away. It left her bugged and it forced me to drop her services, keeping a good friendship.

[Pam]

In what way was she annoying? My butler was pretty good with the toddler. But that was maybe because I've somehow forced him to, putting his bed in the same room with little Sim, so that when the last one begin screaming the butler wakes up (glad he didn't have the hard-to-wake-up trait) to take care of him.
He also does read books with him which I really find practical . The only thing the parents have to do with the kid (in learning aspect) is potty train, learn how to walk and talk and of course building up a good relationship. The rest is up for the butler and babysitter.

It was those same things that annoyed me.  I didn't like the butler taking care of the toddler.  I would have one of the parents set to do several things with the toddler, then they would all get cancelled because the butler got to the toddler first.  I didn't like her reading books to the toddler because it was my Dynasty game and I didn't want the toddler to get the extra skill points that come from reading the books.  I like taking care of the little ones myself, so anything the butler did was a nuisance.

[Sara]

If only I can solve the non-existant "finish cooking" problem. They keep shrugging, cursing and showing they can't reach or find the item. A butler is fine probably for Sara's appartment, as long as she still lives alone.

[Leto85]

It was those same things that annoyed me.  I didn't like the butler taking care of the toddler.  I would have one of the parents set to do several things with the toddler, then they would all get cancelled because the butler got to the toddler first.  I didn't like her reading books to the toddler because it was my Dynasty game and I didn't want the toddler to get the extra skill points that come from reading the books.  I like taking care of the little ones myself, so anything the butler did was a nuisance.

Ah yes, it is indeed not always something to wish for that a butler teaches a todler whatever he please. It could be handy to give the butler orders, in what he may and may not do. A sort of 'Do's and 'Dont's List.' I wonder how come EA didn't think of that themself. Or do they want us to ask for it? Not mean to be negative but The Sims 3 and the whole game industry is big business of course.

[Pam]

Ah yes, it is indeed not always something to wish for that a butler teaches a todler whatever he please. It could be handy to give the butler orders, in what he may and may not do. A sort of 'Do's and 'Dont's List.' I wonder how come EA didn't think of that themself. Or do they want us to ask for it? Not mean to be negative but The Sims 3 and the whole game industry is big business of course.

They probably think that if we hire a butler, we want his services.  They aren't thinking about our own made up challenges or anything we might do with the game.  I probably won't use the butlers very much at all even my other games.  Well, I've got one of my Bridgeport games, but I haven't played it in awhile.

[LlamaMama]

My butler's just fantastic, except for cooking too much. I've had him a long time and began to worry that he'd age up and retire, so I added him to the household. It turns out he was 1 day from elder, so I showed him the replicator and the ambrosia inside and voila, an unpaid butler who loves the family. The best part: he no longer cooks until I tell him to. He has level 10 repair skills, level 10 cooking, Natural Cook, Neat, Family-Oriented, Brave, and Frugal traits. I almost squirted nectar out my nose when I saw Frugal, given his frequent lobster thermidor meals.

[chrissie]

My family had three butlers,(one at the time of course) they all vanished while she was out partying and the bed didn't show the name. She was good friends with all of them and they all went without comment and she was able to hire again with no problem. But I do think they're more trouble than their worth.

[Leto85]

My sims actually had two butlers at once. One that was fired but didn't want to leave (I wonder where she was spending the night btw; having an eye on all the beds inhouse isn't an option) and the second butler, that was invited. Can you imagine how many dishes they both made in the diner rooms? :| Not that many actually, because most of the time they where blocking each others way to the refrigurator.
I was just one inch away from locking the kitchen door for them, but than I had to move my whole family to a new town because the double butler glitch (because what else could it be?) infected probably somehow French also. That said: sims couldn't get to French because after arival non sim was selectable and non showed up in the menu bar.

New town, a working French land but one butler per family was the solution. Oh well, I have a maid though.

[sydney511]

I don't have LN, but I think you can cancel butler services from the phone instead of hunting them down. They you can call for services again and choose the butler option.

[Anushka]

Sydney, as much as that is logical, you can't, it is greyed option and it said you have to cancel it in person.
I hired another butler (someone pop the wish to do it) and wanted to fire her right away but she ignored it. After that I didn't see her, but there are fresh meals 3 times a day and a car in front of the house. Occasionally toddler seem to wait for her to pick him up but it cancel soon after popping up..
Edit: I have no idea I posted this, anyway, butler is invisible, and have no contact with family. She is showed in relationship panels as in house. I can't fire her but so far it is fine, I don't mind having them eat together, It keeps them away from cooking by themself and increase social bars. Maybe resetSim will work, but will let her be invisible for now.

[n8thegr8]

Is there a way to turn off the automatic "Call Household to Meal" action that happens whenever the butler cooks?

[Pam]

Is there a way to turn off the automatic "Call Household to Meal" action that happens whenever the butler cooks?

Not that I'm aware of.

[Leto85]

Is there a way to turn off the automatic "Call Household to Meal" action that happens whenever the butler cooks?

Only by locking the kitchen door for them.