Honestly, I think a lot of people both old and young cannot handle the word no, and people are afraid to say no in case of causing offence.
Rejection isn’t a bad thing imo, something better will come along. But the delivery can be crucial, and it seems like a lot of people would rather avoid.
Anyway I will get off my soapbox!
Yeah it’s a really bad response rate. We have so many good reviews, too, and I do genuinely put a lot of effort into applications. I always read through carefully to make sure families are welcome and if it doesnt specify and it’s a really great sit i will acknowledge that I’m not sure of they accept families at the beginning of the application.
Its just an irritation to me. I probably need to get over it!
I mean my search criteria for the upcoming holiday is Europe, so we do have a lot of options!
The platform has changed since we started for sure, I keep a simple note in my phone that has the basics of “I am really sorry we can’t sit for you” then fill in the HO name/s and Pet’s names, I always look at the profile, feedback etc, if I think it might be nice in the future I favourite it. I always reply.
I personally if I was a HO listing would have a simple note kept that said “thanks for your application, we have already secured sitters” or something, however that’s just me.
I’ve noticed HO’s now sitting on your application for days and days, with not a peep then the notification from THS that you didn’t get picked. Maybe HO’s don’t know how to respond, feel uncomfortable, I’m sorry, we are all busy, if a sitter has taken the time to write a personal application, they have your names your pets names, have read details from previous sitters that you could only know if you had read the feedback, then I think even just a few minutes typing back “Hi Amanda and Family, Thanks for the application, we have secured sitters, regards…. “ but hey that’s just me.
It was not like this before lockdowns and THS really got their advertising campaigns out there world wide over all social media platforms and the way it’s been presented.
Oh and Families, even though the HO might list “Open to families” I think with the cost of living and so many single/couple sitters now, it might be a sway in their decision too (not to just ignore us and then a week later press the decline button) I understand it, I feel if the Pets live in the Home with a family, then a family would be more comforting for them, a different family, but a family, some HO completely get this, some don’t think about it like that, the Pet’s know their Owners are going somewhere without them, not just popping out to the shops, but hey they are not our Pets, not our Homes, so not our choice. It’s got much harder to secure sits as a Family for sure.
anyways it is how it is now.
Happy Sitting
When a homeowner accepts someone as their sitter, it automatically rejects the other 4+ applicants. THS sends an automatic email or notification saying “You haven’t been chosen this time 
Boo hoo “ (which I loathe). So as far as I understand, they are just moving on with their day after picking their sitter, which sometimes happens without needing to interview each applicant or even message them. I just assume they are busy people, same as we sitters are, and don’t feel the need to engage with every applicant. Sometimes all they really need is 1 person to watch their dog for a week so the emotions of other people on this app are of the least concern for those one-off types.
Does the automatic Rejection message really say “Boo hoo” ?? How yicky!
That aside, I really take issue with your assumption that Busy People = Rude People. What’s the saying? - If you need something done, ask a Busy Person. What you call “Engaging with every applicant” I call “Treating other people with courtesy”. No-one is too busy to send a one-sentence message thanking the sitter for their interest and giving a brief, trite reason for the rejection. I believe the option is what’s known on dating sites as “ghosting”. To people with my old-fashioned mindset, it’s rude - and arrogant. And also, an admission of inadequacy.
This is the automated decline message:
While it didn’t work out this time around, don’t get disheartened! Rest assured, there’s another amazing house sit out there with your name on it…
Hi Diefledermaus,
I agree with you that busy people should not equal rude people. I just cannot undrstand some people. I applioed a couple of days ago for a long weekend less than an hours drive from me. Thought would be interesting and I would receive an instant reply from relieved owners. It was read very quickly and yet I have heard nothing. It is just over a week away and said nil applicants. I will assume they have found alternative care and just too rude to send a reply.
I find that inexcuseable. I can tolerate all sorts of quirky behaviour, but failing to acknowledge that someone has made an effort with a bit of effort of your own is extremely uncool, to my mind.
I withdraw applications that aren’t at least acknowledged within a day. I don’t buy the “They may be extra busy/ have no reception / be unwell..” lines of defence. Nah, they’re just being rude and high-handed. The ghost-happy sitters, too.
Replies go both ways. When I receive an invitation to sit, I reply directly to thank them for the opportunity and let them know I am not available before hitting the decline button. Occasionally, I receive a response saying something like “thank you for letting us know so quickly” but those replies are rare.
Likewise, with unsolicited invites, I decline politely with a brief msg and then hit the decline button after a minute or so. The hosts usually send a thank you for the quick response.
I just had a HO get back to me telling me that she will be using a local sitter.
I responded : “While there is no requirement that you give reasons for chosing a particular sitter, I just wanted you to know that I deeply appreciate your letting me know. I hope that you have a great trip and that your beloved animals get every ounce of the love that they so deserve.”
Trying to encourage good behaviour one sitter and HO at a time !
I just had another application being accepted with no comment at all.
In my eyes that’s very strange and rude too. I’m unlikely to do that sit. Just asked them for more communication, but feel that the vibe is off for me now.
Are these hosts new to THS ?
We have had that same situation, when the host was new to THS . I wasn’t comfortable with accepting without a conversation so I suggested a phone call before I accepted the sit . After exchanging phone numbers the hosts communication was great , very friendly, open, respectful and prompt . (They just weren’t familiar with the THS platform and sit confirmation process initially)
The phone call went well as did the subsequent sit and after the initial contact most of our communication was on WhatsApp and not on the THS inbox.
It turned out to be one of our favourite sits , we’ve been back several times and they’ve also had other THS sitters who all gave 5 stars.
If the host had declined my request to have a phone call/video call -then I would not have accepted the sit .
Hi, new HO here. Thank you so much for this thread, I really never even considered it when rejecting applicants. We have had only a couple of sitters so far. We live in a popular area and usually have enough applications within 1 hour to pick someone so the process was fast for us - but I was guilty leaving the sitters on ‘read’ and then accepting one, leaving the rest to auto-decline. But this thread genuinely opened my eyes about how discouraging that is for sitters. I already today gave personal rejections to each sitter with simply explaining the reason why we chose someone else, and all of the sitters seemed genuinely appreciative to actually get a response! Still new to this platform but learning slowly.
Welcome @pompoko to the Forum. It’s great you’ve taken onboard the advice given when declining applications by sitters. A little courtesy goes a long way from both owners and sitters.
Yes they are new, and now we have exchanged a few nice messages, so I am happy.
I’m betting two things :
I had applied for a sit, date filler, when I get to CA after Thanksgiving. She responded, said I was great, then radio silence. Then said she wanted to zoom call me today. And then I got a decline last night. No chat happened. Then I wrote, sorry dates didn’t work out and she responded like I withdrew. I said no, you declined me. Then she said that she thought I applied for different dates and Oct was open. How could she decline me without knowing which dates I applied for? Is it that complicated for HOs?
Anyway, another sit came up with better location as a date filler.
You’re doing a lot with that post. I’m simply offering my rationale for why I think others act the way they do. I’m not really looking to argue or have my words picked apart. If I wanted that I’d go on Reddit. I said what I said based on my own anecdotal experiences. It’s not really up for debate, but I respect if you feel differently based on your own life experiences. We can agree to disagree and move on with our days. I bid you adieu.