We use THS a lot. There is one person who sat for us before and has applied for another sitting engagement. She did a decent job for us and we left a positive review.
However, having now used this site for a couple of years, we are getting high quality applicants and this particular sitter is not someone we would want to have back.
I don’t want to, but I will write a polite rejection note for her regarding our current listing by falsely claiming we had already signed someone up before her application appeared in our inbox.
Is there a way to block a sitter so that she doesn’t even see our future sitting opportunities?
(edited by Forum team to meet Community Guidelines)
As a sitter I would rather you decline without an explanation. I would quickly get the message you have moved on and needs have changed. I do not like being lied to and would not like your BS response. Some people will take your response literally and just apply faster next time and you will give them your same excuse time after time. We are all big kids here so declining without an explanation gives a clear message.
Better to be factual and honest and say that your needs have changed and you are looking for other sitters. Don’t waste her time being untruthful. She might have evolved also. Personally I wouldn’t want to sit for someone that had that view.
You may also consider that this sitter you thought was adequate years ago has also had more time as a sitter and may have more learned a lot about pets since you knew them. They could be one of the best, the kind that you are trying to attract.
If she did a decent job for you and you left a positive review, why would you not want her back?
I mean, how super-dooper are the applicants you’re getting now, that you’d bounce out someone tried and tested for someone unknown but “high quality”?
She met the standards we had set down, and we left a positive review.
Our situation has changed: One of our two dogs has passed away, and the living pup (I’ll call him “Rover”) has separation anxiety. We tailor our activities around minimizing the stress for Rover.
The sitter I referenced loves to go out to night clubs. That was acceptable when we had the two dogs, but now we prefer sitters who we believe will spent significant amounts of time at our house.
She met the standards we had set down, and we left a positive review.
Our situation has changed: One of our two dogs has passed away, and the living pup (I’ll call him “Rover”) has separation anxiety. We tailor our activities around minimizing the stress for Rover.
The sitter I referenced loves to go out to night clubs. That was acceptable when we had the two dogs, but now we prefer sitters who we believe will spent significant amounts of time at our house.
In response to your question, " I mean, how super-dooper are the applicants you’re getting now, that you’d bounce out someone tried and tested for someone unknown but “high quality”?"
We usually receive 5 applicants within 3 days, most of whom have nothing but 5 star reviews.
I’m a little confused why you would want to block a sitter just because your sit requirements change. If you have updated your listing with what your new expectations are and she is still applying, maybe she isn’t going out clubbing like she used to. Her situation may have changed just as your has. You are also free to choose whomever you want for a sit - so if she is applying and you want to go with someone else, that is your choice.
@TexasTed, it is not possible for Pet Parents to block housesitters applicants or for housesitters to block Pet Parent listings.
Suggest honesty. If your needs have changed, such as pet situation or sitter expectations, then state that. Or just decline prior housesitter and they’ll soon get the idea. I do not understand any need to create fictional narrative on any decline message - they’ll apply for your next sit too.
Doesn’t seem a big deal.
I’d rather receive this reason instead of some sort of a vague lie that you have already found someone else. It’s non offensive, truthful, factual, and makes total sense. At the same time it could give her the chance of responding that maybe her nocturnal habits have changed.
My sons cannot believe that I used to leave the house at 11pm to go dancing, seeing that now I fall asleep in front of the tv at 9:30.
If we apply to a sit and get an automatic denial with no message…point taken. Either you don’t want a couple, aren’t interested in us or its just simply not a great match. We will move on with no worries and not apply for future sits. IF we get a denial that has a message with a ‘picked someone else’, etc. We MAY apply in the future because we think that you just picked someone else for that time frame and we have a shot at another set of dates. Just deny with no message. Hopefully they get the same ‘message’ that most seasoned sitters would get.
percent!