Communications BETWEEN sitters

[RichardNYC]

Hello. All the sitter reviews of homes and pets I have read have been five-star, perfect reviews, with the best pets ever. This seems impossible, as if sitters are concerned that if they give less-than-stellar reviews, they will be a negative mark for them, the sitters, with other pet owners.

I notice, however, that there is no way for sitters to contact each other about house/pet sits one would have done. This seems very unfair. It would be easy enough for the app/website to have a check-off for sitters to say they are open to messages from other sitters.

Any thoughts?

[idocsteve]

Your post covers 2 completely different unrelated topics.

Yes, members are reluctant to give negative reviews for fear of retaliatory backlash or looking like the bad guy especially when their counterpart has a straight 5 star review record.

THS permits only limited communications between members because they want to control what the members are able to do on the platform. Hosts can contact sitters whenever, sitters can only contact hosts when applying for a sit. Hosts can’t contact hosts, and sitters can’t contact sitters, that’s by design, it makes sense and THS wouldn’t change it even if it didn’t make sense unless they had good reason to do it. Members wanting such a change isn’t a good reason.

If you want to share your thoughts with other members, unencumbered by the imposed limits of the THS platform, you’ve found the place to do it. Right here.

[Garfield]

I think the important thing is to give fair and factual reviews. Although it might be five stars, the text will sometimes be telling if there was an issue. For instance if cleanliness was an issue, it is not mentioned at all or phrased as «lived in» etc.

I think it is a huge disservice to ourselves and to the community not to be truthful. It can very well be done in a nice and kind way, and phrased direct, be wrapped up with a bow on it or communicated one way or the other.

The home was a cozy, lived in family home.

The pet was very energetic and needed his walks.

The doggie is strong and need an experienced sitter for walks on the leash.

The dog is reactive to other dogs, it was easily solved by early morning walks.

The pet usually went to the bathroom in a specific spot in the living room, making it easy to clean.

This sit is for you who love to have the cats snuggle on the pillow with you.

It was easy to find the home, and after scrubbing down the kitchen, doggie followed me on a nice hike.

The home is in a vibrant and lively street with clubs and restaurants.

Just a few examples.

I’ve always been factual and have had good feedback, actually, also for pointing out behavior that could be regarded problematic, doing it this way. The host praised me for understanding the needs of the pet. Because it is all about getting a good match. I don’t want sits that aren’t a good match. I have had alright to great sits (some I would repeat, others not) but I am picky selecting sits. I’ve also withdrawn after videocall. Nothing «wrong» as such, just realising it wasn’t a good match. If a host would skip on my application because they didn’t think it was a good match, that is exactly what I want. Like a host declined after I asked whether the pet was house-broken. Thanks for declining me. The pet probably wasn’t which is one of my criteria.

You don’t have to critisize anything, just describe and then others can decide for themselves whether they would like it. Some would - we are different.

[RichardNYC]

Thanks very much. Doesn’t seem OK to me.

Not quite sure about this post having two different topics, tbh. I DID submit two different posts, however.

[idocsteve]

@Garfield

Like a host declined after I asked whether the pet was house-broken.

How do you know that the host declined you specifically because you asked that question? Did they stop the video chat immediately following that question and say “we’re done here” or something equivalent?

[Garfield]

I asked and within minutes they hit decline.

[Lassie]

Many sitters oiver the years have suggested that sitters should be able to opt in to contacting each other. Unfortunately, THS is not implementing this feature.

I am a combined HO/sitter member, so i can contact other sitters by fake “inviting” them to sit at my house. I did that once, where I contacted a former sitter to ask about a sit I was considering. The other sitter thought that it was a great idea and she was happy to help.

[BonnyinBrighton]

I’m in contact privately with quite a few sitters either via the forum or meeting up in person or sharing mob numbers via HOs. It’s a nice feeling being part of a positive network of nice people. And it’s private.

[Cathie]

@RichardNYC the forum is a wealth of knowledge. Poke around a bit and learn. I went into our first sit very green (as are you) but you learn through the experience. Stars are subjective, it’s all about reading between the lines. Screening is key and working out what you will and won’t except. Have a backup plan in case it goes south. Have fun

[Becca]

Hi @RichardNYC It’s worth using the app to see if there are any missing reviews for a sit which has taken place, but where the sitter hasn’t left a review. This only shows up on the app (as opposed to website) and may well be for legitimate reasons, but can also be a bit of a red flag.

I once applied for what looked to be a great sit - almost too good to be true - and was due to have a video call with the owner. However, something about the listing and our communications via the THS inbox just felt a bit ‘off’. I checked on the app, and saw that a previous sit had taken place, but that the sitter had left no review.

There is no direct way to contact another sitter via THS (unless you are able to find them on the forum, in which case you can message them), but from reading their profile and doing a bit of detective work, I was able to contact them direct off-site. I didn’t push for details, but they were able to confirm that my gut instinct was right and the sit was one to avoid.

[MerryPuppins]

@Lassie

I am a combined HO/sitter member, so i can contact other sitters by fake “inviting” them to sit at my house. I did that once, where I contacted a former sitter to ask about a sit I was considering.

Brilliant! I am in awe…

[Felinelover]

@Garfield

The pet usually went to the bathroom in a specific spot in the living room, making it easy to clean.

This one cracked me up!!! Way to sugarcoat a pet peeing inside

[MerryPuppins]

@BonnyinBrighton

[sic] … or sharing mob numbers via HOs.

Hey Bonnie…can you share what this means? I’m mystified (or possibly just old and out of touch.)

[hellocat]

I am in contact with a few sitters and we have become friends now. Some of them have recommended nice sits to me. when they can’t do them.

[RichardNYC]

Good question. Thanks.

[BonnyinBrighton]

If the HO is willing I ask them to pass on my mob number to any previous sitters for a sitter to sitter conversation, I’ve also reciprocated too. At the moment we’re on a split sit (2/7/2) where we’re doing the start and end weeks. We’re in close contact with the middle sitters as part of the handover processes.

[Garfield]

Personally I wouldn’t want to be reference for all my sits for everyone to contact me. I do however always leave transparent and factual reviews, so I share what I think is necessary for a good match for future sitters at the sit.

[MerryPuppins]

Thanks, but what actually is a “mob number,” is what I was trying to understand…?

[ziggy]

@MerryPuppins a mobile number, called a cell number in USA, from a cell phone. We call them mobile phones, mobile numbers in Oz also.

[Brindle]

@MerryPuppins My guess for “mob” would be “mobile phone”, but who knows. I’ve never seen that until the post where it appeared.