Hello, to me, tnis memo/initiative has a few issues.
It says “Members have suggested that we increase the application threshold but after a full evaluation, the data shows that 5 applications give sufficient opportunity for member success, so we will keep the limit at 5…” This doesn’t seem responsive to the membership. Obviously their request arose from somewhere to have gotten TH’s attention, enough that a “fix” was required, however, TH decided to just simply go with the data? Doesn’t that seem counterintuitive to most marketing and business practices?..disregarding the customer experience that gave light to an issue to begin with?
Is this “solution” even necessary anyway? One one hand you say “Members have suggested” and then on the other hand you say “it will only affect a small amout of sits.” This seems contradictory to the outcome/solution tbat’s been decided considdering that it appears (from feedback) to affect a lot of people.
If there even needs to be a solution, might it be to put the onus on “the few” HOs? Perhaps applcations need to expire by a set time-frame if not addressed in some manner) example: the appliction times-out after say, 48-72 hours. The coice then is that the HO has a look more quickly lest the application evaporate and move into a closed position. This way HOs of course retain the choice to just let them evaporate will, or read them at will knowing they’ll miss some good ones due to their inaction, whice is again, based in choice. This way, the applicant will be notified in a 48-72 hour time frame that their application has timed-out (rather than had be declined as declining implies it had been read) and can freely move along to other postings.
I agree as a sitter. As a HO, If I received 5 applications and needed to decline some in order to receive more, the cursory applications would be declined first.
I agree speedy as possible applications are bad for everyone. The need to be in the first five will drive this behavior possibly without due consideration for the suitability of the sit, and cost , availability of flights. rental cars etc.
I’m adding a live experience to this discussion, admittedly while frustrated. A sit came in through app notifications while we were out, so I was maybe an hour or so delayed in applying. I found there were 4-7 applications. Since the number range hasn’t been changed, that tells me there are 4 and the next one would be 5 and everyone else would be shut out. Since I spend a bit of time preparing a proper application, and have no way of telling the HO, “wait, I’m applying, just give me a minute”, I knew that there was a risk that I would do all the work and, once ready to paste in my application, the HO would no longer be able to accept applicants. Sure enough, that is what happened. I clicked to apply, ready to paste my well-crafted message, and was stopped with a “no longer accepting applicants” message. As I write this, I wonder if I had clicked Apply but held it open while I prepped, would I have had a chance? Or would that have timed out as well and, no matter what, I was in a race for time with who knows how many others trying to do exactly the same. I realize that it’s possible that the HO will reject some of the earlier applicants and re-open their posting at which time I could try again. Will I be notified that it is new? I don’t know, but so far, not a fan.
Follow-up: The HO reopened the sit posting and prefaced it with their own frustration about the rule that is forcing them to reject unnecessarily and reopen continually until they have the applicant pool that they desire. I did not receive a new notification for the sit on my saved search and only found out that the sit had been reopened by going and checking for it.
Prime example of why we will be resorting to a work around, where you apply with a quick note saying you are interested and that a full application will follow shortly.
I submitted a response an hour ago stating how upset I would be if this happened to me. It’s still awaiting approval. But you are correct. This decision by the product team does not consider how upset it will make THS’ loyal customers.
A one liner will allow the HO to view your profile as you craft your formal application letter. I wouldn’t allow much time to pass though. In the meantime, they can determine if you are worth waiting for.
I already said (above) that I would decline the one-liners first, if I wanted more applicants. I’m a sitter and HO and I loathe this alleged “feature.”
How could this new test possibly be considered a good idea for house sitters or hosts?
For us, as hosts, we choose our sitters from a pool of applicants, choosing the best fits based on experience, skills, abilities, probability of not canceling, and other smaller factors. We don’t just choose one of the first applications to come in. We usually wait a week to allow as many house sitters as possible to apply. That give those sitters that may be traveling, or those who don’t monitor every day, to have a chance to apply.
But now, I am being force to log in several times a day in order to decline ALL the sitters whom apply for the next week, cutting a pasting a form letter explaining this new “TEST”, and how they are still in the running to be a possible sitter. Most sitter don’t even know this was going on, so they see my announcement, but then it’s closed because they are applicant number six in the last hour.
As a host, all this does is create doubt that the right applicant was ever given the opportunity to apply. They see the listing, and now it’s locked out. So they don’t bother applying again.
Now, you want a system that really works? How about making it time based? For instance, if after a week, no applicants have been accepted or declined, you force the pause? Or, if the software can’t adapt to that, at least make it a more reasonable number like 20 applicants. 5 is just ridiculous.
This entire decision is making me reconsider my support and membership to THS. I have been referring and recommending your site to many people. Before this loses you members, I would heavily reconsider this.
@Muralha I had been looking for sits for the early months of next year. My interest lies in Portugal, Spain, and the Balkans. I have noticed that very few sits are being posted that far ahead and even if they are this new pause feature will make it extremely difficult to apply in time.
Consequently I am not even considering trying to book sits for the winter. I have organised all my winter travel, up until April next year, by booking Airbnb apartments. To get cheap flights and big discounts on apartments it has to be planned well in advance. Depending on how it works out for me I may not bother renewing my THS membership, I’ll be watching to see what happens.
Your last para is very interesting, showing HOs’ frustrations with the pause issue.
I have decided that I will send a quick ‘Hi, I am just about to apply … can you give me 10 minutes?’ which MIGHT mean that I am number 5, meaning that I am within the first tranche of applicants.
