Hey peeps! Just wanted to get others opinions and comments :’)
I sometimes think that it’s “rude” of people to easily decline me right after I apply without a text back. Especially after writing a personalised and extensive application.
I think that I’d appreciate a little text saying “Thank you for your application but we decline because… bla bla”. Idk if that’s too much to ask for but I just felt like it’s not nice and that people in this app are not as grateful and genuine anymore. Am I the only one?
The situation is really frustrating even rude at times.
In some cases, we even write a followup message asking if they could provide feedback on our application message (clearly personalized and that took us time to read through their listing carefully and make a decision), so we can improve in future applications. The goal, though, is to see whether the person replies to that second message, or if it’s better to just move on, considering that they’re the ones missing out on the opportunity to have us as sitters with the lack of communication.
According to our statistics, in 50% of these cases we do receive a response to the second message, and sometimes even stay in touch for future opportunities. We’ve actually arranged some sits this way.
The way people use the platform’s chat varies a lot, but with that second message, there’s no room for misunderstanding . A lack of reply is taken as a clear sign of disinterest, so we stop being interested in that sit for the future as well.
I’d never look for feedback regarding a rejection. I move swiftly along and am happy I dodged a bullet. If someone is too rude to write a one line reply or acknowledge my application within 24 hours, I would certainly not waste a second more on them. There are rude people everywhere and it’s a waste of time to figure out why they are rude.
I don’t expect feedback. There are so many sits and so many possible reasons. Maybe they’re rude, maybe they’re busy, or whatever else. Doesn’t matter to me. I just skip those listings in the future. There are countless sits, so I find it helpful to quickly weed out questionable ones.
Most sitters do only limited sitting, so makes sense to be selective. Like I sit part time — doing only 12 sits a year at most — and many sitters do even fewer. And it’s relatively easy to book up, especially if you’ve got strong reviews.
I don’t expect feedback because the answer is they thought someone else was a better fit. If you are being declined more than being accepted, you may want to post your profile on here asking for feedback. If they are interested in you for future sits, they may say, we liked your application but had a video chat with the first person who contacted us. Then you can say please remember me for future sits and even giving them dates you are available in the future.
I agree with you it’s rude, but what can we do? Well, sometimes I have written back asking for feedback and that it would have been nice if they had written a message. Sometimes they’ve responded and sometimes not!
I don’t see it as «rude», just a message that someone else was a better match.
As it is said above - the message is automated when a sitter accepts an invitation to sit - or in some cases a host just knows it isn’t a good match. If it isn’t a good match, it is better to know early on instead of being kept hanging.
For sits with 5 applicants the chance of getting the sit is only 20 %. So taking things in a defensive way would be quite exhausting to me.
I’m looking for a good match. If the host is reluctant that would be a reason to pull out. If host then pulls out before me, the host just saves me time. Great!
I get the feeling, but I think it’s best not to dwell. It’s hard to know what other people are thinking or not thinking, what their understanding is about the site and how it works, or much else.
It’s disappointing and can be frustrating – but I don’t expect feedback, wouldn’t want the app to require feedback, and currently just move on when it happens.
a lot of the time, I think it might be more anxiety related (rather than cold-spirited) on the HO side. the reality is that they receive more applications than they can say yes to. most of the HOs I’ve talked to feel really bad about turning down applications. yes, it would be respectful if they all included a brief message when doing so… but it does require a little emotional labor for them to write up a message, and some people just don’t quite have the skills or energy to do it. whatever. I’ll find another sit.
Hi @anastasiapa
Yes it happens. I’ve had it happen to me within minutes of applying despite have 26 5* reviews and being on THS a few years now.
It’s disappointing the HO can’t just sent a short message to the 4 declined applicants.
If I can put the shoe on the other foot as a sitter. With several apps out at the same time, what is the best way to withdraw an app if you accept another?
If the HO has responded in any way to my application then I send a brief note that I’ve accepted another sit and then hit the withdraw button. If I’ve not heard from the HO, then I just hit the withdraw button.
Hi Anastasia, I used to answer every single applicant, even when rejecting their application. The new Trusted House Sitter rules that block applicants after 5 is the true reason for people just rejecting you without a note. I used to get many applicants and I would weed through them very carefully before contacting MY top 3 for a video chat. Now, I am forced to just press the reject button in order to get more than 5 applicants.
I have complained many times of this policy and wish THS would just let hosts run their own way of choosing people. I feel rushed into rejecting people and rushed into choosing as well. I used to get great sitters before this rule and now I feel they are just ok. In fact, recently I’ve had 3 sitters cancel on me, all for the same sit!
THS really needs to change this policy which is bad for both hosts and sitters!
even rude at times.
. A lack of reply is taken as a clear sign of disinterest, so we stop being interested in that sit for the future as well.