Great response! Thank you so much! Very helpful!
1 Like
Butā¦. Think of it this way : the host was direct, well blunt actually, with you so would probably appreciate your being direct with them.
5 Likes
I had HOs spring this on me the day they were returning. Yes, they had picked me up at the airport, and I had their car for short, local trips. But instead of saying so at the outset (or really, anytime prior to the sit, or during the video call, or when they picked me up, etc.), they waited until that day to TELL me when to pick them up. I was working remotely and had a work call AND their flight was arriving during weekday rush hour (my arrival had been on a weekend). When I texted back that I had a work call and could not pick them up, they immediately set up an ASAP! Zoom call. The two of them tag-teamed a big guilt trip, interrupting me anytime I tried to say anything. They really expected that I would cancel my work call. I didnāt.
11 Likes
Outrageous of them, that is bullying behaviour, no other word for it. The only thing that could have been better would have been if your work call had been imminent meaning that you were then unable to take their ASAP call!
3 Likes
I wouldnāt get into the whole negotiating thing @Ybrik. Be clear about what is and is not acceptable. Setting boundaries is a big part of pet/house sitting.
10 Likes
I am curious to know how the reviews went.
3 Likes
Like has already been said, you only need to say its not a good fit for you, you donāt even need to reply, they havenāt requested you and even if they do just click on decline!
Let us know what you decide.
1 Like
We have previously offered to take hosts to the train station and to collect them on their return, but thereās the key word: āofferedā. Had we been instructed to do as a condition of the sit, weād have immediately declined (and would have stated why!).
5 Likes
You could always be as direct as he is āIf we are not prepared to transport you to and from the airport you will not choose us as sitters?ā
1 Like
Have people never heard of Uber or Lyft?? I canāt even imagine being so helpless. (Or come to that ā so self-absorbed.)
7 Likes
This was back in the days before double-blind reviews. I waited for their reviewāit did not come. So I didnāt review either. I did get a pleasant acknowledgment that āthe house looks great and the pets are happy. Thank you.ā by text.
The sit was otherwise fine. I donāt want to say much more.
2 Likes
@Ybrik Time to stop procrastinating and respond to the host. He could well have other potential applicants and is doing the same to them. The majority of members here have warned against accepting this sit. Over to you now to make your decision. He could still not confirm you for the sit even if you accept his terms!
3 Likes
Polite : āIām sorry that I wonāt be able to adjust my schedule to accommodate your sudden change of our previous agreement. Therefore, I will need to withdraw my application. I hope that you find another sitter to help.ā
Internal voice : āSelf-involved, disrespectful HOā¦..Whew. Iām so glad that I escaped that bulletā
7 Likes
Hi [Name], it was great to meet you. Weāre looking forward to the sit and spending time with [dogās name].
We just wanted to mention that the airport drop-off and pickup didnāt come up when we met yesterday, and weāre not able to commit to providing airport transport with our car during our regular work hours. You may want to arrange an Uber or taxi for that.
Once thatās sorted, weād be happy accept your sit invitation.
Politely sets the boundaries and leaves the ball in their court if they want to go forward or if the sitters chauffeuring them is a deal breaker.
8 Likes
UPDATE: I replied with what someone here had said about using their vehicle or ours and I should have been more direct. My husband said if we donāt get a tip or paid to be their uber forget it.
This was HO response to my latest:
āWeāve had a few pet sits and they have always offered a ride to SRQ. Happy to have you use our car for the trip but also assume you would have a car here, so either option is fine. We fly out at noon on Southwest and we should be at the airport at 10am and then a pick up August 3rd about 5 PM on American Airlines.
If all else is Ok then please confirm that you guys are officially on boardā
I think I am
Just going to have to decline and state we just arenāt comfortable with the airport part.
3 Likes
I pretty much said what you said and this was the response from him.
āWeāve had a few pet sits and they have always offered a ride to SRQ. Happy to have you use our car for the trip but also assume you would have a car here, so either option is fine. We fly out at noon on Southwest and we should be at the airport at 10am and then a pick up August 3rd about 5 PM on American Airlines.
If all else is Ok then please confirm that you guys are officially on board and Iāll tell THS about the revised dates and send the āinviteā
While I appreciate the offer to use their vehicle. I still donāt think we want to be their personal Uber without any compensation . I know that isnāt what this site is for but Cripes thatās my time I am giving up too!!
I will be declining this sit after all.
6 Likes
I know! I do reply back and updated this post. I declined and stated we just arenāt comfortable with doing the airport runs
10 Likes
The whole tone of his response is entitled and trying to make out youāre the awkward one by not working to their agenda. You did well to decline. #standyourground
8 Likes
You dodged a bullet there. Even if they came back and said they would make alternative transport arrangements I still wouldnāt do it.
They sound very entitled.
7 Likes
Well done @Ybrik 
3 Likes