I don’t think it’s something happening only with specific listings. I think it’s yet another inconsistency between apps.
I have been checking since I discovered it over a month ago and it seems if the HO uses an android app they are offered the option of choosing “up to 8 hours”, which is something quite common for some cats. For some strange reason, other apps or the website only show “more than 6 hours confirming timing with the owner”.
I did DM you and would appreciate it if you could give some feedback about this.
@Mark_B I’ll add another point to the confusion for wording in this area that needs attention.
Example that I’ve seen: Owner has three dogs - two are low-maintenance but the third elderly dog needs letting out every two to three hours. The owner explains the needs of each dog well in the description, but here’s what was chosen from the options:
It’s true - two of them can - but what about the one that can’t? Surely this responsibility section has to be phrased so as to also cater to the needs of the most needy pet, as they certainly can’t be ignored?
This statement should either be expanded to address each pet, if needs vary OR this point should address the pet with the highest needs when it comes to how long they can be left alone.
The owner did ask for feedback on their listing and many members pointed out the owner’s inconsistency in how long the pets could be left alone.
I think someone confirmed that that’s how it works so it seems it’s clear for the HOs but the wording is still confusing for the sitters. Maybe other issues need higher technical intervention and resources this one could be solved by erasing the words “one or more of the”. It would be crystal clear and still true.
Here it is
Did you miss ‘occasionally’? And yes 10 hours would be an exception but 2 hours is ridiculous
10 hours is too long, even occasionally, in my opinion. The rare occasions (really once or twice a year) we are gone longer than 7 hours I arrange for a neighbor or drop in sitters. We do not need to sightsee as we are not tourists here! If you want to be gone 10 hours ‘occasionally’ be up front about that. It’s either a match or it isn’t. Did you read that part?
Could I possibly ask again for some feedback on this matter, which I pointed out nearly two months ago?
Would it be considered acceptable to directly ask another forum member (whose listing I know to be inconsistent in that regard) for some feedback?
I would appreciate some kind of answer even if it is just “I have no further information”
Hi Newpetlover,
Thanks for reaching out.
Your feedback was shared internally, but I don’t have anything new to share at this time.
Thanks,
Mark.
Perhaps @gchampagne could shed some light on this big inconsistency.
I took the liberty to tag you because I have checked you profile. Cazuela and Chico look cute and I like the listing so I read all sections. I thought this might be a case where different “left alone time” might show in different apps. So far, it’s always been with cats, which are usually more independent.
In @gchampagne case, if I use my IPad I get the same information on the web site and the app
But if I use my cell phone (android), I get this
I would like to point out:
- This inconsistency is consistent
. It is always the android app that gives the longest time.
- Not every sit which shows 6 hours + on the web, shows 8 hours on the android app, but every sit which shows 8 hours on the android app is restricted to 6 hours + on the website and iPad app.
- On the website of an android device the restriction is also 6 hours +
- As @gchampagne listing proves, the restrictions are set by THS software tools not by the hosts. In this case the wording says “cats can be left alone all day”
The only hypothesis I can think of is that if the listing is created on the android app it will let the HO choose that option and it will only appear as such on that app, the remaining options will automatically “translate” into 6 hours +
@gchampagne, could you please tell us what your choice is and how it shows for you on different devices if you have access to more than one?
That is some first rate investigating @newpetlover. 
We only have iOS devices and they all show 6+ hours on the app as well as the web version. I added the text version (can be left alone all day) just to be sure that it was clear to sitters in case they don’t open every section of our profile.
Thank you very much for your contribution. This clearly refutes my hypothesis and I don’t have further resources to follow this research.
I thought perhaps different people were working with different software and they were doing different things. There are other differences, too. The medication info appears on android app but not on the web or Ipad app.
In my opinion this issue should be addressed, either take it back to the previous situation where it’s up to the owners to mention that in their listing, abandoning the multiple choice format and making it an open field or just plain text that owners can word as they find suitable, or make the information consistent in all the devices. Honestly, this is not helping at all, it’s creating more problems.
Personally I feel that all the ‘extras’’ should be removed (time pets can be left, arrival/departure times etc) until there is more compatibility between the web and the app. It is currently only causing more confusion.
I completely agree. I would even go further, just undo most of what has been done even if there are no inconsistencies between devices. Direct, clear communication between the parties seems to work better and can’t be substituted by THS adding fields.
However, if I had to rank the inconsistencies, I think this is the worst and most absurd because it doesn’t just omit information in one device, it consistently gives wrong information.
Luckily, @gchampagne seems not to be seriously affected by this because they wrote “the cats can be left alone all day“; that’s unmistakable. But they marked the “6 hours + option”. Imagine 6 hours is the maximum limit, so they assume applicants are OK with that but if the applicant has used the android app, they have read a clear message “pets can be left alone up to 8 hours” everyone thinks the other knows and agrees to what’s listed, but what’s listed is different, there’s two hours difference. THS always say the wellbeing of the pets comes first but this can lead to problems and inappropriate care.
I raised the issue two months ago, I was asked for evidence, which I provided. A month later I asked for feedback: crickets. Not even a courtesy reply. I posted again yesterday, begging for an answer, they did answer this time but “nothing new to share”. In the meantime, instead of fixing these issues, they are creating new inconsistencies. Now, depending on what device we use to write our reviews, we will either be forced to say if we recommend the sit (if we want our review to be published) or we will be able to publish the review with no problem and no further questions. It can even get to the point where I am reviewed with one procedure and the other party is reviewed with a different one for the very same sit!
“Smoother experience”
Having worked in information technology for 40 years I can say that from a technological standpoint having a set of choices only makes sense if a field can be used as a search criteria or statistics are produced from it or just to ensure consistency. It is then essential to validate that the information is accurate across all devices by validation at the data level and by making sure the different versions of the app and website show it exactly the same. Otherwise it is better to let people provide the information as they want but at the cost of some not providing the information. There is no perfect solution but any solution must be implemented adequately.
It seems like THS tech leadership is subpar, because they don’t uphold even basic best practices before shipping updates. And it’s likely to stay that way, because anyone good who kicks the tires before applying would be likely to see that.
Much as I would like to disagree on that one, I am afraid I can’t. At least that’s the course of action consistently taken in the last few months.
It’s now sorted. After I deleted the app and reinstalled it, I no longer get the up to 8 hours message.
I know nothing about how apps work but I wonder if that option was available at some point and then it just kept randomly appearing.
One things for sure, none of the many new hires wasn’t a QA manager for the website, or apps.
Part of the beauty of THS is that every sit is as unique as every sitter. It is simple to choose sits that fit your needs. Avoid sits that do not fit your needs.
We have done sits in which the dog could not be left alone at all, but there are two of us, so it was easy to manage. The sit was three weeks long, in a very popular location, in a very nice home, and we needed to be in that area to help family, too. So we agreed to meet the dog’s needs.
Everyone is different! We all have the freedom to choose.
