A post was merged into an existing topic: Conclusion Of Pausing Application Test - Updated Post
Hi @Lance,
I don’t have an issue with a HO saying they want to look at another 5 or whatever. But they declined my application and came back and said as they hadn’t found anyone better would I be interested.
It’s the framing of the offer that I didn’t like.
15 Likes
How are you able to apply at all if you’re not in the first five?
1 Like
I wonder if homeowners are opening up multiple dates they don’t actually need, so the next 6+ sitters have a way to message them about the original dates. Honestly that’s something I would do if my listing was super popular.
2 Likes
@richten1
I have not had this happen. If they had replied that they were declining all applications to allow all the sitters that are interested the opportunity to apply before they decided, I could understand that. But I probably would not have liked it if they said 'I like your application but want to see what else I can get. ’
I guess there is no hack or polite way for a HO to try to use the application process the way it was initially.
2 Likes
@Lance Kudos on your response. Thank you for stating this!
3 Likes
Unfortunately Homeowners have to deal with sitters who are not available but message us anyway. This is an automatic disqualifer as far as I am concerned. It is a selfish maneuver to fill up the limited 5 spaces in our inbox before our listing gets suspended - which then prevents available sitters from applying!! This happens to us all the time. Just happened again 5 minutes ago!
I just posted a sit about 5 minutes ago and already received a message from an unavailable sitter who wanted to create a “messaging history” because of the 5 message rule.
another replied that they are already committed to another sit at that time but really like mine. Why would they bother to write to me it would seem that the only reason they might do this is because they are planning to ditch their commitment and later apply to mine… which is not very nice
I wish sitters would understand that if they are NOT available - please do not send messages!!!
Understandably they want to make contact, but because of THS policy of suspending posts after 5 messages, prevents available sitters from seeing and being able to respond, which is not fair to them…and does not leave a very good impression.
6 Likes
It’s totally up to you @CAadventurer if you don’t like this method but lots of hosts do appreciate a reach out, especially if they are in an unusual situation or difficult location. We’ve picked up at least three sits this way and the HO always says “I remember you guys. We wanted you before but it wasn’t our time.” Is another way of looking at it….
Once we apply we simply cancel the application afterwards and the HO is free for their 5 applicants again.
8 Likes
@CAadventurer what about a sitter who absolutely loves your listing and feels they’d be a perfect match (for future dates) and -if you were to skim their profile- you might feel the same? Wouldn’t it be useful to be able to favourite a great sitter like this to be able to invite them directly another time? This has happened for us more than once and led to successful sits that would not otherwise have happened.
Before the 5 app limit it was common practise to make contact in this way by ‘applying’ and It is entirely due to the fact THS has no separate messaging system.
This feature is long overdue.
Hosts always have the ability to message any sitter they like and invite them for a sit but sitters ONLY have the opportunity to make contact when there are live dates showing. The system is skewed!
I agree that nowadays this type of enquiry takes up a valuable spot an available applicant could make use if and I can understand your frustration. However I’ve just discovered its possible to send a message i.e ‘apply’ and then immediately cancel the application but the message still remains. If the system works properly then that place should be freed up again straight away tho’ I’m not sure exactly how that works.
If a genuinely interested & appropriate sitter wants to present themselves to you, you could also see this as flattering and welcome rather than a source of irritation. I don’t feel I’m selfish for doing this- as there is no alternative way- as long as the system responds fast enough to free up the space again when I cancel.
16 Likes
They are declining the first five applicants so they can receive another 5. You can’t contact a pet parent without applying unless you have applied or sat for them before and the lines of communication are open.
I think the issue here is they are auto-declining applicants to see a wider pool, even if those applicants are someone they would consider.
1 Like
You’re not. That’s why these HOs are declining their first five applicants. They can get another five applicants and create a larger pool to choose from.
1 Like
I’ve read through most of the points here so this isn’t just a direct reply to you, but just my two cents on the whole thing.
First, I agree that if they liked your application they should’ve just kept yours and declined the ones that weren’t suitable. They could’ve messaged to say they liked your profile but they are taking a few days to review.
That mentality that there’s always something better waiting out there has always been a big issue for some sitters and owners. If you keep waiting for something better when you already have something good there’s a chance you’ll end up with nothing.
Sometimes an owner or a sitter will say something that puts you off. This is a good thing, as it tells you early on that you may not be compatible.
As someone with a great profile who knows others with great profiles, it is easy to think that a HO should be able to find a sitter within the first five applicants, but having spoken to some of our home hosts about this, it was eye-opening to learn that’s not the case. From expressions of interests for future dates, to empty profiles with no references, to people just asking if they can park their camper van at their place, many will not be suitable. So I don’t begrudge HOs declining those folks and getting more applicants, even if I’ve already applied.
Finally, to touch on the sitters applying to open lines of communication. I get it, but I don’t personally do it. I’m under the understanding that HOs can see who favourites them (although maybe it’s just the premium members?) So my thinking is if I like a sit but the dates don’t work, I favourite it and I’ll get a notification when they post new dates. I’ve also had HOs reach out to say “We noticed you favourited our listing, are you available for any if these dates?” which then opens lines of communication without clogging their applications.
But that’s just me. I have reached out to previous sits that had listings that were reviewing applications to find out the dates, but that was because we already had a rapport.
4 Likes
Please lmk why on earth would I appreciate a reach out from someone who is NOT available?
We live in a very desirable location, and have all 5 star reviews. So within 4 hours of my posting I received 2 messages from people who just wanted to reach out but are not available, and several more who have no reviews - despite the fact that I wrote in my posting I would only consider sitters with 8 reviews!!!
Had I not been carefully monitoring my inbox and deleting them, my post would at this point not be visible to people who are actually be available. This is unfair to those sitters who are available and would like the sit.
This wasn’t a problem before the 5 message limit but now that THS has decided to do this, I have no patience for this nonsense.
2 Likes
I could easily search for a good sitter (and see their availability on their calendar on theiir profile) and invite them - so it is totally unnecessary. If you are available, by all means get in touch, but if you are not available, you are wasting everyones time and potentially blocking another sitter who is available because after 5 messages the posting gets suspended.
2 Likes
As a HO I really dislike the 5 applicants rule and am hopeful it will not change. Meanwhile, I would never reject the first 5 to see if there is someone "better ". I, too, think it’s rude.
7 Likes
I meant to say, the 5 applicants rule will change lo.
4 Likes
I am a sitter and HO, and while I don’t think it’s an ideal practice, if you’re trying to establish a connection, the platform doesn’t provide any other way to communicate.
Were sitters able to indicate where they wanted to sit, rather than being searchable by geographic location, then maybe the issue would be mitigated.
I occasionally contact HOs who live near my family in Kentucky because that’s not a very ‘active’ area, and let them know we travel back and forth frequently. I then immediately withdraw my application, so I don’t take up someone else’s spot.
THS sitter search only works if I have my “location” set to Kentucky, but then I get invites from that geographic area, which isn’t super helpful.
As a HO, I’ve had sitters apply because they too have a reason to be in my area. Several people who have family there, may be attending college, are relocating, etc. It is a bit cumbersome on my end to then reject (and categorize as “for the future”) these sitters. But without the messaging, I have zero idea how we would find one another.
I know it’s frustrating, and maybe you could put some wording in your posting to the effect of “If you are unable to do the posted dates, please do not contact me. Your application will be immediately declined, and will not be considered for future sits.”
4 Likes
I understand both sides. Because of the five maximum applications, the sitters are forced to apply quickly even if they might not be able to do the time specified only to have a way to connect to the homeowner. On the other hand, the homeowner needs to have a larger pool of applicants to choose from so sometimes they’re forced to decline even if it’s a good applicant just to get more options. So I think I can relate and understand both sides. It’s not a black and white here, but the issue might be related to having a 5 application limit
8 Likes
Hello
I see a lot of sitters talking about how they simply withdraw their application so they don’t take up one of the first spots, but I’m not sure that affects the application count in the way they think it does.
From my experience several times recently withdrawing an application after being in the first five–lack of communication from the HO after several days- the listing did not go live again once I cancelled, which would bring it down to at least 4 sitters for sure provide every one else kept their application active. I imagine in this case the HO has to unpause the listing on their own.
Now, if I had cancelled while the listing was still live and it had not had 5 yet, I wonder if the application count would adjust? I only recall withdrawing one application recently before it hit 5, and when I checked it right after, the count didn’t change…but it is possible someone else submitted pretty much right at the same time, so the count stayed the same as their application ‘replaced’ mine.
Based on what I saw from withdrawing from a listing already in review, I suspect that once an application gets submitted, it counts towards the submissions even if it gets cancelled later. I would image a sitter cancelling an application doesn’t have the same effect as a HO declining it.
I see @Angela_L commenting on this thread. Do you think you or one of the other moderators could confirm with THS what happens when people withdraw their applications?
If people cancelling on their own is not resetting the count automatically in any way, and they are in fact taking up a spot that only the HO can free up again, they may think twice about doing that.
If I was a HO with a popular listing who must constantly keep reposting because of applicants like this taking up spots, that would irk me quite a bit and I likely wouldn’t consider them for a future sit. But that is just me.
2 Likes
This is correct, I have read it on the forum previously. It doesn’t automatically reset, the HO has to unpause. Even if withdrawn, it still counts as 1 application.
1 Like