That’s true.
mayfair equity made this deal in december 2023. between september 2018 and 2023, a different private equity firm called rockpool had a majority stake in THS. that’s over 7 years where a private equity company have called the shots at this “community.”
i’ve said it a bunch of times today - you are free to leave and choose to do business with another platform, or “create community” without paying a fee through many avenues online. you have free will and you have a choice. but, from your post, it appears your impression of THS is uninformed and based on an idealised version of what you would like it to be.
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revie? is that Don Revie?
It is very sad for passionate sitters. Each of us must weigh the pros and cons and will have to reduce the number of sits based on our financial means.
Perhaps this will create more opportunities for new sitters.
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Why do THS keep deleting any posts about reviews and comments on other platforms? It isn’t violating the T&S and it is on topic.
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what happened to the graphic? was it deleted???
also my post/reply that referred to it?
I give up, not gonna come to this forum anymore. I already took a break from it for a year or so, and only came back to look at reactions to this new booking fee but it looks like this forum is very heavily censored…
Good luck everyone, and goodbye!
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Don’t you think that’s a bit too judgemental? I don’t think anyone is entitled to interpret how others must or mustn’t feel.
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Interesting. I noted the high number of brand new 1 star reviews (although HE would likely say it is a small number) and it is much more than the number of sitters who have favorited HIS listing (although HE says that is a large number).
Like I said, interesting.
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If it goes on like this, in a few days it will go much much lower.
This is what we can leave to anybody coming after, and not participating now.
It’s a bomb. And it’s awesome.
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We need one of these regarding the new fees
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favouriting doesn’t automatically convert into WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SIT FOR YOU, and
some people just click Favourite in the same way as they might pick up a Greek travel brochure in the travel agents, in the past, doesn’t mean they will go there, just daydreaming that they like the sound of it.
(Edited to meet the Forum Guidelines)
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@Jenny has nothing to be ashamed of. If anything she is giving a masterclass in patience and professionalism. No matter how we feel on this topic, let’s keep some perspective here. And please don’t judge or assume how I or anyone else feels or should feel. Thank you.
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We need something. As a communications crisis manager or even just a corporate communicator, I would have had scenarios, talking points, releases, flow charts, interviews, Q&A, FAQs etc., ready to go for every executives, moderators and admins on every platform.
The complete lack of response from the executives shows me that this is a rather unprepared organization making decisions in a vacuum. How could you not have debated all sides of the increase and arguments amongst yourselves? How could they be so removed from the users and community as to not have anticipated the expected reaction and not be ready to roll out excuses when it happened? Very poor planning. I don’t think they know what they’re doing or how to do it.
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It’s an interesting point, other than that THS has legally distanced itself from any repercussions on that front. But Sitters could be on the hook if Immigration happens to suss out that the homeowner paid a fee for us to be there, even if we don’t receive the remuneration. It’s always a bit subjective with border agents, but it’s one more argument they can stack up to claim we’re “working” in a foreign country, vs “doing tourism.”
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I will “translate”
It’s not an insult to pay any fee as you suggest and @giuvax have been happily paying a fee, what they find insulting is to be asked to pay twice. The message is there and it’s clear. Perhaps not so easy to see when one is more interested in lecturing others and correcting their posts.
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It’s a business but it has at its heart a huge army of people who have agreed to the feel good community orientated principles of either sharing their homes and resources or providing their labour for no cash returns as a viable alternative to commercial arrangements.Im sure people are feeling judging by the overwhelming responses something of a sense of betrayal
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My basic membership as a sitter is due for renewal in Jan. I was actually planning to sign up again as a pet owner too, as I now have 2 rescue chihuhuas who need care when I am away. But, following the news of booking fees, I decided to turn off auto renewal to buy myself time to figure out what I will do as a sitter and/or pet parent subscriber.
However I have a sit already booked in March, so I am not allowed to turn off auto renewal. This feels like a trap. Do I really have to cancel the sit to take back permission to charge my credit card? Something I don’t do lightly.
My preference would be to pay for membership through the end of Mar and then leave the platform if that is the choice I make rather than if I decide to stay and suck it up.
Anyone know if I can renew for 3 months only (prorated)? Or if I renew for the year and cancel in April after I complete my sit, can I be refunded for the remaining 9 months?
I want to mention that I am not completely opposed to a booking fee. However I think it should have been more strategic. e.g. A lower fee for shorter sits. A lower fee for sitters who are already spending a lot on travel and transportation, etc.
For me the real rub is that everything is more expensive right now. Plane tickets, gas, food. Dang it even my healthcare is going up more than 300% on Jan 1st. I am already figuring out how to economize. IMO THS picked a bad time to lay this on us.
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I’m so sorry that’s happening to you. Really awful times right now. 
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@ThePetProfessor In part that’s why I decided to provide the information. I don’t like someone trying to silence me. I did withhold my phone number. If this saga continues, I’ll update here. 
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@Shella_in_the_Forum, one option would be to gather all the relevant contact info for the person/people doing your March sit and continue with the sit off the THS site. I use WhatsApp for all my communication once the sit is confirmed. Not preferable but certainly an option.
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