Making Messaging easier

Product Updates
1

Making Messaging easier
Making Messaging easier960×400 16.5 KB

Great communication is at the heart of every great sit. You’ve told us that messaging could be improved and we’re looking at what isn’t quite working as it should.

What’s changing?

Over the coming months, we’re rolling out a series of updates to support easier and more reliable communication on the TrustedHousesitters app.

  • More Stability

    • We’re fixing some bugs that you’ve made us aware of, including one that causes the app to crash

  • Drafts that stay put

    • Draft messages will no longer disappear when you switch between screens

  • Messages in real time

    • New messages will appear the moment they arrive - no need to refresh your inbox

  • Better inbox design

    • We’re reducing clutter and making it easier to stay on top of your latest messages

  • Easier to make decisions

    • We recently made it easier to withdraw or decline an application if a sit isn’t quite right for you, simply archive your discussion.

    • We’ve also made it clearer and easier to accept or decline applications straight from your inbox

Why are we making this change?

It’ll be easier than ever to stay on top of your messages in the TrustedHousesitters app. From the messages themselves, to application statuses, sit dates and more, it’s all in one place.

And in the rare event that something doesn’t go to plan, you can also have the peace of mind that our Membership Service team are able to look into conversations and offer the support you need.

Find out more about what we’re doing to improve trust and safety in this blog.

2

Hi Mark

I cannot believe that there will be more changes to stay on top of your messages and , yet, despite me asking upteenth times , we still cannot see old messages. I cannot emphasise enough how unprofessional this is when applying for a sitting knowing that you have written before but cannot see any messages until you hit the Submit button.

I have asked countless times what is the logic for this

3

When we have messaged a host before we need to see the thread before sending a new message.
I applied for a sit recently and sleeping with a pet is a deal breaker for us (which I mentioned in my application).
Once the message had been sent the previous thread came up where this had been discussed. I had to withdraw my interest for the second time.
Very unprofessional and time consuming.
It would have helped if the host mentioned the pet’s sleeping arrangements in the listing.

4

Please can you confirm that no more changes will be rolled out until the errors caused by the last update have been fixed for everyone affected ?

I refer to the update 3 weeks ago that has resulted in sitters reviews now showing incorrect pet information ( number , breed type of pet etc )

5

THS could break a crowbar in a sandbox.

6

@Mark_B, we’d not encourage much THS focus on Messages. Any related effort may best be focussed on communications prior to sit confirmation. We haven’t found significant issues with THS Message functionality - please don’t break it :upside_down_face:.

In case helpful context then we have applied for 100+ sits and completed 50+ on-THS sits. In our experience, only one or two of those pet parents have wanted to continue to use THS Message for communication after sit is confirmed. Even those were newbies that probably hadn’t yet realized that there were better alternatives. Substantially everyone uses WhatsApp - easier functionality, better notifications, integrated into existing workflows, and ability to create WhatsApp Groups (e.g. shared comms including pet parents and both housesitters).

7

Speaking of which, there is also a web version (in addition to desktop app), which has been around for a while, for those who don´t fancy typing long messages on mobile.
web DOT whatsapp DOT com and link with your mobile (3 dots / link device)

8

Yes, please. I am sure we would all appreciate some reassurance.

To be honest, the suggested changes sound good to me but how can we trust that staff in charge of implementing them won’t keep making things worse?

I really get the impression they get paid by number of “great ideas” in a brainstorming session. Except that they are trying to implement all of them at a time, some of which contradict one another. :rofl:

The changes @Silversitters referred to were also designed

But they are in fact falsifying existing accurate, reliable information. How can that help to improve communication or trust?

Honestly, I am still using THS because I am still able to communicate directly with hosts and have great experiences but I do wish they would stop messing around.