Not sure this is the correct place for this comment, but I think that this new ad by THS marketing is pretty good. It emphasizes pet care over travel. I like it. I’m a sitter and a member but if I weren’t it would make me curious.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: Feedback on new ‘5 applications and freeze’ system?
I’d like to be able to “flag” as unsuitable in the app and not just using the web browser and would like to be able to do this from a profile stage and not just after messaging someone who would not be suitable for our sit (we are HO’s).
Would like to be able to delete messages and not just archive.
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These are all great points Crookie. Did you ever have a response from Ben on these?
It looks like the lime green colour scheme has been removed? If so, thank you very much as I can now actually see what’s written!
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@DaisyFred all I got from @Ben-ProductManager was crickets! Nothing! Don’t really know why we all wasted our time commenting.
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I received an invite for a sit for someone I have previously sat for so it would be a repeat sit. I clicked the apply button and it shows on my dashboard as a sit I have applied for. Meanwhile on the host listing it shows there are 4 applications so don’t know if mine is one of those or whether I should be doing the usual application process? Can anyone advise please?
@LizBCN If you responded to a private invitation it may not be included in the applicant numbers showing on the listing. I suspect this is the case as we recently received a private invitation from a previous host as they wanted to check in with us first before formally listing the dates. We have not yet ‘applied’ but their listing says ‘currently not in need of a sitter’
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Hello, @Crookie Thank you for your feedback, the team are sorry that you have not yet received a direct reply to your feedback.
This was Ben’s general update on the thread in September 2023, as the team were still at the early stages of collecting feedback and ideas.
Since Ben started this thread in September there has been a slight update on how the feedback system on the forum works. No worries if you missed it you can read more about the new Product process on this thread
In the meantime, the Product team are currently working on the new inbox design. You might still be able to sign up for early access to be able to give feedback if you have not done so already, please see this thread
The team are looking through all of the suggestions and feedback on the forum and the forum team will share any updates about the new inbox and features, so please watch this space! 
@Ben-ProductManager I’m afraid I don’t understand your example. The idea and the suggested improvement don’t seem to match at all 
i read it 3 times and I still don’t get it.
Hello @Reliablesitter No questions are too small 
I can help as Ben is not available to reply. The headings that Ben shared do not need to all be about the same thing or match. You can write a separate thing in each section or you can choose to write one thing and make that applicable to each section. So in Ben’s example, each issue is different under each heading. I hope that helps.
The inbox work is ongoing, so if you want to contribute under those sections then please feel free to.
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Hello @Ben-ProductManager - when can we finally expect the basic flaws in the new messaging and application system to be fixed?
It’s almost October!!! And we still haven’t seen any fix. Then I’m talking about the frequently reported flaws of:
- tiny application box
- application box not showing prior conversations with HO, thus not knowing whether you’ve been in touch before & what you exchanged (this makes for really embarrassing mistakes when addressing an HO as if it’s the first time you’re in touch)
- no search function anymore on the Inbox, which means you can’t easily look up either whether you’ve been in touch with the HO before!
Very basic flaws but very essential for a well functioning messaging and application system, and now 4-5 months after introduction of the new system, NOTHING has been fixed as of yet. Please…
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I would like the ability to contact the HO to clarify the details of a stay so I don’t take up 1/5 of the applications if the arrival/departure times or any other detail do not work.
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That suggestion has been raised many times, and others have explained why that’s unlikely to happen. It’s not related though to the format/design of the new application box and inbox
Hi, Ben - Thanks for reaching out to the Members of THS for feedback.
That is really a great step in continually improving this site.
Idea Don’t close a Post to Applicants until
(1) At least three hours have passed since it was posted
(2) At least 12 applicants have responded
(3) Find a way to block the Bot applications: it’s really not credible when we see a post with only one or no applicants, by the time it’s properly read through to check if it is a good fit? “Reviewing”!
Improvement that you would to see
Where a Sitter’s Availability dates display, provide a cell where their preferred area can be written. We often get invites to Sits we can’t do because of location.
For example:
November 20, 2024 - January 3, 2025 Western USA
January 15, 2025 - February 10, 2025 Canada, USA, Mexico
March 30, 2025 - June 15, 2025 Europe & UK
Top frustration that you have
Absolutely no question the 5-&-Done system of limiting HO to only seeing the 1st 5 applicants when they post.
This is annoying to most members.
Hosts have to “Decline” applicants one-by-one to see any additional applicants.
Applicants in another Time Zone almost never see the most popular sits.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten an alert for a specific town/specific date range only to see the post is already “Reviewing”
We have twice been invited to do a sit after first being “Declined”
Once we couldn’t do a sit we loved because we’d made other arrangements.
Just happened again! Luckily this time able to make adjustements to our plans.
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mdardenix - There’s a solution: apply with your concerns clearly stated.
The host can then ID if your concerns mean it’s not a good fit and Decline you.
Same has happend to us!
lou28 - Interesting point about Posts that aren’t really “real.”
This summer I can think of four posts went up we applied to
ONE application was never read. They reached their 5-&-done limit and the sit sat there until the dates passed, then it disappeared.
TWO application was never read. After two weeks of it showing “Reviewing” I sent a note asking if they were still considering sitters. The reply: “Oh a family member stepped up, we don’t need anyone, forgot to remove our ad.”
THREE & FOUR application read but no acknowledgement. Waited. “Reviewing.” Waited. Decided that since the HO didn’t seem to be going forward on choosing someone or even sending a note, we would Cancel our application with a quick note letting them know it was because we hadn’t heard from them.
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YES!!! Allow sitters and owners to decide if they want to allow PM’s!! I’ve mentioned this many times before on the forum.
Hello everyone,
Just a quick update from the team.
We have updated the application page based on some of your feedback above:
We now include useful information in the sitter application step, e.g. pet’s names, listing and owner details, and also to state if you previously applied. You can also now expand the area to make the text field larger, and it auto-expands when you type on an application screen.
Jenny