When I joined THS many years ago, I would go onto the site, browse through listings, favourite some, read some just for the heck of it, and apply for some - all at my leisure (except for the ones I really wanted, I then applied immediately). I didn’t die or contract any disease throughout the process nor did my phone/laptop explode.
What I am saying is, “in the old days”, it was simply a matter of going online and doing what you needed to do, no REAL issues (none that I encountered anyway) and get on with things. I know things are different wherever you are or wherever you go but I don’t have any issues whatsoever on the other two sites, I just do as I mentioned above i.e. open App, browse, favourite, scroll, choose, at leisure - simple. Nothing has changed, or been enhanced, or modified, same old same old. Probably not as huge a platform/s as TH but very big nonetheless.
Now I feel like I’m in training for the Olympics trying to find a sit, scroll through stuff of absolutely no interest to me, or navigate how things work now and the more I read on the Forum, the more I find there are now many, and important, issues. Has this always been the case or was I simply in Wonderland, casually browsing and applying with absolutely no drama at all? I know that technology changes as does everything and obviously there will always be issues where technology is concerned, but really? I also know that many on here don’t think there are issues so I respect that also but gings, sometimes I feel like I need a double Scotch and a lay down after reading some stuff. Should it all be this hard? Oh for the good old days
The good old days were much better for some, because relatively few sitters were getting most of the prime sits, according to THS. Since they’ve decided to spread the wealth as a path toward growth, it would by default worsen the experience for various old-timers who used to easily get sits.
Surely there can’t be THAT many old timers applying for the same sits at the same time around the entire world? I still had to prove my worth and many times there were better applicants than myself so I missed out, some of those could have been relatively newbies, who knows I don’t get it, I really don’t. But I won’t venture into the deep, dark depths of “the five” lol
I am an ‘old timer’ who remembers the good old days.
There was a time when the platform was fit for purpose.
When I felt like part of a community of pet lovers who love to travel.
When I could search for sits at leisure and enjoy the experience.
Now it feels more like an us and them (homeowners v sitters) situation with some people out for all they can get and an organisation that isn’t listening to it’s paying members.
I don’t have an issue with the 5 application rule as such but the fact that the enormous change was not communicated to all members.
I realise a business has to grown and appease its investors.
I believe there is something out there for everyone. Don’t forget we old timers started at the bottom applying for local and less desirable sits to get started and earn our reviews.
At the end of the day what is a prime listing/desirable location?
A perfect listing for me may be someone else’s nightmare.
Just let us get on with it and treat others as we would wish to be treated on a platform fit for purpose.
From an old timer
Oh @Twitcher , you couldn’t have said it better and I never thought about it in the way which you have added…
“Don’t forget we old timers started at the bottom applying for local and less desirable sits to get started and earn our reviews”.
That is SO true! I started sitting at places within ten minutes drive from home, then a little further away, just to get my reviews to enable me to acquire international sits. It WAS hard, I did sits I wouldn’t do now, and we DID earn our reviews, just like everyone else. We earned our place on this site as does everyone earn it.
Thanks for reminding me of that, from another “old timer”
I entirely agree with you. One of the things I miss the most is the daily sit updates that were in country order, such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark etc. etc. Now even though I have worldwide updates it seems to just be a jumble of America and UK. I rarely see any other countries. Also I have not yet found a sit that I have wished to apply for in these jumble of udates. It is only if I do a manual search, which I do not doing daily (so likey miss out on seeing lots) that I find any to apply for, and they are ones I have not seen in any updates received. Or I have had owners contact me direct and have accepted a couple this way. But I really do miss the updates coming through in country order, as there could be countries I had not even thought of within these.
You can make Saved searches on the web (max three for a Basic sitter). For that you can use the map interface. I used to have a Saved search covering Latin America and the Caribbean islands, just to dream away.
Now with Saved searches on the app in disarray, I had to delete that one, to make space for more practical areas.
@ziggy The app is not useful now anyway, with all those “low application” listings first, that THS is trying to load on us. I have deleted all Saved searches that I had created on the app. The three that I created on the web interface still show in the list, but those do not cause notifications on my phone. Just the daily email (thankfully still only those labeled “New”).
I am also an old timer and I agree with all of the comments made.
The site is now over regulated. When we started there were no T & Cs, you used your common sense and there were no disasters. I have been saying No to Third Parties before THS implemented it.
Owners on the whole were more pleasant and showed their appreciation with maybe a bottle of wine or box of chocs. We are now lucky if we have a half empty bottle of milk. You always received a prompt response to any message.
Yes it does feel like the kindness has gone out of the whole thing. I have had a number of sits recently where I didn’t even get an “enjoy your stay” or “thank you” not to mention a “help yourself” or some wine or milk or even salt, meanwhile visiting for a 2 hr intro chat to learn all the rules (maybe even multiple visits) and the expectation that one can arrive at the crack of dawn (while not being invited to stay the night before, join for dinner etc) are all being taken for granted. I know from the forum not everyone likes those things but I always found them great especially as I travel solo and it gave me an insight into local life.
I imagine home owners have noticed similar changes with house sitters as well. Maybe it’s just a sign of the times…was this what 2008 was like?
While I know many have campaigned for the blind review system I think it could be the nail in the coffin in terms of trust in each other (even if we can trust reviews a bit more).
@B1anca I have only been on TH since 2018 so not sure what it was like in 2008. Agree with what you are saying and I definitely think it’s a sign of the times. People have certainly changed in my lifetime
I joined 2 yrs after you, so I feel ancient on this platform
I do miss the “good old days” so much, lately. For the past year, I felt more regulated by this company, in what I have to say and share, than by my own government, IG, YouTube and big tech combined. The responses from the relevant authorities on this forum, the putting members in the naughty corner, the reminders to stay friendly, the constant re reading my responses to make sure I don’t say a bad word or expression, but mostly, their positioning in terms of authority, is so politically correct and cold, it makes me sadder than anything else. Their hands might be tied, and I understand that, but I can’t shake off the feeling that it’s us (forum members) against them (anyone employed by THS or representing them), as opposed to sitters vs HO. I scratch my head thinking: I pay my taxes therefore I pay my government representatives’ salaries. I pay my THS membership, therefore I pay their employees’ salaries. Right? Customer is always right? Not so sure about that in 2023, not on this platform. I rarely want to participate in debates here, and that’s new.
I’m nostalgic and that’s ok: at least I know I’m not the only one feeling like I lost a long time friend.
@Nadia111 you can be classified as an old timer also then I think But yes, it’s nostalgic to remember how it was, and you are definitely not alone, well said. I wonder how many other members read all these things but never speak up, who feel the same as you? But I guess it wouldn’t really change things, we would still be old timers stuck in Wonderland I’m not totally opposed to a certain amount of mediation on the forum as an aside to my post by the way everyone, sometimes it really is necessary. I’ve been helped out on a few occasions by certain Moderators and I don’t want to disrespect that privilege.
I joined in Autumn 2013 and did my first sit in February 2014. It all worked on common sense then. If you had a problem with the site, you could ring and speak to an actual person. There were not so many sits available and being new with no sit reviews was quite hard. I went back to the place my family came from so I knew the area well and I met the home owner when I was back home that Christmas. She went to india for 5 weeks and was out of contact a lot, she had the builders in and it was a very steep learning curve. I house sat for her several times in various places. I still enjoy it, but it seems to take up a lot of time now. Owners are more often likely to think of you as a paid employee and expect a lot for free. I don’t think its such a kind, friendly exchange as it was. It’s become a big business of course
THS was founded in 2010. I joined in 2012 having read about it in ‘The Sunday Times’ planning to sit in my hols as was working full time then. I didn’t. I rejoined in 2018 and discovered it had grown enormously
I don’t get it, I really don’t. 
But I won’t venture into the deep, dark depths of “the five” lol
