That is true from a statistical perspective but for most people it’s just a matter of whether it fits their needs and whether it’s worth it.
Statistically, people may 0.05 chances of getting a disease but if they do get it it affects them 100% while people not having it are totally unconcerned.
Sitters and Pet owners only need each other’s “services” every so often and only one at a given time. The analysis @Lovepets has made about their needs and experience is 100% valid for them and that’s what really matters.
I agree that, for people sitting full time and traveling globally, THS may be their best option but HOs with just one home in one specific area may have just as good options elsewhere and the same goes for sitters.
Both HOs and sitters also have the option of paid services or just continue a free exchange outside THS with the people they already know.
Sitters who only sit occasionally and just for fun have other options, too.
Even you have admitted that you are testing other options.
You make it sound like checking out other pet sitting sites is something to be ashamed of.
Not at all. Nothing further from what I intended. I have said on other posts that I am checking other sites myself. I just wanted to point out that even if THS has the biggest membership, there are lots of alternatives for lots of people, including yourself.
You were responding to a post by @Lovepets (against their will) and I just took the liberty to respond to your response and side with them. I hope neither of you mind my two cents.
I think where some people are going with this, is that you “won’t participate in the game” but the fee is still being paid. It’s just being transferred to the owner who could view it as they are paying for you to stay at the home they prepared for you. They may also be paying a double fee, their own booking fee and yours if they don’t have premium, so even though you see none of the money, they are more likely not less likely to view you as an employee. The company still wins the game. You’ve just made another person the loser.
There are other workarounds for the game.You can:
- Delete autorenewal and see if you get an offer to upgrade to premium for the same price and/or upgrade for the higher price.
- End your account and try another service.
- Ask homeowners to take the sit offsite which no protections or reviews for either of you, and they might refuse.
- Extend your current membership so you won’t have to pay by simply getting your discount code out there on the web where people who want to join can use it.
I recognize there are sitters who believe that the homeowners “should” pay and believe “in principle” that sitters shouldn’t. Because I am a combined member with premium who believes that nobody should have to pay this per sit fee, but that for-profit companies are going to try to squeeze whatever they can, I would see a sitter asking me to take responsibility for their membership tier decisions as a red flag.
I do respect this point of view, truly.
I just want to offer a slightly different perspective. Current sitters are (I believe rightly so) upset about this drastic change of introducing booking fees. I am not going to argue for THS for sure - poorly communicated and implemented, definitely.
But - as I think THS understands - today’s sitters are not tomorrow’s sitters.
No one can sit indefinitely. Eventually ‘today’s’ sitters will ‘retire’ for health or other reasons (like unfortunately - death, which happens to everyone eventually)
‘Tomorrows’ sitters won’t know a world other than per sit fees. So they either factor it in to their equation or just don’t join. Again, it’s just how it is to them.
So….just saying that Sitters today that choose ‘early retirement’ from THS (for lack of a better term) may not indicate where the platform goes in the future.
Of course, everyone should make their own calculation based on their financial math and their own moral compass. That is true for everything.
But I wouldn’t assume that future sitters would do the same as current ones would.
Just an observation!
@Rhe Guess cash… I had a host last year who left me a “tip,” which covered about half a box of chocolates I bought for them as a present 
In the grand scheme of travel and its expenses, it honestly feels unnecessary and, to me, slightly insulting. There are other ways a host can show appreciation that are much more meaningful.
The only positive I can see in offering to cover a fee is that it demonstrates an understanding that everyone is a paying member, not an in-house operation.
Beyond perhaps reimbursement in cancellation scenarios, there is no added safety, guarantee, or real difference between confirming via the app versus the phone.. especially legally, given the way and method used to implement the T&Cs in December. If fees were truly the reason anyone hesitated, it’s not difficult to reach that mutual conclusion.
For (new) members motivated to collect reviews, it may make a difference. But for experienced members, repeat sits, etc, what would be the actual purpose of confirming through the app if the app doesn’t legally protect them 