Im setting up a petition to then send to TSH to change their model to pay sitters instead. TSH is the only platform that does not pay. All other sites and private sitters pay! It shows it is not a fair exchange especially for those of us experienced and sit frequently. Rover and Pawshake are sadly very difficult to get jobs on as we cant apply for jobs, the pet owners seek us out. If anyone would like me to share a link to my petition let me know as the more interest we can show the better!
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I understand your frustration, but I don’t think you’ll find many in agreement here, as the intention of this app is to connect people in a win-win exchange. We’re not here for a job; we’re here to be part of a pet-loving, travel-loving community.
Perhaps if you don’t like the model that job sites use, you should reach out to the them and recommend an option where sitters can bid for jobs rather than waiting for owners to contact them.
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If the model of THS doesn’t suit you there are others that will. The site model is perfect for us (and I’m guessing thousands of others) so I would see remuneration undermining the ethos.
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I think you’re missing the point. People - sitters & HO sign up - pay their membership knowing it’s mutual exchange site. There are plenty of sites if you want to be paid to be a sitter- THS isn’t one.
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This is the wrong site to ask for payment. This is a mutual exchange site. Please be mindful of the site and it’s culture.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
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Actually as far as I have seen, all housesitting-specific sites–not sites like Rover, which have a big focus on dog walking, and pets staying in a local sitter’s home either overnight or just for the day–are based on the same model of exchanging accommodation for live-in pet care. A site like THS and one like Rover are not really comparable.
If getting paid was the norm on all these sites, that would be awesome for sure, but it just isn’t how it is set up for the most part.
And if there were any sort of payment being made, it wouldn’t be THS, it would be the hosts. We aren’t their employees and they don’t directly facilitate these matches, and I doubt that is a model they would be looking to adopt.
They aren’t directly providing house and pet sitting services, they are providing a platform to connect people offering a service with those looking for it.
I am sure it is possible to make good money being a paid sitter, but I imagine that would work better for someone who largely spends time in one particular area and builds up more local clientele.
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I cant even imagine the complications around international sits if payment were involved. Theres already enough issues with what’s considered ‘work’ or not and allowed. The current model works perfectly for us. I think the OP does not understand the principle behind THS and many other exchange based housesistting sites.
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We always say how we prefer it without payment, because once money gets involved, people get weird.
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Expecting a company to change its business model for your preference is naive at best.
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Please don’t do that. THS is brilliant because there is no money changing hands. You’ll change the mutual exchange/benefit/balance to one of employee and employer and most members don’t want that (or they would be on paid sites) #dontrocktheboat
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lol, the entire premise if THS is that it’s an exchange with no money changing hands between homeowners and sitters. If that doesn’t appeal to you, why worry about it? Apparently, every other site involves payment to sitters, so use one of them instead. Pretty simple.
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Sorry I think THS is waaaay better because there is no money changes hands. It’s just a kind-hearted community with good people connecting with good people.
If you want to be paid, that’s totally fine, but there’s plenty of other sites for that, and if you’re finding it hard to get jobs via them, then simply get your own customers instead of relying on third parties. Create a facebook page or simple website and learn how to market it, so owners come directly to you.
It would be silly and foolish for them to change things when the majority of their customers think it is fantastic.
I don’t think THS will humour your petition because they’ve got a solid business model that works for them, and it also works for 21000+ sitters/owners.
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I think most sitters on here are really not interested in that. Sites like Rover are really for people looking for local sitters who want to get the same sitter on a regular basis. It’s for sitters who are providing pet care as a job and want to build a clientele locally. That’s not what THS is.
THS is intended to connect travelers. While I’m not dependent on sits to travel, it saves money so I have more for my non sit travels and I get to experience living more like a local along with spending lots of time with adorable pets. It’s a very unique travel experience that works extremely well as the exchange that it is. I have zero interest in paid sits. There are plenty of other platforms for those who choose to go that route.
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Not interested @Aurora.
But if someone wants to organize a petition opposing your petition, I’d sign that one.
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Thanks for the quick laugh on a very hot summer evening. 
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Nope.
I completely disagree.
That is the whole point of THS.
I have no problem with companies which are paying systems. But that is not what THS is.
If paying systems are what you or anyone else prefer, there are plenty available and you should feel free to avail yourself of those opportunites.
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We would have to stop using THS if it started being a paid site as it would complicate our tax returns so much. Working in so many different countries would mean we had to contact every countries tax department and pay them what was owed then try and figure it all out with our own revenue department. It would change our tax status and end up costing us more money.
No thank you. I like it the way it is, pleasant exchange.
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I wouldn’t be interested in getting paid, in fact it would put me off completely. I’m retired and I really do not want to have to cope with setting up a business, registering as self-employed, submitting tax returns, and having to take out business insurance.
And how could it work for sits outside of my own country? I don’t want to be a tax resident anywhere else.
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If it was a paid sit a lot of the homes you now see on the site would be gone. Just like sitters who like the free accommodations, PP like the free house and pet care. That is why both sides are willing to take a risk with each new exchange on here. As a paid sitter in my huge senior retirement community, people who pay like having the same person stay at their home or drop in on the cat each time they travel. I have my regulars and referrals come from them.
They like the comfort and security of knowing that person and also that their pet feels comfortable with them while they travel as the pets are not left with strangers. If you understood business a company doesn’t see your petition and say, well then we will implement her request immediately.
.
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@aurora you need to be on another site that is a better fit for you and leave THS to the thousands of us who like the mutual exchange model. Or you choose better sits where there iscan even exchange between you and the owner.
Like alot of others I would sign a petition against your idea of THS having a payment model.
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