Hi – I’ve been with THS for a while now and have received my first negative (quite negative) review. All others have been good. I’m formulating a calm, cool and professional response but in the meantime I was wondering about something. In their review they stated “the curtains were not opened during the day throughout the sit”. First, they were but second, how could they even know if they were or were not if there were not cameras? I saw a few cameras but as they are long-time THSers and premium members, I never thought they might be on. And considering the only time I had the living room curtains closed (the only curtains in the house except the bedroom) was at night. I’m just not a fishbowl person.
Do I leave that topic “unresponded to” in my response? I can’t swear the cameras were on but still…
Oh, and one comment they made was “we question her mobility in being able to get on the floor to clean and to empty the litter box” (outside cats, they pooped in there twice in nine days). I mean, you may not like my looks and have some assumptions but, really? Skip a response?
Thanks for any advice! It’s my first time needing to respond.
I thought of that but it seems odd, no? Do homeowners go to neighbors and ask if curtains were open every day? (and no, there was nothing in the guide or discussion about ensuring those curtains were opened every day!)
Actually yes. I followed their feeding instructions to the T, including weighing out 20 grams three times a day – however, when they returned, I mentioned there were some things I left in the fridge and asked “there’s smoked salmon here that’s really good but I didn’t finish it, please feel free to eat it or, I don’t know, give a bite to the cats?” (some cats like it) They responded that they do not give human food to the cats and I said “didn’t think so, just was thinking how not to throw it out” (with a smile – these are people who invited me to stay as their guest for two days pre-next sit). They stated they “questioned my pet care decisions until we intervened” (this occurred after their return).
Could it be that they had outdoor cameras, and those were aimed in, and they were upset because they could not spy on you?
Who has an issue with curtains anyway? I would not respond, the hosts sound unreasonable, let them cook in it. Or am I not understanding something? This is the hosts complaining about wether the sitter opens and closes curtains during the sit?
In one of my sits, I walked in, closed the bedroom curtains, and opened them 3 weeks later. Oops - there was a plant on the window, that I had now completely neglected! The hosts responded my text message about it with “dont worry, it was struggling anyway”. They did not write a bad review about my curtain habits.
A couple of their comments make me question the cameras, not only the curtains but one other comment. I think it needs responding to calmly though, as their review makes me sound like a filthy (“cleaner stated there were empty cat food tins all over the kitchen” – huh? There was one from an hour before, rinsed out completely but still in the sink as I hadn’t even showered or coffee’d yet) person who doesn’t know how to take care of animals or a home (I built and ran a rescue shelter for two years), am too fat to squat down to empty a quasi-empty litter box……”didn’t follow recycling guidelines correctly” even though both bins and cans in the house were empty.
I’m still relatively new, racking up sits and reviews, so this is sitting there as if I can’t be trusted with animals or a home. I had to use five different bins to recycle things when I lived in another country for many years, I know the difference between food and plastic LOL And besides, I’m not a kid, I’m in my 60s)
–I had no mobility problems ensuring the litter tray was cleaned after use
–I don’t believe food usage was excessive in nine days as I ate one pinsa and a package of instant rice and was told to use the coffee pods. For all else, I did an online grocery shop.
–cleaning products were indeed used in the bathroom but put away downstairs before leaving
………..do i hit every point? And hope that other HOs read all reviews? I’m already booked up through mid-2027.
They sound like entitled owners and pedantic in the extreme. I would be quite disappointed with these remarks but others have given good advice as to how to respond.
Thanks for that As I’m still at this point just gathering reviews from new THS sits, I just wanted to make sure I handle this correctly. I know to wait until I’m cool and calm, which is a smidge (!) difficult for a Sicilian but still LOL I’ll have a couple people read it before posting also. I have excellent external reviews also, including the vet with whom I worked at my shelter. I’m hoping I don’t receive cancellations.
This is where the forum is so useful as there are many experienced sitters giving advice. I have been given very good advice when not knowing how to review sits appropriately.
This pair’s disparaging comments about your body, and presumptions made on that basis, is something I find particularly shocking. I am a sitter and always read HOs’ reviews before taking on a sit. They’ve not done themselves any favours here. . . . Also, I understand THS has a policy of not intervening in reviews. However, I would have thought this ‘body shaming’ comment - that, according to what you have written, they appear to be indicating that you are too fat to bend down and clean the litter tray - would have crossed the line enough for THS to delete it. . . .
I agree, and they couched it well by alluding to it “question her mobility”. I might bring it up to THS because of another comment unrelated and another regarding eating three items being “excessive amounts of food” (unless they are including the two dinners they cooked and invited me to join) (she states in full sarcasm ). I left them an awesome review, saying they were kind and generous etc…. I was there two days after, could you not just have been adults and talked to me about it?? Lesson learned.
If you saw cameras that were not disclosed before the sit, your “long-time THSers” aren’t being up front on required disclosures. I suggest mentioning “undisclosed indoor and outdoor cameras” in your response. Leave the inferences between cameras and the curtains to the future readers.
The body shaming is out of line and reflects very poorly on the hosts.
Why would any person leave such harsh comments. It’s a little surprising. If as a potential sitter I read what they wrote, I would stay far away from them. Curious how many other reviews they have. If they are new I doubt they will ever find another sitter. They sound like horrible people. Sometimes I read reviews on here and think this could have been discussed privately and not vented in public. So many people have a problem with confrontation in a civil way.
THS has my profile saying over 65 in the age category. Because of that I have had hosts ask me by text if climbing the steps to the 2nd floor in their house is a problem or climbing the stairs to their 2nd floor building a problem. I actually find this question insulting. I saw the pictures of where they live and if I thought it would be a problem I wouldn’t have applied. This has happened three times. When I answered no problem at all and got all three sits they all wrote on the review that I am welcome back at any time. So when they shamed you publicly about your mobility based on any prejudice preconceived way of thinking, then I think this review needs attention by THS.
Probably the most important ones if there are too many, letting the reader know that you’re are not addressing everything, just choosing the most relevant ones.
IMO this statement
Makes them more harm than you. If the litter box wasn’t cleaned, that’s something relevant but your mobility is not.
As I’m still at this point just gathering reviews from new THS sits, I just wanted to make sure I handle this correctly. I know to wait until I’m cool and calm, which is a smidge (!) difficult for a Sicilian but still LOL I’ll have a couple people read it before posting also. I have excellent external reviews also, including the vet with whom I worked at my shelter. I’m hoping I don’t receive cancellations.
). I left them an awesome review, saying they were kind and generous etc…. I was there two days after, could you not just have been adults and talked to me about it?? Lesson learned.
