Long-term TH member with loads of sits successfully completed in the past! Luckily, I have lots of people that ask me to repeat-sit which I do, but I always want to travel to new places and meet new pets too.
So, of course, I use the Saved Search functions for multiple locations. But now whenever I get a notification on my mobile, the majority of the time I click on it and the sit is already under review or about to be. So, even if you have a chance to apply, you have to rush and panic. This makes the application process really unenjoyable. I even have a template on my phone to copy and paste in replies which I then adapt but this feels disingenuous. However, it’s the only way I get a chance to apply if not already too late.
Is anyone else out there tired of this? The number of sits I’ve secured has decreased because they just go too fast.
Love to hear what you think and how you tackle the problem
Sheesh, people have been tired of this pretty much from when the 5-application limit was introduced.
You must be searching in popular locations?
The best I’ve been able to do is a real quick “Hi, I didn’t want to miss a chance to apply for your sit…” and tell them I’ll write a proper introduction very shortly. Then the application is in, I can fire up my laptop and take some time to think & write.
Of course this is no good if it’s hit 5 before you even see it.
People have been complaining about this for, well, probably several years at this point? The revolutionary suggestion of letting hosts decide how many applications they want before reviewing has been made, imagine that… but no changes have been made.
Yeah… frustrating
Thanks for the response! Yes, I do the same with the quick intro sometimes, but I think sometimes this also hampers your chances as sitters aren’t impressed (especially if they don’t realise about the limit of 5 applications).
On that note, I love the idea that the sitter can choose the number of applications made before in review. Makes sense. Sure many would want more than 5. I sometimes see saved listings getting put back out there multiple times, meaning sitters aren’t getting the right applicants.
As sitters are having to rush to reply, maybe we don’t always read the requirements fully and so aren’t suitable to apply. Again, another lose-lose for both sides!
Using the mobile app (and unless this has changed recently), if you can at least get to the listing’s application page before they’ve received 5 completed/submitted applications, you can pretty much take your time pasting your text in & sending. It will still let you hit submit on your application, even if 5 others have applied in the meantime.
I have only had this fail once, & I believe it’s because the owner deliberately closed the listing to applications or accepted an application while I was still composing mine — possibly because a preferred/past sitter messaged them.
That said, a recent issue I’m seeing is being unable to click directly through to a listing via the lock-screen notification for a previously-favorited listing or a saved search. All or most of the time, the notification simply opens the app to the default screen now. In the case of favorited listings these notifications are pretty useless at the moment, as I don’t have enough info to find the exact listing.
I’ve noticed a problem in the app just in the last couple of weeks re the saved searches. When I open the THS link it doesn’t take me to any saved search at all. THS - can this be fixed? It’s absolutely useless receiving these notification if it’s not working.
I deleted and reinstalled but still have the problems: not with every notification. Member services recently told me that when a sit notification goes to a blank sit, it means the sit is unavailable. But then I tested it this week but actively searching the location and the sit is still there.
Will delete the app and reinstall and keep checking. Thanks!
Thanks Mark. Just a few minutes ago I received a notification and it did take me to a sit I had favorited and saved so looks like the problem has been resolved.
@Globetrotter and yet I had 3 x favorites come up today that when clicked went to the general search page. I had enough info to find the listing and they were still accepting applications in all cases. So not totally fixed.
From what I’m reading here, it seems that saved search notifications appears to be working as expected, however there may be notifications (possibly favourited sits) that may be taking you to a generic page.
I have flagged this discussion internally. In the meantime, if anyone encounters something that doesn’t look right and are able to share;
the notification
which page you were taken to
your app version (latest is 3.41.0)
This info really helps the team to replicate, understand and resolve the issue.
What you’ve described is a little different to some of the other posts. You’re being taken to the right page, although it’s not showing the listings that we’d expect.
The good news is that it looks like the original bug is fixed, though we still have work to do… and are looking into what you’ve shared.
Just a quick note that I’m satisfied the issue is resolved from my perspective; notifications from both saved searches & favorited listings now seem to consistently take me to the correct place. Zero failures for the past 2 days.
