# Scout Lab is named communications agency for THS **URL:** \ **Category:** THS News & Feedback\ **Created:** [6 March 2026 06:10 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124 "2026-03-06T06:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mark\_B](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/mark_b/32/37080_2.png) [@Mark\_B](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Mark_B)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 11:19 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/23 "2026-03-06T11:19:12Z")
> [@Crookie](#): > > My post got hidden by Mark for inappropriate language Yup - community rules are [here](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/faq) if you need them šŸ‘ ---
**Author:** ![anon42303101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@anon42303101](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/anon42303101)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 11:45 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/24 "2026-03-06T11:45:28Z")
I am at loss: do we have a problem with ScoutLab because they have been proven to be a problem, or because we can assume so? ---
**Author:** ![Crosswords\_and\_puzzles](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/crosswords_and_puzzles/32/36875_2.png) [@Crosswords\_and\_puzzles](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Crosswords_and_puzzles)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 11:59 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/25 "2026-03-06T11:59:42Z")
I deleted the survey, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cuttlefish](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/cuttlefish/32/24382_2.png) [@Cuttlefish](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cuttlefish)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 12:48 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/26 "2026-03-06T12:48:54Z")
Not sure anyone has suggested a ā€œproblemā€ with them, just a degree of scepticism that our well-earned fees are being given to an expensive external comms agency to spend on promoting a business that actually needs those funds spent on the nuts & bolts instead. Or thatā€™s how I read the thread. #scoutingforgirls ---
**Author:** ![largo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@largo](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/largo)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 13:10 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/27 "2026-03-06T13:10:30Z")
yup and we can be happy that they work in the ā€˜human and planetrary health Sectorsā€™ rather than Mars? oops thatā€™s a planet tooā€¦.. so maybe thatā€™s what it meansā€¦ā€¦. ---
**Author:** ![BonnyinBrighton](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/bonnyinbrighton/32/30452_2.png) [@BonnyinBrighton](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/BonnyinBrighton)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 13:32 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/28 "2026-03-06T13:32:58Z")
Thereā€™s a 6 secs delay between their menu and the page loading using my iPhoneā€¦. ---
**Author:** ![Crosswords\_and\_puzzles](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/crosswords_and_puzzles/32/36875_2.png) [@Crosswords\_and\_puzzles](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Crosswords_and_puzzles)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 14:11 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/29 "2026-03-06T14:11:54Z")
Well, whatever ā€œcreative storytelling" this communications company will come up with, we donā€™t have much faith it will enhance our experience as sitters and homeowners. So, we are joining other house sit platforms while still hanging on with THS. Over time, these other platforms will gather steam and will begin providing true competition, especially if many of us join them and start having positive experiences there. ---
**Author:** ![anon88405941](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@anon88405941](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/anon88405941)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 17:25 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/30 "2026-03-06T17:25:24Z")
Just a bit sceptical because hiring a NYC communications agency is not cheap and will pull resources away trom the platform development and fixing the things that need fixing. I am guessing Scout Lab have created the latest THS promotional video and are going to be working (based on the survey) on another promotional video for solo travelers. ---
**Author:** ![systaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@systaran](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/systaran)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 19:02 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/31 "2026-03-06T19:02:23Z")
> [@Crookie](#): > > TrustedHousesitters lets users stay for free in someoneā€™s house while petsitting Really donā€™t like this phrasing. Lucky sitters get to stay in someoneā€™s house for free. That really devalues the contribution of sitters. Itā€™s not free, we are exchanging something of value for those accommodations. This is the issue Iā€™ve had with THS for awhile now. The advertising emphasizes low-cost pet care and that sitters do it for love of pets (implying we are volunteers which is very different from participating in an exchange or barter system). These ads have led to low quality listings with lists of HO requirements and photos of cluttered homes. There is no longer an emphasis on an exchange, itā€™s as if HOs are doing sitters a favor. I withdrew 3 applications just in the last week, one after a very condescending and very structured interview where the HO kept piling on additional responsibilities that she ā€˜forgotā€™ to mention in the listing. I really hope this new company takes the time to really understand the exchange model before starting their ā€˜creative storytelling.ā€™ THS may have a hard time staying in business in the long run if they donā€™t remember that sitters are a core part of this exchange and it would be best to keep long-term, experienced sitters. I think there will be a viable alternative to THS in the future. ---
**Author:** ![StTherese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@StTherese](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/StTherese)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 19:58 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/32 "2026-03-06T19:58:03Z")
@systaran This was the line that also jumped out at me. I had planned to respond - but you got there first. šŸ˜‰ . . . So fed up with this whole ā€œfreeā€ impression. So disrespectful. I also saw someone posted a THS advertising video recently. Something along the lines of how sitters will be at the beck and call of pets, the HOsā€™ little ā€œkings and queensā€, or words to that effect. For any HO who did not know any better, the video would give the impression that sitters work for - and get paid by - THS. It has all stopped being fun for me - the whole vibe I am feeling these days is of sitters being treated like second-class citizens, with a lack of appreciation for the responsibility we take on, in this ā€œmutual exchangeā€. It probably all still works for those who are nomadic travellers, but that isnā€™t why I have been doing it. I am due to complete one more sit and Iā€™m struggling with enthusiasm for it, even though the owners sound lovely. Iā€™m then calling it a day - I wonā€™t be renewing my membership with THS. ---
**Author:** ![andrealovesanimals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@andrealovesanimals](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/andrealovesanimals)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2026 20:43 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/33 "2026-03-06T20:43:28Z")
Is it the video with the poodle sitting in a foam bath and the whippet doing yoga? The cat playing chess? Strange, Iā€™ve never done any of these things with pets in my care, Iā€™m clearly an inadequate pet sitter šŸ˜‚ ---
**Author:** ![toreishi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@toreishi](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/toreishi)\ **Post date:** [7 March 2026 01:27 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/34 "2026-03-07T01:27:56Z")
More like ā€œWe build brands to maximise shareholder profit while minimising our responsibility and minimising user value, support and benefits. The MAGIC of math !ā€ ---
**Author:** ![MerryPuppins](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/merrypuppins/32/38890_2.png) [@MerryPuppins](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MerryPuppins)\ **Post date:** [7 March 2026 01:47 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/35 "2026-03-07T01:47:33Z")
> [@Crookie](#): > > Scout Lab will lead consumer press, brand positioning and media strategy for TrustedHousesitter to help it grow awareness of its travel model Itā€™s rare when I get to feel so prescient: > I was going to ask if anyone had gotten that survey. I filled it out. They asked a lot of questions that seemed like the responses could be used in future marketing materials targeting prospective sitters; a few questions related to what type of support THS could provide to solo travelers (not software-related, more like new dedicated Forum Topics/Channels.) Everything was multiple choice; no real room for free-form answers or elaboration. > > Iā€™ve had a suspicion THS plans to cross over into the Travel/Tourism vertical; this survey didnā€™t dissuade me from that idea. Recent travel/tourism studies show Solo Travel to be the fastest growing tourism segment (and primarily among women of a ā€œcertain age range.ā€) ---
**Author:** ![StTherese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@StTherese](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/StTherese)\ **Post date:** [7 March 2026 04:18 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124/36 "2026-03-07T04:18:07Z")
@andrealovesanimals Yes. Wondered if I had maybe just dreamt it (as in nightmared it) - but clearly you saw it too. šŸ˜‚ [Previous page](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/scout-lab-is-named-communications-agency-for-ths/75124.md?page=1)