There are all types of people still me are fastidious, thoughtful and considerate towards their fellow humans unfortunately there are those that are not …
I’ve had to learn to move on when not treated with the respect I show others.
I truly understand the saying “grow a thick skin” should BCE joint THS
Good luck 
I think this probably happens a lot. I had a really nice facetime chat with a prospective sitter, and said I would really like him to take the sit. He promised to get back to me within 24 hours (and he did, and declined) because he had a few other requests for the same time period. In my messages I marked him as someone I might privately invite for a future sit.
A change in availability, for whatever reason, is not tantamount to being deceitful, dishonest, or untruthful.
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Me too @Megg and it keeps things simple…
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For me as a sitter, I’ve applied for single sits that I really wanted to do, but after hearing nothing back (2 months in one application), I started applying for multiple sits.
A lot of HO wait to receive 5 applications before even getting in touch, and if you are not chosen, you miss out on other sits.
I ask HO if they can acknowledge my application as a courtesy and some don’t, so now I retract application.
The ones Ive done so far have responded really quickly and likewise, if I get an invite, I reply straight away even if it is to decline, and always with a polite message.
It’s quite demoralising to have zero response to a well thought out message 🩷
Just to add - once I agree a sit, barring serious illness - I commit to that sit entirely:blush:
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@MargotW The exact same thing happened to me just last week. We had an applicant apply and we arranged for a FACETIME interview and while we were waiting for the time which was convenient for him, he cancelled his application because he found a longer sit. Drat! Now we have no one for our needed time. So…when I think back, I should have accepted him as soon as he applied. BUT… could he have cancelled anyway?
I think there is some truth to the saying “if you snooze you lose” but you don’t need to rush into choosing a sitter. That said, I cancelled two applications this week. One said they would get back to me but it’s been over a week. The other has had ten days to review applications but hasn’t even read mine. In both cases I’ve simply found an alternative BUT if I had committed there’s no way I would have cancelled.
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Theoretically, a sitter could always cancel. So could a HO.
Personally, I have zero hesitation about withdrawing my application if a HO is slow. But once I agree to a sit, I’m going, unless I’m incapacitated or such.
I just withdrew my application for a sit today. I’d applied three days ago and the HO had read my application. Meanwhile, I’d applied for another sit, where the HO was responsive, by contrast.
And right before that, I applied for a sit and the HO and I met and agreed in less than 24 hours. She’s also already sent me a welcome guide.
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We’ve only had one applicant for our one week sit and he cancelled because he found a 2 1/2 month sit. We haven’t had any other applicants. We’ve had to ask family members to help us out.
@Maggie8K Do you wait for an online interview like FACETIME or do you accept strictly by reading the reviews and profile? The sitter who cancelled on us said he couldn’t do the interview for 3 days so I waited and then he cancelled on the third day. His profile was impeccable so I’m kicking myself that I hesitated.
Situations vary and individual HOs vary. I’m not wedded to doing a video chat first — some HOs have extended offers and then we’ve done a chat or not. Like my most recent sit turned out exceedingly well from my POV and we never did a video chat, because they were traveling and busy, and time zones got in the way. I think they didn’t want to risk my getting another sit. (They’ve not written a review yet, so we’ll see what they think. They had a funeral on return, so I’m not going to nudge for a review soon.)
I don’t have an extensive list of Qs like some sitters, because I think it’s cumbersome and you can’t cover all possibilities. Plus, I find it more important to get a sense of the HO(s), because complications can crop up with pets and homes, and the key thing is that both parties are reasonable and communicative. In some cases, how HOs write their listings and approach whether or not to do a call or video chat are telling.
Some HOs are more easygoing than others, too, so they’re less wedded to doing video chats. I’m flexible. I get that some HOs will need more than others to feel comfortable with leaving their pets and homes to strangers, especially if they been burned before. I try to be empathetic to that, within reason.
And FWIW, my sitter profile is written to address key points from a HO perspective, to make it easier for them to see what kind of sitter I am. That tends to help speed things along — I don’t get many questions, because I’ve covered a good deal. Usually, they’ll tell me ahead of time (or ask) about specifics to their situation. Like whether I’d be put off if say a cat brought me a mouse or other “gift.” (I can handle that as typical to outdoor cats.)
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Be careful just accepting before ‘conversation’ , as a sitter I don’t like to be just accepted without any interaction
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In this case it wouldn’t have made any difference if you had just accepted him. He had other irons in the fire which he was waiting on
Worth considering: Some folks communicate fine via asynchronous texting, WhatsApp msgs and such, without video. Not everyone is comfortable with that, but some folks are strong at it. I’ve found such to be the case with some HOs, but of course I’m also comfortable with such comms. For context, I manage large teams of writers and editors and have worked remotely or distributed for decades. With more of the younger generations, that will be increasingly what they’re strong at, because of their native digital practices and remote work.
Highlighting such, because all sorts of people can sit and host successfully if they find good matches in comms, for instance. It doesn’t have to be a binary scenario of a video chat vs. no communications.
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I agree which is why conversation was in quotes, and I said interaction. I just dislike being accepted straight after my application as it makes me feel that the HO has all the power
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Asynchronous?? What you talkin’ about Willis? Straight to Google. 
Meaning each party msgs on their own time, not both live at the same time. Happens a lot with remote work since everyone is often in different time zones. Can apply to many THS pairings. With some time zones, the difference is so big (especially when people are traveling and busy) that the overlapping window is small or nonexistent.
Sorry to hear that @emmieo. Did they cancel a confirmed sit, or withdrew an application at early stage?
I am glad that you found a solution at least, but it’s not great to have the hassle if a sitter committed to you … it’s quite rare too.
@emmieo I suggest you have chosen to ask family members to help out, rather than that you have had to have them help out.
I’m referring to @Smiley 's recent forum post about linking listings to forum profiles. Had you linked your listing and asked for feedback from forum members, your listing may have been improved to the point that it would have attracted more attention. Or you may have had interest from forum members for the sit. There are ways of maximizing success rates that some choose not to use.
It wasn’t a confirmed sit. He cancelled his application on the day he asked for a FACETIME chat. He was looking for a longer sit and must have been waiting for their reply. But…it’s all good.