Thank you very much for this information. Great marketing idea to offer 6 months free to get new members.
Do you know where they are from ?
(Post edited by the Forum team to remove link to comply with the Community Rules).
1 Like
@Solela they are Digital Nomads, and housesitters but originally from Canada, I believe.
3 Likes
I’ve just signed up. 6 months free, nothing to lose.
4 Likes
Me too, what’s to lose?
2 Likes
Too bad so many of us have left the platform hope you find someone.
1 Like
I’m curious to see which paid model they will choose, if they offer a matching plateform or if they will get involved in quality and safety processes.
1 Like
I signed up.
2 Likes
Yes, that’s correct, idocsteve. Despite the changes THS has instituted over the years, we still feel it’s of value to us and a great way to spend quality time with pets and to continue our travel adventures, around 3 times each year. So far, so good, we say…
3 Likes
I’ve decided to leave. I’ve been a premium member for many years. Now with 45 5 star reviews. I’ve really enjoyed my experience and grown a lot. I have several repeat sits and will continue my relationships with these HO’s off site. My auto renewal begins again end of January so I’ve cancelled my membership this morning, as I had a sit over Christmas. The sit over Christmas helped with this decision. After asking on our initial call if the HO had internal cameras (she had one they keep in their office) I told her it was against policy and a deal breaker for me. She confirmed they’d dismantle it. Before I accepted I clarified this again. It is also explicitly written in my bio. So three verifications and that camera was on and recording when I arrived. That morning I was sent five videos about how to care for the animals, medications, and cleaning supplies for their home. No directions on how to use their complicated digital stove or TV (It was over Christmas). I sent daily updates and pictures, which she liked. Not one thank you, not during or after the sit. The fees were upsetting to me. They demonstrated a change in the companies values. Profit’s the point of private equity taking over the company of course…the commodification and depersonalization of whats been, for many of us, a beautiful human exchange, feels sad. But it was this last sit that made me cancel. It’s the second sit in a row, where I’ve not received a thank you (I’m talking just a quick text). In a relationship that already assumes a certain power dynamic, I’ve seen hosts become more entitled and less grateful. I’ve seen my own resentment grow, in realizing that trust is no longer part of the equation. How we leave is as important a decision as leaving, and I want to preserve the experience I’ve had with TH, which has been overwhelmingly good, and also why I’m leaving. I only wish there was a well established platform in the US that rivals the offerings of TH.
13 Likes
So agree about this deterioration on both fronts for the downtrodden Pet Sitter- sounds like a good blog title there.
It’s best to end on a HIGH … oh Wait not in your case or in the case of many others. The dirty end of the stick is getting dirtier and more expensive to hold.
Hard Times, indeed. 45 5 star reviews! You should be paid to give workshops on how to be a successful House Sitter for this struggling company, I think!
4 Likes
Weeeeel. Giving your personal info to someone. But besides tha.
@Snowbird Thanks for the info. We signed up about a week ago.
2 Likes
There’s no verification, etc., to sign up for the waiting list. And many people have extra email addresses for commercial outfits, etc., so you don’t have to give your real email address to kick the tires. If I gave my real email address to everyone who asked, I’d be deluged by spam, so I don’t.
4 Likes
I don’t recall thanking past sitters, nor did I expect them to express their gratitude for the opportunity to stay in our beautiful home at no cost.
Manners maketh the man. It costs nothing to be polite. I can’t believe I’m having to write this to grown adults.
If you don’t get it .. that’s even worse.
“ Be a friend to make a friend” is my THS motto.
You’re welcome.Have a great time at Thanksgiving! Lol
The pets I look after show their gratitude at least. My favourite animals.
17 Likes
All of my hosts have been appreciative and I’ve thanked them for their hospitality as well. To me, if there’s not mutual appreciation, those hosts and sitters deserve each other. And entitlement is pretty easy to read, even from the outset of matching (or not).
12 Likes
I so agree. I’m more than a guest I’m a substitute carer with Home and Pet responsibilities.. there’s a review? Accountability?
I’m stepping up and putting my head on your block while you’re away on a care free holiday.. yes I like to be thanked for doing a great service. Don’t worry I don’t expect a tip’!
Is this what we’ve come to? No wonder people are choosing to unsubscribe?
15 Likes
People join, renew, pause or quit for their own reasons. But I do think that the expansion of membership will tend to attract more transactional, entitled hosts, as well as more unsuitable sitters. That’s because the dynamic that THS started off with works better with smaller numbers and more intentionality.
It’s doubtful that outcomes will be as good with the combo of more transactional and entitled folks joining, because those same folks tend to be more demanding, whether as hosts or sitters, IMO.
7 Likes
@anon42303101 it’s only an email address, hardly a lot of personal information.
4 Likes