Here at Trusted Housesitters we’re looking into different ways of communicating with members, other than email.
We’re still just exploring the options, and we may choose not to change anything, but to help us prioritise, we’re asking which messaging platform(s) you use the most;
I think it’s odd that you can’t pick more than one or that this is about “friends and family.” I have an android. I use Teams (used to use Skype) as a “free” platform for my small business as that is almost all one to one meetings and the free version of teams works almost as well as Skype and seamlessly transferred. I use text (messages) for a lot of things. Although texts can be free and unlimited when I’m travelling out of the country and getting a temporary international pass, I usually use WhatsApp. I almost always use WhatsApp for video calls with sitters and hosts and then I continue to use WhatsApp for convos and messaging with sitters and hosts whether I’m in the US or not. This is because I don’t use WhatsApp for a lot of stuff but do use it for international calling, so it’s not very cluttered and I’ll notice the messages.. There are very few junk calls or texts!
I don’t want THS messaging me how I message most frequently with friends and family, because I prefer the separation.
Agreeing with Maggie and Marion. I use Messenger most with friends and WhatsApp for business contacts (which includes communication with THS homeowners).
I would not want messages from THS to come in the same channel as messages from friends and family .
I separate the two and prioritise reading business / work communications during set times only .
I’ve voted for whatsapp because you’ve titled it friends & family, but I would never want THS (the company) to contact me via whatsapp at all, whereas pet parents are totally different, that’s fine.
I use WhatsApp (mainly) and also Messenger/Telegram for friends and family. I too would not want THS to message me on these channels. I’d prefer THS to stick with email.
I’m android. I usually use WhatsApp for video meets with HOs. I also use WhatsApp when I’m pet sitting outside of my home country, USA, to communicate with HOs and friends/family.
If I’m petsitting or non sit traveling in the USA, (my home country) I text message unless the other party is out of the country, then it’s WhatsApp. Sometimes facebook messenger.
I like to move from THS messaging once it’s close to the sit dates.
I agree with others that I do not want more messages from THS.
THS is using email AND also using “notifications” which some might turn off if they choose. That is already 2 forms of communication.
I do not think that you need a third form of communication.
For a short time, I agreed to allow a local business near my home to send me text messages. Suddenly I was getting advertising text messages from the business 2-3 times per week! Ugh.
I don’t think adding another communication channel as WhatsApp is necessary since I already receive plenty of marketing emails and push notifications. What would be more useful is access to the homeowner’s address and phone number once a sit is confirmed, since those are essential for planning and emergencies. Often homeowners assume this info is already shared, so they’re puzzled when sitters have to ask for it. Push notifications like ‘Confirm your arrival’ are pointless if we don’t even have the address or a phone number. A simple checkbox such as ‘Share address and phone number once sit is confirmed’ would solve this. And of course I’d be happy to share my phone number as well.
We always exchange phone numbers early on in the messaging to be able facilitate the video call. We then usually ask for the the address during the video call so we can check exact location and pay a visit on Google earth. Sometimes we’ve found, on receiving the Welcome Guide, which may not be sent immediately, that it only provides the post Code! So we always make a point of getting these two essential contact details up front.
@Mark_B, we use THS platform initially during process. But we insist on video calls before any confirmation. Almost always this migrates conversation to WhatsApp.
We cant think of a single pet parent that prefers THS Message to WhatsApp.
Please don’t send messages through additional platforms. I don’t want the messages I get now. I delete THS emails, I don’t read them. The only messages I want to receive are notifications that I have a message from a HO. I use WhatsApp when traveling and it is ONLY for family members and HOs. I know if I get a WhatsApp message it’s not random spam, it’s someone important. If I start getting other messages through WhatsApp I will have to find another platform or figure out how to block THS.
Many of us have busy lives and don’t want to be bombarded with THS messages.
That has been our approach as well. However for short, last minute sits there is not enough time for video chat as we get approved as soon as we apply.
I also wanted to add that we use regular Whatsapp for friends and family and we use Whatsapp (business) for THS, both are available for download at the app store. For Whasapp business we always use a local number that matches the country where we are currently sitting. e.g. NZ number for NZ sits rather than US number.
It has never occurred to me to use WhatsApp Business for THS hosts! Could be a good idea- it would keep my Facebook account separate. I notice I often get new friends suggestions of hosts after connecting on WA. But I have only ever made FB ‘friends’ with one host who we became real friends with.
How do you provide a local phone number in each country? Does this mean getting a sim card for that country?
Sometimes I do get a local sim, for local connections and ordering etc, if my UK sim does not work in the country I’m in. But I have never changed my WhatsApp number- it’s always been my UK number (even though I no longer live in the UK!)
The title of this thread is misleading. But can see why THS want an alternative to email because I’ve come across so many people for whom some emails simply don’t arrive, not even into junk.
Of the options you give, WhatsApp seems to be the most reliable and consistently used.
I may be odd but I don’t mind THS communicating with me by email. In fact, I prefer it.
I wouldn’t mind getting texts from THS but only for more urgent things.
I only use WhatsApp when HOs ask me to. (I download it and then delete it after the sit ends.) I don’t like it and my understanding is that there are security and privacy issues with it. I also just try to limit the apps I use because they all get access to some information about us (some more than others). If THS required me to add yet another app just to communicate with me, I would be very unhappy about that. I already have the THS app on my phone and other devices.
The best idea would be to integrate dreadful WhatsApp into your system (probably an impossibility). Third part communications software is more efficient than having to go through the loop - log in to THS etc However messaging through the THS App at least leaves an undisputable trail in the, hopefully unlikely, event of a dispute.
I agree there’s some confusion over what you’re asking/polling here, Mark.
— Communicating with friends & family?
— What’s a good comms app in general?
— How do we communicate with hosts/sitters the most?
— Does THS want to incorporate a 3rd-party app to replace its messaging app & you’re polling for preferences?
Outside of that, can I please add the following, because it’s actually been a struggle for me with my sits:
I know WhatsApp is immensely popular, esp outside the US, but I cannot and will not use or load it on my devices — or anything from Google, Meta or eXTwitter. As a US citizen, the data privacy & security concerns are simply insurmountable, and even worse right now in our current climate — unlike in the EU, where there is some attempt to reign this in, and some regulations & restrictions with how this info is collected, distributed & used.
And frankly, I’ve been unable to identify any messaging app that’s much better for US users, while also in any kind of wide usage. Fortunately my hosts so far have been pretty flexible when I explain, as I have some unique & understandable reasons why I can’t afford to have my phone’s contacts scraped & tracking cookies dropped & my chat info potentially sold to ICE someday etc. But it’s always an awkward conversation at first, and danged inconvenient for everyone all around 