Why don’t the hosts have the respect to respond to all the sitters’ requests? I’m new to this APP and I’m really curious why if they put ads requesting a sitter they don’t have the kindness to respond, even if it’s just to say No thanks? Why do they do that?
Edited to correct terminology
I think it’s just how the world has changed.
I often think that about a friend not texting back, or joining in on a group thread, but then when I see them I glance at their phone and see 60 text notifications, 300 unread emails.
It’s like the technology overwhelms them and they shut down and do only what is necessary.
I know that while I have my notifications under control, I often reduce my responses for people. For example, if someone messages “I am busy and will look at applications in 1 week”. I don’t usually say “No problem” unless I really feel it’s necessary to say - otherwise it’s one more notification for them to go and see what I said.
We have discussed this on the forum many times and it’s just human nature. Some are polite and respond quickly, others leave it for days/weeks before responding or don’t bother at all. Fortunately they are in the minority.
On THS it is better than on other sites. Here, when the HO chooses a different applicant, the system will send you a friendly message.
In my experience, it is not a minority. Most refusals come with just the automatic message. When I get a personal message I always thank them for it.
In defence of HO, I always reply as soon as I receive an application saying thanks I will be in touch within X days. Once I have spoken to sitters/ and made a decision I always send a personal email, sometimes flagging up future date possibilities.
I have had sitters who apply and then never respond when I reach out to discuss further so it cuts both ways I’m afraid!
@GabyFiNo there are rude thoughtless people everywhere, even on THS. At least you know which owners to avoid!
Thank you all very much for your answers and advice. They give me peace of mind, I thought I was doing something wrong or that I was not using the APP correctly. THANK YOU.
Hi @GabyFiNo
This has been talked about a number of times on here. As a sitter I nice ‘sorry we’re chosen another sitter’ would be nice but some new HO’s don’t understand once a sitter accepts the sit, all other applicants get the declined message or maybe we are transactional for some HO’s.
Oh and unfortunately it happens to all sitters on THS not just new ones. I’ve had 2 declined no message in a row and have over 20 5 star reviews. Just the price of being on THS I’m afraid.
I’m not sure if this has changed with the recent inbox overhaul, but last I knew the site discouraged HOs from messaging declined applicants.
When a HO confirms a sitter, all other applicants get notified that their application was declined. When a HO goes to message the declined applicants to say “thanks but we picked someone else, etc etc” a little warning pops up saying something like “Are you sure you want to invite this sitter? You don’t have any live dates." To the HO, it implies that if they message that applicant they would be inviting them again and stringing them along. I could see this spooking some HOs out of sending a polite response.
So hopefully most of the HOs you’re encountering are not intending to be rude and are just confused by the site’s wording!
Could moderators please check if it works as @adelia says. If so, I think this should be changed. As a sitter, when I withdraw an application I am encouraged to send a message apart from the automatic withdrawal notice, which I always do and explain that circumstances have changed.
Maybe it is the order in which the message is done if HO declines the application before messaging the system interprets it as an invitation. I’m just guessing. Anyway I think this should be fixed to enhance the “trusted” part in THS
I thank them anyways even when I get the automated decline 
I’m afraid I’m not that generous. I admit I am tempted to message them, but to ironically thank them for their kind communication. 
. I’ve never done that either.
@AnnaBaker I would only thank them if they’ve sent me a friendly & polite decline message. Why would you want to thank a host who just declines -with no message and who has maybe also not even acknowledged your application?!!
You are right.
But I do it anyways. I just say thanks for letting me know. Because it is better to get a fast response either way rather than let me not know for days on end.