I saw other website called http://dogvacay.com. Are they considered competion or "not spoke of"?
Since they are similar to Rover, I'm sure they are considered competition similar to how I imagine Petco vs. PetSmart would be. I have not had nearly as much success with DogVacay as with Rover, so much so to the point of discontinuing my use of DogVacay.
I'm new to networking thru websites so was curious. I agree, it does seem like rover gets more traffic. I think another thing that makes it difficult on dogvacay is the references has to come from people who have used your services thru their website. Which makes it very difficult to get started
I'm 100% Rover Walker, my calendar is always full, has been for months, So I haven't needed to multi site to expand my business, but many Rover folks are on DogVacay and other sites. I signed up in Jan 2016
I'm a sitter on DV and Rover. My preference is Rover and most of my clients book through Rover. 1. River's website is more user friendly, especially viewing and editing the calendar. 2. On Rover you can post pictures from your phone app and the website. (DV only from the phone app - though I like DV's photo editing option.) 3. I require a Meet & Greet before booking, even if it's only talking on the phone for an out of state client). Even though I check marked that with Rover, they still allow clients to instabook. With Rover both client and sitter have to confirm the stay before it is booked. 4. Rover allows holiday and 2nd dog rates. With DV I have to go in and manually give a custom quote.
I started to sign-up with dogvacay, just for more exposure. I noticed the photos were kind of blurry after I uploaded them, I couldn't find any information about recommended size. I even uploaded them exactly the size they display, but the copy they display was degraded quality.
I contacted them about that and a general question about multi -dog and -day discounts. Nobody got back to me. I get the impression they're slowly turning out the lights.
Since then, I feel like I'm getting plenty of exposure on Rover.
I'm on both sites. I have not gotten a single request on dogvaca. Which I am fine with. I keep a full house on Rover, I feel rover has better support for both owners and sitters. And the website it's self is way easier. I think I probably have no bookings there because the site is a pain in the you know what.
I also don't promote from there. Rover offers the free 100 business cards if you take rover 101. and I also got a yard sign so my house would be easier for clients to find, as well as deter "trouble" I mean what kind of thief will go in a house with god knows how many dogs! LOL Better than an ADT sign!
The Rover Facebook groups are also a good resource, come join us in discussion and problem solving.
Use the FB search for Rover both groups should pop up
i didnt find one, at least not a group. I just found a page :(
hmm... it just brought up Land Rover enthusiast groups :/
I looked into dogvacay myself and I thought it quite ridiculous as a sitter. YOU have to pay before the client does. It's not like I'm sitting on a gold mine and can just "swipe" my card every time I get a request. Also if you're an owner, you get screwed too. There's a booking fee that you can't get back even if you do the meet and greet and don't like the sitter!!
Dogvacay works exactly the same way as Rover but pays out one day *earlier.* Sitters do not pay DV directly; it takes the exact same percentage(s) as Rover. Rover instituted booking fees this year for only new customers. As far as I know, no one pays any fees until a job is booked on either site.
Found the info about prebooking charges on DV's FAQ page. They do a $1 authorization charge when the owner submits a request; it is never actually billed. See #3 here: https://support.dogvacay.com/hc/en-us/articles/204037475-How-do-I-pay-and-how-is-my-payment-information-stored-
Hi! I'm actually having to use Dogvacay next week. I don't get my booking fee back (which hopefully is a $1 lol)!! I don't mind that. I didn't know Rover had that too! I just don't have the money to put up FIRST before I get paid. Does that makes sense? Especially for a long booking.
On both Rover and DV, customers pay at the time of booking. I'm not sure what you mean about having to put up money before you get paid. By whom? Sitters don't have to pay any money. It gets deducted from the proceeds of a sitting job. ,
Karen is 100% correct. There is no "booking fee" on either site. I went to multiple m&g and was never charged anything, not even a "hold". For the sitter, you get paid minus Rovers fees. So you don't even feel the difference. Just remember to set your paypal to automatically withdraw your money.
If you're booking a stay on Rover, you do get charged pretty much right away. So if you're saving for a trip include your pet as an expense. Just like you would save for a baby sitter if you went on couples only vacation. Save for your dog. It's part of being a doggy parent.
Ok thank you! I misread the financial terms on Dogvacay! (The member/the host) as I'm both on Rover lol! I apologize! Please forgive me! And you're right Serina! I'm having to go out of town in a couple weeks but I'm ready! Having a sitter is so much better than boarding them at a vet/kennel.