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How to handle nonresponsive potential client

This is the second time I've had this happen. I receive a request from a potential client, new to me, about a potential stay. I message back and say I'm available. I tell them I would like to schedule a meet & greet and tell them my schedule. Then no response for 3 days. I send another message asking if they're still interested and they say yes and propose a date/time, ironically which does not fit into the times I originally requested. I message back with a formal scheduling request, no response. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to, and I understand they may be interviewing other sitters.

How long do I wait before archiving the request and making other plans? I'd like to just cancel the whole request and end the conversation altogether.

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My more experienced friend prompts them to respond by saying: "Doing a check in since I haven't heard from you. I wanted to know if you're still interested or if you've found another sitter. If you've already booked, I'll archive this so I can free up my availability."

9 Answers

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I may be in the minority, but I don't entertain that sort of client. If they are interested, they reply quickly - usually withing 24-48 hours. Any longer than that and I archive it and move on. I don't follow up. The good thing about the system archiving instead of deleting is that if they respond after you archive it, you'll still get the message and can proceed if you want/are still available. If they never respond, you're not out anything. If you leave a request sitting in your inbox, you might not show up in the search results for someone else's inquiry. If you have to remind someone or chase someone down, they're not interested and have found someone who better suited their needs. If they feel obligated to show up for a meeting, they might do so even though they've already decided not to book with you because they feel like they're being polite. This has happened to me even without reminding them. So, In a nutshell - customers like this aren't worth the time.

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I concur. I have had similar experiences and while I do send one follow up message, only maybe 1 out of 5 times the client ends up having been busy and booking me. Other than that, as stated above I find the client has found another sitter or a friend or family member.

Found this link looking for answers to why sitters don't respond to messages. : ) I wonder whether it's regional/seasonal/financial... I nearly always, immediately find a sitter who responds asap in NYC, but when we go away, depending on the time of year especially, responses are spotty or flaky

It's okay to just come out and say they're busy or not interested...

Oni what would you do if initially someone responds immediately but when he proposes a day (this friday) and you ask what time, he doesn't respond until you follow up a day later & says that he has to coordinate the time with his wife but as of now, a day before Friday you haven't received a respons

Thanks for this information about not being in the search results if not archived! I decided, to put in my profile, that if someone doesn't have pic of them and their dog(s) and/or cat(s) I will not respond--straight to the archive. I figure this will cut out those that waste my precious time.

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I agree with Cassandra. I have also experienced the "just asking" contact from a new person. I always respond ASAP. Immediately in most cases. I've been in an important meeting, gotten a request but been unable to respond until my apt. is over. By then, they have moved on. Frustrating. Also, I have contacts that "string me along" with many questions, starting out with dickering over my fees. When that happens, I know they are working with several others in a "price war" to see who will give them the lowest price. I feel my price is very fair. When you consider 24/7 care for less than $1 per hr. that's a great deal in my book! I, too, want their business. For those who contact me but don't set up a M&G: Professionally, after 1-2 days later I reach out again. After 3-4 days, I send cheerful contact asking if they have found pet care that meets their needs yet. If not, I am still available for them. Some do respond & book. Others never do. I archive those who never respond. Hope this is helpful.

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It's up to you, but for me, if I don't get a reply, I wait 1-2 days, send a follow up message, and if I don't hear back within 2-3 more days I archive it. If I have other requests pending for that same time period, it'll be on the shorter end of the spectrum; if I don't, I'll give them a bit more time. If I have other clients competing for that time, I'd much rather book with the clients who will respond in a timely manner, because it makes my life easier.

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Found this link looking for answers to why sitters don't respond to messages. : ) I wonder whether it's regional/seasonal/financial... I nearly always, immediately find a sitter who responds asap in NYC, but when we go away, depending on the time of year especially, responses are spotty or flaky...

Only responding because it can be frustrating for either side when it happens. It is perfectly fine for a sitter to say they're busy or unavailable or not interested. Better for me to know, too. : )

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I agree with both of you. I do my best to respond in a timely manner, and I expect the potential client to do the same. On the other hand, I want the work. So, I wait a day or two and then send a follow up. If you aren't available for the "new" dates, then you arent' available. End of discussion. Simply say something like "I apologize for the confusion, however those are not the original dates requested. I am afraid I am not available on the new dates. Please feel free to contact me in the future with any further requests. I would love to work with you." Or, something less cheesy. Haha.

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What if it's the other way around and you haven't heard from your sitter in a few days when you are trying to find a dog sitter?

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If I understand you correctly, you are looking for a sitter and the potential sitter hasn't responded to your inquiry. My advice to you is to move on and contact others on Rover who want your business and will be more responsive. Sitters here should respond within 24 hours, usually less. Therefore, if you don't get a response, you should try another person. This could be indicative of future behavior and do you really want that?

Yep, that has been the case but I've contacted six total. Two have responded.

I'm sorry to hear that, Denise. Where are you located?

Denise, if you're not getting responses, I would suggest you call Rover's Customer Support at [Edit: Rover’s contact options have changed. Visit the Rover Help Center at https://support.rover.com/ to find the phone number, help articles, or chat with the team]. Good luck!

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I ended up sending her a final message requesting an answer or I would decline the request. By this point, over the course of a week 1) she always waited 2 days to answer and 2) when I asked for an afternoon M&G she continued to ask for a morning meeting. Her excuse always was that she had typed an answer but forgot to hit send. Her final response was that she was always in the car and could not respond immediately. This type of client is one I don't need or want to deal with.

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Really, because I've been asked for my address!

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 It is very frusterating to deal with clients like those. I,m

also new to the booking process. I delt with two of them. One didn,t even reply back yet but I think I hit the booking button to soon. I hope this gets easier for ypou as well as me.

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When does a client see your address?

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When Rover sends them the booking confirmation, after they've paid.