My point of view has changed after Rover made substantial changes in California in March 2023. (I wonder if these changes will be rolled out to all the other places where Rover operates.)
It used to be that rover kept 15% of booked amount from sitters who set up accounts in 2014 or earlier. 20% for sitters who started later. I had no problem with them retaining 15% for connecting me with people who I otherwise would not have met and processing their payments. The ‘rover guarantee’ which likely has slimmed down over the years does not cover much. If you board, it doesn’t cover damages to your home. If a client’s pet makes your pet sick, it doesn’t cover that. All taken into consideration, I thought that their connecting parties & processing payment was enough to merit their cut, although their customer service was also more helpful than what it is today.
Then, rover implemented an owner service fee. Initially, they did not charge this new fee to long-standing clients who established accounts prior to 2015, which was a Smart business decision -shows appreciation for long relationships. That changed in 2023, when rover decided All clients, including those who have been their platform customers for 8+ years now will be charged 25% more!!!
That decision has lead and will lead to people choosing to No longer stay rover customers and go elsewhere for care as a result. This likely coincides with the $18 million class action legal settlement reached earlier the same month (Feb. 2023) to settle case outside of courts.https://www.sportsmansettlement.… [Settlement Agreement specifically stated “...prospective changes to Rover platform precipitated by this Action...”]
That’s a pretty huge hike, considering rover’s cost of providing care should not have increased in the client’s (or for that matter sitter’s) perspective. Rover is not doing the labor of the walks, feeding, cleaning and repairing of the home after accidents, etc.
As if that’s not enough, rover announced additional 11% service fee will be charged on bookings starting 4/18/23. Greedy rover!
I definitely would not recommend converting customers who are connected to a sitter by personal referral / word of mouth or other sources external to rover.
I agree.. one of my last sits rover took 300 dollars!! Ridiculous! I saw they used to take 15% or 50 per booking and or couldn't be over 50. I get they need to pay for stuff and keep app working but damn!
Is there anyone we can talk to about this? I could see being happy with the old 15% which I just missed but taking 20% for doing very little is way too much!!!
I completely agree I'm getting real sick and tired of how much they take out
What’s even worse is they tax you on gross payment not met so your tax burden incorporates their service fees.
Yeah after today I won’t be using rover anymore . I’m gonna use to it promote my personal business. I watched 2 pets for a week for $855… I only got $600. Never again. Rover sucks
I know…when I do the math each time I’m like “dang” they take wayyy too much!!
Since owners pay the fees, they should have the option to add the insurance or not. Liability waivers are a thing these days. So rover would still take a bit of money but not a 3rd of it like I've had in some instances.
You guys the only way to make money on here is to do a meet and greet with the people and then towards the end if you agree to book tell them that they just take too much out of your account and that you can do it cheaper if they pay you through venmo..then book it under cheaper 'stop ins'
The 20% fee on top of the $6.50 Rover fee seems like an excessive amount to charge sitters.