Has anyones potential booking request been canceled before the meet and greet has happened?

It's a normal for the owners to message multiple sitters and set up multiple meet and greets, so they can choose the perfect match.

I usually ask them how many meet and greets they have scheduled. If I am the only one, I go see them. If they have multiple meet and greets, I wish them good luck and thank them for contacting me but unfortunately I can not make it. I do not go to meet and greets where they are meeting 10 sitters. I don't have time for that.

It has worked out great for me so far ;)

It sounds like they may have set up multiple meeting greets, (which Rover# suggest when they start sending out messages) and decided to book someone they met previous to meeting you.

If I were in your shoes I would be OK with it, Considering another possibility- that they could have used your time & incurred vehicle expenses for a meet and greet when they had already pre-decided to book someone else.

I suppose to prevent this, you could set up m&g as soon as possible, maybe same day meet and greets, or not do M&G (which in my opinion is a huge mistake). Some sitters have also exchanged information upfront to determine if a person is meeting with multiple sitters and have taken some alternative approach, such as stating contact me after you’re done meeting with the others if you haven’t selected someone.

Yes, I have experienced something similar before. It can be frustrating when a potential booking request gets canceled before the meet and greet has happened. As pet sitters, we often need to adjust our schedules to accommodate meet and greets, so it can be disappointing when the pet owner decides to book with another sitter without informing us in advance.

One way to potentially avoid this situation is to set clear expectations with pet owners during the initial conversation or in your meet and greet confirmation messages. You can ask them to communicate with you if their plans change or if they decide to book with another sitter, so that you can adjust your schedule accordingly. It's also a good practice to confirm bookings closer to the scheduled dates to ensure that there are no last-minute changes.

I understand that it can be frustrating when this happens, but it's important to maintain professionalism and good communication with pet owners. Keep providing excellent service to your clients, and hopefully, you'll have smooth and successful bookings in the future.

You could send them a message saying:

“Hi [Pet Owner's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to touch base regarding our scheduled meet and greet for [date and time] at your home address. I received a notification from Rover that you have booked with another sitter, and I want to extend my understanding and best wishes.

As a professional pet sitter, I completely understand that circumstances can change, and it's important for you to find the best fit for your pet's needs.

I appreciate the opportunity you considered me for pet sitting, and I would be happy to assist you in the future if the need arises. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to reach out to me.

Thank you for your understanding, and I wish you and your furry friend all the best.

Sincerely, [Your Name]