So it is more expensive for the client to do a direct booking than through repeat walks on Rover now? I thought the client still had to pay a fee for Rover now bookings.

I think Rover is the only one that benefits from this, since they take 40% of your pay. I have a few repeat clients I booked through Rover Now, and when I presented them with the option of a direct booking, they told me they didn't even know that was an option. So, Rover doesn't incentivize owners to switch from Rover Now to direct booking because this way they get to take 40% of your pay, which is outrageous.

I contacted Rover about this because I was also confused why my repeat clients were still booked through Rover Now. I only found out recently that direct booking was possible.

Rover told me not to send clients direct bookings requests because clients do their research beforehand and they know whether Rover Now or regular Rover is best for them. I've found that not to be true in my experiences so far.

Rover also told me they didn't recommend that I send a rebooking request that switches the service type, because they've seen instances of rebooking requests creating negative experiences for owners, because other services on Rover are subject to different policies, costs upfront, and support teams. Rover also said that if an owner chooses Rover Now, they've likely researched what service is best for them.

But Rover did not specify what are the differences in upfront costs. How is the support team different? Wouldn't the service fee be higher for clients who book through Rover Now, since it is on-demand? I got the feeling their response was meant to try to deter me from rebooking directly with clients.

Also, I've seen on forums that some walkers just book drop in visits with regular clients and then just take their dog out for a walk. Would this be a better option with direct booking?

Also, is it more cost effective for the owner to rebook a specific client, rather than through Rover Now? I know Rover charges owners a service fee but I don't know if there's a price difference between the 2 options.

There's been some confusion lately on my end. With my recurring walk through Rover Now, I initiated a direct booking with the client starting the following week and she accepted. I think now I have to cancel the recurring on demand walks with this client.

I had another client whose dog I've been walking for the past 2 weeks, also found through on demand walking. I gave Rover a one-week notice to cancel the upcoming walks through Rover Now, because I wanted to send the owner a direct booking request.

I did so, but then didn't hear back. It was stuck on 'pending owner response' and then on the bottom of the request it said that the owner canceled the booking. I emailed Rover about it because this made no sense to me.

Rover told me that with recurring walks, it's best to do automated bookings through Rover Now. Well, no, this doesn't make sense. If I have a regular client, I'd rather do direct booking, as Rover Now takes 40%. Also, Rover told me that since Rover Now doesn't offer a direct booking feature, the support team is able to reconnect me and a client together for various circumstances and set up walks between us.

I really don't understand this. Why does Rover need to get involved in setting up direct bookings with clients that I find through Rover Now who want to turn me into their regular walker? I see the rebook option on my app, so why do I need Rover's assistance with this, when I can just message the client directly and ask them to send me a booking request, or I can just click on rebook and do it myself?

I don't understand why I was able to set up a direct booking with one client I found through on demand, but not with the other? Rover didn't clarify, but it seems as if the second client didn't even receive my direct booking request.

Is there some sort of problem with switching over from Rover Now to direct booking with some clients who request daily, recurring walks?

I've been walking the same dog for nearly a month. It's on-demand walking that is set at weekly repeats. I decided to message the owner last week, asking her if she could book me directly/set me as her preferred walker. She said yes. However, a week has gone by and she hasn't done so.

I don't want to be annoying, but this puts me in an awkward position now. On-demand takes 40%. Since I'm walking her dog five days a week, I feel like I should be set as the preferred walker. She asked me how to do it, so I sent her the link with the directions. I'm trying to think how I could ask her again without sounding annoying.

A few weeks ago, I asked another woman whose dog I was walking a few days a week whether she'd like to set me as her preferred walker, which she enthusiastically did. She actually said she didn't even know that was an option. Does Rover not advertise the option to set a preferred walker?

Okay that makes sense. And yes it is for 14 days. I wouldn't have to travel far and I was told the cats are easy going. I went with my gut last night and said I would do it for 23. As I'm new to Rover I'm trying to get a sense of what's reasonable to charge for different services.

I got a request for one drop-in visit for 2 cats during the holidays. I'm new to Rover so I'm not sure what to charge her. My cat sitting visits are set to 20 per visit. The client told me she was being charged $697 and then asked me if I could do it for $23 per day. I'm assuming she means $23 a day for both cats.

Does this sound like it's too little? Just enough?

I know Rover takes 20% so I have to take that into account as well.