Great app for parents, but needs improvements for sitters
I think SitterTree is a great app for parents and families who need last-minute care without too much hassle. However, from a babysitter’s perspective, there are several areas where the app could be improved.
First, the recent change to how rates are handled has made things more difficult for sitters. Previously, families posted jobs with the hourly rate they were willing to pay, and sitters could decide whether the job was worth applying for based on the pay and responsibilities. Now, sitters have to choose their rate based on the number of children, which sounds good in theory, but it can cause families to choose the cheaper option rather than the best fit. It also does not allow sitters to adjust their rate based on the details of each individual job. For example, a job with four children who are asleep for most of the booking is very different from actively caring for four children. I think the platform would benefit from allowing families to choose a price range and/or allowing sitters to set their rate based on each specific job.
Secondly, the 11% service fee taken out of sitters’ pay is pretty significant, especially considering families already pay either a subscription fee or a fee per job posting. Many families also do not tip, or tip less than 10%, so this fee can have a noticeable impact on sitters’ earnings. I think the fee structure should be reconsidered to create a better balance between supporting the platform and fairly compensating the caregivers who provide the service.
Lastly, I have concerns about how difficult it can be for qualified sitters to receive bookings. For almost two years, I have consistently applied to jobs and have only been booked for one job this year and one job last year, despite having excellent reviews, extensive childcare experience, and a strong background as a sitter and nanny. I have a 5-star rating, professional experience, and have completed the required background check, yet it has still been extremely difficult to receive consistent opportunities.
I also have concerns about possible bias in the hiring process, particularly affecting Black sitters and other sitters of color. Based on the patterns I have noticed from the types of nannies families have previously hired, I believe this is something the platform should consider looking into. When sitters are required to pay for a background check and maintain a professional profile, there should also be efforts to ensure qualified sitters have fair access to opportunities and that potential bias is being addressed.
Overall, I believe SitterTree has a lot of potential and provides a valuable service for families, but improving rate transparency, reconsidering sitter fees, and creating a fairer booking experience for all qualified sitters would make the platform much stronger.
First, the recent change to how rates are handled has made things more difficult for sitters. Previously, families posted jobs with the hourly rate they were willing to pay, and sitters could decide whether the job was worth applying for based on the pay and responsibilities. Now, sitters have to choose their rate based on the number of children, which sounds good in theory, but it can cause families to choose the cheaper option rather than the best fit. It also does not allow sitters to adjust their rate based on the details of each individual job. For example, a job with four children who are asleep for most of the booking is very different from actively caring for four children. I think the platform would benefit from allowing families to choose a price range and/or allowing sitters to set their rate based on each specific job.
Secondly, the 11% service fee taken out of sitters’ pay is pretty significant, especially considering families already pay either a subscription fee or a fee per job posting. Many families also do not tip, or tip less than 10%, so this fee can have a noticeable impact on sitters’ earnings. I think the fee structure should be reconsidered to create a better balance between supporting the platform and fairly compensating the caregivers who provide the service.
Lastly, I have concerns about how difficult it can be for qualified sitters to receive bookings. For almost two years, I have consistently applied to jobs and have only been booked for one job this year and one job last year, despite having excellent reviews, extensive childcare experience, and a strong background as a sitter and nanny. I have a 5-star rating, professional experience, and have completed the required background check, yet it has still been extremely difficult to receive consistent opportunities.
I also have concerns about possible bias in the hiring process, particularly affecting Black sitters and other sitters of color. Based on the patterns I have noticed from the types of nannies families have previously hired, I believe this is something the platform should consider looking into. When sitters are required to pay for a background check and maintain a professional profile, there should also be efforts to ensure qualified sitters have fair access to opportunities and that potential bias is being addressed.
Overall, I believe SitterTree has a lot of potential and provides a valuable service for families, but improving rate transparency, reconsidering sitter fees, and creating a fairer booking experience for all qualified sitters would make the platform much stronger.
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Sitter
I’m a sitter for SitterTree and I love the app. It is easy to navigate. Finding jobs to apply for, search for and payment was all a breeze. Love it!!!!!!
Don’t waste your time or money
I paid $20 for the app to conduct my background check. They will not let you sign up for jobs without it. I really wanted the daycare jobs because they seemed more guaranteed. When I tried to sign up for DECAL to be fingerprinted it didn’t work. I even tried to sign up on my laptop. I called the company and told them that it wasn’t working and I asked if they could schedule it on their end. They said no and that they are having a problem with DECAL and they are no longer accepting new Daycare jobs for substitutes. So don’t waste your money like I did.
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SitterTree Support
Kandace was very helpful and got my problem resolved very quickly.
Great app for babysitting
Download nowwww
