The site has a a good idea/concept, but needs alot of work and refining to make it more appropriate practically.The biggest issue is that the pricing model is terrible and deceiving. The payment the app shows as final is never the amount you are getting in your account. As a sitter, there is no breakdown of the payments (ie holiday season surcharge, long stay discount, the fee MP is taking). Not to mention, after speaking to many of the dog owners, the double dipping Madpaws is doing. They take 20% of the sitter fees + 10% of the owners' fee. However, we are still not sure what this is for or what this is covering? If you read the MP T&Cs there is no insurance or cover of any sort to cover damages (physical or death) to the sitter, sitter's home or the pet. The only insurance mentioned is to cover "public liability". Another major issue is the single pricing option for all dogs, regardless of size or needs. Large dogs, for instance, often require more maintenance, exercise, and cleaning—especially if they shed a lot or slobber. In contrast, smaller dogs need less of these things. It doesn’t quite make sense to charge the same amount for both, considering the differences in care required. This is something that should have been factored into the user experience design.Finally, the lack of reviews for dogs and their owners. Currently, only carers can be reviewed, which makes it hard to get a full picture of what you’re signing up for.From my ongoing experience with Mad Paws, it can be quite unpredictable how a dog will behave or how transparent their owner is about the dog's level of training and needed care. The meet-and-greet isn’t always enough to fully understand a dog’s behavior or the level of discipline and training they’ve received. We've encountered issues such as dogs crying throughout the day and night unless they're right next to you or on in bed with you, being unable to be left alone, barking throughout the night, and accidents inside the house. Many owners are not as transparent or knowledgeable about their pet’s training and care, which can make looking after their dog more challenging.Introducing tiered pricing based on the size and needs of dogs and allowing reviews for both dogs and their owners would significantly enhance the experience for everyone involved. And the way pricing works needs to be reviewed ASAP
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Mad Paws is Australia's #1 go-to Pet Sitting community. With Mad Paws, Pet Owners can find trusted Pet Sitters near their homes. With nearly 20,000 trusted Sitters, Pet Owners can find a range of pet-related services such as Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, and Pet Daycare.
