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Today I got this request
:As an AirBnB (Super) host myself, I know that offering up one’s house to strangers is a beautiful experience.
I am in Toronto, but am getting married in Hamilton (Liuna Station reception) on Saturday January 7, 2017.
Is there any way I may rent your home for the one night (check-out Sunday Jan 8) ?
It would be amazing to use your hot tub after a long day of wedding…
If you are flexible with the one day, may you also offer a later check out on the Sunday?
Never hurts to ask
I couldn’t cancel fast enough. It didn’t seem to go through, so I cancelled again.
Three hours later in the middle of hosting a dinner party, I got a message that I should respond to the request. I flew to the phone and called airbnb… after a few minutes I was told it had been done. After several hours I realized it had not. My computer? A glitch at airbnb?
I called again… was criticized by the person at the other end of the phone for not having chrome. Next she insisted on checking to see if I REALLY had a five night minimum…… the implication that I should accept this booking.
It was unpleasant, and for the first time I realized that airbnb doesn’t seem to care about their hosts.
I’m furious.
Tsk, and they dare ask for late check out… Well at least it is only one night. Wait, are they bringing a whole bunch of wedding party people or is it just for one?
Yet another bad host-as-guest story. I’ve had two personally; one host refused to stay (and got a full refund from Air) when they checked in to discover animals on the property (despite this being in the listing). And another a few weeks ago when a host asked for an early check in, I declined. They asked me to give them a 50% discount on the night before their booking to ensure an early check in. I sent them a special offer granting their wish and amping up the cost of the nights they requested. Crickets.
When I was growing up in New Zealand in the 70s and 80s, shopkeepers used to have signs on their counters saying “Do not ask for a discount as refusal often offends”. I am seriously considering putting on my listing
This is absurdly bad experience. Sure, Airbnb is not in the business of declining bookings, but I would be furious too. Notice also how technical inadequacies are an excuse for not delivering the very basics of a listing site?
I have one on my listing as I offer weekly & monthly discount and my ordinary rates are dirt cheap. I say I offer these great discounts and any other requests for discount will be politely refused. When I get them I then just automatically not approve them without offering any comment or any explanation. I don’t need those guests, for $40 a night they are usually the type who think my complimentary breakfast means you can eat all my cereal, toast, milk & fruit for your 3 meals a day, not actually just breakfast as intended. Oh and download 6 months of movies on my wifi lol
