I am totally on your side. Sometimes I just can’t understand how all these people reaching their years lol.
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Host reviews are weighted, guest reviews are not.
Reviews are the stick that Airbnb uses to beat the hosts
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What in the name of …?! Sure, they should be, but plenty of guests do not rate honestly. For a recent example:
Knowing @dpfromva from this forum and having seen pictures and reviews of her listing, I would bet anything that the guest was lying with all these complaints.
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Yes yes yes!
My sarcasm was not seen!!! I have added ‘this is sarcasm’ to my comment. Sorry for any confusion.
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That’s what emojis are for. Like a winking one. Sarcasm is easily misunderstood online.
thank you I get it. Emojis deployed…
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@Goingmad Yes, the guest was obviously a scammer, and what I would have concentrated on with Airbnb was that it was evident that she used the place (did your cleaner take photos?), while claiming she couldn’t get in, not that she didn’t discuss before cancelling. There’s no rule that a guest has to discuss a cancellation with the host.
You can’t confuse Airbnb with too many angles, you need to choose the most egregious one.
I think a much better system for you, if you are not going to be around, is to have someone to co-host for you, rather than “I could have called a friend”. And I don’t quite understand why you didn’t call the friend anyway when she claimed she couldn’t get in.
Not trying to blame the victim here, just suggesting how it could have been handled differently for the future, to result in a different outcome.
Thanks for the response. I think you’re right about picking one angle with Airbnb!
However, The guest admitted to them that she had gone in to the property. That’s why she told them her issue was with locking the door.
They don’t seem to care or even look in to what she said to me in the thread about not being able to enter the property.
They say that she’s eligible to review as she was able to check in (even though she tells me she wasn’t!)
This is what I mean about them not seeming to have a policy against dishonesty in general, not only in regards to reviews.
What I probably should have mentioned is that I’m a full time host and co host for other people. However, I can’t be expected to work 24/7.
I manage up to 20 properties, all private - none homeshare.
I can’t possibly be present at every single check in (when most people don’t arrive anywhere near on time) and 9/10 self check in works best for everyone involved.
I didn’t call a friend to go and help because I responded to the guest with clear instructions within 5 minutes. She then didn’t reply and cancelled the reservation only 10 mins later!
Usually once I send instructions and don’t hear anything back it’s because the guest has then worked it out. I can’t possibly run over / send someone else to do so every time a guest has an issue with anything!
Do you really think I should have sent someone over as soon as she sent a message saying she couldn’t get the keypad to work? It’s something that can usually be solved over message very quickly.
I don’t live 2 minutes away from each of the 20 properties I manage and even if I did, I don’t think hosts should get in the habit of dropping everything to attend to their guest’s every need, do you?
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Also, to add - I didn’t say anything to Airbnb about her not discussing with me before cancelling, other than in relation to the refund.
Where I do think that is relevant.
In relation to the review I know that the cancellation is not the relevant point and haven’t brought this in to discussion with Airbnb. My point them about this has been about her being dishonest and her review being factually incorrect. I think you’re right though that I should just continue with the angle of her dishonesty. Though so far they don’t seem to listen and just keep repeating the fact that her review doesn’t violate their reviewing policies 
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Sorry for my comment here, but it is folks like you that have made MY airbnb more attractive and has made airbnb the cause for a lot of negativity.
Hosting is not a 9-5 job. You need to step up your game and yes, you DO need to be available 24/7 - if not you then one of your staff - because problems do not happen always during ‘business hours’.
Yes. That is what we do for our airbnb.
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Airbnb does not rule on honesty or dishonesty. In many cases, they would have no way of determining which party is telling the truth.
Did this conversation about entry issues take place on Airbnb messaging?
I still think it’s poor business practice to go out of town and not have other co-hosts on hand to deal with issues in your absence. How can you manage 20 listings long-distance?
I have to agree with Rolf - yes, someone needs to be available 24/7 to deal with urgent issues. This is why properties run by property managers with a dozen or more listings tend to get worse reviews than those run by hands-on hosts.
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I block guests from sending messages if they engage in this behavior. I have only had to do that twice, I see no reason to endure this abuse.
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Not sure why you’ve decided to turn against me here. I was available. I responded to the guest within 5 minutes.
I do not expect to work 9-5. I never said that. But there’s a lot between 9-5 and 24/7.
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Yes, it all took place on Airbnb messenger.
I did not say I had gone out of town without leaving anyone on hand. I also never said anything about only wanting to work in business hours! I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve been managing airbnbs for 12 years.
I said that I didn’t agree we should run over every time someone has an issue. Responding over messenger in the first instance should be, and usually is sufficient, isn’t it? Of course I go over when the issue is big and can’t be resolved in the first instance.
you seriously attend in person every time your guest has an issue? Not matter what time of day it is? And that doesn’t bother you at all?!
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You never have anything in your life that takes priority over your one AirBnb and its guests?! Wow.
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I have a private room homeshare listing, so yes, I am available 24/7.
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Totally different ball game then.
It’s clear that ‘folk like me’ aren’t welcome here. I’ll take my moans elsewhere.
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I would be penalised if I blocked them and didn’t allow them to check in though
We’re not saving lives here. I don’t think anyone should be expected to work 24/7.
so glad that ‘folks like me’ are helping you with your business though!
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Working 24/7 isn’t the same as having someone available to respond to urgent situations 24/7.
And yes, my hosting model is a completely different situation. But if I was a remote host, I would have someone on call 24/7.
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