Booooooo……………………………… properly communicated & managed this can work. My guests send me pics of the condo after they’ve cleaned.
Love your list. Being a happy traveler very much involves adaptability and seldom if never are you going to encounter a place that is perfect on every count.
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@Lynick4442 It’s a bummer than you had such a lousy experience. Even a bigger bummer that the host was terrible and didn’t try to make things better during your stay. Unlockable shared access doors, missing pillow cases, and general sand filth is certainly criminal. So unless he fixes issues like that within 4-6 hours, it’s all yours to make a big deal about it if you choose to. #notOK
Some good questions were asked about the review profile of the listing when you booked. You probably knew you were taking a tiny chance if the reviews weren’t where you thought they needed to be. So you’re 1% responsible?
The next step was that you filed a complaint to Airbnb after discussions broke down with the crappy host. That’s good. However, I’m not so sure about not answering the phone when Air calls. I know I always answer the phone when they call and we seem to always make some progress no matter what the situation might be. Obviously, summarizing each discussion/agreeing to it in the message thread afterwards is important too. But just not taking the call feels passive aggressive and extremely not nice to me. If the conversation isn’t proving fruitful, you can always end it after giving it a chance and then fall back on the message thread, right?
Sounds like you fought the good fight and were victorious. Way to go! But then you got more money than you even admit you deserved (or were even asking for). Like everything, it sadly comes down to money, then.
Obviously, there was a massive “expense” you put forth in your time/energy (30 emails, seriously?). So it’s great that you “got paid” for that effort. So now the question is who actually paid for it? Airbnb? Meaning, the shareholders? The host? My bet is on Airbnb/shareholders. It feels like you got it done based on a combination of your good tactics, tenacity, existing SH status, and perhaps belligerence/mistakes on the part of the host during the negotiation he had with Air. But Air is likely a little “poorer” as a result. Was that the right thing?
Do you feel better? What did you ultimately rate the listing when you left your review? What did you say in the narrative? Did the host review you as a guest? Probably not so great, if he did. . . If so, will his bad (honest, in his mind) review negatively affect your ability to book certain listings?
Was the whole fiasco worth it? Or did you simply elect to stay in a B+ listing and next time you’ll only stay in A listings and this will never happen again?
Wholeheartedly agree with KasualObseever, I’ve rented so many places, none offer the amenities of mine, however they are each an experience in their own right. I’ve rented several where I was the first to review and enjoyed them and privately shared what could be improved. When I travel I’m there to enjoy friends, family and location, I hope for nice amenities but my focus is on other things. Honestly I get surprised nearly every time when I read the forums of guest complaints, I’ve never had a bad experience.
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The reviews were good (and still are good) but his rating went down from the time I booked.
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You made a lot of assumptions that just weren’t true. This was not a B+ listing when I booked. It was a $300 a night 2 bedroom condo.
If I had know it was going to take 30 emails I’m not sure I would have embarked on this request. I simply contacted the host and he accused me of scamming him without offering to fix the issue. I never asked him for compensation when I first contacted him.
In regards to not taking phone calls, I have run a STR long enough to learn that what Reps say on the phone does not always match with what is in writing.
I will review on the last day possible and be honest without mentioning the resolution. He has not reviewed me yet either.
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If we may ask - what was the total booking and how much comp did they finally give you after all that?
I truly meant all of my notations as questions (hence the ? marks) 
You booked an A spot and they simply didn’t deliver. Got it.
Looking forward to hearing how the review exchange goes.
They refunded 50 percent of my 2 days stay. (Not counting the additional fees I had to pay for amenities I didn’t use.)
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Not bad. I am surprised you didn’t fight the additional fees. If they aren’t in the listing or house rules, then it’s BS.
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Even better if he would post the link to the listing!
How wonderful that you have such a wonderful life where nothing ever goes wrong! Bless your little heart! <3
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Not everyone travels just to see friends and family, and not everyone rents a place to focus on other things.
My properties are often rented for the reason that they offer more than other places, and sometimes it is a bucket list lifetime moment.
These guests certainly expect the rental to supplement and enhance the travel experience, to be immaculately clean and have all functions working, …with no unexpected negative surprises. They book expecting perfection, and “perfection” has to be delivered to the guest, …or at least timely responsiveness to correct any unforseen issues that arise.
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Plenty goes wrong lol, it’s just in comparison my travel issues are much smaller than my life issues
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Really?!? I don’t know how long ago that was or if policy has changed since that time, but based solely on what you have written (w/o seeing the actual review), I am flabbergasted you cannot have it removed. Depending upon what else was written, relevancy (or lack thereof) can be a strategy. It worked for me on a 2 year old review.
Do none of these apply?
- Content that is illegal or that violates another person’s or entity’s rights, including intellectual property rights and privacy rights
- Content that includes another person’s private or confidential information, including content that is sufficient to identify a listing’s location
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It can only be removed if the host pursues it. Similar advice to yours was given around two years ago, when it was brought up before.
JF
I don’t think either one would apply. I disclose it in my listing and state that cinnamon can not be used. But he made fun of me. He had cinnamon toothpaste. Had he ask me, I would have told him that it would have been ok. I mostly react to airborne tents unless I ingest them myself. He was mostly upset that the host lived below. I disclosed in the listing that there are people living below but I didn’t want it know it was me for safety reasons. I have since added that the host lives below.
And yes, I have tried to get it removed more than once. For now I just irks me but really doesn’t effect my bookings or ratings. I’ve bene at 4.92 for years.
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I would imagine that the CS reps wouldn’t be able to grasp the concept that a reaction to scents is a disability. Had he made fun of the fact that his host was in a wheelchair or blind, they likely would have taken it down.
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No host or guest should make fun of any aspect of the person they are reviewing and if they do, it should be grounds for removal. We’ve all had the guest who was seemingly as dumb as a bag of hammers but we don’t comment on that in the review. Comments on how a family was dressed? Also inappropriate.
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Some people are just rude jack asses….sigh