Guest with zero reviews (I frankly believe this is a bogus profile - no mother would think tossing watermelon rinds into the yard is acceptable), gave me a poor review because I don’t have a TV nor a microwave (both appliances identified on the profile as not available). Seven wash cloths covered in makeup and watermelon mashed into the tables, floors of the deck and tossed onto the driveway and yard (they claim these are biodegradable yes - in a few years).
How awful!! I hope you gave them an awful review for the watermelon business.
I would be tempted to say in response to this guest’s review, “That is correct, as stated in our description, we do not have a TV or microwave.”
Curious to hear what other people recommend as a response (or if people recommend to not respond).
2 Likes
To add a line to yours-[quote=“lisanddavid, post:2, topic:58291”]
"That is correct, as stated in our description, we do not have a TV or microwave.”
[/quote]
“Nor have we ever had watermelon rinds strewn across the lawn, watermelon mashed into the table, floors, deck, and driveway, as we did after this stay.”
6 Likes
What? Plenty of mothers would think it’s fine and would do it themselves. First, wildlife will eat watermelon rinds. Since you say you host in the mountains, that’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do with watermelon rinds, much better than putting them in a plastic bag that goes to a landfill. Which leads to second, If you have a composting bin and request guests sort trash and compost and they didn’t do that, that’s a different issue. But otherwise they might think that large volume of garbage would be better off in the yard where it will break down. I understand this seems ludicrous to you as they won’t decompose overnight and your next guests aren’t going to want food waste strewn in the yard. But you get my point. Third, plenty of mothers are not like you or your mother. The internet and social media really opened my eyes to the variety of things people think are acceptable.
As far as it mashed into tables and deck boards, are those tables outside or inside? Maybe they think you will just hose off the deck and outdoor furniture. The washcloths were used to wipe up watermelon? Maybe they are pigs, maybe they are earthy, granola gals with some odd ideas about the environment.
My comments aren’t meant to excuse the behavior, it’s not acceptable for an Airbnb. I’m simply trying to explain how it could seem logical to them to behave as they did. Please leave an honest, unemotional review.
2 Likes
Absolutely and definitely no mention of ‘no mother would do that’.
I also wouldn’t reply to the review. Replies often say more about the host than they do about the guest.
People often skim. The title here, ‘watermelon rinds tossed into yard’ seems pretty mild (although more so with a detailed explanation of course) but people skimming might think ‘well that’s no big deal’ and think that you’re a picky host.
Be very careful if you reply to reviews
2 Likes
The airbnb is in a mountainous area, but in a tourist town. We do have recycle bins and we have ants, I managed to get the review removed and asked that the profile be examined, as I still believe the profile/reservation were not the same people who actually stayed at the house.
4 Likes
Please update us. I suspect Airbnb doesn’t really care as long as they paid. You being there had more opportunity to verify who actually was in your rental. I don’t think Airbnb has any way to determine that.
1 Like
i’ve had a 3* review because i didn’t have a TV or WM, neither offered in the listing. I didn’t respond because now that I do have a TV, that guest review looks like a crackpot 
i’m on a farm, if guests threw watermelon rinds i wouldn’t be too upset, they’ll break down in a few weeks (organic matter doesn’t take “years” to break down) and whilst it is awful behaviour i’d be more upset over the makeup, as that requires extra cleaning and possibly won’t come out at all.
3 Likes
I would not be impressed with watermelon rinds tossed out into the yard. I have chickens in a run and I give them watermelon, which they love. Those rinds dry up but they would be there all summer if I didn’t pick them up, they do not biodegrade in a few weeks. I don’t think it would look all that nice if all guest tossed old veggies and fruit rinds onto the lawn. The nasty watermelon everywhere else is plain rude and they would get a poor review from me.
Thank you - I live in a small tourist town - watermelon rinds attract ants and other critters. I do have notification in my Info binder and refrigerator letting people know to leave left over food for my neighbor’s chickens, next guests or the food bank. It was clearly guests who were clueless. :I
1 Like