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Hi @Maggieroni,
As far as I know, an inquiry does not require either a pre-approval or a decline. (Personally, I don’t pre-approve unless the inquirer wants me to. Otherwise I do nothing.) I think just answering is enough. You could check with Airbnb on that. Of course, even assuming it is true, not everyone will know that.
We have had multiple hosts contact us via the platform for XYZ question, cleaners, prop mgrs, etc, I don’t mind answering questions as long as it doesn’t take too much time. It doesn’t bother me personally that I have to decline/pre approve, I could see how some hosts might think it’s annoying or hurts there response rate, etc.
We have contemplated messaging 2 separate hosts in our building that are renting without permits, only because if we get ‘dinged’ for something their guests do, we can lose our permit. I ran into one host at the pool, and we chatted, all was fine. The other host has 5 units across BCN and I didn’t think messaging them would prove fruitful, so I messaged our HOA/Community president.
Exactly!!! They don’t want fellow hosts communicating, that much is clear enough!
@faheem
I’m pretty sure you’re correct but air does not make it clear. I don’t know if it affects stats as they haven’t actually requested to book. I’d prefer that it just give me the pre-approve option which I’ve done a few times but never heard from the guest again.
But you can search for properties without putting in dates, then, click on the host’s calendar and it will show you what dates are booked and which are open. It’s only when you get to the inquiry portion that you have to fill in some dates. But I can’t see how that’s a problem as you are not blocking their calendar in any way. Just use the ‘contact’ host button, and let them know upfront that you don’t have your dates set you but have some questions.
Well, the difficulty arises for people who want to talk to the host, but have no intention of booking. The possibility is that the host will become outraged with people wasting his/her time.
Though my view of this has become a bit more nuanced since I actually started the Airbnb platform from the host end, and had some experience with it. In real life, one gets inquiries all the time from people who ostensibly are planning to book, but (at least in my case) one never hears from again. So it’s possible that most hosts would not really care that much. Having said that, I think most people would agree it’s a bit awkward to say something like
um, I actually have no intention of booking. I just had an (unrelated question) for you
or words to that effect.
I am very glad you did not send this. I think you have to chalk this up under the column Life is Not Fair & Sometimes People Suck.
That said, I have used the platform to contact another host and it was when I realized I had been ripped off by the vacation curator (long story, already told) and I used Airbnb to contact the other two hosts whose listings were “curated” along with mine.
Also, I have “reported” a listing. I realized that someone in the Catskills had listings advertising “glamping” properties, but they were using stock photography entirely. I used the “report this listing” link - it was a clear violation - and it disappeared soon after.
You know I am beginning to hate this word. I’m seeing it everywhere now too. it’s the latest hip-ism.
But in @KKC’s case she is interested in booking, just won’t have her dates lined up in the beginning…
And may I say, good luck with the search, @KKC! From my experience I enjoy getting away from home even more now that I’m a host, and since you have so much responsibility with the dogs in addition to the humans I’m sure you are ready for some nice R&R!
I live about 35 minutes drive from a major tourist area that is the reason most of my guests come here. I am also honest that the attraction most of them go to visit is at the far side and takes about an hour to get to. I point out due to traffic at the peak of summer they should add an extra 30 minutes on for traffic jams. Then someone started an airbnb about 10 minutes further away than me saying it was only 25 minutes to the major tourist attraction event from her place when it was at least 45 minutes and double that in summer. She had taken it down about a month later due to no bookings. I suspect a lot of people who lie about location and transport don’t get booking because guests still do some research themselves to make sure they aren’t lying.
I ignore the “decline” or “accept” button and just have a conversation with them until they tell me what I need to know to accept them. If they don’t give me that info it doesn’t block others from booking. (it just then says “not possible” next to their message once I have accepted someone else for those dates or even part of their dates)
I have a sort of similar scenario, in which sending a message is obviously a bad idea, but i am tempted to do so…
Where I host the county require we first apply for a permit to host (about $700), and second collect and remit transient occupancy taxes (9% per booking). Of my direct competitors, I know only a few have permits and collect or remit this tax, and when I’m feeling particularly bitter about it I fantasize about writing disingenuous messages to these hosts to enquire about some aspect of this tax collection in the hope that they will admit that they don’t pay them, or at least feel a little bit guilty about it 
and there is nothing wrong with some healthy competition to keep you on your toes-
your lucky to have just one!
How is it possible to know? DO you work for a county?
Oh, there’s many - and actually my husband found a second listing with the exact same wording - so it appears that this new listing lifted everything off the other listing.
For me its a huge thing when hosts lie on purpose about location. My only bad reviews were based solely on that fact: misleading location description. Once i got mad at the host so much that i gave her 1* on overall experience, accuracy and communication because of it. It was in Germany, and her description said: near subway, 10 minutes to center. 10 minutes sounded great, near subway sounded great, so i booked it. In her 2 reviews nothing was mentioned about distance.
In fact it was far from 10 minutes to center. First of, it was good 20 minutes walk to metro. Bus stop was near her house but bus only went every few minutes in the early morning before 9 am, the rest of the time it was every 20-30 min. Then it was 14 metro stops to city center. With wait depending on time of the day it would take minimum 20 minutes.
it never took me less than 40 minutes to get to center. I booked her for 5 days, and cancelled after 2nd, as i understood that this vacation will turn into nightmare if i stay at that location. AT night i always took taxies as i could not get on subway after midnight.
I called Airbnb and they cancelled it without hesitation when i explained where its located.
This host knows what he/she is doing and purposefully lies to get guests. This is wrong and not fair to people.
I think writing her a letter JUST about that would be a great idea. Leave part about you, and competition, but just point out the misleading location description. Or, just wait until someone trashes this host in reviews like i did.
You messaged HOA about what, its not clear. ABout other hosts not having permits? How do you know they dont have permits?
It would probably be be better to get out of the competitive/lack-of vibe; there are enough guests
for everyone, and trying to keep up with what your neighbours are doing will serve no purpose if you are already doing your best.
The cream always rises to the top.
Gosh Yana, you’re a bit hard on this host. Walking time depends on how fast you walk and it doesn’t sound like she over exaggerated. One star? Really I think three on location would have been fine but why ding her on everything. Don’t think I’d want a guest to rate me so harshly for a small miscalculation. Many cities have bus schedules like this including NYC for non rush hour schedules. And, why didn’t you check out google maps for distances. I do when I travel to a place I’m not familiar with. Just imho