Who is Being The Inflexible One Here?

If a host sent me a “tome”, I’d probably cancel and book elsewhere.

It’s the same with the equivalent to the Old Testament of house rules, discard and on to the next one.

JF

Even if it cost you $50+ dollars? Just skip reading it like everyone else.

However, hosts with long lists of rules or excessively long listing descriptions are a turn off and I will click away and see if there is something more suitable. Interestingly the two multimillion dollar homes I’ve stayed in with a group both had just the standard rules list.

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No one has ever complained about the amount of my writing. Actually the verbage on listing and sent helps people get informed and excited about coming to our unusual str. If they don’t want to read through it or come here that’s fine with me, it’s their loss. Maybe a few people have backed out if they can’t read English well or if they have kids, or dogs, or want a party. However having it all there in writing and sent to them, they can’t claim they never saw it or didn’t read it in case of a problem.

edit to add> is this a tome or not…?

"We would be happy to have you come stay. Thank you for choosing the Tiny Tiki Retro Hideaway:) You will love it here!
Before confirming your stay, please take the time to read all of the listing, including rules and cancellation policy. No smoking, parties are never allowed. No dogs or other pets! Please inform us before booking if you have a service animal. There are natural predators and no fence or lawn so your animal could get into danger easily. Vaping ok outside only.
Please note that the outdoor bed and shady gazebo is likely unavailable, and covered up for the winter rainy season. there will be other comfy outdoor furniture out if it isn’t wet:) See last photo!
Reply and we will be confirming your stay after that:) Please share a little about yourself, your travel companion or your trip:) Please include your traveling companions names.
Our location is off the beaten path, and feels remote. We are in a pristine natural wildlife habitat and there are wild animals. Please locate Chatsworth Lake Manor zip code 91311 on a map and make sure it will work for you. You must have your own car or a rental. Sorry, but Ubering is not an option for this vacation rental.
We are 35 minutes from Burbank airport and at least 1 hour 15 minutes from LAX and Hollywood.
Thanks very much for your request to stay here!
Kind regards,
Julia and Michael

"

I have also read that great content that is long helps with seo.

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So true - our generation is probably the most ‘entitled’ and arrogant, in that respect.

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While our apartments are nowhere near seven figures, we too have essentially the standard rules list.

Unfortunately, a “tome” to me is a complete turn off, maybe I’d read it, maybe I wouldn’t; but it sets a tone.

Yes, exactly. I think many hosts almost view it as a battle with guests in relation to “rules”, and I’ve seen plenty of evidence of it on here.

Tell me the essentials, if I want more, I’ll ask.

JF

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I was the first network specialist here. Wired networks at many small businesses until 800 number offshore support killed local support. I still read the tech trade press, built my own open source digital media center/home theatre, and am just starting on my homebrew smarthome setup.

Nerds have always been tinkerers, and most that I know don’t stop until they keel over. Before COVID I was part of a daily nerd kaffeeklatch.

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As others suggested add him to reservation; double communicate.

Btw-Airbnb accepted telephone text screenshots of communication off platform when there was an issue with a reservation

Personally, I am not over 65, just barely 50. :smile:
But I am a bit old school. I usually handle all bookings/reservations/logistics/planning when we are traveling. There’s a lot I don’t like doing on a phone and sometimes I will have my husband “copied” on things or even put the reservation in his name especially if we are using a reward club/service that was set up when he would travel a lone for work.

Given that they both have excellent reviews I would do what the others say and add him to the reservation if you can or possibly switch it to his name? And then make sure you communicate with both accounts.

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My dad was a mechanical engineer and loved gadgetry. We had the first TV on my block back in the early 50s. Then, because he hated the commercials, he put an inline switch so he could sit in his easy chair and click them off. Kinda the first remote. Too bad he didn’t take that idea a few steps further, I’d be a trust fund baby.

He had no problem learning his way around computers when he was in his late 60’s.

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Mine was the same. We had all sorts of weird stuff. He died a couple of years ago and yet he’d used email, a cellphone, a laptop etc.

He was born in 1924 so he’d be well on his way to 100 years old if he were alive today. :slight_smile:

It’s funny though. One piece of technology that he loved way back in the day was the fax machine. He continued to use a fax when only old-timers did. He was very surprised some time ago when I told him I hadn’t had a fax machine for years.

I do think though that anyone in business should keep up to date with all technology. My old gran, born in the reign of Queen Victoria, was very hesitant using the telephone. I was determined not to be that old lady.

My then 84 year old stepmom came to visit a few years ago and does everything on her smart phone, which she navigates like a teenager.

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I think for those who didn’t grow up in the digital era, that how proficient they become with it is a matter of being open to learning new things, and not resisting change, rather than having it be because of their age. Unless, of course, they have some degenerative mental function.

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Blockquote
Then this morning I got a booking inquiry from a SEPARATE profile for the same dates, with the following message:

“Hi Lauren. I’m _________’ husband, Bill. She made us reservations yesterday for April 28 to May 5th. I wanted to send you a message through the app on my phone so we can have any future correspondence that way. Thanks and looking forward to staying in _______.”

My concern is that it appears that the guests made a booking through the wife’s airbnb profile but prefer to correspond with me through the husband’s profile. I don’t feel comfortable messaging them through any other thread than the one that is associated with the booking.

A lot of airbnb hosts that I’ve rented through choose to communicate through what’s app, messenger, plain old text etc… we just go with the flow. If these new guests have a long history with Airbnb they may have gotten used to this randomness that they were taught through different hosts they booked with.

Your business needs to run the way you want it to. If your choice is one consistent method of communication just stick with it, you will avoid surprises, you will be on your game because you are doing what you always do, there will be less chances of accidental miscommunications or lost messages etc…

Just message them back through your original contact and let them know for a smooth experience your policy is to communicate through the original booking through airbnb. I’m sure they will be happy to comply.

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