Airbnb in Two Words? Frustrating and Inconvenient

First of all, Airbnb’s payment policy works against the customer since you have to pay in advance without having the opportunity to look at the property. My son reserved a property in Tokyo months in advance, just to find at arrival that the place was filthy, and did not offer the number of accommodations advertised on the website.

When finally reaching Airbnb for a refund, they said that by company policy the host had to have a chance to try to solve the problem, all the while not offering another place to stay. Service carriers make communication very complicated, our family is in complete distress, and travelers face the utmost uncertainty on where to stay next. All in all, an unacceptable inconvenience for all.

Posted in Airbnb Guest Stories and tagged , , , , , .

4 Comments

  1. John & The Dexter are correct.

    John gave a lot of information but it is accurate

    Also Airbnb states that cancellation refunds can take 60 days to process. Think it is too long? Use a different platform.

    Btw Airbnb can be contacted via phone, Facebook & Twitter. They respond very promptly to the Twitter & Facebook postings (public responses)

  2. This first statement is absolutely false! The host is at much more risk than the guest on airbnb. They open their home to unknown people that are only verified to have an email and a valid credit card which does not even have to match the name on the user account. I wish more people on this site had real stories with details and suggestions how to prevent problems. It seems like 75% of the complaints here are about people either too lazy to read a listing, or illiterate and somehow expecting hosts and airbnb to understand their needs by reading their minds and some how meeting any expectations instanlty upon arrival. They enter into a written online agreement that is basically never read, for a listing that they also somehow do not look at completely.
    Airbnb has so many real problems … but they are rarely talked about here.

    Lets look at the details here … if there are any!

    Facts
    1.) Parent of guest writing this post does not have any details.
    2.) Parent is not aware that host actually receives monies 24 hr after a guest checks in.
    3.) A payment policy using an escrow type structure is very effective for both parties.
    4.)Parent never mentions what is filthy, or what amenities are missing!
    5.)Example of what no details suggests: Not meeting the number of accommodations on the website could mean the wifi was slow but all other items were top notch. It could mean items outside of the control of the host are not as expected. Its all in the details.
    6.)Currently Airbnb does not have customer service but instead an answering service that are NOT airbnb employees. That makes all problems worse since you must wait for a response back. Calling and posting messages on your airbnb inbox does document things with airbnb.
    7.)Communicating by an app (airbnb mobile application) is not really complicated if you have a smart phone and learn how to use it.
    8.) Parent also never mentions her son ever using any of the tools so important to make a peer to peer platform work. Did this son look at the reviews? How many reviews were read? Was this a new host maybe committing fraud on the site? Was this a guest with zero reviews himself?

    Summary:
    If you want to use an online platform then you should learn about it first! Ask friends or read forums like this first. Learn some of the basics below:
    1.)Look a reviews, and age of listing. Learn how to read reviews so you get facts and not opinions from guests that fail to read the agreement or listing details. Compare to other listings in the area using the map.
    2.)Stay away form deals to good to be true! Fraud happens in all markets and especially online.
    Lower priced listings often mean most people do not want to stay at that place for what ever reasons!
    3.)Pick a host that checks you in and makes sure you have everything to have a good stay. Many listings are now “lockbox” hosts , which are absent and maybe not available for any help. Meeting your host means you can verify if they really have rights to even rent the place you are staying at! It means extra help for learning about a new area or things about the home that you do not understand.
    4.)Realize that if you are a new user, just like on Ebay, many hosts do not want to risk hosting you as an unknown guest. This means many times you will be matched to a new “unknown” host. These first stays are when you need most of your online peer to peer skills! Fill out you profile and include details about yourself and you work or interests. Look for those same itmes in a host. Put a good serious pic of you on your profile! (no pets or funny stuff!). Build a review history locally or on small trips before you commit to a multi day vacation in another country or state. Learn about the area you plan to travel to, and stop expecting airbnb to be a baby setter!
    5.)Most hosts in desired global destination areas will use a strict refund policy. This essentially means you will never get a refund more than 50%(less fees). If you cancel less than 7days before stay dates you lose 100%( you do get back cleaning fees) The 48hour cancellation with 100% refund only applies if you make reservations more than 2 weeks before a stay. THE 48HR refund is a big guest feature to be able to talk with a host over the phone, and feel out the listing and host better and see if they are a match. It is also an opportunity to go offline if you trust the host and they trust you (good reviews and profile). You can save 25-30% doing this!
    You are allowed as an airbnb guest to cancel 3 times using 48hr before they start assuming you are going offline, and charge you fees.
    6.) Just stay at a motel or hotel if you fit any of the below items
    a.) unstable plans contingent on many items or other persons and schedules!
    b.)If you are not into learning about peer to peer platforms and using a smart phone.
    c.)If you really want/need consistent predictable items and service and are not willing to risk them for more of a home or creative atmosphere with a unique personalities of an individual host or area/culture.

  3. I have a similar issue with airbnb. It has been close to 2 months now, and it has NOT been resolved.

    Airbnb sucks big time!

  4. Was the listing the cheapest thing on website? Did the host have any reviews? We’re reviews recent, if any? All are elements of identifying the veracity of a host’s’s offer. Putting some personal effort into finding the perfect home and arrangement is always best.

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