Years have passed since that Winter I discovered the AirBnB revolution of happy people sharing homes. I’ve seen hundreds of AirBnB guests, and now, they really sound different, sometimes really annoying, making you feel like your appartment is a Deluxe hotel for 40$/night. Expectations increased for lowered prices, as the platform became really popular. But the whole point of AirbBnB wasn’t business at all. It was meant for home sharing. We may even have contributed to make AirBnB more commercial, as hosts. But popularity killed the simplicity in the end…. http://michaelgiguere.com/2015/03/never-airbnb-again/
Category Archives: Airbnb Host Stories
These are real, uncensored stories from Airbnb Hosts. We encourage our site visitors to read and share their Airbnb Host Stories to help warn others of the dangers of using Airbnb, and consider using alternative options in the sharing economy.
Hosts get Slow Paid
Whenever I transfer funds from my investment account to my checking account, I have access the next business day. Not so with Airbnb. Airbnb does a good job of “playing the float”. Even though they say they will pay hosts the day after the guests arrive, it usually takes several business days to actually receive the money in your account. Airbnb is making a fortune by holding hosts money and investing them for an extra 24-48 hours before release. Most of the times my guests were long gone before I ever saw a penny of my money. I cannot even begin to imagine how much of the hosts’ money Airbnb gets to play with by behaving this way. So yeah, hosts, you’re not only paying Airbnb for the “honor” of doing business with them, you’re also acting as uncompensated lender giving them an interest free loan. One host doesn’t amount to much, but think about hundreds of thousands of hosts acting as “Bank Airbnb”.
AIRBNB who?
AIRBNB blows. I have had 2 bookings in 2 years while VRBO continually wins over guests. The customer service with AIRBNB is nonexistent and on the rare occasion you get through they are rude and short with you. I have since taken my listing off the AIRBNB site and have been satisfied ever since. 13 billion valuation? Good luck. Pesos maybe
Airbnb: Unethical, Liars, Cheats
I have been hosting since the end of December. I had 10 five star reviews. Yesterday, I cancelled my account. Airbnb wanted to penalize me for making some guests that were trashing my house leave. They decided to offset my next rental with a charge for making the “guests” leave. I suffered damages to my property, emotional distress, and even had to call the police on them. Yet, Airbnb treated me as though I was the criminal. Airbnb hides negative reviews. I posted one on these people and it never appeared. As a host, there is no way of knowing exactly how awful your guests may be which is very dangerous. Their telephone support is awful, and their reps sound brain dead. I even had a bad experience as a guest, renting a condo in Mexico for 3 weeks that was uninhabitable due to excessive noise. All Airbnb cares about is Airbnb. STAY AWAY.
There is an alternative to AirBNB called Roomorama
I’ve been hosting for three years now, i’ve had tons of guests, most of them extremely happy and quite lovely, but you can’t get away from the occasional “hotel” guest and their equally unpleasant counterpart the “whinger” ultimately – sadly – AirBNB don’t give a shit about hosts – it’s a numbers game for them based on percentages and high volume transactions – their “super host” program is pointless and of no benefit whatsoever to the hosts themselves so when a pig treats your house like a hotel – or when someone too stupid to read your description slams you because there is building noise – AirBNB don’t give a shit – so relax and try to get over it And then register your house on Roomorama.
AIRBNB TREATS THEIR HOSTS LIKE CRAP!!!!!
I had the worst guest. All she did was complaing about he weather etc…She was an old hag! She was rude to the staff at the condo and then decided to cheek out 2 days early but before demanded we pay of her hotel and give her a refund for the 2 nights she was checking out. Of course we said no, then she wrote the nastiest review about us calling us bullies etc. We were so sweet to her and did everything she wanted! And she called us liars etc…when all along we had only 5 stars and all good reviews. Airbnb does not take the review down, and it is clear that she did it because we would not refund her, and she called us bully…Airbnb refused to do anything about it. They are useless!!! PLEAS SOMEONE OPEN A BETTER COMPANY THAN AIRBNB THEY SUCK!!!!!!!
Airbnb betrayed long-term host!
I have rented 6 different bedrooms on Airbnb for over 2 years with 100+ PERFECT reviews, but after what just happened, I will probably never use airbnb again! I had a couple from europe ask to stay with me for 6 months… much longer than my normal reservation, but I decided to do it. They moved in and were very polite and happy with the place, no problem at all. Well, TWO DAYS before they were scheduled to move out, they left early without saying a word and they filed a fraudulent complaint with airbnb claiming that they found mice in the house! First of all, they never said a word to me. Second, the other guests in the house said they never saw a mouse or any sign of mice. Third, the picture of a dead mouse that the guests submitted to airbnb was actually just a picture they found online from a blog post years prior!! Worst of all, airbnb automatically sent these scammers a 50% refund on their entire 6 month stay without even talking to me! Airbnb still won’t respond to me!!!
Hosts have NO power, and the GUESTS are getting so much worse!!
I am an Airbnb Superhost with two huge houses that cost a fortune to clean, and have rented them with 5 star reviews more than 50 times in the past year and a half with stellar feedback… and suddenly, the last two months, it is as if something in the universe has shifted, and every Airbnb GUEST has realized they have the power (with their ability to complain to Airbnb and threaten you with bad reviews) to make you jump through hoops and trash your place in the process. In the last few months, more than HALF of my guests have had good reviews by hosts but turned out to be chronic complainers, scammers, and pigs. They now have the dreaded HOTEL mentality instead of guest mentality–NO respect. They break all hose rules, leave the house in shambles (especially the kitchen, you can’t believe the grease storms and dirty dishes they generate) so my cleaning costs have nearly tripled. Cum stains all over the dry-cleanable velvet comforters… you get the idea. What happened?!
Airbnb offers refund without proper review or investigation
Guests book property for 28 days but after checking in contact Airbnb and say they are not happy, complain about lack of mobile phone coverage, dryer not working, place unclean, etc. etc. then say it is a hazardous environment because guest is six months pregnant and has allergies. They send pictures of a cobweb behind a dresser and a dirty shade in a loft used for storage and other macro pictures that show a spot as proof of lack of cleanliness.
Property was professionally house cleaned. I offer to send housekeeper back to property but guests so far have refused to contact her.
Airbnb says they are entitled to immediate refund and offer to find guests another Airbnb listing in the area. While searching guests remain in property for a week (and are still there).
Airbnb informs me that guests only have to pay for days that they have stayed at property which are substantially reduced based on the monthly booking.
Unable to make any future plans because I do not know when they will leave but expect to be severely out of pocket because of last minute cancellation.
Have tried to contact Airbnb on numerous occasions to discuss the situation. I have also sent detailed emails but case officer rarely responds and when she does offers a very brief response that is not helpful. When I speak with representatives they assure me that everything will be okay but refuse to document it and refuse to provide me with their full names or contact information. Its absolutely hopeless.
From this experience it is obvious to me that Airbnb does not care at all, they continue to make money (for doing nothing) while I am left out of pocket. Very bad experience which I will not repeat. Beware, policies on website are not followed any booking can easily be cancelled which will leave you out of pocket.
Host used AirBnB website to say nasty things about neighbors
A “host” in our New York City condo turned her apartment into a hotel, in direct violations of our condominium by-laws. Strangers with suitcases were in our lobby on a regular basis. When caught she put up a fight, she used her AirBnB website to blast away nasty, even racist comments at the condo board and me. Happy ending: It is difficult to complain to AirBnb without becoming a member, but I was able to do so by going through their safety concerns website. AirBnb wrote to me and thanked me for pointing out the violation of their usage guidelines.