AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
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Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#2We've been considering doing the whole AirBnB thing (also in Thailand), but the problem with all of these online services is that you just aren't in any control of your income.
I've kept only to business models where I bill directly. This rules out google adsense, Apple and Android paid apps, AirBnB etc. I won't even use anything like PayPal to collect money for me -- there's just far too much risk for capricious loss of the business through factors that you have absolutely no control over.
Building a business is hard, it seems utter folly to give another entity this sort of control over what you're doing.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#3Airbnb is a short-term rental company, not a f*ing nation state.
It amuses/disgusts me when the default position of companies like this is to treat their security policies as some sort of state secret, leading to these Kafka-esque scenarios.
Sadly, I don't really know what the person here can do except write articles like these. Probably doesn't have much of a legal leg to stand on.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#4Often in these articles, you read through to some sort of detail hidden at the end which reveals why the company actually did cut ties, and the aggrieved party is blind to it or trying to talk around it. In this case, there's nothing.
My guesses were assault, theft or maybe some effort to actively sabotage Airbnb by promoting a competitor. But if any of those things happened, they're not detailed or hinted at all.
I imagine Airbnb are vague for legal reasons. But it must feel hugely unfair to be in the position of the author and lose a significant portion of your life and livelihood.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#5We've been considering doing the whole AirBnB thing (also in Thailand), but the problem with all of these online services is that you just aren't in any control of your income. I've kept only to business models where I bill directly. This rules out google adsense, Apple and Android paid apps, AirBnB etc. I won't even use anything like PayPal to collect money for me -- there's just far too much risk for capricious los…
Google "amazon seller account suspension" or "amazon shut down my seller account" if you want to read some horror stories.
This type of behavior on the part of internet giants is absolutely wrong.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#6We've been considering doing the whole AirBnB thing (also in Thailand), but the problem with all of these online services is that you just aren't in any control of your income. I've kept only to business models where I bill directly. This rules out google adsense, Apple and Android paid apps, AirBnB etc. I won't even use anything like PayPal to collect money for me -- there's just far too much risk for capricious los…
Reading that article makes me furious -- of course, there are many things we don't know, and this person may be full of it, and she may have crossed a line (knowingly... or unknowingly), etc.
But, even if that's true, not giving reasons why you're kicking users out is infuriating.
No due process, no appeal, just a big "fuck you" with no explanation whatsoever. These companies apparently think it's a normal way of dealing with users -- and something they can do with total impunity once they have acquired near-monopoly status.
Let's hope for a big backlash some day soon.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#7"I really cannot understand why I am being kicked out of a community I loved, promoted and cared for so passionately."
It's not a community - it's people meeting on a commercial platform who's in for the big money.
Still, as a previous host and renter, I am disgusted.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#8We've been considering doing the whole AirBnB thing (also in Thailand), but the problem with all of these online services is that you just aren't in any control of your income. I've kept only to business models where I bill directly. This rules out google adsense, Apple and Android paid apps, AirBnB etc. I won't even use anything like PayPal to collect money for me -- there's just far too much risk for capricious los…
Reading that article makes me furious -- of course, there are many things we don't know, and this person may be full of it, and she may have crossed a line (knowingly... or unknowingly), etc. But, even if that's true, not giving reasons why you're kicking users out is infuriating. No due process, no appeal, just a big "fuck you" with no explanation whatsoever. These companies apparently think it's a normal way of dea…
Indeed, Stripe for example built its entire business on people's frustration with similar behavior by Paypal.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#9No mention of whether the Paris talk invitation by AirBNB was cancelled. That would be an entertaining forum to raise this topic in.
Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB
#10To the fine folks at AirBnB who for sure are watching this thread:
- You fucked up badly in 2011 with that wrecked apartment in SF
- You cleaned up nicely eventually, introduced insurance and whatnot
Now, you absolutely seriously need to clean this up the proper way. The shitstorm is already brewing.