Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 72 posts

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#21

Post by walterbell »

rebootthesystem wrote: post #5
KayEss wrote: post #2

We'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.

Apparently even buyer accounts can be terminated, https://onlinestuffblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/amazon-the-...

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#22

Post by Dylan16807 »

chinathrow wrote: post #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.

I guess most communities aren't communities then.

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#23

Post by vessenes »

This is a tough read, because someone's livelihood and in some part happiness combine with their AirBnB business, and losing it is painful.

The hell of it is that there are many circumstances in which the customer would not be allowed to know why the cancellation.

I'm most familiar with Bank Secrecy Act rules; some of which definitely apply to AirBnB.

So, for instance, an algorithm flags the house as a likely money laundering location. AirBnB response: notify FinCEN, Thai authorities, turn off customer account without explanation. In the US even telling your employees down the line why the account was canceled might lead to fines and jail time for the compliance folks. I am not making this up, or exaggerating. That's just how it is.

Or, perhaps a repeat customer is the target. Same stuff. Or, perhaps the owner is a small time pornographer / drug dealer / etc in Thailand, and Thai authorities notify the bank, which notifies AirBnB's bank.. Of all the employees contacted, only the CTO would know, but even he might be told "flagged, don't ask." And, that will be all. No matter how much he might care that a good customer stay happy and with the company, getting rid of them is infinitely better than being deposed over a BSA violation and information leakage.

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#24

Post by pm24601 »

"Sharing economy" = shareCROPPING economy. (look up "sharecropping" to understand )

But basically, sharecroppers were exposed to all the risk, and the landowner got the initial first dibs on the crops. The landowner often times had complete ability to be completely arbitrary ( like AirBNB is in this case )

You are not running a business if you don't have direct access to your clientele. You are a shareCROPPER. Look it up.

Use AirBNB, as a marketing vehicle, not your only income source.

Woo hoo, I love these downvotes. Seriously, peeps...give me your hate. And while you are doing that - please tell me which bit of my statement is factually incorrect.

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#26

Post by pm24601 »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #22
chinathrow wrote: post #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.

I guess most communities aren't communities then.

Yes they are communities. No, AirBNB is not a community. They can't be a community when participation is subject to veto by a single entity/person.

Communities are determined by a collective decision, not a unilateral decision.

Anyone one talking about the "AirBNB community" is lying to themselves or to the person they are talking to.

If AirBNB wanted a community, they would have visible, due process procedures in place that allow for appeals and the community to arbitrate disputes.

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#28

Post by jarcane »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #22
chinathrow wrote: post #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.

I guess most communities aren't communities then.

chinathrow is right.

A community is a body of people who respect and act in each other's best interests or for the collective good.

A company is not a community, it's a for-profit enterprise, and it does not give a fuck about respecting you or your best interests if there is profit to be made, or even if there is internal bureaucracy to be followed.

Loyalty to business and corporate interests is seldom well placed.

Re: AirBNB why did you terminate my account? – An Open Letter to AirBNB

#30

Post by DannyBee »

pm24601 wrote: post #26
Dylan16807 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess most communities aren't communities then.

Yes they are communities. No, AirBNB is not a community. They can't be a community when participation is subject to veto by a single entity/person. Communities are determined by a collective decision, not a unilateral decision. Anyone one talking about the "AirBNB community" is lying to themselves or to the person they are talking to. If AirBNB wanted a community, they would have visible, due process procedures in pl…

"They can't be a community when participation is subject to veto by a single entity/person."

Says who? This is not any requirement of any commonly accepted definition of community.

You certainly can just make crap up and define words however you like, but you can't expect others to go along with you :)

Post reply on HN