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Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

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Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#41

Post by WarDekar »

axod wrote: post #3
chanri wrote: post #2

Just wondering, how many people here have used Airbnb? I would think a large number of HN people would use it.

I'd think it's pretty high as well. Personally, I can't see the appeal apart from price. I'd take a hotel every time. Am I the only one worried about rape/murder/theft with something like this as well? Maybe I am :/

I would much prefer to stay at an AirBnB place than a hotel even at the same price (though getting comparable accommodations for half the price is obviously a plus). I've met a lot of interesting people as hosts that I've gone out with, shared dinners with, etc. that I would've never had at a hotel. I can see how this may change as it gets more popular and mainstream, though.

I've used it quite a bit and have had nothing but good experiences, but I'm rather selective about where I want to stay. That said, I do think there is a problem with not wanting to leave negative feedback for fear of retaliation, and it certainly is going to be one of the biggest problems as they grow.

For reference I've stayed at maybe a dozen places in the last 9 months, mostly in SF, SD, and NoCal.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#42

Post by pquerna »

axod wrote: post #29
middus wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are people working in a hotel not random?

They're vetted by the hotel, there's regulation, command structure, security in the hotel, they have an incentive to not do bad things (They'd get fired), they're (hopefully) trained, etc etc Additionally, if the hotel is a big chain, there's a certain standard of service you can pretty much be sure of across hotels. So IMHO, people working for a company who are trained and employed to serve the public, are quite dif…

People have an incentive not to do things bad on Airbnb too.

It is called prison.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#43

Post by mriley »

jacquesm wrote: post #28
vladd wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe not a 1st degree friend but a friend of a friend or something like this. A feature that finds out the "shortest chain" friend that rents out an apartment in your destination city would be interesting. But you need a social graph for that.

Sounds like a facebook app worth making. Rent out rooms to people that are at most 3 hops removed from you on FB?

Check out SecondPorch (secondporch.com) for a pretty nice execution of that concept, built around FB Connect.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#44

Post by axod »

pquerna wrote: post #42
axod wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're vetted by the hotel, there's regulation, command structure, security in the hotel, they have an incentive to not do bad things (They'd get fired), they're (hopefully) trained, etc etc Additionally, if the hotel is a big chain, there's a certain standard of service you can pretty much be sure of across hotels. So IMHO, people working for a company who are trained and employed to serve the public, are quite dif…

People have an incentive not to do things bad on Airbnb too. It is called prison.

spycam in shower? I'd expect chance of prison is nil. Stealing wallet / jewelery / etc? Again, prison is a long shot.

I'm by no means saying it happens all the time, but I can see the incentive to use airbnb as a way to lure victims.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#45

Post by middus »

axod wrote: post #29
middus wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are people working in a hotel not random?

They're vetted by the hotel, there's regulation, command structure, security in the hotel, they have an incentive to not do bad things (They'd get fired), they're (hopefully) trained, etc etc Additionally, if the hotel is a big chain, there's a certain standard of service you can pretty much be sure of across hotels. So IMHO, people working for a company who are trained and employed to serve the public, are quite dif…

You mean like nurses/doctors (prime example of people who are trained and employed to serve the public) that kill their patients?

Some references to well-known cases:

http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ve...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lainz_Angels_of_Death

Todespfleger von Sonthofen - http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/L/LETTER_stephan.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephan_Letter

Ever heard of Mechthild Bach? Can't find an English link right now.

Everyone's trained not to do bad things (it's called education), HR departments are not able to screen out killers, thiefs, rapists etc. In the end, people working in a hotel are a random selection, too. So whoever downvoted me, please reconsider.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#47

Post by quizbiz »

mriley wrote: post #43
jacquesm wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a facebook app worth making. Rent out rooms to people that are at most 3 hops removed from you on FB?

Check out SecondPorch (secondporch.com) for a pretty nice execution of that concept, built around FB Connect.

If I was Airbnb I would acquire the above.

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#48

Post by axod »

middus wrote: post #45
axod wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're vetted by the hotel, there's regulation, command structure, security in the hotel, they have an incentive to not do bad things (They'd get fired), they're (hopefully) trained, etc etc Additionally, if the hotel is a big chain, there's a certain standard of service you can pretty much be sure of across hotels. So IMHO, people working for a company who are trained and employed to serve the public, are quite dif…

You mean like nurses/doctors (prime example of people who are trained and employed to serve the public) that kill their patients? Some references to well-known cases: http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ve... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lainz_Angels_of_Death Todespfleger von Sonthofen - http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/L/LETTER_stephan.php http://en.wikipedi…

I didn't say there were NO instances of trained employees abusing trust. Obviously there are edge cases everywhere.

If I'm going traveling to some strange dangerous place, a trained employee is going to be safer than a random person off the street.

I expect you were downvoted because you decided to interpret my comments as "trained employees never do anything wrong", rather than what I actually said, "trained employees are safer for you than random people".

Re: Airbnb (YC W09) Grew 800% in 2010

#49

Post by adlep »

My partner - Dustin has used the service to book a room in HK for few nights. The website is very simple to use, the concepts of the service are explained very well, and this service IS VERY useful. A brilliant concept and good execution. Good luck.
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