There have been a few threads about AirBnb lately with a lot of people reporting negative experiences so I will add my own $0.02. I have stayed in many AirBnbs. The reason is, I find it is the only way to have a tolerable family vacation is when everyone has their own sleeping quarters. When we are all piled into one (often overpriced and not so clean) hotel room, it makes for less than ideal sleep and everyone ends up grouchy. Plus when you travel with children, it is really nice to have a kitchen and a way to do laundry. At any rate, my observation for all my AirBnb stays is most of them are quite nice. Many hosts go to great lengths to have their guests have a nice stay. There have been a few crappy experiences, but not many. The main downside for me concerning AirBnb is it takes a long time to analyze the listings to find quality accommodations.
I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
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Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#52Just curious, this post has more points in less time or about the same time as other posts that appear higher.
Why is this not the number one post?
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#53Well, this certainly makes me want to never book an AirBnB again. You'd think AirBnB would be more alarmed about the reputational and consequent business hit of this sort of thing. Maybe they will be after this article?
> If a guest stays even one night in a rental, for example, it is difficult to obtain a full refund, according to Airbnb’s rules.
You don't even have to stay one night... I ran into this exact scenario where upon arrival, the place had no electricity, wifi, and construction for a few blocks outside. I was unable to contact them until the next day since my first instinct was to look for another place ASAP and rest from the long flight. Sure enough, they threw their ToS at me and stated that I wasn't eligible for a refund. I contacted AMEX, but they partner with AirBnB so I was denied a credit there as well. I ended up paying an entire week for a place I didn't stay at.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#54Why don't companies like AirBNB who have a lot to lose (reputation wise) from a (small?) number of scammers sue those scammers into oblivion? Not only are they violating the TOS but they are committing fraud, and likely breaking a few other laws. AirBNB must know who they are as those scammers are getting paid, right? It would be expensive for AirBNB (they would certainly lose money) but it can't cost more than the r…
The vast majority of Airbnbs I’ve stayed in were illegal hotels/rentals... only a handful were legit renting out a spare room / couch surfing type deals and the first time I did that I had to pretend I was the host’s college friend. Airbnb is basically built on shifting liability to shifty people running hotels out of rentals. Also, pro tip, I’d guess at least 50% of the airbnbs I’ve stayed in do not wash the sheets…
Not all localities make it illegal to do so.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
> the user still wants to be able to use the service in the future. And this is why Airbnb doesn't care. This is insane to me that they end with "Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting a hotel." after ALL that. It's like the author has stockholm syndrome. I can't wrap my head around why you'd ever use Airbnb again after an experience like…
Are hotels really about the same cost? My last several vacations have used Airbnb for housing, mostly because I prefer to cook my own meals and like having some space to spread out. Booking a suite w/ kitchenette at hotels in the same areas would have been quite expensive, if even possible. But, I've never been scammed on Airbnb. My experiences have all been excellent. That's one rental in the US and 5 across western…
I consistently stay in hotels for a good portion of the year and I rarely find AirBnbs cheaper nowadays. Really the only time I stay in one is when I want to rent a big house with a large group of friends or am in a remote area that doesn't really have hotels.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#56Mentioned this in another comment, but it blows my mind that the author ends with: > "Even after a month of digging through public records, scouring the internet for clues, repeatedly calling Airbnb and confronting the man who called himself Patrick, I can’t say I’ll be leaving the platform, either. Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting…
Even after a >>>monthof digging through public records...Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting a hotel."
It's constantly amazing to see how little people value their time when it comes to stuff like this. Maybe when we're getting yearly salaries we don't compute out the hourly cost but, man, do the math once in a while.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#57I'll ask the dumb question (I don't use AirBnB): why not dispute the charge via a credit card?
When you file a dispute, they send it off to a third party to investigate. They dig into the contracts and when you make the purchase, you state you are agreeing to all their terms of no refund, etc. So you will almost always lose the dispute.
They also have special partnerships with credit card companies so the companies are more likely to side with Airbnb as well.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Presumably AirBnB would ban the user and the user still wants to be able to use the service in the future.
> the user still wants to be able to use the service in the future. And this is why Airbnb doesn't care. This is insane to me that they end with "Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting a hotel." after ALL that. It's like the author has stockholm syndrome. I can't wrap my head around why you'd ever use Airbnb again after an experience like…
Probably because there are still legitimate offers on the platform, and they're still cheaper than hotels. So the author's brain thinks "I've figured out the scam, I'll be more careful next time and I'll be able to stay at (vacation spot) for 10 dollars cheaper". In the end, cheap still wins.
But did AirBnB help the scammer keep her $800? Still giving AirBnB business after that is indeed ridiculous.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#59Yeah, I stopped using Airbnb a loooooong time ago, and only use it when the price diff is something like 4 fold. Too many bad experiences.
Yay booking.com and normal hotels
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#60Well, this certainly makes me want to never book an AirBnB again. You'd think AirBnB would be more alarmed about the reputational and consequent business hit of this sort of thing. Maybe they will be after this article?
AIRBNB doesn't care a bit, since there are many more people out there who don't hear anything negative. I prefer to stay at real BnBs or hotels less likely to be scams. I moved into an apartment complex a few years ago and wondered why the apartment down the hall had cleaners almost every day. It was an illegal rental. In fact I found a couple more on the AIRBNB site with my identical kitchen countertops. The apartme…
Out of curiosity, why did you capitalize Airbnb like that? I see people capitalizing random stuff sometimes and don’t understand why.