Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned • Hacker News Board

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#281

Post by zacharypinter » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 4:49 PM UTC

vladd wrote: post #89

brianchesky wrote: post #87

Hey everyone - we were shocked when we heard about this unsettling event. We have been working closely with the authorities, and we want to reassure our community that, with the help of our security infrastructure, we were able to assist the police in their investigation, and we understand from authorities that a suspect is now in custody. We've created a marketplace built on trust, transparency and authenticity with…

Hey brian, - what's your side of the story on being unreachable 14 hours after the event? - did you offer AirBnB credit or compensation to the victim to stay elsewhere during this?

This doesn't specifically answer your question, but the post does seem to mention that financial compensation from AirBNB was offered:

"They have offered to help me recover emotionally and financially, and are working with SFPD to track down these criminals."

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#282

Post by chanon » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 4:53 PM UTC

inmygarage wrote: post #223

I wouldn't be surprised if this was organized and executed by an AirBnB competitor. It is just too malicious and meticulously done to constitute a random crime (do I watch too many crime shows? maybe.) AirBnB just closed a gigantic $100m round and they are doing phenomenally well, and here comes someone who makes "everyone's worst fears" about lending out their apartment to a stranger come true.

If the competitor was in the same business, I think this kind of story would negatively affect them too.

Well, unless hotel chains are cooperating in doing it to tarnish AirBNB's repuatation - but I still think that is unlikely.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#283

Post by zacharypinter » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 4:55 PM UTC

hammock wrote: post #141

brianchesky wrote: post #87

Hey everyone - we were shocked when we heard about this unsettling event. We have been working closely with the authorities, and we want to reassure our community that, with the help of our security infrastructure, we were able to assist the police in their investigation, and we understand from authorities that a suspect is now in custody. We've created a marketplace built on trust, transparency and authenticity with…

Emotionally devastating story, but it seems like there is an easy solution to this. Have AirBnb contract include an insurance policy (superseding the homeowners insurance) for the time of rental. Also, have Airbnb keep credit card info on hand and hold guest responsible for any damage. Pretty standard business practices.

At the risk of it being slightly poor taste to go down this tangent:

Given how rare this type of thing is, AirBNB could have a great extra source of income by offering optional insurance for an extra fee (similar to car rentals).

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#284

Post by zacharypinter » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 4:59 PM UTC

bambax wrote: post #113

varunsrin wrote: post #26

I always found AirBnB's model based on a surprising amount of trust - I for one would never be comfortable just handing over they keys to my place to a total stranger. Even if they didn't ransack my place completely, as happened to the unfortunate author - I would be concerned about unintentional damage to my property that I might not discover till too late. Renting out something as private as my primary place of res…

Same here. I'd be more than willing to use the service as a customer, but as a host? Never. If you're a customer the worst of the worst than can happen is you lose the rental fee and have to find a hotel. As a host, the worst that can happen is this.

Agreed, though I see a lot of people using AirBNB for guesthouses, rooms in their house (where they'll at least be at the place), or investment houses. Those scenarios seem less risky.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#285

Post by justin_vanw » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:03 PM UTC

Reading this article, my spidey sense was tingling the entire time. For whatever reason, I instinctively do not believe that the story this person is telling is the truth.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#286

Post by lurker19 » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:10 PM UTC

Good explanation of why hotel rooms cost more than AirBnB rooms.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#287

Post by LogicX » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:11 PM UTC

wisty wrote: post #61

VladRussian wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Um, this is incorrect. Hotels are vandalized all the time... that is the point why they take down your credit card data before giving you the keys. Your vandalizing after that is just an entertainment your card will be charged for. >The security measures you suggest won't stop that sort of attacker. so you think the attacker has perfect credit history and there is absolutely no sense in checking it?

I'd expect they used a stolen card (or a stolen card number, more likely). There's almost no way anyone could be stupid enough to do that with their own card.

You're giving thieves and vandals far too much credit. For most, if they had the intelligence to get away with the crime, then they'd have the intelligence to know not to commit it.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#288

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

chanon wrote: post #282

inmygarage wrote: post #223

I wouldn't be surprised if this was organized and executed by an AirBnB competitor. It is just too malicious and meticulously done to constitute a random crime (do I watch too many crime shows? maybe.) AirBnB just closed a gigantic $100m round and they are doing phenomenally well, and here comes someone who makes "everyone's worst fears" about lending out their apartment to a stranger come true.

If the competitor was in the same business, I think this kind of story would negatively affect them too. Well, unless hotel chains are cooperating in doing it to tarnish AirBNB's repuatation - but I still think that is unlikely.

[deleted]

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#289

Post by rkalla » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:23 PM UTC

Why was the title of this post changed? It used to have the name "airbnb" in it earlier this morning, around 400 votes.

Re: Violated: A traveler’s lost faith, a difficult lesson learned

#290

Post by ap22213 » Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 5:28 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #147

I get angry when I realize I will never again be who I've always been before, someone who lived strong and free by the creed that people are essentially good, that if you think optimistically, trust others. Please don't let them steal this too. I'm really sorry for your bad experience, but remember: - You can still live strong and free. - People are still essentially good. - You can still think optimistically. - You…

Sometimes things go very very wrong. That's why they invented insurance.

Most people act 'good' most of the time. That's why this whole society thing stays cohesive. But, everyone has a probability to act badly. Just consider someone who may have had a stroke that considerably changes their personality.

A small portion of people act 'evil' under more common situations.

It's odd that airbnb doesn't seem to risk mitigate these sorts of black swan events. They wouldn't lose much having a 100% loss redemption clause. It would seem that the property owner would be much less likely to game the system than the visitor.