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Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

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Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#41

Post by a3camero »

ruchi wrote: post #39
a3camero wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Requiring IDs like this might actually facilitate ID theft because criminals could create fake host listings and then request all sorts of information like this in order to steal identities. Much easier than breaking into houses to steal them.

It's the roomorama service requesting proof not the users.

Oh I know it is in that service but I don't think that's what the poster I was replying to was suggesting. He's suggesting as a host that you do that (although perhaps I misunderstood).

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#42

Post by untog »

hugh3 wrote: post #40
pseudonym wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is easily the silliest thing I've heard about this so far, and this is after reading AirBnB's PR statement. If they fuck this up, they won't "come out stronger", they'll come out with a sufficiently heavy PR backlash that people won't use them anymore. And that'll be that. As it stands now, the only thing people are hearing are negative things about AirBnB, and unless they take huge steps to fix that, there's go…

I think we're over-estimating how big and widespread this story is, because it's all over the HN front page. Sure, plenty of people are going to hear about it and it's gonna be damaging for airbnb. But a whole lot of people aren't going to hear about it because they don't read HN or the Financial Times. It's bad for airbnb, but shouldn't be a killer. From my point of view, my only surprise is that it didn't happen so…

Yes, but it could yet get worse. With the (slow news) weekend coming up, if the tabloids ran out of fodder and decided to run with this story, it could get very big indeed.

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#43

Post by gcb »

ghshephard wrote: post #7
wccrawford wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They have to be careful, though, as this kind of thing can be considered libel or slander if not 100% true, and collusion even if it is true. Having an industry-wide blacklist will almost definitely run afoul of the law.

Bars do this all the time in areas where there are problems - they scan your ID and then share the information with other bars, particularly if you get booted. In the United States, if you make a good faith claim about someone, it's pretty hard to win a libel suit, and, I suspect, it would be even harder to claim that grading an individual rises to the level of slander/libel, particularly if you provide a mechanism t…

the sites just have to remember to put that sign "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" and they are covered.

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#44

Post by hugh3 »

untog wrote: post #42
hugh3 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we're over-estimating how big and widespread this story is, because it's all over the HN front page. Sure, plenty of people are going to hear about it and it's gonna be damaging for airbnb. But a whole lot of people aren't going to hear about it because they don't read HN or the Financial Times. It's bad for airbnb, but shouldn't be a killer. From my point of view, my only surprise is that it didn't happen so…

Yes, but it could yet get worse. With the (slow news) weekend coming up, if the tabloids ran out of fodder and decided to run with this story, it could get very big indeed.

Good thing we have a debt ceiling crisis going on, then!

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#45

Post by xentronium »

paisible wrote: post #22

There is no such thing as bad press, and AirBnB is only going to get more exposure and users from this. Case in point : Godaddy http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2822946

Of course there is. Case in point: Color.

— My anecdotal evidence is loud

— Mine is even louder!!!

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#46

Post by joshfraser »

run4yourlives wrote: post #30
dadkins wrote: post #24

Honest question: how is Airbnb or any of their competitors different than vacation rentals? You rent a house for a week when the owners aren't using it. Often the key's in a combo box or they mail it to you. The only real protection is a security deposit which you pay upfront. The concept has been around for ages.

They aren't, it's just a "smaller" scale using the internet. The business idea is proven, AirBnB is just leveraging technology to stake out a significant market share. Nothing wrong with this at all.

You don't keep your birth certificate and grandmas jewelry at your vacation house.

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#47

Post by untog »

untog wrote: post #42
hugh3 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we're over-estimating how big and widespread this story is, because it's all over the HN front page. Sure, plenty of people are going to hear about it and it's gonna be damaging for airbnb. But a whole lot of people aren't going to hear about it because they don't read HN or the Financial Times. It's bad for airbnb, but shouldn't be a killer. From my point of view, my only surprise is that it didn't happen so…

Yes, but it could yet get worse. With the (slow news) weekend coming up, if the tabloids ran out of fodder and decided to run with this story, it could get very big indeed.

Bah, hit the reply limit. I wasn't specifically thinking about US media- UK tabloids would have a field day with this, for one. AirBnb is a presence in Europe as well...

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#48

Post by veyron »

cdp wrote: post #34

Is anyone else finding it interesting to see how a bootstrapped startup is implementing tighter security standards and accepts slower growth as a consequence while the startup du hour, fueled by massive amounts of other people's money, is pursuing growth at all cost and with little regard for the consumer? Reminds me a little of the YouTube founders who wanted to grow and be acquired as fast as possible and willingly…

I wish I could upvote that comment multiple times.

That's true in general. Bootstrapped startups, as a whole, are generally built to be long-standing real businesses, and they treat the business as such. You don't sink tons of your own money into an effort if you dont truly believe in the profitability of the business (profitability of the business, not potential valuation or perceived growth). Neither myself nor any of my friends who are bootstrapping their own firms pursue growth in favor of customer support, security or aggressive valuation.

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#49

Post by gyardley »

paisible wrote: post #22

There is no such thing as bad press, and AirBnB is only going to get more exposure and users from this. Case in point : Godaddy http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2822946

Just because many people say "there's no such thing as bad press," that doesn't make it true.

- former CEO of a startup that got some bad press

Re: Airbnb Competitor Checks IDs: 'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume'

#50

Post by veyron »

kenjackson wrote: post #31
pbreit wrote: post #6

'We Don't Want to Trade Security for Volume' = 'we don't want to be successful'.

Wrong. "We don't want to trade security for volume" == "Your screw up is our marketing" As someone else noted, I'd never heard of this company before, but now I have. Currently my only real impression is that they're NY focused and are security conscious. I think they'll take that introduction.

That's the wrong way of looking at the situation.

For many observers, airbnb debacle is the first exposure they have to the online personal rental market. Roomarama is trying to remind people that the industry as a whole is not broken (it's airbnb being screwy, not the entire business model). And if they get positive marketing from it, c'est la vie.

I would agree with that statement in a much more mature industry, but in this new area its easy for ill opinion of a firm to translate to ill opinion of the industry as a whole.

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