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Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

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Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#131

Post by ristretto »

ig1 wrote: post #52
mgkimsal wrote: post #22

What's going to be a game changer is when stories start breaking about owners who rent out their space as a way to lure in people for killing or torturing them. Right now it's about "you were stupid, why did you rent your space out to strangers?". Later on it'll be "why did you try to save $20 and go sleep some place where you're 110% vulnerable?". You don't control the locks, you don't know the neighborhood or even…

This already happens on classified ad sites, people regularly go into strangers homes to purchase a wide range of goods with close to zero pre-checks. And yes people do get killed when they turn up at someone's house with 5k in cash to buy a car. Doesn't seem to have stopped the classified business from working...

Then why do we need airbnb at all? Use craigslist for hotels too. The big issue here is that airbnb claims from the start that they are more than just classifieds, giving people a sense of security which is false.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#132

Post by jmtame »

It's interesting to note the pattern between EJ and Troy: in both of these cases, the renters were not home, which means they were treating Airbnb more like a "vacation rental" service. They both had a gut feeling that told them the rentee was "off" in their communication. They both didn't meet the people in advance. And the rentees were both meth addicts.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#133

Post by dlss »

officemonkey wrote: post #28
waterlesscloud wrote: post #5

I'm realizing I'm confused about what value airbnb is offering. If they don't vet people on either end, are they really just a craigslist with payment processing?

They also have a spiffy web-site and app that does a nice job showing off properties and assisting you in finding the properties you want. But yeah, they are essentially just middlemen. They benefit from keeping the buyer and seller apart until the deal is done and they get their cut.

And benefit from downplaying the risks of renting / putting a property up for rent

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#134

Post by tokenadult »

cletus wrote: post #18

As much as some people might view this as "sometimes things go wrong", which is basically true, that's not the whole story. The story here is that people are doing things that in most jurisdictions are illegal. AirBnB is profiting off this. Do something illegal and you can't insure against any negative consequences. The whole EJ situation is a potential inflection point. Without knowing the full facts (which no one s…

Ultimately, AirBnB is making a bet they can effect change on the laws relating to subletting.

That's an important point. But Airbnb hasn't won me over to writing my elected representatives to ask for legal reform related to subletting by its recent behavior. Indeed, as I reflected on what Airbnb's business model means to me as a renter, I recalled that basically every police call into my neighborhood in the past several years has been the result of the behavior of visitors who were NOT on the lease agreements for homes in this townhouse neighborhood. I like that my landlord checks the background of tenants before renting space to people who live in my neighborhood. I'd hate to see the safety and security of my neighborhood undermined by a business encouraging my neighbors to breach their contract with our landlord.

Wimdu thinks it can beat Airbnb by providing better customer service.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2829859

Based on Airbnb's performance with its pile of capital so far, I have think that that might be possible for Wimdu.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#135

Post by watchandwait »

hugh3 wrote: post #111
ig1 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Craigslist is a classified site, and it's had it's share or rapes and killings: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=craigslist%20killing

Though interestingly, there wasn't nearly as much blame heaped on craigslist when this happened as is currently being heaped on airbnb.

CL is free and arms-length for rentals, while AirBnB is an active broker and financial participant in their rentals.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#136

Post by lawnchair_larry »

tptacek wrote: post #68
timr wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"But there's something "off" about EJ's position here. Why is a vandalized apartment leaving her homeless?" Put yourself in the position of a person who has just had their apartment burglarized (remember: they stole her personal documents and valuables) and their keys stolen by probable drug addicts. Also, remember that the police have arrested one of the vandals, but probably not all of them. Ignoring, for the momen…

Most everyone on HN is going to agree with what you are saying: that there is a reasonable narrative in which "EJ" is unable to return to her home due to fear. As a recent victim of a comparatively pathetic "violent" crime: that is absolutely something you are concerned about. And that's before we even get to the topic of "can EJ repair the damage done to her home without diminishing the expected return from a settle…

I've seen half a dozen replies from you saying she probably has a lawyer and is trying to milk this, without a shred of evidence, other than "that's what you would do."

I think presenting that theory once is more than enough - you don't have to reply to everybody with your theory.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#137

Post by chc »

timr wrote: post #56
cletus wrote: post #18

As much as some people might view this as "sometimes things go wrong", which is basically true, that's not the whole story. The story here is that people are doing things that in most jurisdictions are illegal. AirBnB is profiting off this. Do something illegal and you can't insure against any negative consequences. The whole EJ situation is a potential inflection point. Without knowing the full facts (which no one s…

"But there's something "off" about EJ's position here. Why is a vandalized apartment leaving her homeless?" Put yourself in the position of a person who has just had their apartment burglarized (remember: they stole her personal documents and valuables) and their keys stolen by probable drug addicts. Also, remember that the police have arrested one of the vandals, but probably not all of them. Ignoring, for the momen…

EJ actually said as much in both of her posts — that although she's having the place repaired and the locks changed, she feels helpless there.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#138

Post by rokekr »

cletus wrote: post #18

As much as some people might view this as "sometimes things go wrong", which is basically true, that's not the whole story. The story here is that people are doing things that in most jurisdictions are illegal. AirBnB is profiting off this. Do something illegal and you can't insure against any negative consequences. The whole EJ situation is a potential inflection point. Without knowing the full facts (which no one s…

> But there's something "off" about EJ's position here. Why is a vandalized apartment leaving her homeless?

If the landlord found out why her place was vandalized, he may have grounds to boot her out of the apartment.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#139

Post by tptacek »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #136
tptacek wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most everyone on HN is going to agree with what you are saying: that there is a reasonable narrative in which "EJ" is unable to return to her home due to fear. As a recent victim of a comparatively pathetic "violent" crime: that is absolutely something you are concerned about. And that's before we even get to the topic of "can EJ repair the damage done to her home without diminishing the expected return from a settle…

I've seen half a dozen replies from you saying she probably has a lawyer and is trying to milk this, without a shred of evidence, other than "that's what you would do." I think presenting that theory once is more than enough - you don't have to reply to everybody with your theory.

Again with the attempts to factionalize the discussion. "If you're not with her, you're against us!" It's weird. Why do you feel the need to take sides?

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#140

Post by rdl »

jmtame wrote: post #132

It's interesting to note the pattern between EJ and Troy: in both of these cases, the renters were not home, which means they were treating Airbnb more like a "vacation rental" service. They both had a gut feeling that told them the rentee was "off" in their communication. They both didn't meet the people in advance. And the rentees were both meth addicts.

Maybe AirBnB should drug test :)
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