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What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

paulsavage.eu

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Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#31

Post by poweredbytofu »

blackdogie wrote: post #3
msandford wrote: post #2

I can't tell; did this guy lose 50% of his $1200 or not? If he did and AirBnB is just keeping it, shame on them. That's gross incompetence and people should rightly boycott. If he didn't, he should fix the article to show that in fact AirBnB isn't grossly incompetent.

Hi, I didn't lose anything. I said if I cancel I'd lose 50%, if they cancel they lose 3%

On the flip side, as an Airbnb host myself, I have had to cancel a guest's reservation before. It was because of reasons beyond my control (ie. being sent a warning fine from my HOA). Losing the 3% isn't the only thing that happens. #1. You also get a "review" on your listing and profile that says "Host canceled booking X days before arrival". #2. Airbnb drops your listing ranking, meaning you won't show up as high in searches.

Frankly, it's a bad experience for the host and guest, which is why I'm not convinced it happens all that often with hosts who have more than zero reviews. If you book a place with zero reviews, I think it's MUCH more likely to happen, as newer hosts are probably less likely to understand how Airbnb works.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#32

Post by doodilin »

webwright wrote: post #20

Airbnb should have a public % number for hosts for both acceptance rate for "open" dates on their calendar and for cancellations. I was traveling the world for the last 9 months and we fairly quickly stopped using AirBnB in favor of Booking.com and Agoda (which had hotels, guesthouses, and even hostels if you're so inclined). Host behavior was the problem. We'd contact a place that supposedly had an opening. Nope. Co…

I've been traveling for the past two years, and fortunately have only had positive experiences with Airbnb. I agree that some hosts can be less responsive others, so I've taken more time on my end to have a bit of back-and-forth with the right ones before booking.

Paul does make a good point regarding host cancellations, and your suggestion to publicly display acceptance or cancellation rates might be helpful to prospective guests.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#33

Post by jhh »

blackdogie wrote: post #13
jhh wrote: post #11

any party in almost any such setting, including hotels, could cancel two months in advance without fees. I really don't know what the big deal is.

OP here. My points were 1) the host said there was a glitch in the airbnb system & doubled booked somehow, but I think they either wanted either a longer tenant or they got a better offer for Marathon Weekend in Boston 2) if I cancel I lose 50% , if they do it they lose 3%.

I didn't initially understand from your post that you would have actually lost 50% had you cancelled yourself even months in advance. I agree that this does seem imbalanced.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#34

Post by erichurkman »

kingnight wrote: post #18
ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

"3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another" ? At least you weren't stranded without a place all together, or... I once booked a house via vrbo and found spaghetti in the sheets of one of the beds!

That's an odd thing to find in sheets. I'd rather find spaghetti than some of the things I've found!

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#35

Post by nightski »

ashray wrote: post #29
Nicholas_C wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it really that big of a deal that you didn't get 4 beds? 3 beds and 1 couch does accommodate 4 people, albeit not as nicely as 4 beds. I would have been a little miffed and left a review stating my experience.

It is a big deal because the listing clearly indicated that the place has real beds and accommodates 4 people. I would expect AirBNB to take responsibility given that the incorrect info is on their website and you pay pretty hefty fees to use the service. (AirBNB charges about 15% to the tenant and 3% to the host so a total of 18% - not bad ;))

Except they refunded the fee... Honestly having used the service several times I can't say I have ever had an issue. However I have also been in contact with the host every time before arrival and discussed the accommodations. I can't imagine going to another country or something without even talking to the host. Either way it doesn't sound like it ruined the vacation.

Not to mention there are plenty of nightmare stories surrounding hotels, they are not perfect either.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#36

Post by athenot »

This was my experience about a year ago in Ft Lauderdale, FL. In my case, it meant doubling the expense to get a hotel since by the time they cancelled, most hotels were already booked.

I'd say AirBNB is to be avoided for anything remotely critical (conference, wedding, etc.) If it's just a leisure trip with friends, it might be OK.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#37

Post by jjarmusch »

inmygarage wrote: post #23
ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

If there is a double bed, single bed, and a couch, that accommodates 4 people. Remember, Airbnb is a marketplace so it is your responsibility as the guest to clarify the exact sleeping arrangements. If you want a higher level of service, go to a hotel. You'll pay a lot more, but if you require great service then it's probably a better option.

There's a substantive difference between wanting great service, and simply wanting what you were promised.

AirBNB fails on both accounts.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#38

Post by wingspan »

Last time we used Airbnb was for an apartment in Copenhagen. We found out when we arrived that instead of the "Whole apartment" as it was listed, we would be in one room and sharing the rest of the place with the owner and her daughter. Airbnb didn't do anything to help us; we just stuck with it and vowed to be more careful next time.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#39

Post by kevinthew »

nightski wrote: post #35
ashray wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a big deal because the listing clearly indicated that the place has real beds and accommodates 4 people. I would expect AirBNB to take responsibility given that the incorrect info is on their website and you pay pretty hefty fees to use the service. (AirBNB charges about 15% to the tenant and 3% to the host so a total of 18% - not bad ;))

Except they refunded the fee... Honestly having used the service several times I can't say I have ever had an issue. However I have also been in contact with the host every time before arrival and discussed the accommodations. I can't imagine going to another country or something without even talking to the host. Either way it doesn't sound like it ruined the vacation. Not to mention there are plenty of nightmare sto…

Except they didn't refund the stay. They should have refunded them, at minimum, pro rata for the lack of sleeping arrangements that they paid for (they paid for 4 people, were giving space for 3). So 25% refund, at minimum. These are the types of things that have the potential to destroy peoples' vacations and one of the many reasons I would never use AirBNB in its current state.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#40

Post by nanidin »

ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

Did you pay with a credit card? When companies try to blow me off like this and I used a credit card, the next email usually goes as follows:

> I'm sorry that we have been unable to resolve this issue. If {demand for refunded amount} is not processed by {date one week from now} I will begin the chargeback process with my credit card issuer {bankname} as I did not receive what I paid for. Please keep me updated if anything changes.

This puts the pinch on both the vendor that processed the transaction (since they're going to be the ones getting their merchant account dinged, and since they're going to lose whatever money was charged to the card + a fee for the chargeback) and the party ultimately responsible (wanna bet that AirBnB isn't going to be happy with your host for causing them to lose several hundred dollars on a transaction they only stood to gain $54 from in the first place?) Things should get resolved pretty quickly once you step outside of the box & assert whatever rights you have under your credit card agreement.

I've had to do this with Agoda over a reservation made in Thailand. And I used to sell stuff on Ebay - no one pulled this on me, but I know firsthand how much companies like PayPal hate it when their merchants get chargebacks.

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