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What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

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Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#71

Post by nanidin »

ericd wrote: post #61
nanidin wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you visit the link provided? There is clearly a "Room type" classification, which would be used to indicate that you're renting a room in a house, a whole house, a bed in a room, or a couch in a room, for example. And there is also a "Bed type" classification to specify the type of bed you will be sleeping in.

"Bed Type" doesn't mean it's uniformly that type, it's sort of the max of the class, so it's not terribly useful. It would be nice if it was broken down by number of beds (it is on some sites), but that's more of a nice to have than the norm.

That's beside the point - the point being that you asserted that the "Real Bed" qualifier was referring to not getting a couch in an apartment, like couch surfing. Judging from your post history, you will argue on any point possible, and won't cede a thing. Consider this my last reply.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#72

Post by toomuchtodo »

blackdogie wrote: post #56
nanidin wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 any…

In all respect I don't think issuing a chargeback is the way to go here. This doesn't solve anything really, and in fact it could really hurt a business. Why issue a chargeback when a company offers a refund ?

Because Airbnb should be withholding the host's fee, as they misrepresented the accommodations. If Airbnb doesn't stick up for the guest, the guest's credit card company surely will.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#73

Post by toomuchtodo »

sitkack wrote: post #50
kingnight wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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!

I had a late checkin (1:30), showed up 2 and the host was already passed out drunk and wouldn't answer the door. I ended up sleeping on the stoop until 6:30 when he finally woke up and called in a totally freakout apologizing profusely. I mostly AirBNB like Hemmingway ran with the bulls, for the lulz.

> I mostly AirBNB like Hemmingway ran with the bulls, for the lulz.

Same here. I AirBnb on my own, but never when traveling with wife, family, or for work.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#74

Post by ericd »

ashray wrote: post #53
ericd wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, that indicates that you're not renting just a couch in someone's apartment (a la couchsurfing). In the vacation rental world, that max accommodation figure almost always includes the couches (especially if it's a pullout couch).

Sure, but usually that would be mentioned in the property description. Also, it was not a pullout couch. In fact, it wasn't big enough for a person to comfortably sleep on.

Oof, too short to sleep on is cheating on that number :-/ I think ideally Airbnb should change the listing to provide a breakdown of the sleeping surfaces so people can plan.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#75

Post by ericd »

nanidin wrote: post #71
ericd wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Bed Type" doesn't mean it's uniformly that type, it's sort of the max of the class, so it's not terribly useful. It would be nice if it was broken down by number of beds (it is on some sites), but that's more of a nice to have than the norm.

That's beside the point - the point being that you asserted that the "Real Bed" qualifier was referring to not getting a couch in an apartment, like couch surfing. Judging from your post history, you will argue on any point possible, and won't cede a thing. Consider this my last reply.

Sorry if I wasn't clear with what I was saying.

That field is mostly useful for distinguishing between whether you're getting a couch or a bed in the case that you're just renting part of the apartment. It's not very useful in the event that you're renting a whole apartment. It means there's at least one real bed, it doesn't mean that everyone in the "Accommodates" number will get a real bed.

It's not perfect, it would be better if it were more explicit, but this is a pretty common on these sorts of listings.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#76

Post by level09 »

Its inconvenient but not THAT bad as you didn't loose the money.

I had a worse experience with Airbnb, they simply cancelled my reservation and closed my account a few days before my travel and refused to give a valid reason.

http://nidalalhariri.com/post/55999109847/how-airbnb-closed-...

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#77

Post by frontendbeauty »

devrelm wrote: post #51
lotharbot wrote: post #17

> "I can’t even leave feedback... as we never got to stay there." I think this is a bigger deal than the cancellation -- the fact that, on a site that's all about reputation, there's no reputation hit for a host canceling someone's rental. Airbnb should create a feedback system that allows feedback to be given for various steps of the process, not just the stay itself.

Indeed. Even if it's just an automated post saying that the reservation was cancelled by the host. More than one of those and I think that many people wouldn't want to take the risk.

See Brian's post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7254986

Airbnb does leave an automated review about the cancellation and dings the host's listing in search results.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#78

Post by poweredbytofu »

lotharbot wrote: post #70
blackdogie wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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%.

One of Airbnb's founders clarified elsewhere in this thread that there actually was a system glitch.

Agreed, my reply was about people canceling to get a "better offer". :) Other than the glitch he mentioned, I think that part of the system actually does work pretty well. Always room to improve though.
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