Airbnb is banning indoor security cameras

Post by usaar333 » Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:28 PM UTC

_yb2s wrote: post #48

mholt wrote: post #22

I'm worried this ban will only affect honest hosts. Anyway, what Airbnb should really ban is hosts charging a mandatory cleaning fee when also requiring their guests to do the cleaning. We just stayed at one this weekend, and like almost all our previous bookings, the host asked us to: - Take off all bedding and towels and start a load of laundry - Do all the dishes and start the dishwasher (but required to hand-wash…

At this point the cleaning fees are just a scam to make the listing fee seem artificially lower. People did the same thing on eBay by making the items almost free but the shipping expensive, until they fixed the eBay interface, e.g. by letting you sort by price + shipping and showing shipping fees before you click.

Post by renewiltord » Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:28 PM UTC

noodlesUK wrote: post #85

lukan wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I'm worried this ban will only affect honest hosts." EMF meters(like in the airplane to spot mobiles) are quite cheap and if you find an active one, you can probably sue the host, but at least reporting should have some effect, even though no instaban. "If a guest reports the presence of an indoor camera after that, Airbnb says it will investigate and that it could remove the host’s listing or account as a result."…

> like in the airplane to spot mobiles What are you referring to here?

Post by usaar333 » Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:29 PM UTC

idiotsecant wrote: post #81

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cleaning fees aren't a "scam" - most property owners really do need to pay someone to clean the property at the end of a stay. But, as another commenter said, they can be used as a way to encourage longer stays, as with most places you only pay a single cleaning fee regardless of the length of your stay. But, again, it's just a fact that these rentals are usually just cleaned between guests (as opposed to a hotel whe…

No, scam is the right word. It could pretty easily be rolled into the advertised nightly rate.

Post by lukan » Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:30 PM UTC

renewiltord wrote: post #103

noodlesUK wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like in the airplane to spot mobiles What are you referring to here?

Yeah I've often forgotten and left my ipad on cellular or my phone non-aircraft-moded. No one has ever said anything so it's unlikely they have automatic detection.

Post by renewiltord » Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:31 PM UTC

lupusreal wrote: post #69

throwaway290 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if a guest uses every dish in the kitchen without doing a wash up, they cleaning crew could be there for hours If it is $200 then that should cover 10 man hours of cleaning in a developed country. I had similar issues as a guest on Airbnb, paid a cleaning fee $100+ and then had complaints that I left food in the fridge (like normal a pack of milk or something not growing new lifeforms) and couch pillow on the floor…

Have you tried to hire a cleaning person recently? $200 will get a small apartment cleaned, maybe. For a thorough cleaning of a modest house prepare to pay 2-3x that at least.