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Estimate of revenue to date: $50 per night * 3% * 1M = $1.5M Hmm looks like Airbnb handles the credit card transaction for the lister. If 2 out of that 3% goes to the credit card companies and banks, the adjusted revenue is $500k.
Did you guys happen to have the girl who used a website design as a resume create this for you? :)
Glad to see a lot of people were able to book rooms there. I wasn't, but not for lack of trying. I wish they would offer hosts more flexible controls for showing availability (and make sure hosts use them) so that people don't try to book places only to get negative responses from hosts who don't know if it'll be available at the time and to check back later. I was trying to book a place in SF for Google I/O and got…
Hey, thanks for your feedback! We're continually working to improve the core experience on Airbnb, and we'll be fleshing out some updates to the calendaring system in the near future to address problems like this. (I'm a backend engineer at Airbnb - feel free to write me at raph@airbnb.com if you have any other feedback to pass along.)
Estimate of revenue to date: $50 per night * 3% * 1M = $1.5M Hmm looks like Airbnb handles the credit card transaction for the lister. If 2 out of that 3% goes to the credit card companies and banks, the adjusted revenue is $500k.
I think this is an underestimate. They also charge a per-booking transaction to the person booking. It is around $10. Assuming that the average booking is 3-nights that's another $3M.
E.g. http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/73581 . Click the 'more info' link that's just below the 'Book it' button. It says in tiny print "Excludes Airbnb service fee ($9)".
Odd how they're hiding that fee; much worse than the typical hotel website that tries to hide taxes. Airbnb folks, I know you're reading: that instantly changed my impression of you guys from awesome to sleazy. Please make it more visible.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think this is an underestimate. They also charge a per-booking transaction to the person booking. It is around $10. Assuming that the average booking is 3-nights that's another $3M.
You're right. I suppose the 3% is meant to just about cover the credit card fees then. E.g. http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/73581 . Click the 'more info' link that's just below the 'Book it' button. It says in tiny print "Excludes Airbnb service fee ($9)". Odd how they're hiding that fee; much worse than the typical hotel website that tries to hide taxes. Airbnb folks, I know you're reading: that instantly changed my imp…
Airbnb is a different business model than hotels. The $9 service fee is something that I happily pay for their service.
Edit: it is also right there on the submit reservation page:
Earlier quoted context omitted.
for now, but is it not subject to the same kind of quality degradation that all online communities are?
I imagine it is, but the bi-directional reviews show that the company has thought about that from the beginning. I'm MUCH more likely to book a place that is reviewed well, and I am sure that my reviews play a role in the renters decisions to accept me, as well.
Estimate of revenue to date: $50 per night * 3% * 1M = $1.5M Hmm looks like Airbnb handles the credit card transaction for the lister. If 2 out of that 3% goes to the credit card companies and banks, the adjusted revenue is $500k.
Ok AirBnB, great work so far. you've got 11 months till my honeymoon, get me some more choices: GO!
You've convinced me to at least give it a serious consideration. Unfortunately i've never seriously used AirBNB before.
Any advice?
I've done my part, renting 4 places in Zurich, Milan, Barcelona, and Strasbourg over the last 2 weeks. I have yet to have a bad experience, and as soon as I move into my place, will absolutely be listing it. In fact, I'll be looking for an apartment with with an extra room, specifically to rent on Airbnb. Not just for the monetary aspect, but I've met some incredible folks over the past few weeks. The model just work…