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Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

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Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#381

Post by omgomgomgomg »

yakireev wrote: post #201
SapporoChris wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>"uber is literally outlawed in half of europe." Uber is banned or partially banned in UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, and Italy. Eight countries out of forty-four of the European countries.

Yes, but. As far as I understand, in the US Uber is a dude with a car and a drivers license, who installs an app on their phone and starts driving people around. In European countries I know Uber is just another way to call a taxi. Big difference. I'd say it's not too wrong to say that the "dude with a car who installed an app" model is mostly outlawed.

Indeed, in their defense, thet have bowed down to some regulators and are run like a business now in places. After being strong armed and forgetting to pay taxes, but props for that, fair enough and honorable. Just that its subsidised by pirating maneuvers in other places.

Sometimes, Americans and american businesses do not understand the social leaning eu countries, the people have worked hard for generations to keep people like uber(yes , people, we know behind companies are people) at bay and they know why. People want to be able to live off of one full time jons salary, no matter the sacrifice. They also want to their neigbors to have the same privilege, they dont want their neighbors to rob them. And if it does not work, then the social system shall serve as a fallback.

Nothing to do with lack of work morals, it is a different mind set.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#382

Post by omgomgomgomg »

trap_goes_hot wrote: post #311
omgomgomgomg wrote: post #126

Oh my, oh my, how the tune has changed on hn and social media on this and uber. Whereever people sense they can make a buck or save a buck, laws amd regulations be damned. I have never swayed an inch off my view. I knew first hand how this affects housing prices and wear, I live in a severly affected area and pay the price for it, literally. Same for uber. Neither is cheaper than the previous thing, hotel offers bett…

>Whereever people sense they can make a buck or save a buck, laws amd regulations be damned. When has this not been the case at any point in human history under any government? There is nothing new here. Greed is a component of human nature, and capitalism (and other systems) can certainly bring it out.

There is truth to that, but these kind of companies have crossed all lines. Takes a lot before truly greedy politicians intervene, it is against their nature.

I fully agree with your historical point, I read about thensoutj sea company in the uk and the stake holders, i was shocked, but nor surprised. The wikipedia page actually makes for good reading if you have time.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#383

Post by lostlogin »

ghaff wrote: post #351
lostlogin wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just making sure I’m understanding you, at cafes where you live you clear your own dishes? I haven’t encountered this before.

You don't do your own dishes but it's common with counter service to put them in a designated container and to throw your trash out.

That what I mean - I haven’t encountered this.

I’m way down in New Zealand.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#384

Post by therealdrag0 »

profstasiak wrote: post #145
ethbr0 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to work better with Lyft et al., probably because there's a larger supply of "normal people who are interested in driving", better economics around renting the asset (vehicle), and the driver (aka host) having to be physically present in the vehicle. The scaled AirBnB model was always questionable... at some point, you've literally signed up everyone normal with a quality rental. But you still need to increa…

a lot of rape cases in Uber and Bolt in Warsaw Poland. Safe for men to drive unsafe for women.

Is that different than a normal taxi? If anything a lot of people find ride shares more safe because you have a digital record of the drivers identity which historically wasn’t the case with taxis.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#385

Post by therealdrag0 »

hfbff wrote: post #116

I've used Airbnb ~30 times in multiple countries and have never had issues. Some places have been dirtier than I expected (nothing horrible though), some were much smaller than the pictures suggested, but the for the vast majority of cases it has been a good experience. When the experience wasn't good, I rated and commented accordingly, so the host got their rating lowered and maybe did something about it. I also met…

Same. I also find that for the same price range Airbnbs tend to be much more homey and clean with newer remodels. the majority of hotels I’ve stayed at as an adult have left me thinking “wow I’m paying 200$ for THIS?!” Due to limited space or lots of scuff marks and stains from daily wear and often being decades old. Airbnbs tend to be kept “Pinterest fresh” and have a kitchen and living room that are a game changer for comfort. Also they help you actually see a neighborhood with local culture instead of just a downtown or a business district.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#386

Post by trap_goes_hot »

omgomgomgomg wrote: post #382
trap_goes_hot wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Whereever people sense they can make a buck or save a buck, laws amd regulations be damned. When has this not been the case at any point in human history under any government? There is nothing new here. Greed is a component of human nature, and capitalism (and other systems) can certainly bring it out.

There is truth to that, but these kind of companies have crossed all lines. Takes a lot before truly greedy politicians intervene, it is against their nature. I fully agree with your historical point, I read about thensoutj sea company in the uk and the stake holders, i was shocked, but nor surprised. The wikipedia page actually makes for good reading if you have time.

People get the government they deserve; if they do not participate in the process. You can organize people around a common mission, but its hard to convince people of future harm, when they haven't yet been burned. The "help" is merely theoretical. Now that these companies are actually harming people - it will be easier, but the damage has already been done.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#388

Post by pasttense01 »

candiodari wrote: post #181
mcculley wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a useful way to think about how markets/platforms evolve. I have yet to use Airbnb. But it seems that the target customer has changed. I have been aware of them since they first showed up on Hacker News. They were pitched as renting an airbed where hotels are not a useful choice. That target customer is a demographic that I had aged out of before they started. If they were still marketing only to very young p…

What I don't get is ... where is the government in all this? As the article points out: the owners of the property clearly violate a lot of laws. So I hear violating the law gets you into "trouble with the law". Well, clearly it doesn't.

What happens when you do complain? You lose your illegal rental accommodation. This is not a win.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#389

Post by astura »

MichaelCollins wrote: post #318
wcarron wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a good middle ground is the "serviced apartment" concept found in some places (entire apartment blocks reserved for short term rentals) You mean a hotel? Hotels are not inadequate for longer stays. If someone desires the comforts of a home, they can move there and actually rent/buy a home. > The reason AirBnB exists is that tourists are not properly accounted for in city planning and not properly serviced by hotels…

Most hotel rooms don't have kitchens. It's not unreasonable to want a kitchen if you're staying somewhere for a week or two. But expecting those people to buy or lease a home is unreasonable. Short-term rental of homes is the solution to this.

They make hotels for extended stays with kitchens - Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites, and Candlewood Suites are the big chains.

I lived in a Homewood Suites for three months. It was fine.

Re: Illegal host, electric shocks, slugs, leaks and no support – How Airbnb failed

#390

Post by stickfigure »

denton-scratch wrote: post #315
stickfigure wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's unreasonable to expect AirBNB to enforce your HOA rules. That's a private contract between you and your neighbors.

It's reasonable for AirBnB to verify that their hosts are in compliance with the law. I am a landlord: I let a single house, to a family. New regulations came in on 1st September, requiring the property to be registered. I already had a valid gas safety certificate, expiring in 2 months, and an electrical safety certificate good for two more years. Registration also required an energy performance certificate, which I…

HOA rules aren't law.

But it's also unreasonable to expect AirBNB to keep up with the uncountable legal jurisdictions of the world. Every locality - down to the city block - could have different rules.

If your neighbor is violating the law, that's your neighbor's fault. If you want to do something about it, you have the power.

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