I don't have a pool!

[Laura2592]

Why is Airbnb asking this?

 

[Lorna170]

@Laura2592   I don't have a kayak -- yet it keeps popping up as an amenity I offer.  Sigh.

[Laura2592]

@Lorna170I keep imagining conversations with a CSR after someone reports me and refuses to pay for my not having a pool.

Me: "But I don't have a pool! I never advertised that I did."

CSR: "Airbnb believes you have one. Are you sure you don't?"

Me: "YES!!"

CSR: "Perhaps you misplaced it?"

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  

You: "I'm quite sure there was never one there."

CSR: "Can you look again and take some photos of the pool area to prove that?"

You: "How am I supposed to take photos of something that doesn't exist?"

CSR: "Just submit the photos and we'll determine if it exists or not."

[Colleen253]

This annoyance is minor compared  to what you’re talking about @Laura2592, but here it was again this morning. I’ve had ‘oven’ as a listed amenity since day one. Yet I continually get this question, and have clicked yes numerous times trying to get it to go away for good. It repeats with other amenities. 

[Laura2592]

@Colleen253I am sure that someone, somewhere said we had a pool.

Perhaps they were impaired when responding to ABBs many prompts for info.

Perhaps it was a typo.

Perhaps they did not have a good command of the language and didn't understand the question. Perhaps they were just being contrary.

But the AI bots have seized on this and so we have a pool according to ABB. Notice I was not asked if I had one, but if it is shared.  And my options to respond are yes/no.

I might put in my listing "due to an Airbnb search glitch, our listing appears under those with pools. WE DO NOT HAVE A POOL. Thank you!"

[Mary419]

Below is a Brian Chesky video too- here during approx minutes 4-8 Chesky talks about the new design 

https://youtu.be/w-kzCpHYK24

So "Flexible matching" is whats causing the problems for everyone. It's a feature, not a fault. He's saying right there that 'flexible matching' will deliberately bring up listings *without* certain amenities that guests have specifically ticked in their search options

[Laura2592]

@Mary419this is just a recipe for frustration.

Booking a vacation rental is not searching for a real estate purchase. A realtor might show you a place that needs a little work or doesn't have the type of counters you prefer because you can CHANGE that when you purchase if you like. But a weekend stay? Pool, hot tub, bed size, pets allowed--that is set in stone and can make or break an experience.

Airbnb needs to stop pretending they are a real estate brokerage that can strong arm the owners of properties into doing deals, and remember that they are merely a platform to connect people with space to rent with those who want a space. If I search for a specific amenity, I want to see ONLY listings with those amenities. Period. And as a host I expect to get guests who are fully apprised of what I offer. End of discussion.

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 @Mary419 Airbnb has always manipulated the platform and pushed hosts interests aside to favor guests and push more bookings onto us. But this flexible stupidity is going to affect guests negatively, and turn them off the platform, just as much as hosts, if they are lead by Airbnb to believe that they are booking a place with amenities that don’t exist. 

[Colleen253]

Interesting (and more than mildly infuriating).

 @Laura2592‘s issue seems beyond this as Airbnb is suggesting she has a pool, with “Is your pool shared?”

Things are really falling apart on this platform. 

[Colleen253]

Here’s another one that must fit in with this new flexible matching business. Was previewing my listing as a guest would and noticed a new banner that highlights my place is great for long stays. I don’t do long stays. My max is 14 nights. I suppose that could be considered long by some. I hope I don’t start getting pestered with inquiries for stays beyond that length, though. 

[Sarah977]

@Colleen253  Oy. So if we have heating, Wifi, a kitchen and free parking, that means we have equipped it for long stays? I guess people who stay 3 nights don't require any of those things. Good to know- that'll save hosts a lot of money on heat. 🙂

[Colleen253]

@Sarah977 Ha, regarding heat - with the record breaking cold weather we are having right now, a guest could freeze solid just trying to get in the door. We were talking this morning about blocking the calendar when it's this cold. Too many difficulties and hazards.

[Sarah977]

"surfacing homes just outside your search parameters".

So I guess a home with no pool is considered "just outside" of a search for a home with a pool. And of course "No pets" listings are "just outside" of a search for somewhere guests can bring their four 100 pound dogs.

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 the biggest problem seems to be that Airbnb truly wants to be all things to all people. If a listing is not a fit, they are now essentially trying to fool guests into thinking it's what they want.  

I think the brand suffers from a lack of a true identity, and the profit chasing just looks desperate.  I would give them the advice I have given many hosts: Don't try to be all things to all people.  Find your niche and market to it. 

They are basically using the same technique as a guy who slathers himself in cologne and lies to every woman in sight hoping one will bite and go home with him. But even that guy has control of his own experience.  ABB is trying to procure customers for hosts while fudging the truth. 

[Mary419]

I totally agree with everyone’s disgust here. I don’t think the powers that be could be blind to these issues as they’re painfully obvious. I guess there is one goal that makes this still work for Airbnb and that’s the top line gross sales. A cancelation later is fine with them. If the guest even does cancel once they realize the place doesn’t have a pool (or fill in the blank) which many won’t. You might have to read this to fully get it 

https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2021/11/05/airbnb-inc-abnb-q3-2021-earnings-call-tran...