Search algorithm failures

[Tamara682]

Hi all,

I posted a while back about listings from other cities coming up in searches for a specific city. Airbnb claims it's a glitch they are trying to fix (still claiming that when I talked to them this week, but they've been saying that for at least a year so that's doubtful.

Yes,  you can look at the map that shows up on the side, but the map is only a reflection of listings posted for that particular page including the out of area listings being shown in a search that did not ask for them.

How does this effect us the hosts?

Example: (I will use my listing for the example)

Wide Search: City and # of guests  - no dates

I am on page 8 (which means the map won't show it until page 8 either).

Listings before me that are not in the specific city I am searching (not even in the same zip code): 85

Of those - 6 are from the state next door

City/Date Search: City, 4 days/3 nights, # of guests

I am on page 3 AND there is a promotional discount of 20%

Out of area listings before me: 27

City/Week Search: City, 1 week date, # of guests

I am on page 3

Out of area listing before me: 22 of which 1 is in the state next door

Note: I had to cancel the promotion and move it a month because Airbnb has decided they will choose the nightly rate to be discounted based on rates over the last 60 days. Therefore, they automatically assigned the rate to before I removed the cleaning fee. That is not for them to decide.

I think a year is plenty of time for them to fix the zip codes for a specific city search. They can throw in fixing the promos while they're at  it.

[Kimberly-And-Benjamin0]

YES!! It's very frustrating. When my listings were new, they showed up immediately on searches for my town in Wise, Va. I have 3 guest rooms in my home. I'm a Super Host with stellar reviews. Now my listings show up way down the list - and other listings literally 50 miles away and more appear before mine! I'm now losing business because no one is seeing listings - they want to stay in Wise and I'm dead center in Wise. I've written several messages about this to Airbnb and they do not answer. Fine way to treat Super Hosts. They could at least offer a search option with location as priority. I've had people stay with me because it was the first one to show up then when they arrive, they say they wish they knew about my room with Spa tub and steam room because they would have booked it but it doesn't show up for miles down property listings. It makes no sense and Airbnb needs to really fix location because it's very important to  most people. I tell them to go on Vrbo, search Wise, VA without dates and my listings show up almost immediately. There are only a few. I'm so frustrated that people will see listings in KY and TN before mine show up. ugh.

[Michelle4370]

Did you ever get a proper answer?

I am having the same problem.

Suddenly my property doesn't show in a query for the local area there there are half a dozen properties. The results provide lots of properties over 50 kilometres away instead.

Only by zooming in on the map can I get my property in the list . . . and then it is a top result like it used to be.

Airbnb has given me the run around with conflicting excuses and incorrect responses but no action to fix their algorithm. It seems there is nothing I can do but depend upon other websites to promote my property?