What happened to the unique notification sound of Airbnb?

[Ben5101]

Hi folks 👋

The topic here is the new notification sound effect that occurs when a guest writes or when a new booking is triggered.

I'm not sure if this changed due to an iOS update or an Airbnb app update. However, what I've noticed is that the distinctive and attention-grabbing notification sound of Airbnb is no longer present (link to unique Airbnb notification sound effect: https://prodigits.co.uk/content/ringtones/tone/2020/alert/airbnb_bb906f114930880.mp3).
I'm feeling a bit desperate now because I'm constantly missing messages, and I can't respond as quickly as I used to. The new notification sound is hardly noticeable and audible; it's so generic and simplistic, and it sounds the same as all my other apps. 😞

I've tried to resolve this issue, but it seems that Airbnb's app is missing a feature – the ability to add a custom sound effect. I'll attach screenshots: on left, for example, "Reminders," and on right from Airbnb.
In "Reminders," I can change the sound to whatever I prefer, so I can easily identify it as a Reminder and perhaps ignore it for the time being. However, Airbnb's app doesn't offer this option; I can't customize it. Therefore, I have no idea which app the notification sound belongs to. 🤷

Reminders app on the left side; Airbnb's app on the right side:
Left: Reminders; Right: Airbnb
 
⚠️With this new notification sound effect, I encounter three issues:

1. I have to continually check every notification sound to determine if it's from Airbnb or not.
2. My response rate decreases, leading to less satisfied guests.
3. And this situation is incredibly stressful for me, resulting in a poor user experience.

⁉️ Now I'm hopeful that someone else may be experiencing the same issue and perhaps can offer a suitable solution.

Alternatively, perhaps Airbnb, being a forward-thinking company, can introduce a simple feature to allow users to add a custom sound effect. This way, everyone can select their unique sound effect to ensure the best user experience and a high level of guest satisfaction. 🤞


regards, Ben 👋 

[Trude0]

Hi @Paula,

It’s been a few weeks, hosts are increasingly frustrated and missing messages from guests and Airbnb.

Any update from this ”Product team” yet? Are they adding the special ”Airbnb sound” - that we know and miss - back to the app?

- If yes, when?

- If no, why not? 

Great if you could keep us updated on any progress here. 

Sadly, the very complicated ”Garage band workaround” does not work for Swedish hosts. For the workaround to work, you link the sound to text messages from a specific number (an Airbnb number). But for Swedish hosts, every text message related to Airbnb comes from a NEW number, never the same as the last one, so we cannot make Airbnb a recognizable Contact to attach the specific sound to. I’m sure it will be the same in many other countries, even if I learned from an American host that in the US, Airbnb text messages come from ONE number, so they CAN (with a lot of work) attach the sound to Airbnb text messages. 

We need the sound back in the app, the way it used to be. Surely this cannot be very hard to fix?

Thanks! 

/Trude

[Ben5101]

Hi @Trude0 

Completely agree with you. Please provide your complaint directly to Airbnb using this link. This is the only way how they will tackle this issue. 

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/feedback?locale=en&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1700421572_ZWRjZWQ5NWU1MDI1

Thanks! 🙏

[Trude0]

Hi @Paula, 

no news from the ”Product team” yet? 

/Trude

[Carolyn713]

Thank you Ben for looking into this.  It's so useful to read I'm not the only host out there with this problem.  I've developed a twitch of constantly checking my phone for a booking, the fear of missing one is so great.  When I complained, it was completely misunderstood.  I would like to share the correspondence.

'Please bring back the old notification sound. The new one is too quiet. I've read lots of complaints about this on Airbnb forums..... I'm going to loose guests because can't hear the alert, therefore so are you.'

**

Thanks for getting back to me, although I am disappointed with the substance of your response.
Firstly, thanks for mansplaining how to use an iPhone for me. (Mansplaining : where a man certain of his very great knowledge, tells the little lady how to do stuff). I know how to operate an iPhone and the difference between loud, quiet and mute settings.
Back to the primary issue here, Air BnB has changed the booking alert tone from one which worked well, and was audible in a variety of environments, to a sound that can easily be missed in any. This is not an iPhone or Android issue. It is Air BnB app developers, changing the tone. So again I ask, please can you change the booking alert tone back to what we had before, or at least make it possible for us to modify the stock tone to one of our own choosing.
I’ll be posting this communication to the Air BnB community forum for comment, and the feedback link.
Sincerely 
Carolyn Findlay

 **[Private conversation removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

[Nathalie1722]

Je suis tout à fait en accord avec vous Carolyn.

Ils nous prennent pour des demeurés chez Airbnb à chaque que l'on expose le problème, on nous répond que cela vient des réglages de notre téléphone.

C'est effarant de constater qu'ils ne font rien alors que nous sommes énormément à témoigner qu'il y a un problème qui provient de leur mise à jour et non de nos téléphones.

Nous sommes complètement impuissant, courage

[Ben5101]

Hi @Nathalie1722 

We agree with you. Please provide feedback or complaint to Airbnb using this link. This is the only way how they will fix this issue.

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/feedback?locale=en&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1700421572_ZWRjZWQ5NWU1MDI1

Thanks! 🙏

[Nathan146]

For awhile I thought it was just me! But, the new notification (or lack of) tone is not distinctive and very difficult to hear. Please bring back the old tone. It was distinctive and got our attention.

[Joan3388]

I have exactly the same problem!!! I contacted Airbnb support team but so far no response and action, kind of frustrated and disappointed 

[Joan3388]

It’s definitely a big bug they made in their update software hope someone can work on this, I used to be a application engineer in tech field, I want to ask, how “difficult “ is that to put back the old sound:-(

[Ben5101]

Iam not a developer, but I work closely with them. I design apps and other digital products. The implementation of this feature should be very easy and uncomplicated.

[Jim1464]

I am encountering the same thing.  I have asked how to change it and all they say is “this is how you change your notification settings”.  I know how to turn them on and off.  I want the old chime sound back.  Same problem with it being unique to differ from my text messages and email and other apps, and me missing messages and responding later because I can’t hear it as well as the old chime…