Why can’t guests post videos and photos of their experience and expose hosts

[Stephen-Jean0]

It amazes me that guests cannot post evidence of their stay that exposes the hosts deliberate misrepresentation.

Many guests pay for a home expecting what is described on the posting and ratings…. Only to experience in real-time a lie. We documented our stay through videos and photos but are not allowed to post.  At this point I’m assuming there are a lot of fake bot reviews on listings as a way Airbnb protects their hosts … after 11 yrs as customers we no longer have faith in Airbnb… 

[Helen3]

Hello @Stephen-Jean0 

if you feel a host misrepresented their listing the best way to highlight this is by leaving a honest review . I'm not sure why you chose not to leave this host a review? 

I've been hosting for nine years and have never heard of fake bot review

the only way it's possible to leave a review is by booking  a stay .

[Stephen-Jean0]

@Helen3 We left a review and a reply and spoke to Airbnb support and nothing came about it… we’re frustrated because we’ve always been honest and loyal .. we are considering never booking with Airbnb 

[Helen3]

Apologies you're correct you did leave a review I missed it @Stephen-Jean0 

it's a difficult one both yourself and the host have excellent reviews .

i can see why airbnb don't allow photos or video content in reviews both can be easily altered to misrepresent. 

[Paula]

Hello @Stephen-Jean0,

I’m sorry about this situation. Have you considered leaving an honest review, as Helen suggested?

I also recommend contacting the support team and sharing the evidence you have for further advice.

Regards,

[Stephen-Jean0]

@Paula We left a review and a reply and spoke to Airbnb support and nothing came about it… we’re frustrated because we’ve always been honest and loyal .. we are considering never booking with Airbnb 

[Zheng49]

Are you talking about your stay back in July (Stratford)? I saw the review exchange between you and your host. 

Did you experience issues during your stay? 

Keep in mind, most of us are just regular hosts, and not Airbnb community mangers. We can look at this issue from the point of a view of a host, and see if anything can be improved. 

[Stephen-Jean0]

@Zheng49 We left a review and a reply and spoke to Airbnb support and nothing came about it… we’re frustrated because we’ve always been honest and loyal .. we are considering never booking with Airbnb 

integrity no longer exists with this service and it’s disappointing

[Zheng49]

I feel like it's one of those situations where it's hard to ascertain the absolute truth, when we only have the back and forth between you and the host, and both are almost equally convincing. 

@Stephen-Jean0 

Like what @Helen3 said, I don't think allowing photos or videos as attachments will solve the issue, it will just make it more complicated as they can be easily altered to misrepresent. 

It also just makes it completely one sided in favor of the guest since hosts are not allowed to have any kind of security cameras inside the home. 

By not allowing photos or videos, it actually evens out the playing field, so to speak. 

[Kia272]

@Stephen-Jean0  That's what reviews are for. A factual unemotional review will alert future guests to the problems you encountered during your stay. 

BTW, as a host, I'd have no idea how to get a fake/bot review. Also, AirBnB is VERY guest-centric, and generally sides with guests when there is an issue. 

[Ruth1556]

 I think Airbnb will have a lawsuit sooner than later. They say not including photos and videos protects the safety of the host. When it actually protects Airbnb’s money to allow negligent, unsanitary and unsatisfactory host continue to rent out their properties to not let guest leave transparent reviews like Amazon product reviews. It would weed out negligent, subpar hosts.