Review by committee

[Laura2592]

This is a new one. 

A friend and and several of her "girls group" (as she calls them) went to stay at an ABB over the weekend. I was asking about it as I am always curious about what people really think of their stays especially if its not in my space LOL.  She said a lot of interesting things including that they (5 of them) voted on/discussed what the review would be. So for example, one person really liked the setting of the house they rented and another thought it was too far from something she wanted to do. Another loved the decor and someone else thought the bathrooms needed a remodel. They left a review they all agreed on with star ratings that they (again) all discussed. Her words were "I took the average." Needless to say it wasn't all 5s. The listing itself seemed perfectly nice and had the host was a Superhost. She also gave them a laundry list of feedback and suggestions collected among the members. Some of this was helpful but most of it was specific to their individual tastes.

I told her about the rating system for hosts vs guests and she seemed shocked. She said this is what she always does when she traveled with others. (I made a note to be booked if she and her friends ever inquire about my place.)

I think this probably happens a fair amount, which is another reason I really don't want to open my space to larger groups. For those of you who allow bigger groups. do you notice that your ratings are appreciably different from stays with fewer people?

[Brian2036]

@Laura2592 

Some people just don’t get it and there’s probably no way to educate them.

It might be helpful if Airbnb added a note to their reminders about writing reviews, something like, “Your review is important to us, to other hosts, and future guests. Please be fair, honest, and aware that your overall rating may not only impact the host negatively, it may also reflect poorly on you, the guest.”

For the fatuous jerks who “never give five stars” I think the system could be adjusted to make sure that they never receive five stars. Or even four.

Hosts have the right to know that they will be dealing with someone who has a history of being inconsiderate and vindictive, and if the host decides to risk it perhaps an “a$$hole surcharge” would be in order.

[Pat271]

Just in terms of human nature it makes sense that the more adult minds are present at your property, the more opinions they will have that could influence and/or might be mentioned in a review.

A family with children would generally generate less opinions, but then you have a different set of issues to contend with (food everywhere, fingerprints everywhere, etc.)

In general, I try my best not to jump to conclusions about who is renting my space, but I still find myself doing it, as you can see above. 🙂 

When I really think about the few high-maintenance, critical, or otherwise troublesome guests I have had, they span all “types” of guests - families, couples, 2 couples, younger, older, etc. It is the individual personalities of the guests, their wants and needs, their understanding of the rating system, and how much influence they have in their group that will determine the overall outcome. 

[Gordon0]

This sounds horribly like a British TV series, 'Four in a Bed', where guest house/B&B owners pitch up at their competitors (four different) establishments and vote on them them, normally with a decent portion of cattiness. Please God these types continue to give me a wide berth.  

[Brian2036]

@Gordon0 

Perhaps Airbnb should include some episodes of “Fawlty Towers” in their “How to Host” section.

Basil did have some interesting responses to unreasonable guest complaints.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  While I can understand the reasoning behind it, the booking guest is foolish to do this as if it results in lower ratings than she herself would have given, as she will likely never be accepted at that place again if she wanted to come back.

Thanks for educating her, a favor to her future hosts. I can't imagine why guests don't understand that the ratings they leave for hosts, or any business, really, seriously impact a business. It's like they think they are just sharing their opinion with someone on Facebook, with no repercussions.

[Laura2592]

 It's like they think they are just sharing their opinion with someone on Facebook, with no repercussions.

@Sarah977  that is exactly what these guests thought. Further I don't know if any of them realize that this is a business and not just someone's fun thing to do in their free time. ABB espouses the transformative experience of leasing your space to strangers. I think these guests really believe that their critique would be welcome as they can "live anywhere." Their hyperspecific needs and wants should be taken into account as THEY are the only guests a host needs to appeal to, correct? 

[Jenny349]

For the fatuous jerks who “never give five stars” I think the system could be adjusted to make sure that they never receive five stars. Or even four.

@Brian2036 

Sorry, looks like I can only give you a paltry one 👍for that gem! 😂😂😂

[Anonymous]

@Laura2592  I found myself literally facepalming at someone even considering a home's decor as a factor in their ratings.  But then again, it's no more absurd than the Location and Value ratings - if you don't like the home's decor, prefer a different location, or would rather spend less money, you only have your own bad decisions to blame.

That's great that you explained the ratings issue to your friend, and I hope she relayed that to her crew. Another thing I'd like to say to her is that if you're going to review a home as a committee, I hope everyone on that same committee also chose together which place to book. If that wasn't the case, the committee wasn't actually reviewing the listing - they were just passive-aggressively trashing their friend's taste. Total Mean Girl move.

[Laura2592]

@Anonymous you are spot on with the passive aggressive trashing of taste. The woman who liked the decor was apparently told how the bathrooms needed updates but apparently "she lives in a house that looks similar so I can see why she liked it." Yeouch. 

I will say I do not travel with this group. I like my friend fine, but having peripheral contact with the squad I have decided to limit interaction. I can fully imagine how this whole thing went down and feel sorry for the host. I keep expecting to see a post about it, TBH.

And at least if we were rated on Decor that would be something closer to our locus of control....unlike location. It costs a lot to move a house to a better spot 😋

[Anonymous]

@Laura2592  Your friend sounds like a nice person who tried to put democracy where it doesn't belong. But I feel a bit sorry for her because she has at least one Regina George in her group. I hope the bus comes for that one soon enough.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  Heaven forbid they add a "Decor" category. 

My oldest daughter, when she was a teenager, once asked why we couldn't have white wall-to-wall carpeting and white leaather furniture. 

In a house full of kids and all their friends, right.

I can just imagine guest decor ratings and reviews. Wasn't it you who once had a guest want you to change out the curtains because she didn't like the color?

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 the paint. The sofa. And other things yes.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  I remember a host saying she leaves fresh flowers for her guests, and had refreshed them halfway through a guest's stay. The guest had the gall to contact the host and complain that she doesn't like yellow flowers and preferred the original bouquet.

[Brian2036]

@Sarah977 

Entitlement again.

Some people cannot believe that anyone would ever do anything for them unless they were required to do so.

Probably because that’s their personal policy.