Seeking Hosts experience with guest registration-process experience

[Patricia1375]

I am hoping Hosts will share their experiences with me regarding their guest registration-process.  I live in, and also host one Airbnb.  I also travel with my work extensively, and have been staying at Airbnb's for over 11 years with 99.9% positive experiences.  That said, this is the first time I have had this happen to me personally. 

I will be on the road working, for 2 months in southeast U.S., and am making reservations generally for 3 nights stays.  I travel with my dog, and am always making sure the host accepts a dog, and knows from me in writing that I am bringing my dog.  I made a reservation in Florida with an advertised "dog friendly" host, and my reservation detailed that I was bringing my dog.  It was for a 3 night stay.  Host did not have instant booking.  The cottage (efficiency) was listed at $73.00/night.  Several hours after I received a "Special Offer" informing me that I could confirm the reservation however the price was $129.00/night, plus an increase of double what the pet fee was listed for.  

I responded very politely that I would love to stay in his Casita, but at the rate posted, and not the "Special Offer".  Long story short, he made it clear he was increasing  nightly stays for me personally, because what he preferred was someone to stay for 2 - 3 weeks at a time, and not my 3-day stay.  No where in his listing does he state he prefers long term stays.  My question is:  Are some of our community of  hosts, changing our rates depending upon who makes a reservation?  Can we do that?  It seems to me that by  raising rates to discourage a pending guest, we are basically profiling our guests to guarantee they meet our personal preferences.  

I would be grateful for any thoughts you might be willing to share.

[Ann72]

@Patricia1375  I didn't think a host could send a Special Offer after accepting a booking, but I couldn't find anything about it in a quick search through the terms of service.  Was it in fact a special offer or just a booking modification?  If the latter, there's this paragraph:  "7.2 Booking Modifications. Hosts and Guests are responsible for any Booking Modifications they agree to make via the Airbnb Platform or direct Airbnb customer service to make on their behalf, and agree to pay any additional amounts, fees or taxes associated with a Booking Modification."

Vague, right?

Anyway, I think it's 100% wrong to do what that host did, and I'm glad you turned down his so-called special offer.

[Patricia1375]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.  As I mentioned in my original post, the host did not have instant booking.  My request to book was received by the host, and he responded several hours later with a "special offer".  In my opinion, that is false advertising, or as the saying goes:  A Bait and Switch.  My guess is that's why he doesn't have instant booking.  This apparently allows him to tease people with a great price, and then raise it to deter guests he doesn't want to host.  Hence, that feels a bit like profiling.  But thank you again for sharing your thoughts.

[Pat271]

I think it is despicable what the host did, and at a minimum you should phone Airbnb and report this host. Certainly, it must be against Airbnb policy to bait-and-switch you in this manner, and singling you out is discrimination. All monetary details of a listing for all potential guests should be described in the listing. If the host charges more for short stays, and if the pet fee has increased, he/she needs to specify that in the listing.

[Patricia1375]

Thank you Pat for sharing your thoughts. 

I took your advice and called Airbnb.  My experience over the years with Airbnb Support is not the best.  The person who takes your call refers you up the chain to other "Ambassadors" (as they call themselves) to mediate between host and guests.  I didn't ask for mediation, I simply asked to go on record that the host was jacking up his price dependent upon the length of stay.   My point being if they can change prices from what their listing advertises as the daily rate, then they can also discourage pending reservations for other discriminatory reasons. 

I had already made other arrangements with another host whose site was much more transparent.  I simply chose to literally call Airbnb Support to notify them of the one host's method of doing business.  Several calls initiated by Airbnb Ambassador's later, have learned it's completely acceptable for hosts to change up prices, rules, lengths of stay, etc. dependent upon individual reservations made by guests prior to a reservation being accepted by the host.  According to Airbnb Ambassadors it is up to the host to determine what and who they want for each reservation as long as they don't have instant booking. 

This fly's in the face of how "Welcoming" I have always perceived Airbnb to be.  I have a four day minimum stay requirement on my Airbnb listing, and other than that, I welcome everyone. 

Thank you to this community for sharing your thoughts. 

[Helen3]

I would report this host to airbnb .

If he didn't want short term bookings he shouldn't have them opened them  on his calendar .

he is not allowed to ask for increased pricing post booking @Patricia1375 

Call Airbnb 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Patricia1375 Either the host  doesn't know how to set the listing up properly or is being naughty by effectively turning down short stay guests. I don't think they can do much profiling as very little is disclosed to them prior to a booking being made.