Host says booking it not available and I should cancel it, but she has it listed again at a higher price.

[Cedric192]

Hi, I sent a reservation to this host yesterday, but she answered me that it is not available. She tells me it is better if I cancel it, which made me think: why does she not simply decline it?

So I went and looked again,

and sure enough, she listed it again, but maybe 20% more expensive than I got it. This feels like dishonest practice. I have not found a way to complain (I think I can't evaluate a host unless I have stayed there), so any help on how I can raise this complaint would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

[Emilia42]

@Helen3 The host isn't asking him to cancel. She is asking him to withdraw his request. Likely because she does not want her Acceptance rate to drop. I imagine it to be on the lower side already. I don't see anything wrong with this. Many experienced members here suggest that hosts ask guests to withdraw rather than sacrifice percentage points.

This host has 173 listings and her profile specifically says that her properties have "changing availability" ... a.k.a Calendar is not accurate. Both you and I probably would never book with a host like this. There is obviously a lot more that isn't up to date rather than just her prices.

[Helen3]

HI @Emilia42 

Thanks for clarifying. I was going by @Cedric192  comment in his initial post saying the host wanted him to cancel (hence assuming it was a booking initially rather than a request).

@Cedric192  @Emilia42  is correct I would definitely been put off from booking - as they appear to be a large scale property management company who obviously doesn't keep their calendar or pricing up to date. 

[Cedric192]

Thanks Helen for all your answers. Seems she has several listing for the same property, one of which at least is active with a higher price... My surprise is that Airbnb lets this happen. It is misleading at best.

[Debra300]

@Cedric192,

A host may list different configurations for the same space.  For example, I have two bedroom apartments that can also be rented as one bedrooms.  The proper way to list them on Airbnb is to link the calendars for the two configurations so the non-reserved listing is automatically blocked.  Multiple listings are also allowed if a host is renting several of the same type of space at the same location.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Cedric192 If the host has 170+ properties they are probably one to avoid as its impossible for them to care about all of them. I suggest you look for a host with a reasonable number of listings. You may have inadvertently dodged a bullet here.

[Cedric192]

I probably did... the problem is that the other options that were available when I chose this one no longer are... so she made me miss them. That is annoying and first time it happens to me on airbnb... disappointing.