@Clara116
Yeah I maybe should have thought of that Clara.
I am active on a few sites....'Quora' being one of them, and because I am an active contributor as far as Airbnb is concerned I received an answer request ......What's something that sucks about being a Airbnb host? I guess you can say I am one of about half a dozen Airbnb aficianodos that answers questions which relate to Airbnb. I have given dozens of really positive responses over the past year or so, but when this question came to me, I thought about it for a while and then posted the following!
"Having to put up with the Airbnb review system!
The biggest source of conflict between hosts and guests is the Airbnb review system…
it is two faced!
Guests are advised in the review guidelines………
3 stars of a hosts listing means the stay matched their expectation! 4 stars means it exceeded expectation! 5 stars means it could not be faulted and far exceeded expectations.
Hosts are told in the review guidelines……
5 stars is the default star rating, and a guests review rating of anything less than 5 stars means there is an issue that needs to be addressed…….something needs to be improved!
A host can actually have his profile and listing suspended or removed for doing nothing wrong, having a succession of happy guests but simply accumulating too many less than 5 star review ratings! Many guests will say, they never give 5 stars…..5 stars is that ultimate that does not exist. Many guests will give a host less than 5 stars because the property was not where they wanted it. They booked it and then complained where it was, and the host suffered!
This anomaly breeds a strange culture between guests and hosts! We all live in this fantasy wonderland where we pat each other on the back and say what exemplary human beings we are in order not to have the wheels fall off the hosting wagon. The review system does not actually reflect the reality of either the guests or the hosts experience! Many hosts are virtually forced into a situation where they almost have to beg for a good review in order to stay in business. Many guests will use the review as a form of extortion in order to gain some sort of advantage. Some will go so far as to say they require some sort of refund in order to give a good review.
It’s a rotten review system but, unfortunately one we have to work with and despite years of complaint, Airbnb are not going to change it. The thing they consider is the jewel in their crown is actually doing them more harm than anything else….but you can’t tell them that!"
That Clara is what I posted and ....I feel it is something that we all relate to, because all we want to do is make things as good as possible...and the review system is holding us back!
It sure would be a lovely christmas present from Airbnb if they catergorised both 4 and 5 star ratings as the ultimate pass...a 4 would be regarded the same as a 5 in our stats....
After all, in the guests eyes, it did, exceed expectations!
Cheers.....Rob