Payouts on Host Referrals...

[Ling-and-Chris0]

I am a superhost with a couple hundred positive reviews. I sent a link to a friend who considered becoming a host for referral because we'd get paid a fee for it.  The friend needed encouragement and almost bailed, then I gave him tips on how to set it up, showed him our space for rent, helped him get the city and state tax licenses and answered all of his questions.  This took a significant amount of my time. 

Lo and behold, he did sign up and is now a host.  His first booking came in November and was for a 2 month stay.  I thought we'd get a payout right after the booking showed up, but no.  We had to wait 2 months till the guests checked out.  Today I called again to see if any progress had been made on our payout and got a snitty, condescending, bill-collectoresque customer service rep named Diana who I ended up yelling at.  I insisted on talking to her supervisor and he was less inflamitory, but the message was the same.  There is a 15 business day (not including weekends or holidays) hold on the payout while they review it for authenticity.  Really?!!!  The booking is over!

Airbnb was paid the entire amount in November, the host was paid in December and I won't see this referral fee until probably March!!!  I will never refer another host again.  I have done it 3 times and have never gotten the payout I was supposed to.  Airbnb need to do a much better job marketing and structuring these offers.  They feel like a big rip off to me and I am an Airbnb enthousiast.  After being a host for 4 years, I think signing up new hosts should be part of their marketing plan.  Instead, here I am telling you to skip that referral link.  It is a waste of time and will only cause you stress.

Ling

[Robin4]

@Kimberly730 

Kim, don't get upset by it, just learn from it! As I have said previously, I have been duded by this promotion twice. I recommended my daughter who had an apartment in Bondi  Sydney Australia ....a very desirable location, after she could see the success we were having as Airbnb hosts. I set her up correctly following all the required guidelines, got her on-line and in the first 24 hours she received $3,800 AU in Airbnb bookings.

Guess what, neither of us got a cent!

You have to realise a lot of what happens at Airbnb is 'smoke and mirrors', because it is there in print is not a guarantee it is available to you. 

I have since recommended other property owners in my area to join Airbnb, which they have done. I have not applied for any reward because, I don't want to be let down......I don't want to feel each time I take this company at their word I am going to be screwed over when it comes to company offers....but that is the reality, I will be.

Kim, just skip past that page, don't take the slightest bit of notice of it.....it's simply company promotion, it's designed to make them feel good....and you feel like a sucker.  There is plenty of good bits to concentrate on with the company without getting involved with the sh*tty bits!

Cheers........Rob  

[Ling-and-Chris0]

@Kimberly730

So it took months, but eventually we did get a layout. I believe it's only because I posted this rant. The upshot is that it is not worth it for me to coach anyone to be a host for Airbnb and it makes me mad every time I see that prod after I review a guest. I will never refer another host. In fact, I tell people who ask that it's too difficult now that the city has changed the rules. 

As for marketing... Airbnb, if you are listening, it is obvious that you have exaggerated your willingness to buy recruits. Therefore, I have stopped recruiting. What incentive do I have to add more competition to my listing? None.

Ling