Thank you, Catherine, for bringing this conversation back to the original issue!
Anyone: Just HOW can the Airbnb host see what is actually being charged to the guest, and so be able to see what amount/% service fee Airbnb is adding to guest charges?
I have been hosting on Airbnb for 2 years and have maintained SuperHost status from the time of my first eligibility. Only last month did I become aware of the large Airbnb service fee being charged to my guests! (This awareness occurred during conversation with an inquiring, prospective guest, who wanted to negotiate the price total because of how much higher they were going to be charged due to an $85 Airbnb service charge! I was able to secure the booking only by waiving my cleaning fee. So Airbnb got more, and I took less.) And since late in 2017 I have noticed almost constant pressure from Airbnb messaging to get me to lower my nightly rates, offer 10% discounts, etc.
So I agree with most everyone in this thread on these facts:
1. With increasing frequency, Airbnb has been trying to coerce hosts to lower their rates. In my view that only serves to benefit Airbnb corporate in their quest to collect higher fees on the back of hosts' declining revenue.
2. Airbnb should be transparent with the host about the amount of service fees they are collecting on each guest! Airbnb should post the guest invoice for hosts to see on the host site.
3. Airbnb should provide hosts with information on exactly how the guest service fees are calculated.
Finally, I suspect that "David in Como, CO," is indeed a reputation manager for Airbnb! 🙂