AIRBNBs illogical thinking gives FLIPKEY 2 major advantages !!!

[Gregory11]

I am a Super Host for 2 Airbnb Properties.

Airbnb has failed to be logical by going backwards and getting worst NOT better by :-

1. not supply all hosts with a list of the guest Review questions and actively inviting constructive objective feedback to their proposed changes - but rather just do the changes and not listening. Not listening and doing something to correct the problems about Hosts complaints.  Just having a Host Chat Room for them to vent their frustration but act never respond or act like anyone from Airbnb management ever takes any notice is poor service.

2. checkout and copy Flipkey how their guest review system works and why its simpler and less problematic for guests and hosts.

  whats the point changing some thing for the worst ???

3. for not having in place a system to supply a copy of the reason for the changes OR for Hosts to be able to view the changes. After speaking to 3 of Airbnbs Supervisors - no one can say what the thinking actually was and why it was done - this creates ill feeling with hosts and loss of business to Flipkey due to the frustration.

How about a new Hosts section called "REASON FOR PROPOSED and RECENT CHANGES" with "we listen and invite your feedback !"

5. NEVER responding to direct FEEDBACK to emails sent to Airbnb about "how we could be better " as invited in their "complaints" section.

6. for not using the correct the web site designers and having them and management NOT accountable for pissing off lots of Hosts.

7. for making me and hundreds of Hosts write obvious stuff a Billion dollar company should already know !!!!!!

8. for REMOVING their PROPERTY TYPE guest search option - now all property types apartments /condos - houses/villa - and eveything else like caves/ boats/ campervans ect are all in together to fustrate potential guests searching for just 1 particular Property Type.  - why the stupid change Airbnb  ? - again no one knows why !   Flipkey still has this logical PROPERTY TYPE option to help guests searching for accommodation.

Logical thinking from Airbnb is now optional - as they try to be everything to everyone - as they loose the original overview concept of being " a simple cool and fun experience " !!!

[Scott80]

Since you think FlipKey is a better product, why don't you host there exclusively? 

[Gregory11]

Hi - [inappropriate content hidden]

I was rather optimistically hoping that something might change for the better - you know - like someone in managerment might see it actullay do something  ....... !!!! ????

Yes I am curently listed with both Airbnb and Flipkey - both have advantages and disavantages - I wonder if their web designers are actully smart enough to check out the competition and copy the good idears from each other ???  But hey -  maybe not .....

[Marit-Anne0]

@Gregory11

This is just a host discussion forum where we help each other and has nothing to do with airbnb management.  List on the sites that brings in the bacon.

[Andrea9]

@Gregory11 hi,

I need more bacon now that the IB has become more and more detrimental to non-users' visibility, so am putting out feelers for sites that do not use IB. I perused the site and am thinking of setting up shop there too.

Since you're experienced with them and their services, I hope it's okay to ask you

what you see as their major drawback or problem?

Any financial beefs - payment route too long, etc?

Am I correct in understanding that every guest booking request has to be accepted/declined (as in no IB)?

I looked at a number of room listings and noticed there were no house rules or just a couple of things like not bringing drugs into the house, to be quiet and respectful of neighbors, ID check. But House Rules are more than that - is there at any point, like when or before accepting a request that these are addressed to be accepted by guests?

Any warnings, tips you'd like to share  will be eagerly valued!

Thanks!

[Gregory11]

Airbnb like Flipkey both have and bad points !

I am a Super Host for 2 Airbnb Properties.

Airbnb has failed to be logical by going backwards and getting worst NOT better by :-

1. not supply all hosts with a list of the guest Review questions and actively inviting constructive objective feedback to their proposed changes - but rather just do the changes and not listening. Not listening and doing something to correct the problems about Hosts complaints.  Just having a Host Chat Room for them to vent their frustration but act never respond or act like anyone from Airbnb management ever takes any notice is poor service.

2. checkout and copy Flipkey how their guest review system works and why its simpler and less problematic for guests and hosts.

  whats the point changing some thing for the worst ???

3. for not having in place a system to supply a copy of the reason for the changes OR for Hosts to be able to view the changes. After speaking to 3 of Airbnbs Supervisors - no one can say what the thinking actually was and why it was done - this creates ill feeling with hosts and loss of business to Flipkey due to the frustration.

How about a new Hosts section called "REASON FOR PROPOSED and RECENT CHANGES" with "we listen and invite your feedback !"

5. NEVER responding to direct FEEDBACK to emails sent to Airbnb about "how we could be better " as invited in their "complaints" section.

6. for not using the correct the web site designers and having them and management NOT accountable for pissing off lots of Hosts.

7. for making me and hundreds of Hosts write obvious stuff a Billion dollar company should already know !!!!!!

8. for REMOVING their PROPERTY TYPE guest search option - now all property types apartments /condos - houses/villa - and eveything else like caves/ boats/ campervans ect are all in together to fustrate potential guests searching for just 1 particular Property Type.  - why the stupid change Airbnb  ? - again no one knows why !   Flipkey still has this logical PROPERTY TYPE option to help guests searching for accommodation.

Logical thinking from Airbnb is now optional - as they try to be everything to everyone - as they loose the original overview concept of being " a simple cool and fun experience " !!!

[Lizzie]

Hello @Gregory11,

Nice to meet you, my name is Lizzie and I am the Community Manager here. Thanks for starting this thread, as others have said the purpose of the Community Center (CC) is for host to host conversation. As you explore more here, you will see that there is a huge amount of tips, advise and knowledge that we share between us and that we are respectful to one another.

I am not sure if you know about this tool, but you might like to take at Host Voice which is for idea suggestions, the most 'popular' suggestions as shown by the community, will be put before the Product Team. 

I would also suggest starting a new topic on some of the points you have raised above and then you can start a focused discussion on that point, perhaps discussing exactly what you would like to see, any ideas of how you think this could work and generally make it into a more collective effort from the community, this way it will portray a wider community opinion, in a constructive way. I am sure you would like to hear other host's views on this as well. 🙂

If you need any pointers on this, please do let me know. 

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Gregory11]

Hi Lizzie - Wow a real Community Manager ! - thankyou for your diplomatic reply.

And thankyou for your suggestion - Yes I sent  in a copy of my suggestions to the  Host Voice to again the state the obvious which seems to have exscaped Airbnbs Product Team.

As a respectful suggestion to you from me -  your time could be best spent on behalf of Airbnb and all Hosts cherry picking the best and the most obvious ideas in the Host Community topics and just sended the bone heads the Product Team who caused the problems in the first place - and if they do not acknowledge logic to AirBNB Managerment attention.

Your actions would help us all save time effort and fustration to try any get the Airbnb Product Team to see logic and reason. And to hopefully simplify guests REVIEW process of their stays and recent stupid changes to potiental guests RENTAL TYPES options -  which be in the best interest of everyone except the competion like TripAdvisor/ Flipkey ect 🙂  

.

Lizzie - thankyou in advance for doing a great job on behalf of all the fustrated Hosts.

Who knows you may get a promotion to the Department of Logical Thinking in Airbnb.

With love hope and optimism - Gregory  - Super Host 🙂

[Lizzie]

Thanks for your lovely reply @Gregory11 and for your suggestions! 🙂

I wish you well with these and I hope we can discuss these points further. 

Lizzie

[Gregory11]

Dear Product Team - I am a Super Host with 2 listings on BOTH Airbnb and TRIPADVISOR/FLIP so I notice the differences between the websites.

Question does the Airbnb Product Team ever vist TRIPADVISOR/FLIPKEY website to compare Products ??

IDEA - Most people love time saving options - like FLIPKEYS RENTAL TYPE option section for potiental  guests rather than Airbnb selection options.

All potiental Guests know what they want regardless of their expectations of under the headings properties are offered in to them ! 

Its just a matter of how long and how fustrating the process is in comparison to being - simple  easy  and fun !!!

The other main point is that because of the recent changes to Airbnb RENTAL TYPE options - potiental Guests looking for a Villa/House must now in look a general heading that contain Apartments/Condos.

It WAS  2 different lists called Villas/Houses  ---  OR------ Apartment/Condos !

Yes RENTAL TYPE  definitions and expectations by guests can vary from location and country to country - however the more RENTAL TYPE options there are the better.  And more options give guests options to narrow down the endless number of listings in general.

Potiental guest searching proity are usually :-

1. location

2. dates 

3. budget

4. number of beds and bathrroms to suit number of guests

5. RENTAL TYPE

6. facilities ie pool location aircon ect

7. languages spoken , Super Hosts ect

...................................................................................................

TRIPADVISOR / FLIP KEY RENTAL TYPE selection is :-

• Any

• Private room
• House
• Apt. / Condo
• Villa
• Resort
• B&B
• Yacht
• Cottage
• Houseboat
• Studio

 AIRBNB RENTAL TYPE section is :-

• Entire Home

  Have a place to yourself

  Private Room
  Have your own room and share some common spaces

   

  Shared Room

  Stay in a shared space, like a common room

  .........................................................................................................................................

  Airbnb have just added in the last couple of days  - the option HOUSE  BUT with all the Apartments/ Condos  STILL all added in together WHY ?????

  Please just copy TRIPADVISOR/FLIPKEYs  RENTAL TYPES option list for potiental guests searching for a property - so Airnbs website is more simple , easy and fun to use !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Remember Airbnb startup mantra was - make it easy simple cool and fun to use ! 🙂  Thankyou for remembering !!!

[Peggy39]

I think programing folks (they get paid to write code) sometimes do things that make things worse...not better.  Home Away is a GREAT EXAMPLE of that.  It must be part of the industry.

[Gregory11]

Hi Lizzie - maybe you can help - as I cannot actully see OR find a copy of the actual questions asked by Airbnb Guests when they do their Review  wuld be able to either send me a copy OR point me in the right direction so I can find it ! Again its not anreasonable question for Host to see the actual questions their Guests are being asked that a lot of the current EXTRENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS is now causing !! thankyou for understanding - Gregory