Airbnb vs Canada Stays

[John2988]

I have used 2 sites for booking our Cottage, Airbnb and Canada Stay (VRBO). For 2019 I had a flat Rate with Canada Stays and 3% booking fee was waived for instant book. For 2019 they are charging 8% with no discount for instant book and they are still charging our customers a booking fee. Airbnb has become my new favourite and only booking site for my cottage. Don’t make the same mistake Airbnb.

[Sarah977]

@John2988  And are you aware that Airbnb charges guests booking fees up to 25%? I've read several posts on these forums from guests who say that Airbnb's booking fees have gotten so high, they might as well just book a hotel room, and will do so in the future.

[John2988]

L have never seen or heard that on my bookings. If they are not careful they will 4uin a good thing.

[Chris12084]

I just tried to get a refund from Airbnb who are suppose to have refund policy especially for safety issues. When we got to property it smelled inside of something dead and rotten but they said they tried to negotiate with host and she said no refund. We are out our money and hustling in high season to find a place. Not happy and frustrated with refund policy that protects owner but not us as paying customers 

[Sarah977]

@Chris12084  I'm sorry you arrived to a place that wasn't acceptable and that the host was unwilling or unable to correct what was wrong.

But no, Airbnb refund policy doesn't protect hosts over guests. In fact, more often than not, guests get refunded when there is nothing wrong with the place, the guests have just made up some bogus complaint in order to get a refund. Whether someone gets a refund or not seems to have much more to do with the customer service rep who is handling the case than whether one is a guest or a host. Some reps act like clueless robots and some are knowledgable and helpful. It seems to be the luck of the draw-  and their policies seem to be open to interpretation, rather than clear and consistent.