Bookings

[Ana1136]

Out of my last 10 booking inquiries, exactly 8 of them asked me for my info or have given me their info so that they can book outside of Airbnb so that they can avoid the fee. I have told them repeatedly that they can book on Airbnb if they want to and most of them do, but some book and they get mad. One told me he was waiting to see if my apartment was worth the money. I will get bad review for sure. Do you all find that the number of there guests keeps increasing and how do we avoid bad reviews because we denied them booking outside of Airbnb? 

[Qier-and-Philippe0]

@Ana1136 

Some hosts just report those guests who want to book outside of Airbnb and block them from booking.

[Ana1136]

@Qier-and-Philippe0 good to know but if I block all of them, with the number of them that want to book outside of Airbnb, I wouldn't have any guests left 🙂 This seems to be a trend now, and they are from different states, it is not like it's common in only one place. 

[Emilia42]

@Ana1136, I recently had a inquiry and this message appeared. The message wasn't a cause for concern but for some reason the Airbnb robots picked it up to be. It is the first time I have ever seen this.

[Ana1136 · Accepted solution]

@Emilia42 I have never seen this also. But good to know that declining will be exempt from the acceptance rate. On the messages my guests send me Airbnb just blocks their info, I have never received something like this. 

[Stephanie]

@Emilia42 ... different Stephanie...

Thanks for vigilantely flagging these instances everyone!

[Alon1]

@Emilia42 

I've received this from time to time, most recently in the past couple of weeks, shortly after you posted this photo-shot.

It didn't make sense to receive it because the Guest sent a perfectly normal Enquiry,  with no suggestion of impropriety, totally innocuous. I just clicked right 'Respond to Enquiry', and the booking was confirmed shortly afterwards.

The previous times also there was no tangible reason for receiving this message.

Consequently, I'm left with the impression that it's just random robotics sent from time to time.

[Emilia42]

@Alon1, I too, have gotten this message at all the wrong times and not when I really needed it. Just another example of how the Airbnb algorithm doesn't quite get it.

[Qier-and-Philippe0]

@Ana1136 

It's weird. I've never got this kind of guests.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Ana1136 

I have to admit I get such inquiries very very rarely.

I think this warning from Airbnb is due to a recent epidemic of frauds (although usually, the guests are those who are at risk when they book outside Airbnb )

[Alon1]

@Emilia42 @Ana1136 

It would be equally useful if they applied this robotics to 3rd Party Booking Reservation Requests.

[I only refer to non IB. I don't know how it operates for IB]

When I wish to Decline my initial reply is to ask Guest to Cancel their RR.

  Most oblige, but those that do not create a headache. They disappear (i.e. no longer respond) and leave me to clear up the mess.

I've called CS a few times, and they assure that Decline Explanation to Airbnb will be noted and won't affect the Acceptance Rate. I've replied that I've noticed to the contrary.

I've suggested repeatedly that it would be best that 3rd PB Rule is stipulated in the main part of the Reservation Request for Guests & Accept/Decline for Hosts.

  Airbnb don't seem interested to apply this mechanism because they prefer to keep 3rd PB in a gray area. They know it happens a lot, and it's a money spinner. So they let Hosts make the decision with its consequences.

[Martin681]

I have a separate point.

I keep my calendar up to date but have just had an enquiry booking two people into two rooms when the calendar clearly shows there is only a single room left.  I feel declining the booking reflects badly and wonder what is the point of an availability calendar if Airbnb take no notice of it.