Getting paid / Decline deposit refund?

[Lisa609]

I had a quest request 3 nights and I ACCEPTED but they didn't ever book. Then they wanted to add another 'weekish' with a gap in the middle due to me already being booked. They asked if they could pay separately or at different times as if i would block out their 2nd portion for them. They asked for a discount and went on about why they wanted to stay and what their life goals were explaining allot about several business (about 6 different ones) ventures they had in mind. This all made me very uncomfortable and they wanted to meet me. The day before the day they wanted to arrive they tried to book again and I declined saying I was overwhelmed with their situation and i felt i wasn't a good fit. This was at 6:00 the night before they wanted to arrive. When i declined she became quite upset and said she couldn't believe i did this to her and her kids that they had nowhere to go. I feel bad but this is my home where i live. Should i have compromised my uneasy feeling to accommodate her ? I feel she wasn't quite stable and that i have this prerogative....feedback please. 

[Luke69]

You absolutely made the right call.  It is incumbent upon potential guests to attempt to put their hosts at ease with them - particularly when it's attached to the hosts' personal residence!  Our Airbnb listing is out of our home as well, and I have a hard & fast rule:  if they give me a bad vibe, it is all over.  There's just no reason to put yourself through that - or the guest, for that matter!  Don't lose any sleep over it.  Someone who is looking to you for housing because of a bad situation is not using the site properly, and putting you in an awful predicament to boot.

[Andrea9]

@Lisa609

With all of the red flags and attempts to suck you into sympathy for their life and budget plans it sounds like a hostage situation, and you just doged it by the skin of your teeth 🙂

It's a certain kind of manipulation.

Personally, I regard myself as a business working on a personal level. If I was a convenience store I wouldn't be in the practice of giving discounts either, unless it was a special of the day or week. This mindset helps me emotionally and mentally to not get pulled into a charitable mindset against my will. Some guests are REALLY practiced and good at pulling the discount card. Why should I cave? - I'm on a budget too with a stack of bills to pay, am also already giving a kid of hidden 'discount' with my somewhat lower price than other hosts in my area, and I would never ask a guest if they'd be willing to pay me more as an upcount to help with my life goals, ha.

[Andrea9]

... And ALWAYS follow your gut! That's what I call the intelligent brain vs our monkey brain 😉

[Kate157]

I agree with the others, follow your instincts. When I am approached for discounts, I always say that I am sorry, but I charge a modest price that I think is fair. I won't change my price just because some stranger would like me to.