Host has lockbox on different block than flat?!??

[Kenneth12]

Howdy all,

Odd sort of question here-- host has a lockbox,  but lockbox is located a notable distance from the property.   It's not a huge deal, but was not revealed in advance.   (There are other problems with the host;  they appear to be using some kind of service called Airsorted that merely spits out canned responses and information,  via the email relay,  just to start).

I'm inclined to leave the keys on the table in the morning given that I don't need an extra ten minute walk WITH LUGGAGE to a third location in the morning,  and let them sort it out.  Anyone think that unreasonable or have a comment?

Thanks,  Ken

[Lawrene0]

When there are odd things that need doing with a stay, @Kenneth12 , I usually just shrug and do them, because the oddities seem to go with the cheaper places. Walk 10 minutes, save $X. 

But if, right now, you are finding all this - the canned communication and the added key-return time - too much, and there is no nice tradeoff in price or location, maybe just cancel and find a more suitable place. 

I would always rather a guest does that. As soon as they realize they will have to pack out their own garbage, for instance, I would rather a cancellation than them just leaving it for me to sort out. That said, I'm up front in the listing description about the packing-out. Your host should have the approx distance to the key disclosed as well. 

Hope it turns out okay. 

[Kenneth12]

It's a 2BR in Kensington at $225US/night,  hardly a savings.   Rules should be disclosed in advance,  period,  or they're not rules.    Host has not replied to various concerns,  just auto-replies.
Are you people really hosts?   You don't seem to get how this works,  and the forum you're posting on his for help,  in this case for a guest.   You're not being helpful.

[Helen3]

Hello @Kenneth12 

As an experienced superhost yourself,  you will know that of course it is not a reasonable suggestion to leave the keys on the table rather than in the lock box as the host asked.

Likely the cleaners or others use keys in the lock box and you would be locking them out of the property.

You are right that if the lock box is a ten minute walk away the host should have mentioned it.

You will also know that if there were problems with the listing you could have contacted Airbnb within 24 hours of arrival to resolve them or have them help you find somewhere else.

[Kenneth12]

There's a second set of keys in the lockbox.  Otherwise,  if they haven't provided the cleaners etc with keys,  not my problem,  really.

[Kenneth12]

Otherwise,  @Helen3 ,   as above,  I don't know why you post here when so often your intent appears to be to assert rules that aren't rules,  policies that aren't enforced,  not be helpful to guests who post here,  and always take the hosts' side however unreasonable.

It's perfectly reasonable for me to tell the host to go bugger off about anything that wasn't revealed in the listing,  and no,  I don't have to report every little problem to ABB within 24 hours.  That's silly to think.

[Helen3]

I think many others on this forum will disagree with your analysis of my contributions @Kenneth12 

I have to say unfortunately I am not suprised by the rude responses you have given, having read some of your other responses here on these forums and some of your guest reviews.

Why post on here and ask for advice and then be so dismissive, when you have clearly already made up your mind about what you are going to do? And why only tell half the story - why not say you have already asked the host and they haven't responded and that there are already another set of keys in the lock box.

It is quite frankly ridiculous to say I always take a hosts side. Guests post here much more rarely than hosts and if I am responding to a guest, I would respond in the same way I do to a host, I respond based on the information they provide.

So for example recently a host posted (on another forum) about the fact his girlfriend had evicted four/five guests as he said they had exceeded guest numbers and brought in animals, I supported the guests when it turned out that the girlfriend had been racially abusive to these guests.

[Mark116]

@Kenneth12   Why don't you ask the host if they would mind if you left the keys in the apartment, you can explain that it's inconvenient due to having your bags w/you and see what they say?

[Kenneth12]

I already have.  That and every specific question including a request to fix the shower have been ignored.

[Mark116]

@Kenneth12   That's unfortunate, how long has it been since you reported a problem w/the shower? 

The host may be relying on airsorted and it seems like they are not doing a very good job.  If no one has responded to you by the time you leave, I'd leave the keys in the apartment, especially if you know there is another set, and not worry about it.