information in [] is written in range to protect privacy.
So this nightmare starts when the emergency came up and I suddenly had to find a place to stay and commute to Manhattan NY for 2 weeks. I kept clicking on "similar places" suggestions and had like 10 tabs open. I then made the very unusual mistake of instant booking a place with strict cancellation policy thinking I was sending an inquiry.
My message clearly suggests I thought his place was right by [X]-train station, while the truth is it's almost [15-20]-minute walk through nothingness. I immediately called the customer center and they said they can offer refund only if the host agrees. In the meantime he responds, "thank you".
I then explained him how I made a reservation by mistake and politely asked for refund, and he again sends me a one-line response "I am by the [X] train", as if he knows (without me telling him anything) that I was misinformed.
I asked "How far from the L train, and how far from [my workplace]?" and he said "My house is not far" refusing to give me the exact distance. He added "I am [6-6.5] miles from Manhattan", which bends my question entirely because [my workplace] is in fact more than [8.5-9] miles away.
He again added "The bottom of Manhattan is very narrow", which is first of all irrelevant, as [my workplace] is located at the point that Manhattan just starts getting narrow. The width is at best .2 miles different.
I repeatedly asked "How far is the [X]-train? Again I won't come home until after sunset most of the time." and he said "It is good", again not answering my question.
He added, "My neighborhood it is safer than all those neighborhoods before on the [X] train", which is an obvious lie because I know that generally the closer you get to Manhattan the richer than safer the neighborhood gets.
I was very honest about the fact that it was up to him if he wants to let me cancel for free, and he did have right to refuse it. But I am very disappointed at the way he tried to decieve me while not answering any of my questions. How does someone like this get to be "superhost'? I am somewhat familiar enough with the area to call out his lies but if he does this to someone less familar with the area, how would they even know? What if I took his words for it, decide to live there, walking on the not-so-safe area thinking it's safe?
I am worried if airbnb doesn't take strong actions against this type of behavior, airbnb will soon turn into a community of sociopathic hosts who would not hestitate to decieve potential guests for their profit.
