Lots of hesitation and no bookings

[Inna22]

I get a majority of my reservations through IB, no questions asked before booking. I have a pretty detailed description. Those who start asking questions are the type I probably do not want anyway. Lately I get a lot of window shopping.

So glad we found your place! Can we check in late? Our flight gets in really late. Yes, self check in with door code. Nothing after.

Your place seems perfect! Does the fireplace work? We are specifically looking for a place with a fireplace. Yes, it does. Northing after.

Your house is in perfect location! Just want to double check if a dog is allowed. Yes, dogs are welcome. Nothing after.

I pre approve all these people and follow up with me asking if they have any other questions. They do not.

So lots of questions already answered in the listing and no bookings. 

Is anyone else seeing the same pattern?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

As a guest, I always contact the host before instant booking.  I just want to know if the host is responsive, is the calendar updated and I want an answer to my questions (usually about the dogs or parking. It's important because I use the SH coupon and I would lose it in case of cancellation.

As a host, I don't mind answering any questions. I had a couple of guests who had a loooooot of questions before and after booking. I patiently answered all of them, it lasts for days and becomes ridiculous :D, In the end, they both booked and turned out to be great guests, just very cautious and well prepared for their trip.

Most of the inquiries we got, ended up as bookings. 

[Ann72]

@Linda513 You're a bargain-seeker.  You've learned to enjoy a bargain.  I've never understood the time-is-money part of bargain hunting.  Yet you yourself have suffered from it - you've sent inquiries asking for bargains and have been barraged by time-consuming and annoying emails in response.  But that's one of the hidden costs of bargain-hunting.  In the end, once you've finally booked a place, have you really gotten a bargain?

[Linda513]

You misread an earlier message, I believe. The main point of the discourse had to do with people who ask questions when they initially inquire about a property. I mentioned enjoying a discount as an aside. I have not sent inquiries searching for a bargain, what are you talking about? My queries had nothing to do with asking for a discount, for heaven's sake. I already stated now, twice, that I do not go around ASKING for discounts. The barrage of mail was the result of hosts knee-jerk pre-approving my inquiry when I had clearly stated I was not ready to book. This triggers a virtual avalanche of messaging from Airbnb that is relentless.

[Ann72]

@Linda513  First of all it was just a question; second, since I'm not the only person who misunderstood you, consider editing long posts or replies before publishing.

[Linda513]

Thank you. I will do that. I think I just sort of let it all out after several years of reading what I perceive to be mischaracterizations, and to see several in one post just set me off. People are saying that those who ask questions in an inquiry aren't serious about booking; almost every one of my guests asks questions before they book, and almost everyone books.  It seems to me that they want to express their excitement and make sure that something that sort of "looks to good to be true" really is true, somehow. Then the other issue, about pre-approving, from people who've never even used Airbnb as a guest, and don't realize how terrible it is as a guest if you don't book right away!

[Inna22]

@Linda513 why would you send questions before you are ready to book? Some of the hosts you will be bothering will be booked by the time you do decide. And I do call it bothering because in your case there is no real purpose to your question asking.

[Linda513]

I don't call it bothering. I call it establishing a relationship. I call it reassuring them, because most of them do book and we continue the conversation pleasantly as they settle in and learn more about the property. Clearly there are different philosophies in hosting. Why do you think yours is the only way to go? Personally, I like to ask a few questions, myself, so as to make sure my property is not being used as an event center (a common request) or for a "spring break" type vacation by teenagers posing as adults. I make sure they know that I live on the property, which weeds out quite a few. Without the opportunity to ask and answer questions, I would be dealing with a lot more cancellation issues, I assure you.

[Inna22]

@Linda513 you do not think it is bothering a host when you are asking them questions and establishing relationship while all along having no intention to book? And in my original post I talk only about questions that are answered in the listing already, then confirmed again by host but a guest still does not book. Partying teenagers do not fit that scenario. 

[Sarah977]

@Ann72  My grandma used to spend hours going through all the flyers clipping coupons. Then she's spend time and gas going to 3 different supermarkets because one had a sale on chicken that day, one had a sale on toilet paper, etc. Made no sense at all.

[Inna22]

@Sarah977 

I think something like this would make sense for somebody on a budget with plenty of time – retired person, weekends off with no chance of getting or interest of getting another job. If you don’t spend gas and just money –  in a way you work for your discount which is fine. As soon as spending on gas, being able to be productive in other ways at the same time comes in the picture it no longer makes sense.

[Linda513]

I read, once, that for someone like my husband (a true "bargain" hunter) getting a bargain, clipping a coupon, or buying something on sale gives them a rush with the same chemical that is released by some drugs. An endorphin rush, I think it was called. I told my husband flat out, "You're addicted!". They get something out of it. It has nothing to do with money (as it does to me) really. He buys things we don't need (wasting money) just because it's on sale. Getting a fix, I guess.

[Sean433]

@Linda513 

What gives me a rush is making money!!

To those who spend hours to save a few dollars, I do feel sorry for them because if they applied the same energy or focus on making money, they could have made hundreds of dollars in those hours they use to clip coupons or drive around different stores to save $10.

I guess you have to evaluate what your time is worth or what you are capable of accomplishing with your time.

[Linda108]

That a guest is shopping around and sends an inquiry doesn't bother me.  However, I do not have too many for me to handle. I have IB so would rather have a potential guest ask questions then either of us having to cancel a reservation.

[Amelia71]

Si...cierto...no son muy numerosos los casos sobre este tipo de consultas de información que recibo, porque la mayoría se acaban confirmando en una reserva. Pero hay algunas personas que ni siquiera responden con un "gracias por responder a mi consulta", si no que te mandan una pregunta, yo respondo y.....después desaparecen....que le vamos a hacer!!  

[Paul154]

Looky-loos, window shoppers and discount shoppers are a by-product of the low season.

During high season, guests know that they can't prolong the reservation process. They would be pushed out by other guest competitors.