Pricing - having trouble working out the "smart pricing"

[Vacation-In-Chelan0]

I am trying to figure out how to work with Smart Pricing. I am used to being able to set a range of dates for certain price ranges (like on VRBO). The following link seems to have a good mix of pricing throughout the current summer, over the fall/winter/spring, as well as next summer: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12003702

These are our current new listings on AirBNB:

Sunnyview Estates: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14123974

Hollywood Beach South: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14126418

You can find our current listings on VRBO for reference to give you an idea of our intended pricing:

Sunnyview Estates (VRBO #789231): https://www.vrbo.com/789231

Hollywood Beach South (VRBO #789232): https://www.vrbo.com/789232

What kind of changes do we need to make to the pricing so that our listing works best?

[Heather32]

Aloha!

I have been listing on VRBO for years, and just joined Airbnb about 7 mo ago. I really dislike the "Smart Pricing" option. I think it confuses the guest and doesn't take into consideration seasonal pricing (for me that would be winter on Maui). In my experience having consistency and clarity works best. If I am pricing a condo on VRBO at $125 for the summer months, I add the tax and price it out exactly the same on Airbnb.

This doesn't mean I don't refer to the AB price tips when I have a gaping hole in my calendar. Generally their price tips are much much lower than my competition.

Hope this helps,

Heather

[Clarissa7]

I cannot understand where they get their 'smart pricing' figures from - it is about a third of what I am usually fully booked (with good reviews including 'value') on.  I would be annoyed as a guest to discover two days in a period were more expensive, so the price quote was incomprehensible (seasonal variations are different).

[Vincent62]

Don't use smart pricing.  They set the rates rediculously low at my property when I tried activating.  Whatever system they use is not effective.