Ranting about when guests dont leave a review

[Lauren-And-Jeremy0]

A couple weeks ago we hosted some great guests, they seemed genuinely happy and pleased with the room, the breakfast and our hospitality.  I honestly feel like we bent over backwards for them and went out of our way, and they can't even be bothered to write a review.  Obviously no review is better than a bad one but I really don't know what they could have been unhappy with.  They were only with us 2 nights (busiest weekend of the year as they were attending daughters graduation from the local university) but I did a load of laundry for them, we served breakfast both days, including one day at an earlier than usual time,  and the next day at the normal time,  except their 13 year old son was too tired to join them for breakfast so we kept it warm and he ate it 3 hours later when he woke up. They did a late check out and checked in at a normal time, except arrived 2 hours after they said they would.  I contacted her ahead of time to offer them a different room that we had just listed that is larger than the room they originally booked as I thought it would be better for 3 people, and she chose to change rooms. We had a lot of interaction with them and their son and I really feel like everything went well and they were happy,  and then nothing. Anyway just wanted to vent to people who I'm sure can understand.  Thanks!

[Sarah-and-Jeremy2]

Hi  Lauren & Jeremy,

We've had a few guests like that were everything went great and we bent over backwards for them but no review. The majority of our gusets leave reviews, so when a guest doesn't and nothing bad occured we just assume everything was fine, they were happy - they just didn't get around to writing the review. I wouldn't assume they were unhappy, I would just chalk it up to life gets busy and things get forgotten.

The other way to look at is that we as hosts have AirBnB as part of our life, it's something we are doing almost everyday. To the guest, it's a one off experience, part of a vacation, so after vacation sometimes those things get forgotten.

Hope that helps, take care and happy hosting!

Sarah & Jeremy

[Ann489]

@Lauren-And-Jeremy0   happens all the time to us as well.  I feel stupid having to follow up with guests, literally begging to leave a review,  and frankly,  I have stopped doing that.  The thing that really bothers me is the fact that Airbnb dings you for not getting reviews--as if it were somehow our fault.  These days, I only give reviews if the guest gives me one first--unless, the guest was reeeeally bad and I think other hosts should be made aware.

[Lawrene0]

These days we are asked to review everything from oil changes to chain coffee shops, @Lauren-And-Jeremy0, and it all gets a bit much. I completely get it when guests don't review. If you are not dipping towards that 50% review rate, I wouldn't worry about it. 

It's mostly review fatigue, and @Sarah-and-Jeremy2 's good points about vacations and life. 

I did have one recently that was not. An all-around arrogant, rude and messy fellow texted (not through the system) after his stay to say he would not be reviewing, as he doesn't like Airbnb. He added that he will be booking directly by text with me from now on. 

Only in his dreams, I'm afraid.

That said, I have let other, more benign non-reviewers book again. It really is more about hosting than reviews, and they do tend to review the second time, as they know the system better. 

Oh, and I get why you wanted to vent. This is a great place for that, and that bunch really should have been singing your praises. No excuses. Two nights and they needed a load of laundry done? Anyway, you'd be hitting the ceiling if they knocked off stars because Sonnyboy's breakfast was a bit dry after three hours in the oven. This is a better outcome. 🙂

[Lauren-And-Jeremy0]

Lol about your "Sonnyboy's breakfast being dry" comment! 🙂 thanks for helping me keep it in perspective!

[Gordon0]

Like @Lawrene0 says, there's a lot of reviewing going on out there, and some folks just don't buy in to it, @Lauren-And-Jeremy0 . We all have these guests from time to time, but it's simply a matter of sucking it up. I review every guest who stays me because I don't want to play the tit-for-tat game and it sets a precedent if I don't.

Likewise, I review every property I stay at, and if I notice the host doesn't review their guests, I'll mention that in my review too.

And let's be fair, @Lauren-And-Jeremy0, you've got an amazing listing and some cracking reviews which illustrate your worth. 

[Tina63]

Feedback from some guests is that the review process is now far too long and if there is also a glitch on the app then it takes even longer and they just give up. Otherwise it can just be that they are still travelling or busy with their lives. I would stress all hosts to leave reviews of guests as we are doing a disservice to ourselves as a community to not do so.