Requests for Same Day Booking when Date is Unavailable

[Jean5108]

I just started hosting, and I'm being bothered by people making inquiries for future, available dates, but writing in their message that they "need to start tonight" when "tonight" is unavailable, and showing as already booked by another guest on my Calendar.  I've had 3 such requests in just 3 months of hosting, and I'm wasting a lot of time answering them. For example, I receive an Inquiry for May 20 - 23 (legitimate booking dates on my Calendar); but when I read the Inquiry, they say, "I really want to stay tonight." I have to clarify that they are welcome to book May 20-23 (or any other AVAILABLE date), but that "tonight" is unavailable. Can any experienced Hosts tell me what's going on here? Is this some kind of a scam? It's not worth my time to host if I'm having to deal with such Inquiries regularly.

[Luana130]

I get that sometimes, a lot actually when it is close to Carnival dates. It is really anoying. I just reply: No, we are not. If you put the dates you want when searching, you will see the ones that are actually available.

[Sarah977 · Accepted solution]

@Jean5108  I don't think it sounds like a scam, just clueless, self-absorbed people who somehow expect you to boot someone else out so they can stay, or something like that. If it's just an Inquiry message, all you have to do is message back saying something like "As you can see from my calendar, your preferred dates are unavailable." Or maybe "You really want to stay tonight? I really want a Porsche." :-)) BTW, I'd never accept someone who sent me  message like that even if I had availability. If they're that self-absorbed, I'm sure they'd be problem guests. 

You can create something like I wrote above in a saved message in case you get more of these, then you don't have to waste time typing responses individually.

[Jean5108]

Thank you; I need to create a library of saved responses to cover the new types of situations I encounter.