Reservation Request Alert Problem

[Leigh2]

Dear Fellow Hosts,

I just wanted to share that I am currently experiencing problems with the AirBnB alert messages for new reservation requests. I have just missed my last two reservation requests because I didn't recieve any SMS notifications or any notifications from the AirBnB app (which I use on both an old iPhone 4 and a Samsung S4 phone).

For one of the reservation requests I did receive the email notifications, but the other one, the email notification for the request was 2 days late. For anyone like me who relies on the notifications  - I would highly recommend manually checking the AirBnB messaging system regularly at this time.

I've contacted AirBnB to let them know about this issue but haven't had any response back from them yet. Has anyone else experienced this problem over the last 5 days?

[Lorraine-And-Dan0]

Yes.  It is maddening.  I have had the exact same experience.  And, absolutely no response.

Lorraine

[Colin3]

Hi Leigh:

Yes, I believe I have. Just over the weekend, I have received two reservation requests in a format where I am unable to have any form of dialogue with the prospective guest. No chance for questions and no chance for a discussion. I simply am required, due to the penalties in not doing so, to either accept or reject the request. If accepted, the reservation is complete. It's only then that I can have a conversation. This is very stressful. Fortunately, one of the bookings was with a repeat guest, but the other is making me nervous that I have accepted a rave with no control. Not sure if this is the same problem as your experiencing but sounds similar.

[Lois-and-Darryl0]

@Leigh2:  This is my similar experience in receiving inquiries or requests on my phone.  While it shows you a box to either Accept or Decline, you do have the option to send a message first.  However, what has happened to me is that I must open up the actual Airbnb App or get on a Mac or pc and sign into the website, and then type up a message and send it.  I've figured a way around this, so I can communicate with them first (I don't do IB), so maybe you can too.  Good Luck.

BTW:  I too almost missed a listing, when I didn't get a text alert.  I just happened to look at my phone - and it was about 90 minutes after the request came in!  I'm amazed that Airbnb would be ok with this outcome of their decision!

[Caroline85]

I too had the same issue with notifications not coming through. Airbnb said I was the only one with the issue. Airbnb said they would not advise if they have fixed the problem. Given Airbnb make money by Hosts accepting bookings, it is a large issue.

Text messing is critical and cannot be removed.

I have also noticed that Airbnb has changed the page so people who are inquiring, click book. This is great if they are experienced guests and do want a reservation, but if they are making an inquiry it is a great problem, as the Host only has 24 hours to accept or decline the reservation. I have spent hours walking guests through this and they then end up not completing the reservation. Today I had a student not show for an inspection for his parents - said he wanted 2 periods, I took the day off work to show him and he says he has changed his mind at the inspection time. If I had accepted his booking as Airbnb forces me to do - then he tries to cancel - there is a whole issue.

Others who book, don't provide information of the makeup of their party and again as a Host we have to accept or decline (and then are penalized) without information is very tough.

[Thijs-and-BingLie0]

My co-host received a reservation request yesterday that was not received by me as a host, nor does it appear in the reservation listing in my airbnb folder/file. Is there anyone who has a similar prorblem and knows how to solve this?

Thanks in advance

Thijs

Amsterdam, Netherlands

august 2016

[Angela223]

It is comforting to hear other hosts have been caught out by this new trial from Airbnb. My response rating has gone down too as I did not know they had stopped the text alert service. I have also missed out on 2 bookings. I think it is a bad idea, both for hosts and guests. I also feel  it was discourteous to not inform hosts that this was about to happen. Given how hard it is to get through to Airbnb "not very helpful site", I am thankfull that I found so many comments on the community. Thank you. I would download the APP to work around this, but I have  a Nokia not so Smart phone which wont accept this APP. I wonder if pressure from frustrated hosts and guests will encourage a revert back to the most useful SMS service. And will Airbnb let us know either way? Angie

[Robert149]

I have not been receiving any push notifications at all either, as of several weeks ago.  I am using the Android app.  A guest instant booked late in the day and showed up to my house when I wasn't there.  Fortunately he called me and got the code to get in the house, otherwise he would have been stranded, since I had no notifications, either his message or the instant book.  Hopefully I don't get a bad review because of it.  I have turned on text messages as a backup and those are working.

[Nicole391]

I have given up trying to get a reasonable answer from AIRBNB about this but I am joining this thread to a) highlight that I too have now lost two reservations b) I live in hope of seeing a fix appear here sometime soon.

I am not techy but to explain as simply as possible...

I have three separate houses listed on AIRBNB - they are at same address and I also live there year round.

I use PC but also have the AIRBNB app on my android (SAMSUNG J5 2016).

I am on both ALOT and have phone on me all the time.

Once in July 2017 and again this weekend, the first I have been notiified of a reservation request has been when it has already been cancelled. i.e. the guest has tried to pay and failed and because I have yet been notiified of reservation I lose it...

Ultimately I see the cancellation on the PC but NOTHING shows on the mobile app, no conversation, no request, no cancellation.

NO SMS ever received, only know about the request as I routinely logged onto listing (to see if I can do anything about how bad it is performing...LOL).

seriously fed up with inconsistent reliability of site but more so that there is no response, let alone useful one from a human.

[Lil3]

I too have this problem -am getting NO alert for future bookings unless I happen to check manually - soo frustrating!!! The new booking didn’t receive my response until 5 hrs later