Strategy for responding to bad guest review

[Sam780]

After 50 stays I have recently received my first bad review as a guest (the crux of it is carelessness). I take issue with the facts presented in the review as I believe that every point raised is either completely false or hyperbolic. I even think my host may have possibly gotten me confused with the other guest she had staying at the same time. I want to respond in a non-defensive, courteous manner so that, well, I am not shunned from this community for being a crappy guest (I really don't think I am).

Is it a better idea to do this publicly or privately? If I speak to the host privately and she actually does have me confused with the other guest, can she delete or amend or respond to her negative review of me to clarify? At the very least, I think details outlining what careless behavior I exhibited so that future hosts can see it was something akin to leaving a light on while away and not something more egregious like smoking inside or leaving garbage behind, etc. would be to the community's benefit.

Can a guest and host both post responses on a host's review?

Thanks,

s

[Emiel1]

@Sam780 

- Only the guest can leave a public comment on a review of a host

- The host can ask Airbnb to delete her review

I read the review. it is not that bad, but a little whiny. All your reviews are fine, leave a public comment if you want to and then let it go.

Best regards,

Emiel

[Linda108]

@Sam780   The host references you as a "fellow host" which supports she was confused about who you are.  I think a private message bringing the error to her attention is warranted and she might choose to go to Air BNB regarding her error.  However, I agree with @Emiel1  that the review is not bad and given all the other good reviews I doubt it will be a future problem.  

[Sam780]

Amazingly helpful. Thank you, both!

[Sarah977]

@Sam780  You have lots of great reviews. As a host, I wouldn't be put off from accepting you based on that review. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. And reading the reviews you've left for your hosts looks good to other hosts as well. Even the one where the host was upset about you tracking in dirt after your car debacle, your straightforward apology was great to read.

[Sam780]

Thanks @Sarah977 @Linda108 @Emiel1 this is very helpful and - not gonna lie - a bit therapeutic. It's great to get a host's perspective and I'm glad to hear you don't think the review is any sort of nail in my coffin. I would ordinarily then move on except there are facets of it (e.g., the '100% increase' in carbon footprint comment) that I'm bothered by because I don't have the faintest idea of what they could refer to. Other than lights, hot water for shower and washing hands, and outlets for charging our mobile phones, I don't think my partner or I did anything that would emit carbon (unless she's factoring in that I did not get to Wales on a bicycle, which I suspect she may be).

I drafted up a response that I think tows the line between reiterating I had a nice stay and welcoming details to educate me and will think whether it makes more sense to send privately, post publicly, or just consider it an activity for my mental health and move on.

Thanks again for your advisement on this.

Sam

[Sarah977]

@Sam780  Yes, I can see why you'd like to write a response, considering that it seems like he confused you with another guest. Since you aren't a host, and it seems from your past reviews that you're not the type who'd leave all the lights and fans or AC on all day while you're out. Maybe send the host a message on Airbnb first, asking if he confused you with someone else, and depending on his response, write your review response accordingly.