This is precious

[Paul154]

Guest stayed awhile back for 3/4 days.

Pleasant enough. But like so many of my guests, I did enjoy saying good-bye.

Now guests needs a place for 2 weeks in high season AND she now has a cat!

Could I offer her a discount?

But wait! Here's the best part: She rated me 4 STARS!

[Lisa723]

@Sarah977 you may want to re-read the original post... 😉

[Lawrene0]

@Sarah977, she is trying to book a second time. She came for a few days awhile ago, left, gave @Paul154  four stars, and now wants to stay two weeks in high season with a discount, and has a cat this time. 

That's how we're reading it. 

[Sarah977]

@Lisa723 @Lawrene0  Well, my bad. Yes, you read it correctly and I didn't. I'd best go engage in some self-flagellation. Sorry.

[Lawrene0]

For penance, @Sarah977, you could agree to host Paul's guest. 😉

[Sarah977]

@Lawrene0 Haha. If she can afford to fly down here, I'll even waive my No Pets rule. My 70 pound dog will have gay old time treeing her cat.

[Thomas1033]

@Paul154  I think blocking a day within her respective request span would speak volumes whilst not actually speaking at all....yvonna

[Ann72]

[Ilario6]

I just love when a guest gives you a sub standard rating after you’ve gone above and beyond and they’ve affirmed many times how great their stay was , level of privacy , amenities and overall experience.  I recently had a guest stay 1 night , he was a nice, polite older gentleman.  I made sure that he was comfortable and even offered all my appliances and food to him as he pleases. I even prepared him dinner and provided breakfast. I have a pool front property w a very competitive nightly rate.  He gave me 3 stars because he said it was difficult finding the location; I gave him step by step instructions and even waited outside the premises until he arrived.  Well he ignored my messages and proceeded to drive around the complex thus complaining i could’ve communicated the exact location better.  The kicker is that he spent all of about 2 mins in the parking lot.  After all the compliments and pleasantries he still rated me 3 stars ... disappointed.  I know we can’t please everyone but I definitely didn’t merit a 3 star review. 

[Helen427]

@Paul154 @Ilario6 @Helen3 @Ann72 @Thomas1033 

You all should know by now that a 4 Star Rating means that your "Listing is As Described" & a 5 Star Rating is better than expected, isn't it?

Credit where it's due @Paul154 

Now do you offer a weekly discount normally?
I appreciate it's high season however have you not adjusted your prices to cater accordingly?

A weekly discount is not unreasonable for longer stays, less washing, a bit of company, you know you will be paid, etc

As for bringing her cat, well what's the issue?

Do you have an issue with them?
Maybe she doesn't have anyone who she can trust or rely on to look after it whilst she's away, have you considered that?

Have you asked what age the cat is?

Perhaps she just needs a companion like us Human Beings do.

Do you know what the purpose of her visit is?
Is she there for a course?

To see someone in the area who may not be well?

I  say, offer a weekly discount & say Yes, bring your cat, on the proviso that it's clear what the boundaries are with providing it's own food & cleaning up after it.

Who knows @Paul154 what may transpire, besides 2nd time around you usually know what traits irritate each other & it's not like it's 2 years, is it?

Tolerance folks & remember to stop & think, "How would I feel if someone treated my own family member if they were in the same shoes?"!!

All the best

[Sarah977]

@Helen427  Paul has No Pets listings. Why are you telling him he should accept the cat, or have any interest whatsoever in how old the cat is or whether she has no suitable place to leave it? Just because you're an animal lover and don't see any reason why they shouldn't just be allowed to go everywhere with their owners, doesn't mean everyone feels like that, should have to justify it, or give a hoot about how people arrange for their pets when travelling. 

And if my own family member wanted to ignore a host's house rules, failed to read them,. or expected special treatment, I would feel that being declined was entirely appropriate.

[Helen350]

@Sarah977 Oh  I agree Paul has every right to stick to his guns re pets! "No pets" means no pets! And if someone does not want to give discount for 2 week stays, that is their right  too! - My point was that giving a 4* review should not render a person a "bad guest" who is never welcome again! 

[Sarah977]

@Helen350  I was responding to the other Helen, who was asking why Paul didn't ask about the age of the cat or have sympathy for the fact that maybe she doesn't have anywhere else to leave the cat.

You know it's not that hard to get your nice guests, especially repeat ones, to leave you 5* instead of 4* reviews. All you have to do is explain to them that while Airbnb tells them 4*s is a "good" rating, they then turn around and strip hosts of their Superhost rating for anything less than a 4.8* average. I let all my guests know this- nice guests have no intention to bring down your ratings, they simply don't know how it works on the host's end. Guests have thanked me for explaining this to them. I know there's lots of hosts who would feel uncomfortable about discussing this with guests, but I don't.

[Helen350]

@Sarah977  Oops! - WAAAY past my bedtime! 🙂

[Helen350]

@Sarah977 Yeah, I sometimes DO explain the catastrophic effect of less than 5* reviews... The regular 4* guy was a couple of years ago before I knew to put in a word. The nice lady was giving me 5* overall, - which kept my general rating up... her 8x 4* for cleanliness caused a drop in that dept, but it's back to 5* av now!  At the start  of my ABB "career" a man wrote in his review about not liking me asking for a good review! - So for a while I was scared to mention! Now I make sure, that I phrase it as you did.. - and that we are instructed to aim for 4.7!- With warnings below! Sometimes I mention it, sometimes I think it's safer not to....

[Donald28]

Oh, I'd tell her that due to her previous 4 star rating not only can you not giv e her a discount, you can't let her stay. I assume you do not use instant book?! Smart.