If guests have SMS turned on, send from a 5 digit number, send stock message, or get autoreply setup

[David409]

I've now had several guests who have SMS notification turned on, and when I send them a message (within airbnb), they get texted and assume that the number airbnb texts them from is my phone number, because it's a standard 10 digit phone number.

Three potential solutions- I think all of them are major improvements over the current setup.

1) use a 5 digit phone number, like other auto-text services do (people will know it's not their host, at least)

2) if the SMS just said "please log into airbnb, X has sent you a message," instead of containing the message text, this would be far less confusing for users.

3) set up an autoreply that says "your message was not delivered, if you're trying to get in touch with your host, please contact them through the airbnb app"

I'm pretty surprised that this is an on-going issue - users are totally reasonable in assuming the airbnb text number is the host's number, and the currently things are set up to generate missed messages from guest to host.

Thanks!

[Dale25]

I agree. I've had problems, and it seems so many others have too.

Dale