Awkward

Mauricia2
Level 2
London, United Kingdom

Awkward

How do I get a Guest to communicate on my Airbnb message than on private phone calls/personal without making either party feel awkward.

 This one Guest currently started booking my place and wants to do regular re-booking, I'm fine with that once it's done through Airbnb. 

 

It's their 2nd stay last week.  The 2 night of the ,1st week wanted me to make a deal. Reason was it's going to be regularly re-bookings so wants to offer me £20 per night. My room is £30 per night.

  I remained calm and polite but wasn't very pleased. Also  went on to say that because out early in the morning and back late in the evening and do not use must of the facilities so that justifies the offer.

I said all facilities listed in the booking are available irrelevant if they are used by guests and my reviews are 5🌟. If  wants to continue Re: booking,  bookings are through Airbnb. The guest responded at the end of the stay will not be booking again.

I said that's ok, on the 3rd night which was the last as it was a   three nights booking , the guest approached me and offered £50 stating that will be given  the rest the following week on return as will be booking again.

I refused to take money from guests, if they needs to book its through airbnb. The guest wasn't very happy but surprisingly booked three nights again, this is the 3rd week.

I have blocked free days the end of the week.

The guest  is continuously phoning to discuss availability of the room.

 

How do I deal with this guest. I would like this guest  and all my guest to continue to communicate on Airbnb not on my personal phone call,/, messages

If dates are not available and blocked, I do not wish to become personal with guests and feel I need to communicate and explain why my dates are not available.

They should find other Airbnb places. 

I understand the guests likes my accommodation. However,I'm not committed to either-or the other. That's why I feel this guest is making it a bit awkward. 

I'm not going to call back. What's your views. Should I message on Airbnb and say I believe you are trying to get Intouch with me or ignore.

I'm not bothered if I  this guest use my place or not I do not want to be pressured.

 

 

 

7 Replies 7
Mike-And-Jane0
Level 10
England, United Kingdom

@Mauricia2 This guests sounds like a bit of a pain. Perhaps block them from booking in future and then don't return their calls.

Will I not have to explain why I'm blocking him. I don't want tomorrow wish to stop him from being able to book with other host

 

 

@Mauricia2  No, you don't owe him any explanation and he should be able to figure out why he was blocked, anyway, unless he's stupid. He's harrassing you.

Huma0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

@Mauricia2 

 

I would want to get rid of this guest. Sounds like trouble to me. You have clearly stated several times that the guest needs to book via the Airbnb platform. Also, if they did book directly with you, they would be saving a fair amount on Airbnb fees so I think it is a bit cheeky to then try to push your rate down from £30 to £20 a night. I haven't checked out your listing, but £20 for London is crazy cheap. I host both long term guests and repeat guests and would never offer one of my rooms for that.

 

You can block the guest without having to communicate directly with them. It's a bit of a process as you can only block them if you chose the option that is something like "they are being offensive", which I always feel bad about if they aren't, but that's the only way to do it. You can also report them to Airbnb as trying to communicate off platform or book/exchange money off platform is a violation of Airbnb rules that Airbnb really does not like!

 

If you don't want to report the guest and jeopardise their chances of booking elsewhere then just block rather than report. To be honest though, Airbnb don't seem to do much when you report a guest anyway. I have reported some very obvious scammers and Airbnb allows them to remain on the platform.

 

Anyway, this is a guest who does not respect you. They will not take no for an answer and to my mind that is the start of a problematic relationship. If you take their booking off platform, Airbnb will not support you at all if anything goes wrong and is more likely to delist/punish you, not the guest, if they find out.

Mauricia2
Level 2
London, United Kingdom

The annoying thing is the guest is a professional specialist high earner and I don't believe is short of a Bob or Two but yet so mean.

You are correct, when he placed the £50  on the table,I felt disrespected and annoyed. I told him then his stressing me out.

 

 

 

 

I've not answered his call nor reply to his message. What a cheek to asked me to call him. I'm doing Airbnb but not fussed if I've got Guests or not.

 

 

Karol22
Level 10
SF, CA

Just avoid these kinds of guests. Some people are used to negotiating every little dollar out of every interaction - it's quite petty. The amount of energy dealing with such negotiation for such miniscule amounts is not what your business model allows. Let them know that you only allow bookings on Airbnb because of the insurance Airbnb provides - booking on Airbnb is required. Also let them know that your prices are already competitive and you have a couple others asking for the same nights - price is final.