A confirmed guest from San Francisco asked to ship stuff to my address for arrival. I assumed it was ski gear as we are a ski resort in Nevada 4 hours from SF. I suggested he ship it to my office closeby. The first small 44 lb box arrived and I knew it wasn't ski stuff. So I inquired what it was, and why shipped. He replied it was "lead weights and old musket balls for an antique rifle". He also said it was "to save on shipping". My antennae went up. All this is documented on the platform chat correspondence BTW.
Yesterday a package arrives with a bunch of other packages to my office. My assistant opened them all as they are all addressed to me. Two packages contained the following;
From Target Sports USA
1 Case (25 boxes of 20) 30 lbs of
6.5 x 55 SWEDISH MAUSER AMMO
From Gun Mag Warehouse
RUGER BX-1 10 round magazine 3/pk Qty 2
ASC 7.62 Magazine 20- round magazine Qty 4
AK 47 KCI Qty 2
You read that right AK-47, Ruger and a Swedish Mauser (sniper rifle) ammo. 30 lbs++
I immediately call Airbnb to cancel the reservation and to report that the guest lied and what was sent. I spend over 6 hours explaining to different people the circumstances being assured that the "Trust and Safety" Team are investigating. No-one from this team or anywhere at Airbnb calls to ask for photos or shipping documents and verification of contents. NOBODY! I doubt if they called previous hosts to see if he has done this elsewhere.
Meanwhile, during this time the guest - whose name DOES NOT MATCH THE EMAILS ON THESE ORDER FORMS - is still contacting me through Airbnb to ask why I cancelled the reservation. Great safety Airbnb!
Last night I receive the following email from Airbnb:
[Private conversation hidden as per the community guidelines]
My questions:
1. How did they "confirm"? How do they know anything about this ammo? No-one there ever asked to "confirm" what I had in my possession!
2. Why believe the guest when there is written proof he lied about package contents?
3. Why rebook him with another host? Why is this man not permanently blocked from Airbnb?
Today the Washoe County Sheriff arrived to file a report on all those not "musket balls!" They informed me that the automatic weapon ammo was sent here because it is illegal in California. They told me to contact California Sheriff. Which I did. California told me to also report him to the ATF. Which I did. Three reports filed on this "guest" based on evidence of his clear intent to obtain illegal ammo across State lines.
The question law enforcement must now answer is what is he doing with this much ammo in 2 days? If this guy intends to transport this stuff across State lines, he is committing a crime. He lives in California. He needs to go home from Nevada. He booked for 2 nights (my minimum). Is he planning on using this ammo in 2 days in Nevada? Hello?! How much evidence does Airbnb require to protect Hosts?
And ... Airbnb did nothing. They re-booked him with another host.
Yay team! I sure feel safe.