Guests who don't know when to stop!

[Robin4]

For years I have been saying I do not except hagglers, people who ask lots of questions. But every so often you do get caught.

Current guest booked for 2 adults........it was one of those sort of bookings I accept in a heartbeat....just pay and stay... "Coming for a wedding, can't wait to stay'!

That was at the start of September, great.......Second message, (3 months down the track) all of a sudden there is a couple of kids, she was just making sure she booked....nope not showing up here so I ask how old the children are and she says 4 and 6! Now coupled with the fact there is no profile photo this is where I should have pulled the plug...particularly as she has waited 3 months to tell me this bit of information, stay is less than 3 weeks away, how much of a pri*k do I want to be. I said ok I will make arangements for the sofa bed to be used, this not Japan, I could not imagine 4 humans sleeping in the main bed! 

See, I am breaking my rules all the time!

Fast forward to this Tuesday just gone and look what pops up in my inbox......

Low and behold my reservation booked and paid for two guests has turned into FIVE!

Now every bit of logic under the sun sun says at this point....cancel them!

But two days before the stay....why did I not act on the advice I have given others here for years....because it sneeked up on me.

Well the tribe are now here, the kids are running around trying to rip the tail off the dog, I have put myself out with a bedding scenario right out of 'Captain Snooze'  and I have now been informed that this last interloper may actually have to stay till the weekend!.....Sunday to be precise!

The problem with this whole thing is, the woman has not said a word to me since her arrival, it has all been left to husband to break the news and I can see what is coming a mile away. When the review process comes around she will forget all about the fact that she booked for 2 and turned up with 5. She will only remember how squeezy it was and how it did not suit their needs.

My own fault, I have broken all my rules and this one will no doubt be a learning curve for me!

The only good side for me. it is bloody hot here today but, I ran an air conditioning business in my working life. Here are the current temp stats currently at 7.00 pm.......

It is still 37c (98f) outside but it's a nice almost chilly 20c in the cottage.

I hope they remember that come review time!

Cheers.....Rob

[Cathie19]

Oh dear, my Australian saying got “bleeped”. Lol...

[Yulianna0]

Good training for your patience, @Robin4. But may be you can describe this situation to someone in CS? May be they will be so kind to take some action and help you with this situation? I doubt that you can count with good review. But if they will charge for extra guests it will be a bit less frustrating. Guests are gonna leave, but money will stay with you:)

[Robin4]

@Yulianna0

Hi Yulianna, I have already opened a ticket with CS, not for them to take action at this point but just to let them know I have a difficult situation that I hope I don't need their involvement in. They are really supportive, thanked me for being a good host and have said that will cover me here if I need it!

The main thing is, I have opened up a dialogue!

I am not going to make a point of pursuing the money bit, if they wish to volunteer extra I will of course accept it, but I not going to formally request it. My aim is to make them feel guilty for abusing a situation, it's not a good look to take advantage, and I know the woman who booked feels guilty because, she has avoided me. 

Have a great year Anna!

Cheers.....Rob

[Alan475]

 Hi @Robin4 , I would suggest next time this happens again, all you need to do is put the ball back in their court, so to say: Go into Reservations and add the 2 children this sends a message back to the guest to accept or reject. 

[Robin4]

@Alan475 

Hi there Alan, yeah, look I should have been a lot firmer in the begining but these little extra revelations came months apart and you are right,  I know what I should have done but the whole scenario has put me in a bit of a quandry. Things could have gone so wrong, but they didn't, they ended up great guests and gave me a great review.

I consider I dodged a bullet this time but next time I might not be so lucky and I hope I won't make the mistakes next time that I made this time!

I hope all is good up there in the Barossa....I spent a lot of my childhood in Mamre Brook homestead...the Salters being relations of mine!

Cheers.....Rob

[Paul154]

@Robin4 

It always hurts more when we know were walking in front of the oncoming train, but continue walking in front of that train.  It's like we're just compelled to!

Thanks for sharing your story.  I know you know. At least be grateful that you at least know something is wrong, regardless whether or not you take proper action 🙂

[Robin4]

@Paul154 

Paul, it annoyed me most because I let myself down! For years I have been saying here how a host has to be so selective in the booking process, weed out those individuals who you have a fair idea are going to create issues........and I ignored my own advice. I think (well hope) I have helped a few people here but, I let myself down.

I am trying to work out what I can take out of this! There wasn't a train on the tracks when that request came in, all their request said was 'Coming for a wedding, can't wait to stay'! No red flags there Paul, just the sort of inquiries I encourage. I guess I would I would now answer that with ...."Great, we can't wait to have you stay, to help me along with my preparations, how many of you will be staying?"....but I had no reason to question that, they clearly stated on the IB there would be two....it wasn't until 2 months later the offspring got mentioned! And then they are within a week or so of the event, how big a pri*k do I want to make of myself?....I have had unexpected kids arrive before and everything was ok, lets just stay calm here. 

The time I paniced was two days before the stay and yet another straggler joined the group! That's when I got onto CX and said 'Houston we have a problem here'! I wanted everything on record then, the message stream and all the events leading up to the stay. 

Paul, I am a sucker for a lame duck cause and I always thought I could work it out, make things magically happen....and as it turned out they and I did, and all was good.

But now that I analyse it, these were not bad guests out to take advantage of me and the system, they were new to Airbnb, genuinely didn't think about the kids at the time of booking and on top of the stay got lumbered with another relative who had been shafted with his accommodation for this wedding and needed a bit of floorspace! They went out of their way to be cooperative and it all ended up ok.

But it could have ended up so differently and I could have had a terrible experience here and I keep thinking, despite the end result in this case, I did let myself down. But Paul, I didn't see the train coming!

Cheers......Rob