Guests won't eat, drink or write reviews

[Renee38]

Whenever a guest arrives, I say "Welcome home." I smile, shake hands, help with luggage, chat about them and offer refreshments. I tour them around the house, show them the bagels, single-serve juices, Keurig coffee makers and other complimentary refreshments for them, I show them the cabinets and drawers where the glasses, plates, forks and snacks are stored and the bowl of fresh fruit on the table. I move my car out of the garage and hand them the clicker. In response to all my efforts, I have had guests who hole up on their rooms and barely speak to me when they exit or enter my home. They don't touch any of the food, beverages, snacks or fruit. And they don't post reviews. Why is this happening?

[Karen-and-Brian0]

Hi @Renee38 - I'm going to take a guess that these guests have been "millenials", am I right? There is something seriously out of whack with some of them - I think constant texting has irradicated the ability to communicate verbally, and playing computer games has wiped out any part of their brain that could relate to the real world in a meaningful way. I'm joking! - sort of.  I guess the upside is - no food costs & no need for interaction, so you can be free to live your life as if they weren't there, same as they do. If you need to communicate with them & require an answer, send them a text. Yes, it's completely ridiculous. - Karen

[Renee38]

-40ish white male from Hawaii 

-40ish white female from seattle

- late 20s white couple from Buffalo

-mid to late 50s white American couple moving to area after living some years in Australia 

- unmarried 30ish Asian couple from Dallas 

- two white female friends from Austin 

- black single female around 50 with roots in the south who was moving from New York to Houston for a new job

[Taylor19]

Do you think you're a famous pop star and strangers paid for a room just to have the opportunity to socialise with you? 

It's always bizarre when I see hosts expecting PAYING strangers to want to have a chat. Perhaps they are trying to respect YOUR personal space and boundaries. I certainly don't pay for a room so I can feel pressured into having to make small talk with a stranger. When you go to a hotel do you expect the obligation of having to make friendly with the concierge whether or not you want to actually enjoy your own time. Perhaps the guest is trying to get a space where they can have some silent time away from demanding family carer responisibilities or a death in the family?

Does your listing say that a guest is required to pretend to be mates with the host? Do you think that perhaps they might not like the food you like or might have food allergies and not trust food they haven't prepared themselves? No, apparently only you are importnant. 

Next time you stay in a hotel I hope house keeping comes in for a chat as you're changing or when you really want to go to the toilet and see how much you like paying for a space and having strangers invade it. 

I can't really fathom how anyone could seriously not know the answer to this question or whether this is a joke?

[Lilian20]

completely agree with @Taylor19 on the experience that many guests are not interested in chatting with me as they have their own plans,,,

On the other hand, many guests would appreciate that i welcome them in person rather than through text-messaging. 

At the end of the day, everyone won't be pleased.

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

@Taylor19 could your tone get any snottier?

[Marcella58]

I agree with Taylor. When I travel and use airbnb it's because I am looking for a place to stay. I am not looking to make friends and I treat a shared-home the same way as I would treat living with roommates. I keep to myself and do my own thing. It has nothing to do with the home owner... I just respect the space of the renter the way I would want them to respect mine. After a long day of traveling, the last thing I want to do is talk to a stranger. Don't take it personally. If you are looking to make friends through Airbnb I would mention it in the description since some people like to make small talk and others like me don't.

Also, when it comes to food... definitely leave it out instead of putting it in a drawer or something. People like me get nervous to go digging around. 🙂 Good luck!

[Helen3]

Hi @Renee38

I would refer what you are offering your guests. If they don't want the food or snacks you provide. Then don't provide them 🙂

[Lilian20]

@Renee38 my bet is they are mostly new on airbnb and feel that's too good to be true. 

They are basically scared that it will all end up in them paying a bill. 

[Barb6]

@Renee38. You have several very nice reviews. You could try to state when you welcome them how important good reviews are to you, and again when you see them.

~I have found that if i leave the snacks out in the open people are more likely to take them. If they are in a cupboard they could be nervous to open it and help themseleves.

~As far as conversation perhaps they just need alone time. We have had guests both ways, real chatty and real reserved. Just take it instride. You are offering a lovely place to stay. You have made them aware of your offerings and that you are there.

~I usually provide a light breakfast the first morning and thats my time to chat with guests.  I think you are over worrying.  Good luck !

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

I wouldn't take it personally - many guests just want to do their own thing.  We've been hosting for about a year and half and have only had a few guests who have wanted to come hang out and chat with us over a glass of wine.  Most of the others are coming and going on their own and when they're home, they're in their room.  We don't mind, as it allows us to go about our lives like normal.

[Amy38]

I have a semidetached apt by my main house...a pre-civil war farmhouse in the middle of the city.

Some guests spend time with me to get recommendations on best eats and sites, a feww come out and have drinks with me in the evening, quite a few smile and I never see them again...this includes a coupke who stayed for 6 weeks.  

I enjoy meeting new people, but their privacy is something I respect and when they dont eat any of the numerous snacks and beverage I leave...I just think ka-ching!

[MicheleandLouw0]

@Renee38 I do mention in my printed Cottage Guide that all snacks are  for free and  for them to enjoy.

[MicheleandLouw0]

@Renee38 I also enjoy interaction with my guests. There is actually a box in the edit section that you can tick "I want to interact with my guests" So our idea of Airbnb's hospitality ideas are really not that far fetched. Not because we think are we are someone special. You just keep doing your best and accept that some guests are shy or introverts, others take a bit longer to relax around you. Remember that they are also testing the waters with you... especially new Airbnb users do not know what to expect. I always bake a special South African traditional Milktart for my guests who stay 2 nights and longer. I tell them that for me Airbnb is also about sharing with others and sharing a bit of our cultures. I live in a tourist town in Botswana and I am also an expact here and  it does make things easier. I have not yet hosted any fellow South Africans. So my guests are interested if I share something of my cultue with them, unfortunately some guests are just not nice people or want to be left alone. Except that too.Play it by ear. Happy hosting! 

[Carol90]

I go with the flow, I would expect the same when I will travel with ABB. Having said that some are so chatty I regret because at times it happens when I really have something to complete and  could do with the silent ones. Don't sweat them not taking your food as someone said they think they may be billed later as hotels do. Don't buy  a lot. Wait untill you have free- loaders and you will write about it, they will accept it and then some, may be pack some for their next journey...

I found providing any edibles impractical from the beginning. So many people observe some form of dietary restriction for health or lifestyle. Coupled with mine, it was going to be an expensive thing so I stopped. I give complimentary tea and coffee. Not many take up the offer.