How would you handle this?

Bob39
Level 10
Goldfield, NV

How would you handle this?

Here is the message thread:

 

Hi,
We are interested in doing some stargazing in the Goldfield area. Is your home in a dark area (is there a lot of light pollution around it)? Also, do you wash all of the bed linens (including the comforter) after each guest's stay? Thank you.

 

Hi Patricia,
Stargazing is excellent in Goldfield, if it is a clear night. Clouds can interfere. For the best possible stargazing, go out of the town a couple of miles. But stargazing is still very good at my house. The nights you have inquired about are also the peak nights of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.
Yes, we wash all the bedding and all the towels after every guest checks out, and we give the house a cleaning after every guest checks out.
Thank you,
Bob

 

Is the grill gas or will we need to bring charcoal? Do you have basic condiments in the refrigerator? Is there wifi access? Thank you.

 

Patricia,
At my house I now have a roof over my back deck to provide shade in the daytime. Thus only a small part of the sky is visible from the back deck. A fairly large section of the western sky is visible from the front porch. For stargazing I generally recommend getting out of the town a but, such as the cemetery which is 2 miles north of the town and completely dark. Of course I have no way to know or guarantee whether a particular night will be clear or cloudy.

The grill on the deck runs on propane and there is a propane tank already hooked up to it. The refrigerator normally has a little butter. There are 2 spice racks in the kitchen and a photo of them is on the AirBnB listing. There is also a small supply of coffee, teas, creamers and sweeteners.

 

Yes, there is Wi-fi at the house, at a speed of 1 Mb/Sec. There is no grocery store in Goldfield and no gas station. The nearest gas station and grocery store are in Tonopah, 26 miles north of Goldfield.

Bob

 

(At this point she submitted her reservation request.)

 

If you are certain that you want to rent, I will accept the request and that will complete your reservation. Do you have any other questions or concerns before I do that?
Bob

 

We are certain as long as the house is as clean as your previous guests have stated. I have a bad cigarette allergy and so I am assuming that the home does not smell of smoke and that any smoking that has occurred outside has been cleaned up. I am very glad to hear that you take the time to wash all the bedding. I know that some places only do the sheets and not the bedspread/comforter.

 

Patricia,
There are major fires in California right now and a little of the smoke is drifting towards Nevada. This morning I can detect a light smell of smoke outside although visibility is normal. There are also many other potential allergens in Goldfield: wildlife is abundant here, there are dust storms here now and then, and there are many Great Basin plants which may be releasing pollen now, including halogeton, Russian thistle, rabbit brush, mustards, etc. I think Goldfield may be the wrong choice for your trip, so in your best interest I will decline the request which will release it and you won't be charged anything. I'd recommend you seek another location further east; possibly even in Utah, Idaho or Arizona. Thank you for your interest in Goldfield, though. I hope your trip works out well.

Bob

 

(At this point I Declined the request.)

 

My allergy is to cigarette smoke. As long as the inside of your home does not allow smoking or smell like cigarette smoke, then my allergies will be fine. I live in Las Vegas and am used to the occasional wild fire smoke, dust, and etc. I wish you would have conferred with me before canceling my reservation. I am still interested in your property and look forward to hearing back from you.

 

Patricia,
This property is also in Goldfield and it is only $89 a night, and they don't allow any smoking on the property at all, so it is guaranteed to be smoke free: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/25733076?location=Goldfield%2C%20NV%2C%20United%20States&search_id=9ceb...
Bob

 

This property is not available on the nights we need it. Do you not want to rent to me for some reason? I am confused.

 

Patricia,
I think you would likely end up being disappointed with my house. There are also some cabins in Diamondfield which is 5 miles east of Goldfield, a very good spot for stargazing, and I think they are only $50 per night last time I checked. They are not on AirBnB so if you wanted to book with them you would have to call them directly.
Bob

 

I don't know where you get that impression. I've seen the photos and read the reviews. Your home is complimented for being very clean and it looks very cute. Are you unwilling to rent it to me?

 

(That is the last message. I have not responded.)

 

What would you do?

48 Replies 48
Alexandra316
Level 10
Lincoln, Canada

@Bob39*Faux outrage* " I don't know where you get the impression that I'm going to be a nightmare to host... I was only incredibly pushy and demanding in every message I sent! How dare you not immedately accept my valuable booking!"

 

Seriously, good for you. You know this just wouldn't end well. 

Thank you to all of you for your replies. I think this person is new to AirBnB; though her profile says she's been a member since May 2017, she has no reviews, only one entry in Verified Info (phone number), and no photo - only a cartoon where the photo should be. I think she is probably used to staying at high-end resorts where they are accustomed to dealing with demanding and difficult guests on a daily basis. Hopefully she will eventually learn the AirBnB system and culture, and she could eventually become a good guest. Even though I really do need the $386 I would have gotten from her 2-night stay, I have blocked her. I have to draw the line sooner or later. Thank you all for your help.

Fred13
Level 10
Placencia, Belize

@Bob39 You followed your instincts, and weaved & dodged through the obstacle course till you came away on this side of caution. If anything, it is desert country, not a haven for people with sensitive noses. 

   I encounter this many, many times and always have taken the same vein - always with a closing wrap - "The best of journeys and the pursuit of happiness, blah, blah" and eventually they go away.

 

Btw, I love Goldfield, since my Arizona-NW took me through Nevada for years; I believe there was a no-gas stretch for 84 miles at one point (Tonopah to Ely?).

Thank you Fred. There is no gas station between Tonopah and Beatty (94 miles), and no gas station between between Tonopah and Hawthorne (103 miles). I'm not sure about Tonopah to Ely. I tell my guests, "There are 7 gas stations in Tonopah; fill up at all of them."

Beatty, that's the one. Love that country

Ditto what Krystal said. Run Forest Run!!!! (away)

I looked at the woman's list of constant questions and just had a similar encounter with a gentleman recommended by a neighbor.  My alarm bells went off and finally I said "I think this might not be the right place for you."

When you have someone questioning every aspect of your place in advance, realize they won't be happy, they'll find something to complain about, and you will be miserable.

If you value your time at say - $50/hour, she's already used up a whole day's rental or more with all these questions. Chances are the guest is OCD, or has another benign quirk that is not her fault. But either way sounds like someone who is not going to be a good Airbnb guest and will be texting you throughout their stay.

My advice - turn her down. Don't block off your dates (someone else might want them) ...block HER (you can do it in the inbox using the link under her name.  She won't be able to book your place or even see it in the search engine.

Thank you Christine.

Tomi5
Level 4
Asheville, NC

Holy moly @Bob39! You absolutely did the right thing! You were courteous, professional, answered ALL of her questions and even went the extra mile by suggesting other accomodations. You dodged a bullet, my friend!

Thank you Tomi.

Linda108
Level 10
La Quinta, CA

AMAZING discussion thread, @Bob39.  I have never seen so much agreement on this forum...:D

Paul154
Level 10
Seattle, WA

@Bob39 You handled it perfectly.

Your house, your rules.

You could have become curt earlier, but you maintained the good guy persona.

She set you up.

She was all nice and interested at first. THEN she became manipulative.

"You're place must be perfect. I'm special. Break your back for me"

You were right to decline. You no longer had to entertain her. 
"We are not a good fit. Thanks for your interest. Good luck"

Thank you Paul, I appreciate it.
Pete28
Level 10
Seattle, WA

If you had IB on then the bullet would be heading in your direction. All that was left was to throw in a few extra kids,and maybe an emotional assistance dog...

@Pete28  LMAO...

And maybe demanding a refund if the night was cloudy and stargazing was impossible...

 

Sure glad I don't have Instant Book. I have to know what the guest is like, either from reading past reviews or from chatting with them first. In this case from chatting.