Star rating advice to guests?

[Ange2]

Hello, 

just wondering, as this Is a contentious area, does anyone write in their Airbnb listings that 5 stars is Airbnb default and anything lower is considered 'room for improvement' 

1.  My concern is not the stars as they are often arbitrary, not reading listing, not being the Mondrian, unrealistic expectations for low cost, perfection is unattainable  etc.

2. If you don't know,  how can you improve?  My stars are sometimes in direct contradiction to rave reviews, happy guests who loved their stays.

3. Does Airbnb penalize less than 5 stars by either shifting the listing to the end or not showing it for a bit, I do not know if they do and my experience of such could be coincidental?

To address 2. & 3.  i was thinking of writing,  haven't figured out where to include yet.

Notes on the  Airbnb star system review:

Less than 5  Airbnb stars means there is something that needs to be improved. If you give less than 5 stars in any category please  let me know why in the private feedback so I can improve the experience for the next guests. Many thanks for your visit, I hope you enjoyed your stay..  

Or words to that effect.

any thoughts especially on 3. Airbnb penalizing?

 Am  I  just flogging a dead horse 😱

Is the star rating system just a crude marketing tool never intended to help hosts ?

[Brittany1]

@Ange2

I agree with you that Airbnb puts an uneccesary amount of pressure on hosts to receive 5 stars and that guests do not understand the system. Guests think that a rave review and 4 stars is a compliment. (And it should be) But in Airbnb world it is 5-starts or bust!

Upon checking out we send guests a personal message that includes something about the star rating...

"5-star reviews are very important for the success and future of our Airbnb."

Of course if someone isn't happy with us they will not give us the 5-stars but it helps those that love our place to understand what hosts need.

[Ange2]

@Brittany1

Thank you appreciate it.  

[Michael303]

I am in the same boat with the star ratings?  5 stars accross the board and now my rating has dipped slightly?

How in the world can I fix the problem if AIRBNB or guests give me NO INFORMATION!

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

Star ratings are a crude tool but used widely in many sectors. It's hard not to feel it personally if you usually get 5 stars and someone gives you 4 stars - but its' a subjective thing. We always ask in our feedback to guests if there is anything we should change or do differently. Even guests who have given us 5 stars across the board sometimes come back with suggestions.