The honest guest review conundrum?

[Douglas160]

Soo we're coming to the end of our first year as Airbnb host and we've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, with only a couple poor guest. Reading through a previous post concerning leaving an honest review about bad guest, someone mentioned waiting a few days to help distance yourself emotionally from the situation before reviewing. I find that's especially helpful to keep from going overboard on a negative review. I have a question that has really had me concerned in regards to leaving an honest, but potentially very negative review of a guest. I'm worried that even though reviews are hidden until both host and guest have reviewed, that an especially vindictive guest could come back under a spouse's or friends Airbnb account and leave a scathing review! Has anyone had this happen? 

[Robin4]

@Douglas160

Douglas, I think that was probably me....I have previously suggested that you should wait a day or two before 'putting pen to paper' where a review is concerned! 

We always tend to mellow given time and the thing that a lot of hosts don't consider is....what you say is going to stay with you as long as you host!

Douglas, you have to be factual but......you also have to be diplomatic. Now, there are a few hosts here that are going to cane me for saying that and suggest I should spell out in graphic detail what a guest has done that has so offended me....but that is not nesseccary, it really isn't!

I had a recent guest who really upset me....seriously!

She accused me of being a voyeur and a creepy old man! This is how I handled this situation in the review process......

Douglas your review will not be seen by the guest until they publish their review of you, and you will have the right to leave a public respose to their review!

Doug, please be diplomatic mate, don't let them off the hook but speak of them in general terms so that whatever you say will be taken as your perception of the guest!

I hope this is of some help to you Doug!

Cheers........Rob

[Linda-And-Richard0]

@Douglas160I agree with @Robin4 about taking a day to calm down a bit before you write the guest review.  A simple statement such as "This guest better suited for a motel/hotel" and giving a thumps down will tell other hosts to avoid this person without going into details.  As far as the bad guest writing a vendictive view under someone else's name, that other person would need to book your listing in order for any review to be written.   A history of good & positive reviews will override one negative comment. 

[Victoria567]

Spare us from the bland vague review please as it is no use to other hosts as all it gives is your opinion and not the facts.

These vague wishy washy reviews allow these bad guests to bounce through the air bnb platform from unsuspecting host to host.

Robins review does NOT mention that his guest Anita accused him of being a Peeping Tom ( from his previous threads)

Facts please and not speculation or opinion is what other hosts such as myself would prefer to see in a hosts review.

Some hosts are more preoccupied with their stats rather than write an honest factual review.

Facts not opinion are appreciated.

[Cor3]

Hi @Douglas160,

I fully agree with the above.

And I doubt it, they will book with you again. Just to leave a bad review.

Having said that though. Obviously there are many other Internet channels around. Which they can use to burn you down to the ground. I’ve once seen a guy building a complete website (Apparently it took him close to 170 hours!!). Just because he had a bad experience in a single Airbnb 😞

[Thuy28]

I do the same. I always try to give guests positive reviews as much as I can and until now I have left rarely negative reviews.

Before I decided to gave up a negative review, I have been waiting few days to calm day. Some guest are annoying but it's not worth giving a bad review. But last time I had to give a bad honest review because a guest broke the houserule, he tried to exploit my offered service and it was really mean and disrespectful to me.

So it just happens. If you think guest should correct himself, tell them simply. I prefer honest opinion than a good review.