What has gone missing at your place

[Wende2]

Hi guys......just wondering what you've had walk out with a guest.  I just had my 1 yr Anniversary this Aug. I feel I've been very lucky compared to a friend around the corner.  Just the other day the end of a bag of coffee walked out, probably 6-8 pots worth, what pissed me off is my nice Gevaila coffee scoop went with it, had a tag with the Eiffel Tower walk out and some extra toothbrushes, all pretty simple things, but I really liked that nice coffee scoop for the guests, just thought it was a little thing that just added a nice touch.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

The newest - 3 umbrellas

When asked where did they put umbrellas, guests said they broke but they can try to arrange them to be returned to us from the place they left them.

No comment.

[Wende2]

WOW.!!  I don't have items like that in my place, if you forgot yours, well that's just too bad.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

they are cheap in IKEA but make our guests very happy on rainy days 🙂

[Wende2]

Hi.....wish I wasn't 2 hrs from my nearest Ikea, I'm sure they are Grateful.  My area is for outdoor activities, I'm sure most people think of things for in case it rains, I thought of it for indoor activities if they're forced to stay in, so there's things to occupy their time while in the apartment.

[Sarah977]

I've never owned an umbrella in my life (even when I lived in coastal British Columbia where it rains two thirds of the year, and here in coastal pacific Mexico where it rains for almost 3 months straight) but 2 guests bought or brought umbrellas while they were here and left them behind. So now I have 2. We'll see how long I have them. Same with beach towels- never used one myself, I prefer a sarong, and ask my guests to bring their own beach towel. Now have 2, as guests didn't want to pack and bring them home again.

[Kim866]

So of the course the usual--the occasional glass, the shampoos etc. but the WEIRDEST was the toilet bowl brush????!!!!!  I looked everywhere for it!  My husband then suggested that because it was a fishing team, someone probably used it to clean out a boat and threw it away.  I would have never come up with that but I guess it makes sense!

[Wende2]

Hummmmmm, maybe you should be glad they took it, if they actually used it on the toilet ; )

[Michelle53]

I had a non-English-speaking guest and her son stay with me for a week. She said that, after her stay with me, she was going to stay with a local friend.     (Google translate).

I work from home, so happened to be around when the friend turned up.  I went outside to find the friend carrying a couple of plastic shopping bags down the path into my back yard. She saw me, and said she was looking for the trash.  So, ok, I was a new host, and let that go, although it seemed odd, since anyone who lives in the city knows the trash cans are in the alley. 

Anyway, I walk with her to the guest entrance, and she keeps asking me if I am the homeowner. I say that I am. 

The guest is there, with her luggage. 

They offer to walk me through the guest space, and proudly show how they made up the beds, and everything is neat and tidy. They leave.

A few hours later, I go back in to start cleaning. 

That's when I start noticing items missing. A brand new sheet set, in original packaging. A designer-label down blanket that had been on one of the beds (purchased at a discount store, though, not full price, thankfully). A cheap blanket from my supply shelf was in its place under the duvet. 

In the bathroom, every full, unused item had been taken. Toilet rolls, soap, etc. 

The entire contents of the refrigerator was taken. 

The net of that was I opened a case in Airbnb for payment for the missing items, with photos of the items.  Thankfully, available to purchase online with prices.    Several days later, I get a call from the guest, which I could barely understand, but the gist was she was coming to my house. I rushed home to find her on the porch with her son, and a backpack. 

Lo and behold, the full sheet set was there.  Not the blanket though (probably already ebayed) but a cheaper one. I took it, washed it thoroughly, and put it in the guest space.  I wrote off the supplies. 

Lessons learned - leave enough for a guest stay plus a bit extra. Don't put anything in there you don't want to lose, or seems too attractive, and easy to remove. File a case - you never know. 

[Wende2]

Hi.....proof that some people are just a real piece of work.  Plus to have the nerve to have you walk along with them, and your THINGS, I'm guessing that was the "garbage".  I just started last Aug., and must say I've had pretty much nothing taken compared to what I've read here.  I have really never had the chance to travel, so I asked a friend what she thought I should have in the apt, first thing she said, nothing more then what they'll need, if you have it set up for 4 people, just have enough dishes, cups, glasses, silverware for 4, an that's what I did.  The house around the corner has had similar items taken, sheets, toilet paper, food, laundry detergent, etc.

[Piotr48]

TV, router, microwave, sheets, towels, pillows.

[Wende2]

WOW......this question has been a real eye opener about the subject, and how I've had mostly Wonderful guests.  The few that have stolen, took simple things.  One couple let their 3 and 11 year olds redecorate, and break the ear off of a ceramic bunny I made 30 years ago.  I just thought who lets their kids play with other peoples belongings, they offered to pay for it, since I was just getting home as they were leaving, how do you put a reasonable price on that.  The bunny couple are now in my home.  Here's hoping you find less missing come 2020.!!

[Kerri28]

I have had lots of missing silverware (cutlery), wine openers (now I stock the cheap ones) and believe it not, pillows! Cutlery at first, I thought, maybe they take a knife or something on a picnic and forget to take it out of their pack, but too many have gone missing over the last decade. We are about a 6 hour drive from the Los Angeles metropolitan area,  my new theory is that people take silverware for their trip home and meals on the road (???). Tupperware also seems to be missing frequently.

As for the rest of it, I hope it's accidental. I often travel with my own pillow (with an obnoxious pillowcase) and sometimes even a wine opener. I can see how people might accidentally steal those items. We've also had LOTS of wine glasses broken, but guests almost always tell me about it. And that, to me, is just a cost of doing business. 

[Wende2]

Hi.....after reading what everyone has had walk out, I've had Wonderful guests.  The stupid little things they've taken aren't worth much.  I did have a couple let their 3 and 11 yr olds redecorate the place an broke the ear off a ceramic bunny I made 30 yrs ago, unbelievable that parents don't tell their kids...that does not belong to you put it down.

[Robin4]

@Wende2 

I have had a few books disappear with guests. I walk a fine line between providing guests with nice homely surroundings and giving guests the bare minimum required for their stay.

Between the main house and the listing cottage we have a reasonable library of good books.

Some of them go back more than a century.

I had to remove the personally autographed  books as they were definitely a temptation for light fingers. But I regularly have a book go. I lost my favourite.....QB V11 (Queens Bench 7)...the only autobiographical book author  Leon Uris wrote!

The one that surprised me most though, I had the entire stock of a medicine cabinet disappear with the guest. $80 worth of fist aid medicinals gone, Even took the scissors and the needle and thread. If they could have got the cabinet off the wall that probably would have gone as well.

The ironic thing was.....they gave me a 4 star for 'Value' ......but to some people there is no such thing as, value.....if you gave it to them for nothing there would still be something wrong with it! 

I am a realist and I understand that there is a class of guest who considers petty theft ok, it's just a part of life.....everyone does it! They never steal anything of sufficient value to have the host make a fuss. 

* 

I supply a block of chocolate for each incoming guest and I buy them when on special. I made the mistake of putting 24 blocks in the restock cupboard and not locking it!

The next time I checked my 24 blocks of chocolate had become 15!

Am I seriously going to hassle the Resolution Centre over 9 blocks of chocolate?

You just take a deep breath, put it down to experience and get on with the business of hosting!

Cheers.......Rob

[Wende2]

Hi......I'm guessing they must think you'll never notice that missing book, it's a shame you lost your favorite.  I've only had trivial items taken, and that's only been a few.  A friend told me to only have what they need, just enough kitchen items for how many people can stay and make it homey, so that's what I did, so far people are liking the place.  I just started on here a year in Aug.