Would you make a claim for small items less than 10$?

[Carol90]

I am disappointed not much for the loss of a spoon and fork and tea towel but the principle. That you trust someone to be in your home and expect them to leave it intact. To make it worse the person was as conversational and nice as could be. Very bad feeling! Apart from leaving a negative review should I claim for these items or file them under loss and move on ? I still got the 48 hours.

Should this person be flagged?

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

For such small, low-value items, I probably would just eat it (no pun intended).  They may be misplaced, who really wants to steal one of each of those?  I would maybe message the person through the system and mention you are missing those items and ask if they happen to remember seeing them around?  I definitely don't think this warrants flagging the person or preventing them from renting again. 

[Carol90]

@Cynthia-and-Chris1 No there are not misplaced, I am sure she took them and she did forget - as you will see in my explanation. I have not lost any cutlery till now, with this guest that needed to carry lunch over the weekend to work. I saw the said items in her open lunch box in the kitchen on Saturday evening and I assumed, of course she will wash and put them back on the drainer. But a sixth sense made me check to confirm they really were mine. I somehow expected a problem, now it is confirmed.

About the tea towel, see my posts, I posted about it yesterday. I waited patiently as she stripped the bed politely even when I told her she did not have to and carry them to the laundry. I expected to find that tea towel with the sheets, it was not. Why would I assume the spoon and fork are just misplaced?

A pretender is the worst. What if I was not home? Bigger / expensive items disappearing? I feel stolen from and bullied at the same time. 

[Carol90]

Yes, there are people who find the need to steal such items or who feel they deserve to take them with them. I call them sticky fingers.

The next host may not be lucky, these kind of behaviour doesn't just go away.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

It's just wear and tear - you''ll probably find the spoon down the back of the sofa later on. Claiming for tiny amounts like this will stress you out. Best to set aside a small amount from every booking to cover items like this going missing. It happens in your own home - probably ends up in the bin - or then you find it 6 months later!

[Carol90]

@Gerry-And-Rashid0

Thanks. I felt as much, claiming such an amount is ridiculous. I am sure they are not misplaced I saw the towel in the room before she left and she finished packing and left with it.

There is more from my interaction with her  to  make this conclusion that I won't share here but will share with ABB if contacted.

[David126]

I would not.

Too small

Unlikely to be able to prove it to the satisfaction of ABB.

Sadly a cost of doing business.

[Teri15]

Thanks for this type of information.  I am brand new to hosting.  I think I'll leave out some plactic silverware/paper cups/paper towels that someone can use if needed.

[Carol90]

@Teri15 

Thinking of the same - separate cutlery for guests. May be plastic may discourage long term guests. I am thinking of going to Salvation Army or such place and getting a cheap set so if they are lost it is no nig deal and putting everything ABB related - cutlery free tea and coffee, sugar in separate cabinet and label it ABB, don't touch anything else. Some of my cutlery don't even match but I keep them because they were given to me by friends when I moved here ( sentimental value).

[Carol90]

@David126 True and sad.

[Cindy62]

It depends how long they stayed and how much you charged them. For example, if you charged them $40 for a one night stay and they stole $10 of stuff then maybe it's worth filing a claim. 😉 Otherwise, forget about it.

[Carol90]

The person stayed 4 night for slightly over 100$. It is the betrayal of trust and for such items more than anything else that disappoints. I am sure I have lost cutlery in the garbage in the past. But to watch a 'refined' person do that yuck, and in my  face.

[Andrew90]

I think you need to factor the loss/theft of such small items as part of the cost doing business. I found a good sale and bought multiple services of silverware, plates, glasses, dish towels etc so I have plenty of backup. Been renting for 10!years and still have spares!! In these 10 years I have filed three damage claims or withheld security. 1) person went through wall, 2) ironed on floor and melted carpet, broken window.  

[Annette47]

I was heartbroken to discover several things taken from my RV yesterday.  I keep it fully stocked so they can just walk in with their groceries and have everything they need.  I had a sketchy couple, their car was impounded and wallet was "lost" while they were here...based on chain of events, most likely they were in jail over night.  I buy my stuff second hand so it's not the money....it's the trust😢 When you are kind, helpful and do everything you can to make sure they have a great experience, it hurts.  Thank goodness 90% of my guests are AMAZING!  

[Carol90]

@Annette47 Same feeling I had yesterday. I bought the items different places, sales, given etc. It is not the money but when your trust is betrayed it hurts, you imagine worst case scenario and the person did this when I am home. See all along we are having nice conversations etc but they are leaving with my things! Today I was looking for some face cream and in panic I thought it had gone same way as the cutlery, only to find it. Shows it marks you.

I would rather she said hey I picked your towel from the kitchen and I used it for abcd and here it is. She would have been honest and I would have put in the garbage or used it for other cleaning jobs not kitchen, no ill feeling.

I had to make extra effort to be nice to my next guest yesterday.