"Turn Lookers Into Bookers"

[Carole155]

Is anyone else getting these ridiculous emails from Airbnb  that  a number of people looked at my listing "for December and January ended up at listings that are an average of $31 less per night." -- and then go on to suggest I lower my price by that much.  My listing is for 3 bedrooms and 3 baths.  The people booking the cheaper reservations are two people. They obviously don't need my house and can get a smaller/cheaper house.  I wrote back to Airbnb twice and explained my frustration with these emails.  Obviously they are not going to cease sending them.  Our house rents for $89 in the off season for 3 br/3ba.  Any less than that and it simply would not pencil out with what we pay our cleaning person, utilities, etc.   What are they thinking?  

[Sarah977]

@Kanani0,  it's not just that the computer has no idea of operating expenses, a computer can't "compare" places and deem them "similar". Just because a listing is a private room for 1 guest with a private bath, doesn't mean it's even close to being similar. One can be super clean, artistic and comfy, with a great shower, comfy cotton bedding and feather pillows, the other can have a moldy shower, an uncomfortable mattress, a wimpy shower flow, flat or lumpy pillows, and polyester sheets.

[Bec12]

Algorithms! It’s the way of modern comms. Just ignore 🙂

[Sarah157]

Nice to know I am not the only one being told I have just lost 3 potential bookings as my price was too high!  I find them infuriating and insulting.  

[Suchat0]

I've got them sometimes too, it is just an algorithm. You can just ignore them. 

[Susan151]

Sometimes it is a good thing that lookers do not choose to book! My home is not right for everyone. Of course. I am delighted when someone decides that my hosting style and personality isn't right for them. I am delighted that someone who doesn't get the value that I offer moves on and books someplace that mirrors their values and needs.

So, I ignore those emails and do what I do best.

[Cathie19]

Hi @Carole155.

Yep, I get them too!

Generated by the great Airbnb BOT in the Ethernet,  they appear when you least expect them, and they make no sense...... they are using algorithms of other listings that are not comparable.

For sanity, disregard and treat like spam..... > sight > delete!

🙂

Cathie

[Kathleen1]

I refuse to rent my listing for less that it costs to kennel a dog.  Airbnb is insulting me.

[JB6]

I've learned to just ignore them.  One of the stats I track is days booked in advance of rental (DBAR) - on average, most of my guests book 6 weeks out.  If I raise the price, that number drops; if I lower it, people book further out.  I'm comfortable with that number, we stay booked as often as we want (every weekend), and we do get a few last minute bookings when a guest cancels.  I know my market and competition a lot better than a program does; that's why I use my own research to set prices.

[Helga0]

I guess you can sign out of getting this kind of spam, as I don’t get them. Only if I look at price tips in the calendar deliberately, it tells me that the hostel with four to 8 beds per room is cheaper and gets less !!! bookings, therefore I should lower the price to that level. 

Check the notifications settings!

I get bookings and guest mails, their notifications, but no hosting tips. 

I still get a notification in the middle of the night, if I look at a listing from the forum at the other side of the world and forget to switch the app back to host mode. “Do you still wish to go to xxx? Book now! Only 10% free listings remain!”

how very incentive. If that does not convince the lookers to book...

[Pete28]

Atleast in the US Airbnb has recently taken to showing only base price on the web site.

The blah just booked for xyz less may refer to the difference in base price without cleaning fee (which makes the competitor price artificially low) , or may even be a private room booking.