saying goodbye

[Sally221]

The guests have been truly wonderful,the hosting community lovely, I really enjoyed hosting but the hassles with the platform are just too much,  I'm blocking everything after our last guests in September, snoozing I guess, if there's a miraculous turn around I'd be very happy, if anyone out there wants to work with small potato on site hosts I'm there,  otherwise, adios, Sally

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Sally221 So sorry to hear that you are leaving the platform! I wish you good luck and all the best!!!!

[Marie82]

@Sally221sorry to hear that your post was always nice and graceful it was such a pleasure to always read your answers

[Susan17]

Hi @Sally221 

Just saw your posts from yesterday - sounds like it was a pretty rough day! Did you throw yourself into that bottle of wine by noon, or did you manage to resist? :))

Listen, I'm sure you're well aware of my views on this company and how they operate by now, so I'm not going to insult your intelligence by telling you things will get any better, or they're going to start treating hosts with any level of care and respect - ever! Probably not gonna happen. But what I will say is this - if you enjoy your hosting, and you enjoy your guests - which you clearly do - don't let Airbnb take that pleasure away from you. Just grit your teeth, weather the storm, and carry on doing what you do best - until the time is right, and something better comes along. Always does, if you're patient enough! 

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do. 🙂

[Robin4]

@Susan17 

That is one of the best comments I have ever seen posted here on the CC Susan. You have put Sally's experience into perspective...you truly are a great contributor! You have the capacity to put things in a proper perspective.

@Sally221 , things are going to go wrong, but you are not everyone elses fairy godmother....geez look at some of your 130+ reviews.......

"If you want a true AirB&B experience, they way it was originally intended to be, you will never find hosts as great as Sally and Tom. Everything was as described, but their energy and personal interactions were really special. My friends and I stayed with them the first night into town and the last night before leaving. Coming back was like coming home." 

You can't buy reviews like that for God sake, you earn them....and Sally that is exactly what you and Tom have done, you have earned respect and a great bunch of reviews!

Over a number of community sites I get a bit sick of reading about people who just want to screw the system, but you Sally and Tom are genuine hosts, the sort that we all aspire to be!

Sally, the odd shi*ty day is going to happen.....I had one today who came up to me before she left and said...."I broke a plate, it attacked me from the cupboard" .....haha, seriously, that is how she described the event!

Well in fact she actually broke two plates, but she thought one of them was not badly damaged enough to mention so, she just put it back in the cupboard.....

Ruined a complete 20 piece set because the design is not replaceable. 

But Sally, I am not going to make a big deal out of it with the guest. I don't want to offer my future guests bit and pieces of differing crockery sets so, I bought a whole new 4 place setting today and the rest of the old set I will just put aside until I get an invite to a Greek wedding!

It is unfortunate Sally but this is just a part of hosting, the odd bull is going to roam through our china shop, and we just have to accept that and move on. Fortunately they are few and far between and I allow for these breakages in my listing amount.

It does annoy me that guests treat their clumsiness as being someone elses fault instead of taking responsibility for it and making good what they have done, but that is part of hosting....you are going to meet them!

No way I am going to turn my back on all the great guests I get from Airbnb just because of one clumbsy individual.

Cheers......Rob

[Kelly149]

@Robin4 maybe she became inspired by your mosaics and then realized that she's a hack and your beautiful pieces can't be quickly replicated 🙂

and, btw, don't discount the idea of mixing/matching items for your space. It already has such a handmade feel to it (this is a great compliment - anyone can go buy out the ikea, but a truly made from scratch place is special!) that coordinated but not exact matching of anything seems natural there.

btw @Sally221 moving a bulk of my days over to Vrbo has lessened my mgmt headaches, just as an aside

[Christine615]

@Susan17  Do you not host anymore? I took a peek at your profile but it didn't show your place. I'll be in Dublin for WorldCon and was curious. We have another place booked but was bookmarking places in case colleagues need a place to stay.

Either way - we're all feeling like Airbnb has lost its roots. Luckily I'm still getting really nice guests (okay - 99% of them) and some repeat visitors.  So far so good. But I'm always thinking about what I'll do if Airbnb continues to employ tactics that keep the vetting in their control and the clean up after the drama in ours. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

[Susan17]

@Christine615 

Aaaaaaaargh! Pleeeeease God - not again!

Just saw your comment now. Yes, I absolutely am still hosting - or trying to, at least, when Airbnb aren't burying my listings. Thank you so much for letting me know. On the phone to CX now trying to get sorted (9th time in 6 days - 3 different glitches, 1 double booking caused by their glitches, 1 melted head!)  😞

[Sally221]

Dear Susan & all, if only the platform lived up to the quality of the guests, no, if the platform was half as good as the guests I'd be reasonably content. The straw that snapped this camel's patience if not her back was this sudden charging for extra guests crap & then saying it wasn't happening after it happened twice. The wine I was threatening to drink was a hostess gift. The second time the overcharge happened I was sitting on the deck watching the sunset with more lovely guests who were sharing a bottle with me. I have been very, very lucky in the people who have stayed- impromptu concerts, seeds sent to me all the way from Australia, adorable babies, adorable Cal students-cool, interesting people from all over the world- maybe I will set up my own site (by this I mean my kids will do it for me) Maybe things will actually improve- I do have one outlier guest who booked for a May graduation, if she's my last I'll give her a champagne send off! I just don't want to deal with incompetence from admin anymore. I'm a retired teacher (award winning) and I've already been there, done that. Perhaps we wil let to visiting scholars or doctoral students. I will certainly miss the kindness, wisdom and humor on this forum. As a parting gift here's the behind the scene story of Patrick & company - the fellow who said our place was just like coming home-

   Patrick, Kurt & Larry are friends since college all on the shady side of 50- they were in the area for a Dead and co concert- a reiteration of the Grateful Dead a band that is iconic for a certain demographic. Their wives all chose to stay behind. They were coming from the East coast and forgot about bay area weather. Kurt, 6'7, had only a long sleeved shirt, I set him up with a warm coat that almost fit and told him to keep it until the end of their trip. Kurt is an accomplished musician and he and Tom had a time playing together. Everyone was reverting to their college age personas, there was a spirited debate about who the best Beatle was (George, duh). 

On the return journey everyone was hoarse, I asked if they had been singing too loudly at the concert? No, said Larry, their friend they were staying with had a nephew who'd been growing marijuana and had given his uncle a kilo that wasn't up to industry standards. This had ben passed on to "the boys" ( I can see why the wives took a pass on this trip) Larry asked me if he could leave the rest of the kilo as a hostess gift. By then I was laughing too hard for coherent speech. The matter was dropped.

 The next morning Larry left early to meet a friend in San Francisco. I assumed he was still in charge of the funky dope. Patrick and Kurt had a late morning, Tom and Kurt enjoying playing guitars together. I finally had to remind them that they did have a plane to catch. Off they went in a bit of a hurry.  I went down stairs to start turning out the rooms only to see Patrick's car come to a screeching halt in front of our house.  I looked around the room, what had he forgotten? Patrick came running up the stairs with a paper bag in hand- yep, it was the weed! "I forgot" he gasped, can you take this?  They were flying into Washington D.C. and what's legal here is, in that amount, a felony there.  Careful on the stairs I told him & watch out for the garbage trucks. I put the substandard stuff in my least favorite neighbor's green waste bin and sat on my stairs and laughed till I cried. 

[Susan17]

Lol! Love that story @Sally221! Proper response to come later - losing the will to live on the CX phone line just now.. 🤤

[Rowena29]

Hi @Sally221 

I'm a relatively new host, and relatively little experience and not familiar with airbnb the way it "used' to be. So i've got a hide really saying anything at all.  However, when I first started , and then some, I had a whole series of things go wrong - it was a real trial by fire -  whole series of glitches from airbnb    - I had no experience adn no idea what was going on, and when I reached out for support, people assumed it was because I was a newbie and was making stupid mistakes and I tended to believe them - but it was all airbnb stuffing up as it turned out. It was really really stressful and I felt quite isolated and confused. So I have definitely had some experience at things not going as they should and feeling very let down  by CS. ( although a couple of times they have been incredibly supportive too)

All i can offer is this. I'm an ebayer.    I sell pre loved high street labels on ebay occasionally.   Just a private seller. Nothing substantial. But I try to do everything to a high standard. I know they're different platforms,  but I think the underlying principles are the same - private people using a global platfrom where services and goods can be exchanged with the platfrom acting as administrator and  mediator. Well,  to my mind ebay has followed a path similar to  what airbnb appears to be doing now - ie the customer has all the rights to the point of being absolutley ridiculous.  I have top seller status over 7 years  and 100% buyer satisfaction, ( much harder to achieve than superhost),  but a brand new user  of 2 weeks with no buying history, got a 100% refund AND refund of postage both ways because she found a loose thread on the hem of  a pre owned shirt . Another buyer delibertely ripped a $250 dress and claimed  item arrived damaged to get a full refund,  including postage both ways, despite the 12 photos on the listing showing the garment in pristine condition. You get the idea. Every improvement and every update just made it worse for the sellers. Dishonest customers could very very very easily rort the system.  On at least 6  occasions I'd' be so hacked off I stop all activity for 6 - 12 months. Then the angst would alleviate a bit and I'd dip my toe in again.  And I'd keep thinking, the pendulum is swinging so RIDICULOUSLY far to the customers side, its GOT to come back to the middle eventually.   Every time I was sent a questionairre I'd tell them what Id think,  without any real hope it would change things.   But.... it HAS. All of a sudden, with the latest updates and round of improvments,  the sellers have more rights, customers aren't just blindly believed, CS looks more deeply into your listing and your history  before making decisions, which in my experience have been far more fair.  It's more like it used to be.  This took years mind you - maybe 5 or 6 before it got fairer, but eventually the penny dropped - when fewer and fewer people listed and more and more complained. They also lifted their game substantially with CS . SO I'd be inclined to go with what everyone else is saying - hang in there!  Even if you snooze and take a break for a while - or just block out a couple of months or 6  on your calendar and breather?  I reckon airbnb will swing back EVENTUALLY. They'll have to, or go under.

It seems such a shame to lose you and for you to lose what you obviously enjoy because of the (sometimes) mindless biased  stupidity of the platform. And I've also repeateldy noticed - things always comes in waves - you'll get  a series of bad events, it's like someone is deliberately kicking you when you're down and everything feels so  overhwlemingly negative and pointless, and then all of a sudden it will come good. I reckon you're in the downward swing phase, that's all.  

Do reconsider?!

Cheers

[Sally221]

Hi Rowena,

back in the day when I had a baby, a toddler and a kid starting middle school and a mother in law with dementia to take care of, ebay was one of my top self soothing ploys!

 Seriously, I was scrolling thru the vintage costume jewelry listings in the midnight hour more times than I was willing to admit. I even made a long distance friend- I was a new buyer, he was a new seller & I bought a candlestick and he wanted to be paid in pounds sterling- I went to the bank- the exchange rate was horrible! He sent off the package but, being from a little town in Wales, he didn't think to put the street number on it. He had to send it again when  it came back to him. I felt bad and mailed him an abalone shell- his daughter was fascinated by all things oceanic & it seemed like the most exotic thing I could give her ( we had been exchanging a lot of messages by then ) She loved the shell and sent me back a stone she'd painted and on it went.   I still have the candlestick and stone and that little girl is a scientist studying Oceanic currents in the Indian ocean, last I heard. We still send each other cards and stuff. I'm still wrestling with support over my messed about listing and feeling justified in blocking everything past my last booking in Sept (and thinking way ahead mama for next May) Maybe things will get better but I needed an exit strategy! And this new Airbnb Luxe- what kind of fool would list a luxury home with them with the current level of un vetting of guests? and if they are doing due diligence with the high end market and giving us the back of the hand, that is beyond despicable. I do love your name by the way, it was on the short list for my first born but he turned out to be an Owen, Sally

[Rowena29]

Oh @Sally221 I'm so sorry - I didn't see this until just now.

Yes I'm a bit like you - I got really addicted to ebay at one point and bought heaps and heaps of stuff - more than I could possibly use ( usually all the one clothing label - a high end Uk designer). LIke you, I was using it as a stress release - I was also nursing my mother who had terminal cancer and had lost the ability to walk and weight bear ( but still was mentally fine and great company, it was a lovely time in many ways). My kids were also reasonably young - all at school  - I'd finish work,  pick them up,  cook dinner, make lunch's for the next day, get them showered, and then go over and do a 12 hour night shift at Mum's.. We were determined to keep her out of palliative care for the final run if at all possible.  She'd go to sleep about 9 pm and I'd be so wired up I'd trawl ebay. Ridiculous really as I had very little money  - but I DID get some absolute bargains ( and now I sell them on, as the amount i have in my wardrobe that I've never worn is truly disgraceful). I never made any long lasting friendships like you, but I did buy from the UK a lot, but I just used paypal who converted the currency for me. I was EXTREMELY sleep deprived for 6 months or so - dont' know how I did it actually.

I'm not sure what's gone wrong with your listing, but I bet it does get fixed eventually. Airbnb has stuffed my listing around at least 3 times - and NEVER do they let you know when it's fixed - you just have to keep checking back.     Opened up a week of blocked dates  at a rock bottom price ( christmas no less)  - first I knew  was when they were IB'd  - I'd only been live for about 8 weeks and had only had 3 guests - i nearly had conniptions.  I rang CS adn they agreed it was their error and cancelled the guest their end.  But then I lost IB over the peak holiday season -  a direct result of the cancellation. CS agreed I SHOULDNT' have lost it, but couldnt' figure out how to re instate it  -  promised me they'd stay in contact - never heard from them again  -  every time I emailed they just answered with " this case has been closed" took 4 weeks to be fixed, was never told when it was, just found out by looking every day.  Then they told all my guests they could "check in anytime" instead of "anytime AFTER 2 pm -  took me AGES to realise that was happening and caused much angst between myself and a couple of guests who I thought were being unreasonable. And that was all in my first 3 months of hosting!

I"ve heard Luxe mentioned but don't know much about it.  I wouldn't go near it with a ten foot barge pole - especially after all the negativity associated with Plus. I doubt they are doing any more diligence with Luxe guests  than any other guests ( purely based on the complaints from Plus hosts - their CS seems to be even more woeful than regular hosts). they do seem to be trying to spread themselves awfully thin and in the process are getting more and more similar to all the other platforms it would appear to me, and losing their individuality. But I'm far from experienced.   I do truly think it will calm down eventually - but it might be a long eventually.   I'm a little bit lucky in that we don't HAVE to airbnb - its a bit of an experiment for us.  I try to be as good as I can, and take it very seriously, but by the end of the year ( or even earlier) if it's not worth the time, energy and angst, we will just permanently tenant. We are currently listed with a couple of other platforms and have recently got some good bookings via VRBO ( homeaway over here) but mostly airbnb for us so far. If it's any consolation Ive found VRBO CS to be much much MUCH worse than airbnb - but  others have had different experiences.

I still truly think snooze for a while.

AFter a few lots of great guests, the frustrations you're currently feeling will dissipate, I'm sure.   I like my name too.  I'm the youngest and the only girl  - 6 older brothers. Mum had Rowena picked out but was absolutely certain I'd be a boy.  Even after I was born, she argued with the obstetrician and said "it CAN'T be a girl".  I think she got the name from Ivanhoe by sr Walter Scott.

[Catherine491]

yes, I agree...each year the platform gets worse and worse....they have needed decent competition for a long time...our guests have been a pleasure, but the hassles are so frustrating

[Shaun69]

@Sally221  Hi Sally, just try to remember that people count not platforms and there are a lot of great guests out there who would really enjoy your company and hospitality. Snooze away but have a look at things again in a few Months when the pressure has reduced. Regards Shaun.