why are almost all reviews 5 star reviews? that's not that helpful.....

[Annette33]

I have been hosting now for about 5 months, it's great fun and we mostly meet very nice people. As much as I am looking forward to getting great reviews from our guests, I also realized that just about all listings everywhere get great reviews all the time, so really, it doesn't help guests much to differentiate when they are comparing one listing with another. I would think it would be in everybody's best interest when reviews would be more honestly reflecting each experience, not every place can possibly be worth 5 stars! And as a host, if reviews are more spread out, I then don't have to get upset about getting a 4 star review.
Especially as  a guest I would appreciate more varied reviews: I stayed as a guest  last month at a place that charged $185.00 per night. It was a ridiculous charge for what they actually provided in their "glam camping" retreat: we didn't even get a small towel,  or top sheet on the sagging cot. Bare bones, not one little extra touch that would show a minimum of caring. But all reviews for that place are glowing and nobody mentions this obvious discrepancy between price and value provided. Hotels in that area are about $50 more, so they get away with it. In their "review" of their guests the very same two words are used all the time , simply "thank you", that's all.  That's not a review in my mind, just entices guests to leave a review.   Anyhow, instead of "rocking the boat" with a negative review for them, I didn't leave a review at all, as  I felt somewhat intimidated that I might be looked upon as the contrarian that just can't be pleased.  I imagine other guests might feel the same way, therefore say nothing when they are not pleased with a particular accomodation.
I feel that Airbnb should encourage honest reviews, what is there to lose? and then not take it out with penalties or reprimands on hosts if they get a few 3 star reviews.
Curious to hear how  others feel about this? Thanks!

[Debi1]

Reviews are a much debated issue.  In our area, we have devoted entire meetings to this topic.  Hosts don't want to leave a bad review for guests, and vice versa.  

What I just recently understood is that some hosts will not rent to a guest who has a review by a host who does NOT mention that they would like to have the guest back again.  If a 'thumbs down' is used, this is another indication although not as subtle.  As a host, I am now looking for these nuances, but I will also mark down on stars when I might not say 'the kitchen was a mess' unless there was flagrant disrespect.  As a guest, I read the reviews carefully, and if a host name is used as well as some flattering comment about said host, I'm more likely to book.

Not sure this is helpful, reading 'between the lines' can be tricky.

[Annette33]

thanks, Debi, I really like your pointers on how to read in between the lines, very helpful 🙂

[Sofia-and-Ed0]

Most people do work hard to keep a 5 star review. It's unfortunately that you didn't . I'm very honest with mine. Unfortunately they don't show your review if the other person don't write one.

Also some "Cheap" people want way too much for the price! I had a lady thinking that she could have my 5 bedroom home for her and her 4 friends for $80

[Ines6]

I hear you! A young woman was asking if I could include a garage in the 75 x night rental since they were coming to town to load a container and needed the space to store a refrigerator, stove, sofa etc (her words). So not only did she want a bedroom and a garage, she also wanted to turn my home into a loadind dock?

[Annette33]

I think you misunderstood, I do have my 5 star rating all across the board, just check my listing 🙂 My question was about why all is 5 stars anyway.. and yes, you will see the other person's review, even if you don't leave one. You'll just see it in 2 weeks, when the review period is over. 

[Emily90]

I agree with most of what you said. Also, the addition of the Super Hosting adds another facet to the whole thing. I think there must be hosts who urge or entice their guests to leave these 5 star reviews.  I was a Super Host for a few months, (do they do it by the quarter?.. I forget), and have since "fallen off".. but have had great guests during this last check-in period where they were judging my performance.  Nothing about the listing has changed, my meeting the guests at each and every check-in, or anything else, but several of these past guests just simply did not leave any review, positive or negative. I called customer service to ask about this and was told that if they don't leave a review, it counts against your Super Host percentaging. THAT, I think, is a large flaw in the whole "Super Hosting" idea, and I'm thinking of coming up with ways to encourage guests to simply leave A review, within the allotted window of time.  Though, I am not sure I received any benefit from actually being a Super Host for that time period that I was.. a badge on my listing, sure, but do people actually see it and does it inform their decision to stay with me?  I'm not sure.  None of the guests that I had mentioned having seen it..   Thoughts on this anyone? 

- A loyal host since 2008 - the beginning baby !  I should have bought stock! 

[Annette33]

I think Airbnb deveoped the superhost thing to keep everybody excited about things, just something new to add. probbly doesn't mean much..... as to encouraging reviews from guests: i think as long as there is a good sampling that is all that is needed. Who would want to read 142 reviews when you get the gist after 6 to 8? I don't ak guests to leave reviews, I'll just see if they do, then most likely, I immediately write mine. when I have guests I am not so fond of, I just don't say anything- and reading in between the lines now, when I check out a potential guest and they have no reviews, that could be a warning signal. 

[Andrea218]

oops copied my comment twice- deleting this; see below.

[Andrea218]

Wow, Emily - no idea that your status is effected by guests who don't leave reviews!   That might explain why i too fell from "grace" a while back.  there were several times i didn't receive a review.  and i think i'm seeing a pattern - i think it's a cultural thing, actually, so i never minded/resented th lack of feedback, because in each of those cases, the  people had expressed to me personally how grateful they were for the stay, which made me happy.  Maybe AirBnB needs to let guests know that it impacts hosts adversely if they don't leave feedback, (if indeed that's the case).  ACTUALLY, if a Guest doesn't leave a review, it should count against them (b/c they're not contributing to building a community) and NOT against the host.

[Kip0]

Thanks for posting this topic - I'm obsessed this afternoon with the issue of ratings because I've been noticing a pattern of a lot of disgruntled hosts.  I would like to suggest to everyone that the rating system is really working well for the AirBnB experience and that we all just need to step back a bit and look at the bigger picture of a rapidly growing platform that is providing all of us really OVERALL great experiences both as hosts and as guests.

I think many of us hosts sometimes get into our own little bubble and can only see slights where none was intended.  I went through a bout of this myself a couple weeks ago because I felt people staying at my beach place that had booked through another platform we're being ungrateful.  But when I stepped back I realized they had critiqued like a couple small things in the context of ALL of them saying they had a great time.  

Like I think in your case @Annette33 when I look at reviews of you as hosts you are so incredibly generous and gracious (and I would LOVE to stay at your place) that if other hosts don't take the same measures you might not be able to see outside of how you are as hosts.  But if I look at the listing that you stayed at it is listed as rustic so I'm not sure if fair to hold them to the same standards.  That said I think it would have been fine for you to provide review that shared that it was more rustic than you expected and you as guests generally prefer a more attentive experience.  Even if just in private feedback and then the hosts can take or leave as they wish.

Anyway, even for those hosts who disagree with me thank you for contributing to this discussion I think it's really healthly to dig into it all!

[Annette33]

good points, Kip, thank you! Yes, there probably is an experience based success model behind Airbnb's ratings system, and one learns how to read in between the lines. As to my own experience, I just gave you the gist, no need to beat a dead horse. it probably was the price level that didn't correspond to what was offered. and maybe my critique of the continuous 5 star rating has to do with me being European, whereas Americans traditionally like to be positive at all times, while I'm more looking for the real deal, especially when it means critique. anyhow, all is a fscinating experince!