AirBnB: not worth the cost anymore.

[Scott1846]

I just had a bad stay at an AirBnB in Portland, Oregon.  Black mold and exposed pipes in the bathroom. No ice maker and no ice tray. No free parking. Overall, it would have been cheaper and better to stay at a mid-range hotel. Then the request from the host, asking for a five-star review! I did them a favor and didn't review them at all; no need to make things worse for them just because of the ratings inflation that they are forced to rely on, exactly the way Lyft and Uber threaten drivers with de-platforming if they don't  maintain an artificially inflated 4.6 or above. Now I get an email from AirBnB, telling me that the *host* has reviewed *ME* !  Also, I can't *see* this "review" unless I first write a review about that bad experience, which I don't want to write.  Hey, AirBnB: YOU SUCK. How's THAT for a review? 

[Dave-and-Deb0]

Hi @Scott1846 

I am sorry to hear that you experienced a bad stay at an Airbnb listing.  I certainly encourage you to leave an accurate and honest review about your experience at this listing.  Guests rely on these reviews as a deciding factor on where to stay and you not leaving a review could result in another guest having the same experience you had.  I would also recommend and encourage you to make a claim for a partial refund due to your negative experience.  If you wish to do this, you would do that here: https://airbnb.com/resolutions

I hope you do not give up on staying at Airbnbs in the future.  I know for me, I chose recently to stay in a hotel as the prices for the area I was at were quite a bit more for Airbnb listings.  

Best of luck @Scott1846 

David

[Scott1846]

When I replied directly to the host, I mentioned why I wasn't leaving a 5-star review, and as said above, two of my complaints are easily fixed. When I said YOU SUCK, I was referring to AirBnB, not the the hard working hosts who are trying to provide value. Parent companies should not engage in a rating systems game that punishes the average provider, and I was far more unhappy about that than I was about the black mold. Yes, having had multiple mediocre AirBnB experiences, I will no longer assume that they are the good value they were in recent memory, and will probably verify things like parking, a step I should not have to take. I'm not screaming at the host, but at AirBnB. I give this particular host a 3, and AirBnB a 1.

[Pat271]

@Scott1846  Understood, thanks. How were the reviews on this place?

[Scott1846]

The reviews page only seems to show the suspiciously high 4.7+ average. No obvious way to sort the reviews to find the negatives, of which there were plenty if you just start scrolling down. I'm putting it down to a learning experience.

[Pat271]

@Scott1846  After reading what you have written, I take back what I said about your hotel suitability. There still may be hope.😊

I notice you have a couple of other reviews in which the stays seemed to have gone OK. Perhaps this was just an uncommonly bad experience. Always read through the reviews, even for 5-star hosts. Often, revealing things are said in the text of the reviews that could influence your decision to book/not book.

Also, it seemed that you were taken aback when the host reviewed you. I think this is one of the few platforms in which hosts can review guests, although I think it is becoming more common elsewhere as well. I wanted to let you know that you will be able to see that review in 14 days, even if you don’t leave a review, although I do think you should leave a review in order to alert the host that you were dissatisfied with some of the aspects of the stay, especially the aspects that he can control and fix (ice tray, mold, disclosure of the parking situation).

But, even if you don’t leave a review, you can respond to the host’s review online with your thoughts. It will appear below his review.

[Scott1846]

If you read everything I wrote, you would have seen that I notified the host about the deficiencies. I don't mind the host reviewing me, but the implication that I need to participate in their rigged review game to see what the host wrote about me is unacceptable; I'm glad to hear I can just wait a few weeks.

When the place I just stayed at has 4.7 stars across the board, it only implies that the review *scores* are meaningless. I refuse to play that game.

[Helen744]

@Scott1846 We all dislike the review system . The host is not allowed to ask for a five star review but in this case it seems the possibility of that is zero.Generally hosts are working so very hard to assist their guests and are often at the end of the phone 24 seven . If you continue to use Airbnb I suggest that you use one of these hosts not 'a hands off 'key in the box ,out of town person ,but someone who will come down and bring you some ice trays. We exist and we want to help you and we are very nice people who only want your comfort. Look for us... H

[Helen744]

and even though you personally also do not agree with the review system and do not need to review we often live or die on those very reviews... H

[Pat271]

Just leave a review and be honest about the fact that exposed pipes and lack of an ice tray enraged you and ruined your stay.

I completely agree with you that you should stick to hotels. Some people are just not suited to short-term rentals, and I’m honestly thrilled that you and others like you can find their dream accommodations elsewhere.

Trust me when I say that we hosts would much rather have no guests at all than unhappy guests. As you have said, somewhere like a Motel 6 or a Holiday Inn Express would a better fit.

[Dave-and-Deb0]

Wow @Pat271 

I would say his issues are warranted and some hosts should not be hosting; this sounds like one of them.  I find your comments quite insulting to @Scott1846 and degrading.  Be better!

David

[Pat271]

@Dave-and-Deb0 

I didn’t mean to be insulting or degrading, and I don’t believe I’ve said anything that the guest has not already said. Screaming YOU SUCK in caps is what is insulting and degrading.

I stand behind everything that I have suggested. I am positive that some people are more suited to “mid-range” hotels, and agree with the guest that due to his experiences with short-term rentals, he would be happier at a mid-range hotel.

I don’t agree that this host should not be hosting. No ice-tray is easily fixed. I don’t have an in-door ice maker, and parking at one of my units is $7 a day. Despite all of these shortcomings, I don’t think my guests believe I should quit hosting.

[Helen744]

@Scott1846 you can see the review at the end of 14 days as can everyone else.There is a part in the review system for you to tell the host about the mould but unless the host said there was an icemaker then there is no necessity for there to be one, but it is certainly something you can suggest to the host .No parking should be listed or conversely where parking is. If the host said there was parking ,and there was none ,then you can apply for some refund. It is important to look at the pics provided by the host , the listed amenities, the general area, the price and to communicate with the host before either booking or arriving , as you would check the hosts refund policy.... There are some responsibilities to the guest to choose what suits them and also for the host . Unlike hotels everything is not predictable . This suits some people and not others.... H

[Frances3408]

@Scott1846   Hi Scott. Your comment "ratings inflation" made me laugh (in a good way) 😉

Ás a host I'm also sorry to hear of your "bad stay" experience with a short term rental.

The standards for Airbnb accommodation vary so much; sometimes I wish we could have different, commercial standards for star ratings so 3 star wasnt such a negative, but comparable with say a 3 star motel. Then you would find some true 5 star Airbnb's for a superior stay.

Just as we hosts screen our potential guests more these days, so should you screen your hosts and  the accommodation on offer.

Good luck.