Denied guest booking for First time in over 4 years

[Kate157]

So, yesterday I got an inquiry. The days wanted would start on Thanksgiving, and run for three nights. All the message said was:

"need an address"

There was no greeting, signature, punctuation or capital letters. The photo showed an older couple, and they had no reviews. I had a heavy feeling, and I thought of all the host's out there who advise others to listen to your instincts. For the very first time in over 4 years, I pushed the Deny button.  That's right, I have never done it before. I felt a tiny bit guilty. But I know that these are people who don't care to be polite, who don't care about following the rules. So, thank you fellow hosts for showing me a path down the road of sticking to my guns and making the choice to opt out for better guests. (BTW I have had to explain the address is given upon confirmation of a booking many times to people. But they asked politely.)

[Jann3]

Good Girl @Kate157! (*not* said condescendingly!)

It COULD'VE been someone who didn't know how to email...but I feel the following way: Your first conversation or interaction with a host says a LOT about you as a guest. If this is the way they communicate, they MAY be nice and sweet, but sounds like future trouble looms to me...

[Farah1]

@Jann3 I don't think people need to know how to email to give greetings/say hi. They just don't know how to be a polite person.

[Jann3]

@Farah1: I was TRYING to be NICE! Now you come along and mention the snarky thing I was REALLY thinking!! 😂 

[Vanessa-and-Kurt0]

@Kate157You did the right thing! No room for grumpy guests...especially over a holiday weekend.

[Rosemarie9]

I do the same now Kate, not everyone has the concept of basic manners. I unfortunately get a lot of these monosyllabic requests from young locals here. I despair for the next generation in this country, they are by far the rudest, most entitled attitudes I see on my account. They even abuse me when I decline them, but I will be using the blocking function after Robin filled me in on its existence!

[Bruce43]

@Rosemarie9   monosyllabic what a great word!

Shouldn't there be a shorter word for “monosyllabic”? 

[Rosemarie9]

English doesn't normally sound so poetic- my first language was Italian until 5 years of age, but monosyllabic is close. Very ironic being a long word for a person who utters little!

[Terri48]

DOH! Is an idea! 

[Jeff158]

Good for you @Kate157 I would have done the same

[Fred13]

@Kate157What it tells me is that ~in all likelihood~, in their cryptic minds, you do not merit one iota of pleasantry. Really, how arrogant of them.  As if they are already annoyed by having to take the time to ask where to go. Why waste time - why not just ask you next time: "Where are the keys!'. LoL

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Kate157 I would have done the same thing in your shoes!!! 👍

[Aogán0]

Hi @Kate157,

Yep, good decision. I've done the opposite recently, and that sinking feeling has stuck with me for weeks, until I was forced to send more messages to the guests prior to their arrival (just to sound them out, really). It seems to have worked out so far, but in hindsight I'd have hit deny! Lesson learnt!

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Kate157 You did the right thing by denying them a stay at your place. Unfortunately these days it is very common to get such inquiries on Airbnb, the guests think they can get whatever they want from hosts even without showing a minimum of politeness. I am fed up of receiving thousands of inquiries without any further reply or booking. Thanks Airbnb we now have the block option. Quality will always be better than quantity. Good luck for the future!!! 

[Lilian20]

I would have worked a little harder ..