Do guests think a booking request is a confirmed booking?

[Kath9]

I think I just need to vent. Has anyone else noticed the increase in booking requests with zero information except, if you're lucky, time of arrival? More and more, people seem to assume that a booking request is a confirmed booking. It never used to be like this - when I started hosting two and half years ago, people communicated with me as if I was an actual person being kind enough to allow them, complete strangers, to stay in my home at a budget price - they would tell me a bit about themselves, the purpose of their visit, how much they liked the look of my home and how much they would love to stay. I don't expect a thesis, but a brief introduction would be nice. Now, nearly all my requests just come with a 'we'll be there at 5.30' or 'see you on the 5th' like their booking is confirmed and I'm some kind of desk clerk or bot. Why is this? Is there something in the booking process that makes them think that a booking request is a confirmed booking? And where is the common courtesy? I would never do that in a million years.

Anyway, I got one this morning from someone with no reviews, no profile information, possibly a profile photo but I wouldn't know, first time user (joined May 2019) and a booking request with the message 'We'll be there at 5.30' and nothing else - no information whatsoever about who they are or why they're coming. Immediately after sending them my saved 'Assumed booking' message (yes, I actually have one of these now), I decided to decline them (and I never decline guests). Maybe that was a bit over the top, I don't know, but I'm just so tired of it. I really wish Airbnb would do more to educate guests or prompt them to provide information, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe we hosts need to start setting a few more boundaries with guests instead of always bending over backwards for them. The guest did get back to me with some information but it was too late. Hopefully, they have now learnt to communicate properly with hosts instead of treating them like servants. Okay, rant over.

[Sarah977]

@Helen350   I think that's an excellent idea and anyone it puts off I'm not interested in hosting.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Helen350 @Kath9 @Linda-And-Richard0 @Charlene128 @Sarah977 

I just visited a listing of @Chill & Relax1

Their listing states exactly that:

While making an inquiry or request please send us a short message about yourself; who you coming with, what are you planning on doing here and what time you're planning on checking in and out. 

We share our home with you, we'd like to know you better to make your experience exceptional.

It must work for them... although you would really expect that Airbnb should be more attentive to this sort of thing?

[Kath9]

@Helen350, @Sarah977 @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0,  I started to do exactly what Helen suggested and then stopped because I was worried about adding even more to my listing, especially when people don't read it anyway! And the longer it gets, the less likely they are to read. However, I think it's a good idea and  thanks for your post @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 - that is excellent and I think I will definitely borrow it for my listing. At the end of the day, Airbnb doesn't give a crap about us, and it really is up to us to educate guests. I think we (I) need to raise our (my) expectations about what we're willing to put up with for a lousy (in my case) $50.

Thanks everyone for your input into this - this is what I love about the CC 🙂

[Kath9]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0, @Sarah977, @Helen350 I've now added the following to my listing (shortened version of Chill & Relax's version because there are limited characters and I wanted to put it in the main description so they hopefully see it):

As this is my home, when sending a request, please let me know a little about yourself, who you're travelling with and the purpose of your visit. I look forward to hearing from you!

Let's see how this goes now...

[Helen427]

@Kath9 who on earth reads listings/??

You should know better than that!!

Seriously there are some who just click book & don't bother reading what is so much as in amenities.

[Chill-and-Relax0]

I wish it would work...

Regardless of putting it right in the summary section, underneath the basic information about the listing, where it's really hard to miss, we are still receiving "hi can't wait to be there" -type messages about half of the time.

[Kath9]

@Chill-and-Relax0, oh dear. People really don't read do they? You'd think it would be basic common sense. Oh well, onwards and upwards!

[Helen427]

@Helen350 @Sarah977 @Kath9 @Linda-And-Richard0 @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 @Charlene128 

I've included your suggestion a while ago in my Lisiting Profile & most Guests have been very thoughtful & courteous.

There are however glitches  & areas that have been changed which perhaps ought not to have been that has added to these issues arising.

All the Best

Central To All Home & Location

[Helen56]

I already have that on my listing, and it hasn't really made much difference!

[Zappa0]

I have booked ad a guest, and Airbnb does NOT clearly display check in times or extra guest charge. This should be front and center and very obvious. Shouldnt have to go searching for it. I always remind guests my latest check in prior to accepting

[Sarah977]

What would really be a help with getting people to read the listing info, I think, is if we were given a choice of fonts in which to write our description. As long as the fonts are easily readable, it's easier to read something that may have a different font for a different section of the info. People's attention is more easily drawn to it than if it's all just the same, and people lose interest before getting to the end..

[Chill-and-Relax0]

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@Sarah977 wrote:

What would really be a help with getting people to read the listing info, I think, is if we were given a choice of fonts in which to write our description. As long as the fonts are easily readable, it's easier to read something that may have a different font for a different section of the info. People's attention is more easily drawn to it than if it's all just the same, and people lose interest before getting to the end..

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Just ability to format text into paragraphs would be quite an improvement.

[Dawn350]

I agree.  I think the more popular Airbnb.com gets, the fact that these are privately owned and often lived in housing get forgotten.

I ask them to tell me something about themselves before I give the go ahead. 

It is disturbing.  And boundries with folks like that are important.  

I was thinking I needed to vent also.  I had a booking for 1 guest and then he mentioned we in his first message and then it was his son and daughter in law who would stay at my condo.  They thought they had struck on a perfect situation because they have a boat at the marina adjacent to the condos.  And they could just run up and down the hill with their grandchildren.  My condo states specifically 2 guests, no pets, no children any age.  And a minimum of 2 nights.  He said to call him for info, so I did.  He accused me of interogating him and insulting him with my questions.  Fortunately, he requested to cancel so I didn't have too.  I think I missed an opportunity for a bad situation.

The most criticism was from a woman who spent one night with her husband for their anniversary.  I bought them a plant and gave them some other goodies.  I am never making an acception again.  Because it comes back on me.  I have stress.  She paid $60 with a airbnb gift card and complained about the value of their stay.   I

[Helen427]

@Helen56 @Helen350 

Laughing here as there's 3 of us with the same name in this topic!!

I wonder if @Lizzie @Stephannie@Quincy have seen that yetsince our new numbering system.

I'm still having hiccups with the right user name coming up but will get there eventually, I hope.

[Stephanie]

Hi @Helen427 

Too many Helen's! JK, yes we know there's still a few nasty bugs with the unique usernames and @ mentions. We've just been to the shop and loaded up on cans of raid and rolled up newspapers to defeat them but we're caught in traffic at the moment...

With any big update, there can be knock on/ inexpected issue arise - I just greatful to all of the CC users being so vigilant in reporting them, makes it a lot easier to pin down and eradicate. Will let you know as and when we have fixes on the horizon. 

Thanks!