Feeling deflated.

[Deb216]

I am utterly gobsmacked.

A guest requested a discount.

I have a soft spot in my heart and foolishly agreed.

The guest, traveling from overseas, requested assistance with groceries/delivery...I volunteered to shop and leave the items in the refrigerator to greet them and make their arrival less stressful.

I gifted an expensive bottle of Rose', a fresh strawberry cake, snacks for their children and even a jar of Marmite to make them feel at home.

They used everything, every single thing contained inside & outside of my home. On ck-out we discovered the front door unlocked...and our home a foul greasy mess. They ate in the beds ... and left evidence all over my crisp linens, furniture, mirrors and walls. Not a single penny extra for doing the grocery shopping for them. Lesson learned.

I looked past it all because ... I am a gracious host. 

Then today...they left me 4 Stars for VALUE.

*Sigh*

[Joelle43]

Oh you poor thing @Deb216 - my heart sank when I read everything you did for these undeserving guests.  They definitely did not deserve such kindness and can imagine how disheartened you must feel.  

I hope you also left them a score well below 5*.

I sincerely hope the next guests will be make up for this very disappointing experience.

It's often said here that guests who ask for a discount are never satisfied even when the discount is granted and are impossible to please.  Unfortunately, your post has proved this observation right yet again.😞

[Deb216]

Thank you so much, @Joelle43.

I sincerely appreciate your kind words of support. ❤️ 

[C197]

@Deb216 this brought back VERY FRESH very similar memories.

So sorry, know exactly what you've been through!

From @Joelle43 comments about those asking for a discount not being happy, seems to have hit the nail on the head 🗣️ 

[Deb216]

Agreed!

Thank you, @C197.

[Grace1385]

Yikes!!! Sorry to hear this!  Terrible guests. You can always leave a comment under their reviews so your future guests can see. 

[Deb216]

Thank you,@Grace1385

I wish Airbnb would educate Guests regarding how a 4 Star Rating damages the Host's reputation...and as far as public comments...thank you. I will simply block them so they cannot book my home again. 

[Marisa182]

@Deb216  I am very sorry for that unfortunate and unpleasant experience. I have learned that trying to please too much does not necessarily guarantee a 5 star review. I especially don't like the rating system and wish changes were made to Value and Location... If the guest has read the listing, taken the time to look at photos and agreed on the price, why give a 4 star review?.

I do hope that your review was not 5 stars...hosts are so reluctant to give anything less. All the best with your next guest!

[Deb216]

You are spot on! @Marisa182 

Thank you!

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Deb216 

I’m so sorry to hear about your experience and not being reimbursed for the grocery items they requested. Did you try submitting a payment request through the Resolution Center?

[James4820]

That’s really unfair — you did so much for them, and they still didn’t value it.

[Rodney239]

Sorry to hear this.   Unfortunately, people asking for a discount is an indicator that they are going to be problematic. 

May I ask where overseas (which country) were they from?

[Anita1532]

Being of service to others - means just that. You earn money off renting out your home- a hotel doesn’t necessarily get tipped for making breakfast or providing a guest with other services. It is utter greed that everyone thinks by going out of your way - there should be monetary value. This person chose YOUR air bnb over any other - helping YOU pay your mortgage- rent or profit- and you still wanted a tip? Is that why you did all of that? And NOT to make their experience enjoyable? Because gratitude also does go along way energetically and shouldn’t necessarily always come in the form of money. Y’all getting greedy on here - most check ins are not until  3 pm! And check out at 11 am! Th as not even 48 hours for two days! And for the prices charged- so we can only get in at mid day or later and we must check out in the morning- how uncomfortable for guests and no price reduction reflects that- so what goes around comes around/ but perhaps this person may have recommended your place to several other people- TIPPING isn’t always in the form of money. Y’all need to get more humble! You’re making killings of air bnb. So are you doing this to get five stars? Perhaps there were things they didn’t like but didn’t want to share- as most air bnb ‘bad’ reviews get flagged. Regardless what an entitled society we’ve become if we do things for five stars and for money- you are charging this person. To stay. If this bothers you- going the extra mile than add them on as extras- but don’t knock other people’s cultures, way of life, upbringing because of YOUR expectations on a paid air bnb. They could have recommended you to a million people by now and said you went above and beyond. It’s NOT always what you see here! Referrals also happen in community by word of mouth! Be humble!

[Joelle43 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anita1532 

It's always interesting to see guest feedback here but I am surprised as to why you suggest that @Deb216 was expecting a tip from these guests.  I don't see anywhere in her post that implies she was expecting a tip and there aren't many hosts who gift guests with so many freebies but I do imagine her disappointment when she was given a 4* for value after all these special attentions.  I have stayed in many Airbnb's and have never received such service, maybe you have?

You seem unhappy too with check-in and check-out times, yet these times are pretty standard for Airbnb's and hotels alike in my experience.

Deb has an exceptional track record as a host with fabulous reviews from her guests and it is clear to me that she is passionate about what she does.  So I don't think it's fair to say that she hosts out of greed Anita and again cannot see where she "knocks other people's cultures, way of life or upbringing" as you say.

Yes, we sometimes get guests that disappoint us, who leave our homes in a terrible condition or who are never satisfied whatever we do but it is OK to share that experience here, no need for judgement. 

[Deb216]

@Anita1532.

You are mistaken.

I did not expect a tip at all.

Have a good day.