I made a rookie mistake

[Ann72]

I allowed someone to break the no-children rule at a 2-person listing and bring a toddler, and it's about to blow up in my face.  Big time.

Since booking in March this guest has made 15 separate requests.  I finally took a look at her reviews of other hosts.  (So TWO rookie mistakes - didn't do that before.)  She has found fault with almost every place she's stayed, except the first one or two.

A real Karen has been unloosed on hosts everywhere.

Today, I asked if she would submit her certificate of compliance, which Maine requires of every visitor except those from 5 exempt states.  This message stemmed the endless tide of requests from her.  But the eerie silence following means she's plotting something.  She is 100% the kind of guest who will comb through the listing, compare the amenities to exactly what's in place, and make complaints in addition to demanding refunds.

So the golden summer of 2020 is coming to a close.  Watch this space.  And in the meantime - don't get too specific about those amenities.  Karens are roaming the land.

[Huma0]

@Sandra126 

Yes, I am always baffled by that, but, my listings are really competitively priced. I don't know about these days, with COVID-19, but I know that previously, there was certainly nothing comparable in my area (which is super convenient and quite central) for anything close to what I charge. So, they see it, they want it and they must have it. The kind of guests I was talking about above are the ones that do not see the host as having any decision in the matter. In fact they see the host as more of an obstruction than anything else. Not the kind of guests I want.

[Debra300]

@Ann72,

I made the same mistake last month, and allowed a guest to bring a toddler.  Not only did the guests bring a child under 2, but another child they didn't tell me about.  After they checked out, I found a very large spill/splatter of a purple drink (I assume it was juice for the little one) on the wall, floor, bed, and night stand, but they made no attempt to clean it.  They also left several ring marks on furniture right next to the coasters.  Of course, I found dropped food on the floor.  It's not the kids that are the problem, because they are just doing what's natural.  Their parents failure to clean up/look after the kids are the primary reason why I don't make the space child-friendly.  Never again, now I don't allow any kids.

[Ann72]

@Debra300  That's exactly the point!  I had one guest who was booking at the family house ask if the children could stay for free!  After all, she said, they were just 8-year-old boys...  My best friend was sitting with me when I got that message and all she said was "Jelly all over the walls."  That's been the mantra ever since so I don't know what my brain did in this case.  Let's blame Covid - that works.

[Cathie19]

Thinking of you @Sandra126.  Stay safe! 😷💐💛

[Huma0]

Another thing I have noticed, and apologies to parents out there who might disagree, is that a lot of people with children seem to think that their children should holiday for free.

Last Summer I went on holiday with family and friends. It was a mixture of people with children between 10 and 13 years old and a couple of single folk. For some reason, the costs of the Airbnb were split only between the adults, without the several children taken into account. So, basically, the other single person and I had to pay double for our rooms, even though they were the same size, than the people with kids. We had to pay more for taxis because we needed enough taxis for both the kids and adults, but the costs were shared only between the adults, and on and on.

I don't mean to be petty, but that holiday ended up costing a lot more than I budgeted for. I had spent the first half of the holiday alone and the second half in this group and the second half cost double, which doesn't make any sense. It should be cheaper to travel in a group than solo, not the other way around!

I don't need that kind of attitude in my Airbnb. I don't want parents who think that children 'don't count' when it comes to expenses. It just spells trouble.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Huma0 

Totally agree!!! Henry and I are both great with kids and don't mind lending a hand now and then...... but oftentimes we found ourselves being treated like free babysitters while the parents were getting sh*t-faced drunk. And especially during mealtimes, kids would eat for free and the bill would be split among adults only!!!! 

When I suggested that children above 6 should pay *something* for meals (and asked the parents what do YOU think is fair) the response I got was families with kids already have to pay more airfare (4 seats vs. 2 seats) than just couples w/o kids and that Henry and I were being discriminatory and mean and insensitive by even bring this up. 

We've learned our lesson and have distanced ourselves from those friends 😁

[Cathie19]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 , I wonder their response and attitude if the shoe had been on the other foot!

[Sandra126]

I do have an extra layer to this issue, some of my favourite regulars have bred and assume it is ok to bring the offspring.  I will have to harden my heart and learn Texan.

[Kelly149]

@Sandra126 I feel that I must defend Texas at this point bc we are afterall the Friendly State. However, no matter how friendly we are, this rule still remains:

don’t poop in someone else’s pasture

and I hereby grant all of you permission to enforce this for yourselves 

🙂

[Cathie19]

@Sandra126, @Ute42 , @Jessica-and-Henry0 @Ann72 

Thanks @Kelly149  for the southern caveat!

I remember supplying activities etc for a family AND they still didn’t think I had toys specifically suited to “their boy child”. (Not my problem)

How about parents take some ownership on toys and recreational IT devices for their children during a health pandemic. After all, I could say I would “love” to supply your son with “that”, but it’s going to take at least a week for it to be safely cleansed and sanitised after its last use............ 😱

[Ute42]

.

Hi @Ann72 

next time Your guest Karen wants something tell her no.

The problem being: Not every host on airbnb knows how to correctely pronounce the word „no“. In january I had already published a STR-host-NO-tutorial. In case You've missed it, here it is again:

------------

Get in front of a mirror, stand upright, straighten Your back and watch Your face in the mirror. And now You pronounce the word „no“. Go ahead, do it.

Wait a minute, that was not ok. First of all it wasn't loud enough, and second, the way You just pronounced „no“ sounded like: „Oh, I'm so sorry that I have to tell You „no“. I profoundly apologise for what I just said and I myself  am embarrassed for what I did“.

Ann, that's wrong. You shouldn't be embarrassed for saying no, the person You are talking to should be embarrassed.

Let's try again. Louder and more determined. Go ahead:

That was much better but still not good enough. Picture this: One of Your 3 daughters is with the army and she wants to get the following weekend off to drive back home and visit family. On thursday evening she asks her drill sergeant if she can have the weekend off.

Drill sergeant:

That's the kind of „no“ You need for Karen.

Good luck.

[Cathie19]

@Ute42 , 

I want that NO with an extremely happy face and a smile. 

It will confuse them no end.... ?

[Ann72]

@Ute42  DARLING - this is HILARIOUS!  I don’t know how I’ve gotten through life without it. Bless your heart for stepping in just when I needed you darling!  I shall take your words of advice to heart - really darling how could I not?!?

[Ute42]

.

@Ann72 

Thank You, love. I'm excited how excited Your are over my post.

[Colleen253]

I loved that tutorial! @Ute42 you are a hoot and a treasure, what would we do without you? 

@Ann72  your post is a good reminder to all of us of the importance of delivering that NO! immediately. Then that entitled guest knows where they stand!

Also a good reminder to guard against getting complacent with guests.