Just a vent.

[Laura2592]

 A general vent. I am about emotionally labored out.

This past weekend was my birthday. I have a day job which is stressful but I took the week off to travel to our New Orleans place/stay at our ABB after work was completed. I have an online business selling antique fine jewelry as a hobby (pretty well established at this point) and we have the cottage/deal with guests as all of you do too.

Online jewelry business had a message up that I would not be as responsive as I was traveling, and shipping would be delayed until a certain day. OF COURSE I had someone with a complete meltdown. She bought a relatively expensive 100 year old piece without reading the description. Then she proceeded to message me 5-10 times a day with various questions and concerns about the item-- things that were either fully disclosed in the description she didn't read, or imaginary issues she thought she could see from poring over the pictures and video. I finally canceled the sale and refunded her money with a polite message, knowing that this was likely to end up with even more drama, and frankly not wanting to ruin my free time answering her copious bizarre questions. She thanked me at first,  but then spent the next several days sending me rambling messages at 3am her time that I "stole" the item from her, that she had "financed it and you knew that! I won't get my money back for WEEKS" (I have no control whatsoever over this) and that I "ruined her life." Oy. Asked her not to contact me again, sent her to spam where she likely continues these diatribes.

Over the weekend when I was celebrating with family I had an inquiry for booking dates at our cottage which are not available; booked to someone else ages ago. The guest sent the following:

"Hi- I see you have X dates blocked and I am wondering if you would be open to asking those individuals if they would trade with me. I have an event I forgot about in the area and can't find a place to stay. I am willing to pay them double for the inconvenience. Can you share their contact info? Thank you!"

I explained nicely that I can't give out guest info (especially to someone who seems to have just joined ABB and does not have a fully filled in profile) and wished them luck finding something else in the area. I even went so far as to search and locate a few other hosts who had opening for their days. They responded:

"I don't think you understood me. I want to stay at your cottage on those days. Make it happen. As I said I am happy to pay double."

Again, this is a much needed vacation week for me. I don't have time for this nonsense. So I just said "I am sorry I can't help with this. I wish you luck finding something else." To which this person said "Thanks for nothing. This ruins my entire month." 

What on earth has happened to people? I am so burnt out with them. And apparently ruining their lives left and right!

[Anonymous]

@Sarah977   I've heard rumors that it can be effective to look like a friendly but mildly deranged werewolf. Unconfirmed.

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 resting b**th face you mean? Oh im good at that...

.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  That should definitely scare them off. No way that face will say yes to any demands. And everyone knows never to cross a redhead. 🙂

But of course I wasn't thinking of anything that extreme.

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 lol what do you mean extreme? That's my general mood these days...

We actually had that profile pic taken several years ago. We were trying to adopt a child from overseas and needed a whole cadre of images. The agency was shut down by the State Dept for human trafficking while I was in the country with the child, the adoption fell through, I lost about 50K, got pregnant shortly after and lost that pregnancy, almost died. Thus I have never had the heart to revisit a couples photo shoot, though that one is quite outdated.  We are both much less sweet than we used to be....

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  Wow, so sorry about the adoption and lost pregnancy. That's more than a person should have to process. 

I've read some stories about children being adopted as "orphans", when in fact they weren't orphans at all. They had been stolen from their families. Pretty shocking  stuff.

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977  thanks. We all have our baggage and sadness. I can't say it was a great experience, but I really think it was the universe telling me to embrace a child free life. Sometimes you just have to play the hand you are dealt. I can't complain about what we have accomplished since.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  I have the same attitude. If you keep running into a brick wall, stop. It's not meant to be. I've met people who've spent so much money on in-vitro which didn't work, and they kept trying for years. I certainly understand the biological urge to have children, but it's just not in the cards for everyone.

The sad and unfair part to me is that there are people out there who never should have had kids- they're terrible parents or child abusers, and then all the people who would have been wonderful parents who can't have kids. But then life isn't fair, as our folks used to point out.

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 OMG 😍 Bombshell.

And yep, that’ll do it, lol. 

[Laura2592]

@Colleen253 hardly. But thanks 🙂 

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  Review: "My husband made this booking for us and I guess he didn't look at the host's profile photo, but when I saw it we had a big fight cause I wanted to cancel immediately, but we would have lost our money. 

Turned out she was actually really nice (although we did refrain from complaining about the insects in the garden, just in case), and we had a great stay.  I don't know why she uses that photo, though."

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 I think I should just replace it with a cartoon. Or a pic of my pets like some of the guests do. 

[John2406]

Yes, I have wondered about images of pets, or other non-human beings, as how can such be a "verification" of any Guest?

[Catriona50]

That's so tough - you're obviously pretty amazing to be able to juggle all those balls!

Sometimes, stuff just happens at the same time - there was a brilliant quote I heard once which is that you can't control others actions or words or how they feel, but you can control your response.

Some people are rubbish but there are plenty who are wonderful and I'm sure make up for the more difficult one!

[Anita325]

Like Airbnb I have a pat response to these sorts… “Sorry I am unable to host you. I wish you all the best in finding a great space.”  If they come back…I cut and paste or even send them to AirBnb as a bad apple.

sorry you had to deal with that!

I hope you eventually got the RnR you needed. 🙂

[John5097]

@Laura2592 

There has never been a shortage of wacky guest or host that just aren't compatible with a review based platform. The only difference is that you are managing a successful listing and your guest all are very satisfied. You can also only do so much to promote more responsible policy before it becomes a waste of time and things are just going to play out. At least you have option to take a break, and in a way these are the kind of problems most people wish they had. Enjoy your break!