Package sent to guest at host's home... input/advice welcome!

[Hillaire0]

I have a guest who checked in a few nights ago. Solo occupant -- staying for 8 days. I asked him in passing  what he does for a living. He was vague ( something about "fulfillment shipping on the secondary market -- mostly through Amazon and Ebay"). 

Doorbell just rang and there's a priority overnight package addressed to him and delivered to my house. (He did not ask.) 

Does this seem weird to anyone else? Is it normal to get packages delivered to a host's house -- especially without asking and coordinating? Am I being unreasonable feeling uncomfortable with him receiving packages at my house?

Inputs from all sides -- and past experierence -- welcome!

Thanks!!

[Simon237]

I don't have any issues with guests receiving packages / mail while they stay. My annoyance is when I receive mail once they have left. After it has happened twice a few months ago, I now simply place it in the rubbish bin, as I do with any other mail not addressed to me.

[Genoveva2]

I feel that guests that are staying short term should not be able to receive mail. Many times guests have TOLD ME they are getting mail and then asking if it was alright. AFTER they already had ordered the items to my address. I politely tell them no it’s not alright. This can uncover so many liability issues and airbnb doesn’t recommend. What if there packages are stolen? Who will they blame then? Or what if they never ordered packages and then just lie and say their packages are missing? Either way allowing guests to send packages is not recommended by airbnb and honestly in my opinion quite disrespectful. You wouldn’t send mail to the hotel right? So don’t send it to my home. I give airbnb guests such huge discounts and sometimes I feel like many take your kindness for weakness. If had to put my foot down on many occasions unfortunately. 

[Kay292]

Actually you can have packages delivered to the hotel. They allow this. They hold it for you in guest services. I’ve done it several times. 

[Tikyda0]

It seems possible to receive mail at a hotel (without asking for permission). If Airbnb hosts aspire to charge like hotels or compete with them, I don't think that guests receiving packages in an Airbnb should be particularly outrageous.

[Sarah977]

@Tikyda0 Airbnb hosts don't aspire to charge like hotels or compete with them. If you want a hotel, book a hotel, If you want to stay in a home, book an Airbnb. The rules and expectations are different.

[Robyn207]

We must be careful!  Some people are using Airbnb addresses to have drugs delivered for distribution.  This way the package cannot be traced to their own home addressss.  My GF who does Airbnb in W Va had this happen with two different guests.   The people showed up very late the night before, had a large package deleivered the next day, put the package in their car immediately, and then left.  They never returned for the duration of their stay.  (She lives right next door and was able to watch all this happen). Neither guest looked a thing like their photograph either, so we suspect that they had fake ID.   She now changed her house rules to say "No packages can be delivered to this address".  Hopefully this will stop the problem.  My friend cannot rish having the feds comem after HER thiking that she's involved.

[Kenneth12]

Hotels are regulated differently and in most jurisdictions,   are clearly recognized as short-term,  transient accomodations.    Receiving mail opens the host up to many liabilities that hotels do not have,  from potential residency claims by the guest (welcome to eviction hades-- do you want a room occupied by someone you're trying to evict?!) to police potentially charging you for the receipt of shipment of illicit items.

In any case,  I'd never ship to a hotel without checking their policies first.

[Terry297]

I don't encourage mail. Because package can arrive after checkout and I have to manage it.for mail ...forwarding from post office does not always work then you have return to sender or forward for months. I wear enough hats. Post office is not one of them I will accept. I tell guests there is a us post office near...ups store...and FedEx store and several private mailbox companies. 

[Kimberly538]

I refused a guest recently for 2 weeks stay from Egypt, who booked then asked if ok for many ('like 10 or more) packages shipped to my home address.

Having traveled extensively in corp biz for 22 years doing footwear and apparel, customs is heavy duty strict. I personally think it's a way for illegal activity of shipments to your home that would be red flagged in a hotel, biz or other. 

I said no and declined stay and then he proceeded to argue and resubmit stay twice.

If people are traveling for biz they legitimately can send packages to their work address or local UPS annex shop nearby for pickup. I live in southern CA where you can buy necessities locally at any Target, Walmart and soon an Amazon store here locally in Irvine.

[Suisse1]

**[Content removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

It's not your business, once you offer to open your home. You can't take someone's money and then,

short the customer.

What if no car? What is disabled in some manner. You should #getoff the platform, before someone sues you~

[Mike25]

I make it clear on my listing that I do not allow guests to have items delivered to my home. The items could be anything! There are plenty of commercial places where guests can arrange to have items delivered and collect the items personally when they stay with me.

[James2566]

Sometimes it’s shopping for things we can’t buy in our own countries, we’ve done this but we always ask permission first. We’ve also lost our credit card on holiday and has to have it Fedexed to us where we were staying. It’s rude not to ask first. I’d feel inclined personally to give a reason so the hosts don’t think I’m using their address to receive fraudulent merchandise or some sketchy business. 

[Pete69]

"Fulfillment shipping"? LOL! Either drugs or merchandise bought with a stolen credit card. Google "reshipment scam". With Airbnb you don't necessarily even need a 3rd party to reship a package. Just book a stay with a fake ID.

[Phillip324]

I feel the need to chime in on this conversation to assist if I possibly can; I travel for work quite often, and I'm constantly away from my home state to the point where I no longer have a physical address anymore (only a P.O. Box). While I'm on the road or spending an extended amount of time in another state I do 2 things: 1) all Amazon packages get shipped to an Amazon locker. No additional charge, and most cities have these fully available. 2) I use "General Delivery U. S. Postal Service". This will handle everything shipped standard USPS.  You can not send packages via UPS, FedEx or any non-USPS service general delivery as it will most likely be returned as undeliverable. Larger packages from FedEx or UPS get sent to a local center where I pick them up personally. I get tools and materials for jobs sometimes so in extreme circumstances I'll ask permission from the owner of the property (only happened once, and it was a larger Amazon delivery that wouldn't fit in the lockers), or I'll notify the business to expect something to be delivered with attention to me. I would clarify in your agreements about postal/package expectations and possibly provide these alternatives to reduce any further questions or arguments. 

I hope this helps. 

[Scott1990]

We do not allow any deliveries to the rental or our home which is nearby. This advice came to us from friends in Law Enforcement as they have seen deliveries of drugs and other illegal substances delivered to STR's where they are unpacked and distributed. I am sure not all have bad inventions but we don't want to take the chance of walking into or cleaning up hazardous materials.