Price now automatically includes all fees, anyway to avoid this?

[Greystone0]

Hi Hosts,

I am now seeing my listing pricing showing "Price includes all fees". This used to be an option to choose as a host for each listing, but now it is automatic, or so it appears to me. Anyone else seeing this in their market or listing? I cannot find a way to remove nor can I conduct a general search without the fees being included.

In our case the AIRBNB fees are quite high per reservation and so having it separate added a layer of transparency and honesty to the pricing system. I realize that AIRBNB has been suggesting and pushing hosts to include the fees in an 'all in one' but the result is that it hides the AIRBNB fee.

Curious what you are experiencing? ANd if there is a way to remove this?

Thanks for any insight.

[John5097]

PS.. not sure about the accounting break down. I"m sure you know all the ins and outs of the Earnings section? Can get both earnings reports or earnings summary. The earnings summary does itemize the Airbnb service fee, which the 1099 doesn't. So I include both to my accountant. It does it in both. 

Although you are right for itemized details for each guest, the earnings report only shows the amount. This is what I have to submit to my County to prove Airbnb paid the local taxes, although it doesn't show the break down, so hopefully it's ok, because its all super wishy washy, and intentionally vauge and I've been paying double for that for the past 6 months, which hopefylly will be resolved. 

[Luki10]

yes, I agree and  I find the new “prices include all fees” display misleading and unfair. It lumps in cleaning and service fees, making listings look more expensive. I have seen a large decrease of bookings since that change was made. They should at least consider offering hosts and travelers the OPTION to display both the nightly rate and total price, or let guests toggle between the two.

[Amanda2996]

Our Airbnb is a one bedroom unit so our price was  listed as $95. Then fees were added. Now we are experiencing less bookings because the price is  now $151.21. 

[Elaine701]

@Amanda2996 

This is confusing. 

Isn't that what the guest would pay anyway?

I can't speak for Americans, but over here, one good way to send them running is to advertise a price of 95, then charge 151 at booking time.

Smells of the dreaded "hidden fees". What else are you going to surprise me with? 

[Amanda2996]

 Thanks for your comment. I just want to clarify that our pricing is completely transparent. The nightly rate is $95, and the total you see at booking includes a $75 cleaning fee, which is standard and clearly listed. There are no hidden fees—what you see before booking is exactly what you pay.

It's the changes made by Airbnb and  how prices are shown. My price didn't increase. 

[Elaine701]

@Amanda2996 

Ok... 

So you feel let down because it showed 95 previously? But now it shows 151? 

In other words ... the lower price of 95 attracted them, but in the end they still pay 151, regardless of what price was shown?

To a prospective guest, this could appear to be "bait and switch". Personally, I'd prefer to see 151 if that's what I'm going to have to pay. 

I have plenty of peeves about Airbnb, so I'm not defending them. This just doesn't seem worth the "fury and outrage". This and the single fee vs. split fee argument.

But maybe it's just the culture I've evolved in. 

(?) 

[Amanda2996]

Yes that's correct. Before it was hidden,  you could click on the details and see the cleaning fee.. I'm not outraged but I was just wondering, like other hosts,  if this is  why the bookings seem to  be slowing down. Hotels work the same way though. The price advertised is not the price you end of paying  once you go and check out due to sales tax and other fees.  I think it will just take time to get use to this method for both the guest and the host.