Status "not possible" because a request is deemed more important than an inquiry?

[Niki19]

Hi,

I received an inquiry from someone for 4 nights, and I received a request from someone else for an overlapping period for 3 nights. I received the inquiry first, so I was exchanging messages with the person who sent the inquiry. I preferred this person because they wanted to stay more nights. However before I accepted anything, the status of inquiry was changed into "not possible".

Does this mean that whenever you receive a request, any inquiries you already had running automatically become "not possible"? That seems very unfair because if the inquiry comes in first, I want to decide for myself if I want to offer that person the chance to book. I don't want Airbnb to decide that it's "not possible" to host that person.

In this case it would have been better for me to go with the inquiry person because it would mean one extra night. Not that much, but what if the inquiry was for like 2 weeks, and the request was for 2 days? I would be kind of pissed if Airbnb robbed me of the chance to make the 2 week thing work... Any experience / knowledge?

Thanks,

Niki

[Neverbeen0]

Hi @Linda108, Thanks for your response into my post. Yes, we manage about 300 listings. There was no booking confirmation to get their contact number. May be I should try to send a special offer request for new dates in the future, in that way the status will turn as "special offer" - So guest can see meesages I send. Thanks! 

[Helen3]

If your guest wanted to book, they would have booked.

I wouldn't bother spending more time on this guest, it sounds like they are wasting your time.