Suspicious request from guest asking for $300 of roses

[Audrey667]

I just received a reservation request and I’m suspicious of it. Here is what the guest wrote:

“This is My wife and my anniversary Trip. Could I please have 300 dollars worth of red roses place inside the home? We will arive at whatever time you tell me it is ready.  I will pay whatever it costs to make this a spectacular weekend for my wife. If you have ideas please tell me. I do not have a budget”

I have been running a vacation rental successfully for 6 years and have never received such a request.  Could this be a scam? What do you think?

I certainly don’t mind going above and beyond for a guest and I am happy to leave wine and chocolates for a special occasion, but the way this request is worded is suspicious to me.  

[Huma0]

@Audrey667 

It does sound a bit unusual, but not necessarily a scam. What else do you know about this guest? Do they have previous reviews, verification? Have they told you much about themselves? Usually I would say go with your gut feeling if you think this is a red flag.

On the other hand, I can't see your listing (due to the recent redesign of the CC) so I don't know if it's an ideal place for a romantic getaway, in which case this could be a legit request.

If you decide to go ahead with it, I would make it clear that the price you charge (always via the Airbnb system if you are worried about scams) would need to include your time, not just the cost of the roses or whatever. Buying, transporting and arranging 300 roses, along with whatever else, takes time that is above what you would normally spend prepping the listing.

[Audrey667]

They have no other reviews and just joined Airbnb. The only communication I have from them is what I posted above. My house is on the river and could be a great place for a romantic getaway. I guess it’s the assumption that I’m a concierge service and then the comment that “I do not have a budget” that raises a red flag. It’s also the way everything is worded that seems off. 

[Huma0]

@Audrey667 

Sorry, I took "I do not have a budget," to mean in this context, not that he has no budget to pay for this (that would be ridiculous) but that the sky is the limit, as the guest wrote, directly before that, " will pay whatever it costs to make this a spectacular weekend for my wife. If you have ideas please tell me."

However, if you are not a luxury rental then, yes, it does seem even more odd. I would either ask the guest questions (I like to know a bit about my guests in general, even if they don't have unusual requests), or go with your gut feeling and just tell him you don't think the listing is what he is looking for.

[Gillian166]

@Audrey667  I agree, the part about "no budget" seems a bit off, esp as you say you aren't a luxury rental in the first place. but for all we know, he wife used to holiday in your region as a little kid, so it's special to her. There are many reasons to choose a location, and now we can't see your listing anymore, this makes it difficult to assess.

 I'm not sure why he doesn't just have flowers delivered, we've had that happen two times this year. It would have been nice for the guests to tell us! but it worked out fine. 

if your gut says he's going to be a difficult guest, then follow that and politely decline. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Audrey667 looks dodgy to me as there is no way to guarantee payment especially if the guest doesn't turn up. If you want to help then give the guest the name of a local florist and ask him to order the flowers and deliver them to you and you will put them in before they arrive

[Audrey667]

I think between the way it is worded and the assumption that I am a concierge as well as host is off putting.  They don’t have any other reviews and have told me no personal information about themselves. When people have special requests, they usually ask if it can be done rather that assume. The sentence “I do not have a budget” is suspicious to me as well. 

[Huma0]

Also, I am not 100% sure if you are allowed to request additional funds prior to a stay commencing. I know I have had issues with this before. So, to minimise risks, I would first work out with the guest what they require, the total costs, and then send them a special offer that includes all of those costs so that you get paid them as part of the booking, rather than having to request them from the guest after they have already checked in.

Airbnb will not charge a guest who refuses to pay for additional requested fees and then you are screwed. So, best to get that payment set up upfront and on the Airbnb system to make sure it's legit.

[Audrey667]

Thanks for that advice!  I’m thinking of just declining the reservation entirely. My listing is a river house and not a luxury rental. I worry that a guest with this level of requests will be picky about other things and not worth the headache. 

[Gwen386]

@Audrey667 I agree. Don’t do it. There are too many things that could go wrong. He may think for $300 he should get 100 roses,  when in fact it could be 2 dozen. Complaint #1. Roses may not be freshly cut. Complaint #2. Roses weren’t arranged in the room perfectly. Complaint #4. He expected white roses but got red. Well you get the gist. The complaints could go on and on—then the 1* review. 

[Kirsten266]

You can tel him he can buy the roses online at the flower store. The flowerstore can deliver the roses at the airbnb. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[Sudsrung0]

@Audrey667 

Dont forget to add a extra cleaning fee's and disposal of the flowers,