Trend towards stinginess

[Ann42004]

Hi all, I’m not a host but have used Airbnb hundreds of times over the years. In the past few years, I’ve noticed a trend that will have me leaving Airbnb if it continues. Hosts don’t stock their places with sufficient basic things like toilet paper, detergent pods, dish detergent, sponges, etc.

When I travel, I don’t want to buy and carry around those things, and I don’t want to stock your place for you. Instead, the absence of sufficient dish washer pods, for example, means I will wash dishes by hand, which may or may not leave them as clean for your next guests. The place I’m in right now doesn’t even have clean sponges, but why would I spend part of my limited vacation purchasing sponges for a place I’m leaving tomorrow? The same with toilet paper; what are you afraid of? If you provide extra rolls, people will use more? Take some? Really? For want of a few cents worth of necessary tools, I will take my thousands of vacation dollars to a different format, like regular b-n-bs or hotels. 

I also notice the common absence of more than salt and pepper in the kitchen. People used to provide butter, oil, and other items, that again, I’d rather not have to buy in any real quantity.  As a community, I urge you to rethink this unnecessary stinginess that causes bad feelings. Thanks 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Ann42004 I couldn't agree more. Hosts who scrimp on a few £/$/Yen/.... when they are collecting a few hundred/thousand £/$/Yen... make no sense to me. 

[Joelle43]

Hello @Ann42004 

As a host myself like @Mike-And-Jane0 who have also commented, I couldn't agree with you more!  For the exact reasons you point out, I include all the items that you mention and more. 

A little goes a long way ...

[Ana2038]

@Ann42004 , I totally agree with @Joelle43 & @Mike-And-Jane0 . On the other hand, I have experienced guest(s) who have wiped out the entire stock of toilet paper,  make-up remover, coffee pods, and drinks (I provide 3 different drinks - 2 of each). Oddly, it’s more of the one night stays, for some reason, feel compelled to take everything. So we’ve changed how to stock for one night stays vs 2+ day guest(s). 

For one night stays we refresh the toilet paper supply (one new roll on toilet paper holder and one extra in bathroom cabinet).  Stays longer than 2 days always get an adequate amount of toilet paper 🧻 stocked in bathroom cabinet.  We keep the quantity of other items the same as some guest(s) leave everything as is (except toilet paper) so it evens out. Our listing does not have a kitchen so no need to worry about spices…etc…

Best—

[Lorna170]

@Ann42004  Are you renting from actual hands-on hosts or a management company?

As an actual hands-on host, all of the items that you have listed are present in my rental property.  I want my guests to take care of and enjoy the property, so the essentials are always there (I may miss on the stick of butter, however).  If a guest cleans out the extra rolls of TP or takes every cleaning product, so be it.  

When I have rented from a management company, the items that you have complained about are NOT there.  I take note of that and prepare for my trip accordingly, or I do more searching online for a hands-on host.

[Ann42004]

Of the four places we stayed this trip, one was with a rental company and did have adequate toiletries, etc but extremely limited kitchen supplies (salt and pepper).

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Ann42004 The other reason hosts should leave plenty of washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, sponges bin bags etc is that it encourages guests to clean crockery properly. Any skimping on these supplies is a false economy.