Unfair guest review

Answered!
Pascale653
Level 4
Newington, Australia

Unfair guest review

Hello,

 

I’m sorry, I need to have a bit of a rant out over a three star rating recently given on my hosting, after a series of five stars which were bringing me so close to the super-host status, (I started hosting in March).  The sting experienced is painful, though I am trying to take it into my stride and to let it go.  However, the unfairness perceived over it lingers in my mind and I am hesitating as I think of contacting support to either remove that review or get it up to four stars (if such an option exists). 

 

The guest responsible for that rating had booked weeks ago and had an excellent rating too, so I felt confident that all would be fine, even though she only let me know at what time she would arrive on the day she arrived, when I had requested she let me know a few days beforehand, as I usually do.  I keep an open mind however and took this in my stride.

 

After the second night, she let me know she had had a very poor night sleep because the bed was too hard.  I apologised and she in turn explained that she had been standing all day on both feet for her work nearby.  For the third night I provided her, on top of the extra four medium and large cushions already on the bed, two extra duvets for added softness and her last night was fine.

 

I agreed that I should get a softer topper for the mattress and it felt like communication was fine then.

I expected the bed issue would be reflected in a lower rating, and I was going to be fine with that.  I left her a nice review, apologising for the bed once more.

 

She waited until the last moment to give me her review: her comments were nice, yet disguising issues I had absolutely no idea of and that make no sense if she had even read the listing’s description, not to mention the house rules.  For example: privacy: three stars…? She has her own bedroom and bathroom and is supposed to know that I live and work on the premises.  Kitchen…!  No idea what went wrong there, she never mentioned it clearly.  Hard to find the unit…!  All my guests receive a detail description on how to get to my place days before they arrive and most of them use their phone maps too.  Knowledge of the area a three: I’ve lived there twenty years, and when she did not want to walk to the main market place after I described the numerous eating spots there, I proposed to drive her there (it’s a good ten minutes’ walk) but she refused.  The list goes on.  It is not unlike some sort of payback.  Could her stance be explained because she was she fearful I would give her a bad review in view of the bed problem?  Trouble is I’m easy going and tolerant because I always think life is short and everyone has flaws, though this doesn’t mean I get indulgent with the way I host, far from it.  Ratings are great and useful when used with honesty, but the amount of abuse they can also generate goes beyond me.

 

I understand that she had a bad night.  Does it justify the review?  I don’t think so.

 

Thanks for listening.  What do you think? Let it go or seek support?

 

Top Answer
Lisa1247
Level 4
Brewer, ME

This is just my opinion, but I have been a Superhost for 5+ years continuous now so I feel fairly qualified. I think you coddled the guest way too much by going overboard with providing all the cushions, etc.  Entitled guests get one thing, and keep asking for more.  Why would you interact with the guest so much and provide cushions?  If they want something like this, they can go buy their own.  I would have filed in my mind, 'one guest said the bed was uncomfortable.' Perhaps thank them for their opinion and say you might order a new one in the future, etc.  NOT IMMEDIATELY.  This is subjective - the weight of the guest determines how far they sink into the bed.  If the mattress is old, yes, you might replace it before you even begin with Airbnb.  But not instantly for one person!  What are you going to do for the next guest, that says it's not firm enough, the one after that says it's so soft, and so on?  Buy 100 mattresses and keep switching them out?

 

I don't have time to read reviews people write.  I'm busy cleaning these checkouts.  Don't worry about it.  Keep on booking stays, the next person's review will bump that one further down on your review list.  If you don't think it's moving down on your view list quick enough, dump your price and make it one night minimum stay.

 

I do the following:  Before guests arrive, I send welcome messages preparing them for a great stay, providing instructions on arrival, and letting them know I want to be sure they have a 5* stay, so please let me know if anything isn't 100% so I can fix it right away. (this prepares them for satisfaction). Nobody ever asks for anything because I have prepared the units for every possible scenario at this point.

 

Inside, I have little sign preparing them for the upcoming 5* review and my Superhost status, and under it, a pen with a questionnaire in the units with a full sheet of paper that I have printed with a series of questions.  Not all guests complete it but they see it, but when they do complete it, it provides them an outlet to vent opinions before the official review - but it also has provided me excellent ideas over the years to prepare the spaces to exactly what the guests want!  It is invaluable!  I have received great ideas, some not so great ones.  A lot I never would have thought of myself.

 

After they depart, I send messages (nearly all messages are automated btw) requesting their 5* review.  You have to put them in the frame of mind for the 5*.  This is why you keep saying it.  Reiterate the importance of it.  I send several of these messages with variations until they leave the review.  Staged out the day of departure, 2 days after, 5 days, 7 days, 9 days.  At 2 weeks it expires so you want the review left before that time.  There are multiple automation services to leave automessages, and I think Airbnb even offers one now.  You want take advantage of it, because you get rated on response for Superhost.

 

I hope that is helpful. 

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18 Replies 18

Hi

I have not posted before on this site and I am probably in the wrong place but I am gutted by our treatment by AirBNB refusing to remove a review from someone who not only stole from us but wrote a review full of lies in an attempt of get her money for an 8 day stay back.  She gave me a one star review with a personal attack on me and our brand new property.  I am a superhost with  my husband with experience in hosting 4 properties over the years.  I have communicated with I think 9 different Ambassadors over 6 days with them all typing messages from there script.  This person has defamed me and our property and I feel like I am talking to a brick wall.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thank you.

 

Rebecca
Community Manager
Community Manager
Suffolk Coastal District, United Kingdom

Hi there @Mary6285 👋

 

I'm so sorry to hear of your recent experience with a guest leaving you a retaliatory review. I just wanted to pop you a message to let you know that I've sent you a direct message with some more information. 

I hope this helps,
Rebecca 🌟

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Please follow the Community Guidelines

@Lisa1247 

 

Your reply is very helpful.  Would you be willing to share the guest questionnaire that you leave printed out in your unit for guests to choose to complete?  I was considering doing the same as I'd love feedback as to what to improve, what they appreciated, etc. 

I would love to see an example of your questionnaire also if possible.  I think it would be very beneficial.   

You can send it to my email **[Link removed - Community Center Guidelines ]