"Plus" host refused to provide cleaning materials & expect me to wait 8 hours for a repair

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Netta5
Level 4
Israel

"Plus" host refused to provide cleaning materials & expect me to wait 8 hours for a repair

I'm using Airbnb nonstop and I love it. Recently I encounter an uncomfortable experience and I would like to hear your opinion please. Just to note, it's Airbnb plus and I assumed it should be better, but I was wrong. Unfortunately, I booked this place for one month so I can't leave 😞

 

I arrived at the Airbnb, there were some dysfunctions, I took pictures of them but I thought that I can handle with them, just for the worst-case scenario, and told the host about some of them.

On the first night, I planned to use the dishwasher after I cooked and I noticed that the door cannot be closed because there's an accumulation of calcium beneath (I guess because of the time of the quarantine there were no guests here). In the morning after I send a message to the host, he responded after 6 hours that he'll invite a repairman for the day after that will come between 10:00-14:00. 

 

I was uncomfortable with that because the host itself told me he didn't come to welcome me because of the COVID-9 issues, and anyway all the time he sent his friend to check things because he's not in the city (So he lied apparently).

On the day after I ruined my plans for the morning and I was waiting. At 13:00 while I was waiting he wrote to me that the repairman canceled so he wants to invite him for the day after in the afternoon (also with a time-frame of 4 hours). He told me that I don't have to be in the apartment but I told him that I don't feel comfortable with that because I want to make sure that his friend and the repairman are using masks and also there's no place here to lock my stuff so I'm a bit concern. 

Anyway, the host wasn't nice at all, he all the time repeated that it's not his fault and when he sent me the message at 13:00 he wrote me "at least you were waiting only 3 hours, and not 4" like he has no respect to my time at all. All the time I tried to contact Airbnb and they replayed after 2 days and were not responsive and feel like they don't care at all. But I wanted to have a dishwasher so I wanted to give it another chance maybe, but then I realized that there is not even one cleaning material in the apartment and thought that of course there's a chance that the repairman or his friend would like to use the toilet and it won't be humane not to let them. So I asked the "Plus" host and he told me that "honestly" he gave me a monthly discount so he doesn't think he should provide me any cleaning materials. I tried to explain to him that it's also for his good to maintain the apartment but he refused. Besides, he sent me a message and wrote that he thinks that it was a "mystery" what happened to the dishwasher because the cleaning team told him they cleaned it but luckily I had a pic I took 1.5 hours after I arrived showed clearly that the door of the dishwasher is open and that there's an accumulation of salt beneath. 

 

In all my last Airbnbs there were cleaning materials even if it was not written in the amenities. I was surprised that he refused to provide me and more surprised that Airbnb told me that he shouldn't provide me because it wasn't written in the amenities. I saw articles of Airbnb where they wrote clearly that the host should provide cleaning materials because of the COVID-9 situation.

 

In the meanwhile, I wash the dishes by hand and count my days until check out 😞

I'm doing all I can to be a polite & clean guest, the only reason I want cleaning materials is that I care for the place I stay in and I want to keep it nice & clean.

 

I'm very disappointed with Airbnb that they don't try to help to find another place. The behavior of the host makes me feel uncomfortable staying here. I understand that people can have financial problems but I don't think that I ask something that isn't basic. I really want to leave 😞

 

Thanks,

Netta

Top Answer

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 

 

Yes, of course I understand that what a guest want and what they need are not the same and that Airbnb does  not 'require' cleaning equipment to be provided. If this was for a short term stay in a regular rental, then perhaps the complaints would seem quite petty and the host was justified in getting annoyed (although I don't think talking to guests like that is okay in general. He could have communicated in a better way).

 

However, we are talking about a Plus listing here, which a few people on this thread seem to keep forgetting. Think about how Plus is marketed to guests:

 

"All the comforts of home, plus more"

"Exceptional hosts...known for attention to detail...Airbnb hosts are accommodating and take care of the details that make you feel at home."

"You can expect a consistent set of amenities you need to live like you do at home."

"Well maintained...Airbnb Plus hosts take the extra effort to ensure the home is fully functioning...all appliances are in working order..."

"Premium support. When you book and Airbnb Plus home, you get the focused attention of a highly trained team committed to great service..."

 

Really, does that sound like what @Netta5 got? No, she got a host who told her that she was not entitled to this or that (and it's not like she's asking for something ridiculous) because she got a discounted rate. We don't even know if she asked for a discount, if it was a standard long-term discount, or if the listing was at a lower rate than normal due to lack of bookings. Whatever, a Plus host shouldn't be able to tell the guest that they won't get this or that because of it. The discount shouldn't be used as the reason.

 

Yes, sure, the host organised for a repair person and some might think @Netta5 was being overly cautious RE COVID safety but, given that the host made a point of not checking her in because of it, naturally she thought he cared about that, but perhaps he was concerned only for his own safety? Remember also, it's not just about that. She already explained that there was nowhere to lock her stuff so she preferred to be there when strangers were coming in.

 

Also, how many guests are going from one accommodation to the next with a set of full sized cleaning materials? Are they supposed to carry around a bucket and mop too? I'd be interested to hear how often guests steal cleaning products. I doubt that it's common.

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128 Replies 128

@Huma0 

Of course, we don't know the full story because we are only hearing one side of it, but I find it interesting how, in most cases, when a host posts on here complaining about a guest, the majority of responses are supportive, even though we don't know the guest's side of the story, whereas a guest complaining about a host often gets attacked.

 

Where was this guest @Netta5 attacked specifically? And you'll find that the CC has a non-discriminatory policy in treating hosts & guests equally badly and in equal amounts, but finding out the facts usually gets to the truth.

 

All situations depend on evidence being provided, Netta was asked questions to corroborate her story which she refused to answer or illustrate, so based on that she's being deceptive. Being provided only half of a story is manipulative, and so you need to ask the question why? The obvious answer to that is that she wanted to get moved from where she is at, for whatever reason, she already stated she was refused that by Airbnb, so now what is she doing here? Looking for sympathisers? She got those in a truckful, and most insisting the host should provide additional service items not listed. No he doesn't - No to whatever your argument might be, he just doesn't.

 

It doesn't matter one bit how deep you want to delve into Netta's history of reviews, to our faces she's being deceptive whilst building a case against her host. I judge what I see here, not what some review has said.  To me, only what exists here actually counts for anything and deceptive is as apt a description as I can find for the avoidance of providing truthful answers.

 

Whatever the problem was, the excuse for it was that the place had not been booked for a while and sitting empty. Well, that's not really a valid excuse.

 

And who gave you that excuse Huma?  It wasn't the host giving that excuse for anything. It was just a guess, by Netta: "(I guess because of the time of the quarantine there were no guests here)".  Rather ironic though... a dishwasher, stood idle, building up with calcium(?) all by itself because it's not being used? You'll find that generally using something leads to build-ups of deposits.

 

Now Huma, what assumptions are you stating that I'm making? I've already said that factual details are needed to corroborate a story full of holes, and without those facts how can one judge? I'm the one not making assumptions. I've asked specific questions which have been avoided, so I can only speculate based on the lack of answers to those.

 

So me not making assumptions, and me not claiming to know the full story as the story is full of holes, it seems that only one of us has any interest in finding out what the real story actually is,. That isn't going to be found by raking up any old review data, rather, truthful answers and seeing the extent of the claimed problem would help.

 

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Netta5  " I would never think that sombody would be happy that I will live in his place without cleaning it for a month but I guess I was wrong" .

 

You are drawing an assumption from a faulty way of thinking. Not providing cleaning supplies in a long-term rental does not result in a conclusion that the host expects you never to clean a place you are living in. It just means the host expects guests to buy their own cleaning supplies.

 

It's like saying the host doesn't provide coffee because he thinks guests don't drink coffee. I have a budget-priced private room listing and I provide soap, but I don't provide shampoo. That doesn't mean I think guests never wash their hair. Hosts have choices as to what they provide and guests have to check to make sure that what they want is included.

 

As I mentioned before, just because you are accustomed to having certain things provided, because those were provided in the other Airbnb's you stayed in, doesn't mean you will always find those things provided. All Airbnb's are unique, they aren't chain hotels where you can always expect to find the same amenities.

 

There are even hosts who don't provide sheets or towels- guests are expected to bring their own. When I first heard about this, I thought it was really strange, but then the hosts who said they don't provide them explained that this is a traditional arrangement where they host- usually beach or lakefront cabins which are quite remote that you couldn't get to without a car, so it's easy enough for guests to bring those things and everyone else who has cabins there also does not provide linens. It's  been that way in those places long before Airbnb existed and the homeowners rented through other means.

 

 

 

Thank you @Sarah977 🙂

I learn a lot from this conversation (Also about dickensian which seem like a must-watch)

and I think that the main thing is not to assume nothing and to ask about everything for my future Airbnbs.

Ian-And-Anne-Marie0
Level 10
Kendal, United Kingdom

@Netta5 

 

That photograph of the dishwasher must be a real inconvenient truth.

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Netta5
Level 4
Israel

Dear @Huma0  @Ann72 @Sarah977 @Mark116 @Helen350 @Anonymous 
Thank you so much for all the information & support 💜 I'm going to have intensive days in my work for the next days so I won't be online in this forum. I learned what I needed to learn so thank you very much! I hope to have the chance to book with each one of you in the future because you seem like great hosts with a lot of patience and willingness to help.

And I'll just ignore the buzz 🙈🙉🙊 (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) It was enough for me to face a negative person, I don't have time & energy to put it in another negative one. I love to look at the bright side of things and I recommend for him also.


Namaste 🙏

@Netta5  It was a pleasure to meet you here - you’ve got a great approach to life.  I wish you all the best, and I hope you come to Maine someday, preferably when I’m there to meet you in person!

Helen350
Level 10
Whitehaven, United Kingdom

Very kind of you @Netta5  to want to pay us all a visit!

 

- But I fear my place wouldn't be up to your standards; the dishwasher has been out of order for YEARS! = And you probably couldn't afford @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 's! LOL!

 

Of course you'd be welcome at my modest budget listing! So long as you don't mind washing up the old fashioned way! 🙂

@Helen350 

What made you think I was included in the booking frenzy ?? I would definitely be here, though.😂😂😂

 

(and I much preferred your whingey whiney comment before you (or it ) was edited btw).. 😉

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 True, you weren't included! My reading comprehension let me down for the second time in one day, it seems........ I was distracted  by my fuming over EXCESSIVE kitchen/oven users a.t.m..... HOURS in the evening & also at lunchtime!!!!! (Go away, climb a mountain, & eat a sandwich!!!) - But that's another story!

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 I edited my comment myself, for the sake of charity...

@Helen350 

 

Funny! 😂

 

I thought it might have been Gin O'Clock !

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Netta5  Good luck. Hope you make it to Mexico someday. (You'll find cleaning supplies under your bathroom sink 😁 )  I lived in Israel for 2 years, in Hertzliyah, probably way back before you were born, in '67-'69.

Ian-And-Anne-Marie0
Level 10
Kendal, United Kingdom

For the first piece of positivity - where's the confirmation that the dishwasher was fixed after the repairman washed the salt away?

 

The second visit would have happened at least over 24 hours ago. A bit negative to not celebrate that happening don't you think, or maybe better  - just not mention it - but oh to be free of having to wash dishes by hand with non-existent cleaning products. Such a delight.  Or might that just be adding some positivity towards the host with him doing what he is contractually obliged to, as opposed to what he is not? There might even have been a new dishwasher involved !

 

Where's the photo in evidence of the so catastrophic problem with the dishwasher taken 1.5 hours after arrival?

 

Was there actually cleaning hardware in the apartment too? 

 

Who mentioned #ReadingComprehension?  Spot the whopping holes in this story !

 

Not wanting to rub salt in the wound.. Hook. Line. Sinker.

a5b