why is my review not showing up?

[Zohreh2]

Hi! we just had a terrible airbnb experice & I wrote a review for the host. my review is not showing up on his page & ALL of his many reviews are positive- WITHOUT an EXCEPTION. how is that possible?! can he block the bad reviews?

there is no contact infor for aibnb to open a case...

Help please! I really think people should know about what they are signing up for with this guy...

[Stephen1334]

I have left 3 negative reviews of the scores of rentals I have done and not one ever was published.  I now will see if Vrbo does the same thing and if not I believe this to be a class action lawsuit in the making.

[Justin1423]

For those not seeing their reviews, were you reviewed by the host? Was anything left in dispute?

[Federico736]

I am afraid Airbnb won't publish bad reviews cause it will damage the host so no more money in booking fees for Airbnb. Do not expect your bad review to be published. We had a very bad experience in Spain and we reported an electrical hazard on one property to Airbnb (took pictures and sent to Airbnb as proof), on top of another bunch of issues with the flat we rented.  Airbnb Rep. called me from USA however, they were mainly interested in checking if I qualified for a refund (which I did not), rather than shutting down this apartment rent with health issues in Spain... In between the lines they told me that my bad review could not be published and the host had all the power to keep renting their s**t apartment via Airbnb. Case closed. Since that experience we rather book with bookings.com, cheaper fees and really VERIFIED hosts!

[Diana2147]

@Federico736 @I will keep that in mind for my next trip to Europe then. Here I was all innocent thinking I could drive a review and it would show.

I have read bad reviews at Airbnb,however, and that is normally what keeps me from renting a place.

[Federico736]

Hi Diana,

in the end Airb&b posted our review of that rent but in general their practice is to promote the good review and reluctantly publishing the bad reviews as their business model relies on lots of nice places with 5 stars, a bit like Amazon reviews... 

In my opinion, the general rule (unless you feel adventurous...) is to stay only in rents with at least 50 positive reviews so it is undoubtedly a decent accommodation. In this particular occasion there were no other accommodation left near the seaside so we took our chances but at the end it was not worth it.

Ciao 

Federico

[Philip162]

Reviews that are overly negative are censored.  That happens on every website.  Transparency is an antediluvian concept.  Now, consumers must learn how to wade through reviews in order to decipher what is real and what is fake. It takes time, but can be done.  However, with Airbnb or any hotel site, consumers are taking a chance.  There are no guarantees.  

[Diana2147]

@Philip162 @I suppose, from now on I will be suspicious of a non Superhost with too many or only good reviews.

[Philip162]

When we book an AirBnb or a hotel, we analyze the reviews, check their origin.  Does the review have credibility and a modicum of proof that it's real?  This methodology is arduous and requires an investment of time.  Depending on the length of the stay and the cost, it is often worth the trouble.  I have learned to be wary of anything I read on the internet.  Yet, I'm a vestige of a bygone era, when travelers devoured travel books, reading about far away places, without actually having photos or videos to examine.  Part of the fun was the discovery.  However, discovery can be dangerous in the world of short term leases.  Caveat Emptor.   

[Diana2147]

@Zulfa6 Same thing happened to me. There is something wrong with a system in which only good reviews show.  However, Airbnb said the Host would not be able to see my review, for 14 days or until they wrote a review for me. I suppose if they sense one is not going to write a good review, they may not write one for you, just to keep yours from showing. We will see.   From now on, I will make sure I only get SuperHosts, those are the only times that I have gotten what I sign up for. Most times is just a bunch of lies. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Diana2147 don't believe the conspiracy theorists. Unless your review breaches the guidelines it will be published no matter how critical it might be

[Diana2147]

@Mike-And-Jane0 @My review is as honest as can be. I normally only tell the hosts about things that I find wrong with their place and never write reviews because when I get to them it is too late to write them. However,  this time I thought my story should be told. Especially because these place has only good reviews and I wonder how they manage.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Diana2147 when did you write your review? If longer than 14 days after your stay then the host might have tried to get it removed. If they have then you should call Airbnb and ask them why it has been removed.

[Diana2147]

@Mike-And-Jane0 No. It has not being 14 days yet. After reading so many negative comments about negative reviews being removed, even from people who got worse experiences than I had, now I wonder. For me it has only been a week.   In my case, the people advertise a place right by the water at a different address and advertise it as brand new. Plus, they do not have a few of the amenities they say they have, like washer and dryer, coffee maker, and the place is not as clean as the reviews say, except for the beds., etc. However, I did mention quite a few negative other things, so I suspect they may not post the review. Those people have only positive reviews, and nobody has mentioned the fact that the location is not what they say etc., which it was why I chose their place.

[Philip162]

Please be aware that all the people defending the review process are at something labeled "Level 10" on Airbnb.  I have no clue what a "Level 10" stands for, but my assumption is they are "representatives" of the company in some way or another.  This again, is a way to be vigilant.  Who is providing answers, and what is their motive.  This is not a conspiracy.  It is called capitalism, and corporations are protecting their interests.  There's nothing illegal or even unethical about it.  Consumers must realize they are their only advocate.  Nothing on the internet is what it seems.  There is no control or supervision.  It's a "Brave New World."

[Sandra856]

@Philip162  If you enter my profile you will find that I’m a host from Copenhagen. I got a small apartment and I rent out a room in my home. Of course I need to know the rules and how the platform works as a host. I don’t really think I defend the review system in any way - I simply explain how it works. Level 10 means that I have been active in this community and that people have found my contributions, advice etc. helpful and giving them ‘thumbs up’.