4 ms·

This is unfortunate for the folks at AirBNB. As someone who specializes in front end, I've admired their user interface and it is clear they have talented peopl

This is unfortunate for the folks at AirBNB. As someone who specializes in front end, I've admired their user interface and it is clear they have talented people.

xiphias2 7y ago
I see the continuous improvement in the frontend as well, but when I'm looking for a place to rent, trust issues are my #1 problem, not the usability of the UI. There are lots of properties with 0 reviews, and I see that multiple properties are managed probably by the same management company. It's just a sad situation when a nice owner of a nice apartment hires a bad management company, and AirBnB can't solve this situation, as I would love to stay in that place, but I'm scared of the hidden problems.
- nojvek 7y ago
  AirBnb uses a lot of dark patterns. The price you see on the UI can be 50% lower, because cleaning fees and other taxes add up very fast. You can't even compare two listing and get an Apple to Apple comparison. Their customer support is hopeless, I've lost money on two stays where I wouldn't get a refund because the listing was inaccurate (smelly and bad hygeine). They have to learn from Amazon. I know Amazon has terrible practices for it's workers but as a customer, I can't think of any online company that comes as close to their customer obsession. I can buy anything with prime label, its delivered quickly and I can return it if I am not happy for any reason. This is what I want from AirBnB. A very generous refund policy, and transparency in its listing + pricing.
  - kevindong 7y ago
    > AirBnb uses a lot of dark patterns. The price you see on the UI can be 50% lower, because cleaning fees and other taxes add up very fast. You can't even compare two listing and get an Apple to Apple comparison. That's kinda normal even for the various hotel booking sites/chains. They almost universally display the average pre-tax/fees price per night. The issue is that taxes and resort fees (which are in of themself very, very bullshitty) frequently make up a meaningful portion of the total cost (double digit percentages) so you still get sticker shock when you click through and get to the checkout screen.
    - lonelappde 7y ago
      Most hotels don't have "fees" piled on. A few scammy places have mandatory amenity/resort fees not in the price. None have "cleaning fees". Taxes are additional but not vendor specific.
      - kevindong 7y ago
        > A few scammy places have mandatory amenity/resort fees not in the price. I'd argue that most hotels in major metro areas now have resort fees. --- But yes I do agree that hotels don't have cleaning fees nor service charges.
  - jon2512chua 7y ago
    This is probably country-dependant. I’m from Australia and the prices shown are the final price, with everything included, because businesses here are legally required to do so.
- subpixel 7y ago
  Airbnb would be every bit as successful with a Craigslist or Amazon interface, while saving millions in front-end salaries.
  - BigChiefSmokem 7y ago
    Millions to create that front-end?? Oh man please someone hire me I will only charge half that much. We are too spoiled.
thijsvandien 7y ago
I'm not particularly impressed with their UX though. Stupid things like a filter to only show places that allow smoking, but no option to only show places that don't. As a non-smoker, it's far from pleasant to stay somewhere that's covered in tar. Same with pets. If you have allergies, you might prefer not to count on the place being cleaned well enough. I've reported this shortcoming years ago, but nothing has changed since.
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  That sort of decision (absence of filter for non-smoking listings) would be owned more by the Product org than visual designers or engineers. It's an appreciable criticism, but I don't think you can blame the people developing the interaction patterns for that.
amiga_500 7y ago
It's a website with pictures of the inside of a house, a calendar and a payment system.
- azangru 7y ago
  Airbnb had Nicholas Gallagher (creator of react-native-for-web, now at Facebook), Leland Richardson (Enzyme, Lottie, now at Google), Jordan Harband (Enzyme). Pretty talented folks. Airbnb was also an early adopter of graphql and was doing some very interesting stuff with it. It must have been a priviledge to work there.
  - lonelappde 7y ago
    Sounds cool but not essential to the business. VRBO site is just as good without then.

This is unfortunate for the folks at AirBNB. As someone who specializes in front end, I've admired their user interface and it is clear they have talented people.

xiphias2 7y ago

I see the continuous improvement in the frontend as well, but when I'm looking for a place to rent, trust issues are my #1 problem, not the usability of the UI. There are lots of properties with 0 reviews, and I see that multiple properties are managed probably by the same management company. It's just a sad situation when a nice owner of a nice apartment hires a bad management company, and AirBnB can't solve this situation, as I would love to stay in that place, but I'm scared of the hidden problems.

nojvek 7y ago
AirBnb uses a lot of dark patterns. The price you see on the UI can be 50% lower, because cleaning fees and other taxes add up very fast. You can't even compare two listing and get an Apple to Apple comparison. Their customer support is hopeless, I've lost money on two stays where I wouldn't get a refund because the listing was inaccurate (smelly and bad hygeine). They have to learn from Amazon. I know Amazon has terrible practices for it's workers but as a customer, I can't think of any online company that comes as close to their customer obsession. I can buy anything with prime label, its delivered quickly and I can return it if I am not happy for any reason. This is what I want from AirBnB. A very generous refund policy, and transparency in its listing + pricing.
- kevindong 7y ago
  > AirBnb uses a lot of dark patterns. The price you see on the UI can be 50% lower, because cleaning fees and other taxes add up very fast. You can't even compare two listing and get an Apple to Apple comparison. That's kinda normal even for the various hotel booking sites/chains. They almost universally display the average pre-tax/fees price per night. The issue is that taxes and resort fees (which are in of themself very, very bullshitty) frequently make up a meaningful portion of the total cost (double digit percentages) so you still get sticker shock when you click through and get to the checkout screen.
  - lonelappde 7y ago
    Most hotels don't have "fees" piled on. A few scammy places have mandatory amenity/resort fees not in the price. None have "cleaning fees". Taxes are additional but not vendor specific.
    - kevindong 7y ago
      > A few scammy places have mandatory amenity/resort fees not in the price. I'd argue that most hotels in major metro areas now have resort fees. --- But yes I do agree that hotels don't have cleaning fees nor service charges.
- jon2512chua 7y ago
  This is probably country-dependant. I’m from Australia and the prices shown are the final price, with everything included, because businesses here are legally required to do so.
subpixel 7y ago
Airbnb would be every bit as successful with a Craigslist or Amazon interface, while saving millions in front-end salaries.
- BigChiefSmokem 7y ago
  Millions to create that front-end?? Oh man please someone hire me I will only charge half that much. We are too spoiled.

thijsvandien 7y ago

I'm not particularly impressed with their UX though. Stupid things like a filter to only show places that allow smoking, but no option to only show places that don't. As a non-smoker, it's far from pleasant to stay somewhere that's covered in tar. Same with pets. If you have allergies, you might prefer not to count on the place being cleaned well enough. I've reported this shortcoming years ago, but nothing has changed since.

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
That sort of decision (absence of filter for non-smoking listings) would be owned more by the Product org than visual designers or engineers. It's an appreciable criticism, but I don't think you can blame the people developing the interaction patterns for that.

amiga_500 7y ago

It's a website with pictures of the inside of a house, a calendar and a payment system.

azangru 7y ago
Airbnb had Nicholas Gallagher (creator of react-native-for-web, now at Facebook), Leland Richardson (Enzyme, Lottie, now at Google), Jordan Harband (Enzyme). Pretty talented folks. Airbnb was also an early adopter of graphql and was doing some very interesting stuff with it. It must have been a priviledge to work there.
- lonelappde 7y ago
  Sounds cool but not essential to the business. VRBO site is just as good without then.