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>I left a bad review (my first). Two days later I received a convoluted message from support, telling me that my review was incorrect and wouldn't be published,

>I left a bad review (my first). Two days later I received a convoluted message from support, telling me that my review was incorrect and wouldn't be published, because it pointed out "things the property owner couldn't change". I've been shouting that from the rooftops for a couple of years. I discovered that same thing happened to me, but without the support comment above. Then I discovered in the Airbnb subreddit, hosts telling each other that to remove a bad review it's easy, just show something in the review you can't change. Bingo. You know what, F Airbnb. Anyway the cleaning and service fee add ons make it more expensive than a hotel, and with 0 flexibility to cancel or reschedule.

bambax 4y ago
Yeah it makes sense that hosts would exploit this; but it doesn't make a lot of sense that "things that can't be changed" are the things that can't be talked about in reviews? As a traveler, it's those things I want to know about. Not whether they did or didn't swipe the floor six months ago...
- mancerayder 4y ago
  Noise, location are prime things that are 'outside of host control' and thus need to be censored. Speaking from experience. How about a ground floor apartment with several restaurants' courtyards and back areas adjacent to the windows?
  - wizofaus 4y ago
    As a customer you're reviewing the overall experience, not the host. Whether or not something can readily be changed by the host (and actually, there's very little a host genuinely can't change - if the location is terrible, they could sell that property and buy another one in a more suitable location!) is irrelevant to potential customers deciding whether a property is suitable for their accommodation. Do AirBnB also remove positive reviews that praise things the hosts can't change?
    - mancerayder 4y ago
      You're preaching to the choir. We're hammering home how corrupt and unethical the process is with regards to reviews. The logic Airbnb gives is weak, but then logic of profit is stronger: of course they will side with hosts, the moneymaker, and shit on us, the expendable piece of the equation.

bambax 4y ago

Yeah it makes sense that hosts would exploit this; but it doesn't make a lot of sense that "things that can't be changed" are the things that can't be talked about in reviews? As a traveler, it's those things I want to know about. Not whether they did or didn't swipe the floor six months ago...

mancerayder 4y ago
Noise, location are prime things that are 'outside of host control' and thus need to be censored. Speaking from experience. How about a ground floor apartment with several restaurants' courtyards and back areas adjacent to the windows?
- wizofaus 4y ago
  As a customer you're reviewing the overall experience, not the host. Whether or not something can readily be changed by the host (and actually, there's very little a host genuinely can't change - if the location is terrible, they could sell that property and buy another one in a more suitable location!) is irrelevant to potential customers deciding whether a property is suitable for their accommodation. Do AirBnB also remove positive reviews that praise things the hosts can't change?
  - mancerayder 4y ago
    You're preaching to the choir. We're hammering home how corrupt and unethical the process is with regards to reviews. The logic Airbnb gives is weak, but then logic of profit is stronger: of course they will side with hosts, the moneymaker, and shit on us, the expendable piece of the equation.