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4.47 rating. That is, believe it or not, a pretty appalling score, and not something I would book. Also, the host is an ass, I cannot count how many times I hav

4.47 rating. That is, believe it or not, a pretty appalling score, and not something I would book. Also, the host is an ass, I cannot count how many times I have had people book for family members, and I’ve had numerous occasions where someone has booked for someone else for work. You also want to avoid 5.00 or 4.99 with hundreds of stays as they are inevitably buying or extorting reviews. 4.88-4.97 is the sweet spot. I really wish Airbnb would just ban hosts like this, as it makes those of us who are honestly trying to provide good hospitality all get tarred with the same brush.

avalys 4y ago
Pretty funny that the 5-star system compresses the actual useful signal into less than 10% of the range.
- madaxe_again 4y ago
  It’s ridiculous - and Airbnb perpetuate it. If you get a 4.8* or below review, you get a cranky email from Airbnb saying that you suck and red warnings all over the “improvements” section of the admin. It works, just barely, as long as you only book places with like 50 stays and a score in the range I mentioned - which isn’t something you expect your average Joe to realise.
  - ghaff 4y ago
    At least historically, eBay was the same. Anything other than Positive: A++++++++++++++++ Fantastic seller meant that they shipped me a cinder block rather than the MacBook I purchased. >If you get a 4.8* or below review, you get a cranky email from Airbnb saying that you suck and red warnings all over the “improvements” section of the admin. The one stay I've had at AirBnb--a lovely place in Maui (mostly because the hotels were so expensive and it was nice)--there were at least a couple pleas in the various information about talking to them before leaving anything other than a 5 rating because they might lose their super-host status.
carabiner 4y ago
I know a fulltime host in my city. He goes to extreme lengths to ensure only 5-star reviews. He is basically on call 24/7 to address guest concerns, however the total amount of work he does in a week is probably 10-15 hours for a livable income. The sleep he loses and amount of psychoanalysis he attempts on guests sometimes doesn't seem worth it though.
- madaxe_again 4y ago
  You know me, apparently.

avalys 4y ago

Pretty funny that the 5-star system compresses the actual useful signal into less than 10% of the range.

madaxe_again 4y ago
It’s ridiculous - and Airbnb perpetuate it. If you get a 4.8* or below review, you get a cranky email from Airbnb saying that you suck and red warnings all over the “improvements” section of the admin. It works, just barely, as long as you only book places with like 50 stays and a score in the range I mentioned - which isn’t something you expect your average Joe to realise.
- ghaff 4y ago
  At least historically, eBay was the same. Anything other than Positive: A++++++++++++++++ Fantastic seller meant that they shipped me a cinder block rather than the MacBook I purchased. >If you get a 4.8* or below review, you get a cranky email from Airbnb saying that you suck and red warnings all over the “improvements” section of the admin. The one stay I've had at AirBnb--a lovely place in Maui (mostly because the hotels were so expensive and it was nice)--there were at least a couple pleas in the various information about talking to them before leaving anything other than a 5 rating because they might lose their super-host status.

carabiner 4y ago

I know a fulltime host in my city. He goes to extreme lengths to ensure only 5-star reviews. He is basically on call 24/7 to address guest concerns, however the total amount of work he does in a week is probably 10-15 hours for a livable income. The sleep he loses and amount of psychoanalysis he attempts on guests sometimes doesn't seem worth it though.

madaxe_again 4y ago
You know me, apparently.