5 ms·

Basic problem with Airbnb is that you’re dealing with small proprietors and the quality and value can be pretty inconsistent. Airbnb has relied on reviews to

Basic problem with Airbnb is that you’re dealing with small proprietors and the quality and value can be pretty inconsistent. Airbnb has relied on reviews to enforce this but what I’ve found is that “hosts” usually wait to file a review of me as a guest until I file my review. So there’s a disincentive to leave a mixed review. Additionally there’s a creep factor in the number of cameras on the property. Hotels have lots of cameras but you don’t get the same sense that you’re being policed. I realize some of this is necessary but it can still be off-putting; usually everyone in the rental comments on the cameras. Airbnb could normalize the value by enforcing standards and capping certain unreasonable charges in particular cleaning fees. A uniform cancellation policy would also help. Additionally there are no rewards for booking Airbnb and no perks at all for repeat customers. I’ve moved from Airbnb to Marriot and I get 4pm late check out, upgrades to suites, free breakfast, priority booking etc… and I don’t have to take the garbage out, bundle up sheets, do the dishes, etc…

nailer 1y ago
> I’ve found is that “hosts” usually wait to file a review of me as a guest until I file my review. Oh, I thought they did a double unlock. I.e. waiting for both reviews to be finished before publishing either.
- milkshakes 1y ago
  that is exactly what they do
  - apwell23 1y ago
    so if i don't review my host, my host's review of me gets stuck in a limbo? i don't think so. I've seen reviews from hosts that i haven't reviewed.
    - milkshakes 1y ago
      there's a two week window in which reviews are accepted, after which the reviews are released. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/13 https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/13
    - albedoa 1y ago
      If only this were documented somewhere. Welp, better disbelieve it outright.
      - apwell23 1y ago
        jackass
- mmmBacon 1y ago
  Maybe they do now. I have only left 2 mixed reviews. One when the place they rented was not the one showed in photos. The people weren’t allowed to rent in their building and this was not something that was advertised. This meant none of the building’s amenities were available to us despite being advertised. I ended up getting dinged somehow. I thought maybe they could see the review by a 2nd account or something. Could be wrong.
  - poisonarena 1y ago
    its always been double unlock
- enjo 1y ago
  As an occasional host we always wait until the guest writes a review. Our goal is to basically never have a guest write a review so we don't write them hoping they just forget. If we write one they get an email telling them that we did and really pushing them to review. Our place is all five star reviews and there is very little benefit for further five star reviews. So it's kind of all risk for us at this point when someone does review.
  - bambax 1y ago
    Yeah well, the main talent required for being a host on Airbnb isn't to host well, it's to manage reviews well. Reviews should have an expiration date, because places age and wear out; I'm not interested in learning about the experience of someone from five years ago, I'd like to know how it was last week.
apwell23 1y ago
> what I’ve found is that “hosts” usually wait to file a review of me as a guest until I file my review. So there’s a disincentive to leave a mixed review. yea i usually refrain from bad reviews because i might want to go stay with them in future.
bcoates 1y ago
As someone who doesn't have whatever lead poisoning makes people post reviews on yelp the review system is worse than useless. I'm not gonna leave a mixed or negative review because snitches get stitches and I can't imagine anyone else reviewing has any less pathological incentives.
- soulofmischief 1y ago
  Some of us genuinely want to make the world a better place, and want to reward good hosts and publicly call out bad ones.
  - bcoates 1y ago
    Sure, but I'm gonna assume you're outnumbered by the absolutely deranged like 10:1 Source: look at online reviews of literally anything
    - soulofmischief 1y ago
      Hopefully the person flipping through reviews knows how to filter out illegitimate ones. Maybe my legitimate review tips the scale and they have a good time or avoid a bad time. Anyway, my point is that we don't all harbor such pathological perspectives regarding community contributions.
- twelve40 1y ago
  > snitches get stitches i think on Google Maps they can't rate you back (maybe on Booking too?), so depends on the service. I don't review much anyway, but about a couple of times a year I run into a pretty amazing place that I can't help but compliment, and once in a blue moon a really crappy place that really upsets me so I feel like sharing that too. I see absolutely nothing pathological about that.
  - blitzar 1y ago
    > a couple of times a year I run into a pretty amazing place When I do I shut my mouth, lest it be overrun by influencers, content creators or other undesirables.

nailer 1y ago

> I’ve found is that “hosts” usually wait to file a review of me as a guest until I file my review. Oh, I thought they did a double unlock. I.e. waiting for both reviews to be finished before publishing either.

milkshakes 1y ago
that is exactly what they do
- apwell23 1y ago
  so if i don't review my host, my host's review of me gets stuck in a limbo? i don't think so. I've seen reviews from hosts that i haven't reviewed.
  - milkshakes 1y ago
    there's a two week window in which reviews are accepted, after which the reviews are released. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/13 https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/13
  - albedoa 1y ago
    If only this were documented somewhere. Welp, better disbelieve it outright.
    - apwell23 1y ago
      jackass
mmmBacon 1y ago
Maybe they do now. I have only left 2 mixed reviews. One when the place they rented was not the one showed in photos. The people weren’t allowed to rent in their building and this was not something that was advertised. This meant none of the building’s amenities were available to us despite being advertised. I ended up getting dinged somehow. I thought maybe they could see the review by a 2nd account or something. Could be wrong.
- poisonarena 1y ago
  its always been double unlock
enjo 1y ago
As an occasional host we always wait until the guest writes a review. Our goal is to basically never have a guest write a review so we don't write them hoping they just forget. If we write one they get an email telling them that we did and really pushing them to review. Our place is all five star reviews and there is very little benefit for further five star reviews. So it's kind of all risk for us at this point when someone does review.
- bambax 1y ago
  Yeah well, the main talent required for being a host on Airbnb isn't to host well, it's to manage reviews well. Reviews should have an expiration date, because places age and wear out; I'm not interested in learning about the experience of someone from five years ago, I'd like to know how it was last week.

apwell23 1y ago

> what I’ve found is that “hosts” usually wait to file a review of me as a guest until I file my review. So there’s a disincentive to leave a mixed review. yea i usually refrain from bad reviews because i might want to go stay with them in future.

bcoates 1y ago

As someone who doesn't have whatever lead poisoning makes people post reviews on yelp the review system is worse than useless. I'm not gonna leave a mixed or negative review because snitches get stitches and I can't imagine anyone else reviewing has any less pathological incentives.

soulofmischief 1y ago
Some of us genuinely want to make the world a better place, and want to reward good hosts and publicly call out bad ones.
- bcoates 1y ago
  Sure, but I'm gonna assume you're outnumbered by the absolutely deranged like 10:1 Source: look at online reviews of literally anything
  - soulofmischief 1y ago
    Hopefully the person flipping through reviews knows how to filter out illegitimate ones. Maybe my legitimate review tips the scale and they have a good time or avoid a bad time. Anyway, my point is that we don't all harbor such pathological perspectives regarding community contributions.
twelve40 1y ago
> snitches get stitches i think on Google Maps they can't rate you back (maybe on Booking too?), so depends on the service. I don't review much anyway, but about a couple of times a year I run into a pretty amazing place that I can't help but compliment, and once in a blue moon a really crappy place that really upsets me so I feel like sharing that too. I see absolutely nothing pathological about that.
- blitzar 1y ago
  > a couple of times a year I run into a pretty amazing place When I do I shut my mouth, lest it be overrun by influencers, content creators or other undesirables.