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I disagree with your 2nd point. This seems like over generalizing. You're saying that every Airbnb host that is upset about this change is suddenly using Airbnb

by aacook 13y ago

I disagree with your 2nd point. This seems like over generalizing. You're saying that every Airbnb host that is upset about this change is suddenly using Airbnb illegally? Definitely not true. It sounds like the verification flow has some serious design/flow problems. If I'm an Airbnb host in a major city and I have an affordable and highly rated place, I'm likely to attract all kinds of guests: both sophisticated and unsophisticated. For example, the most frequented place on Airbnb in San Francisco has probably seen hundreds of guests from around the world: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33577 https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33577 Different people are different. Not everyone actually has a government issued ID. This does not mean they are necessarily illegal or untrustworthy. I think many people are going to freak out about these requirements... not just people without IDs, but average people who find the process intrusive. Do I have to answer security questions and upload my ID when booking a hotel? No. However, maybe Airbnb has already tested this on a smaller random set of their listings and proven it doesn't reduce bookings.

philwelch 13y ago
Don't hotels usually take your ID at the front desk when you check in?
- Spooky23 13y ago
  No. They are more interested in your money. You can even pay cash with a deposit. Actually, hotels don't require your actual identity. Many people like celebrities, public figures, some business travellers routinely provide fake information to hotels.
  - notahacker 13y ago
    That depends on the jurisdiction. In some countries hotels will actually insist on keeping your passport until checkout, and in others some have genuinely considered turning me away when all I had was a photocopy of a lost passport and a police report.
    - aacook 13y ago
      Right - but I'm unaware of any hotel who requires you to upload your license online before booking a hotel. It's done in person at the time of checkin.
      - philwelch 13y ago
        Clearly you can figure out why Airbnb, unlike a hotel, can't station an employee at every property a customer could possibly stay at. "Why can't the property owner check your ID?" Some Airbnb spaces don't have anyone physically present at the property when guests arrive. As for the others, it's not just the property owners who have to bear the risks involved, but also Airbnb. If you book a hotel on Priceline, rape the maid, and trash the room, Priceline gets zero blame. If you book an Airbnb, rape your host, and trash their house, Airbnb gets all the blame. Especially when it turns out you did all these things anonymously.
- aacook 13y ago
  That's a good point. Airbnb is asking people to do this online. This is likely the first time they have ever had to upload their license or passport online. I voluntarily did it, just because I stumbled on it in the settings of the site last week, and it was the first time I ever scanned in my license online. I think one time I sent in my college ID online one time, but I've never uploaded my scanned license online. Showing an ID in person is pretty different from uploading a photo of your ID online. I was thinking more about this today... maybe it is just that Airbnb has such insane supply and demand that they can afford to make this move and still be massively successful. If they're able to have a network of all verified and trusted people, the implications are huge.

by aacook 13y ago

philwelch 13y ago

Don't hotels usually take your ID at the front desk when you check in?

Spooky23 13y ago
No. They are more interested in your money. You can even pay cash with a deposit. Actually, hotels don't require your actual identity. Many people like celebrities, public figures, some business travellers routinely provide fake information to hotels.
- notahacker 13y ago
  That depends on the jurisdiction. In some countries hotels will actually insist on keeping your passport until checkout, and in others some have genuinely considered turning me away when all I had was a photocopy of a lost passport and a police report.
  - aacook 13y ago
    Right - but I'm unaware of any hotel who requires you to upload your license online before booking a hotel. It's done in person at the time of checkin.
    - philwelch 13y ago
      Clearly you can figure out why Airbnb, unlike a hotel, can't station an employee at every property a customer could possibly stay at. "Why can't the property owner check your ID?" Some Airbnb spaces don't have anyone physically present at the property when guests arrive. As for the others, it's not just the property owners who have to bear the risks involved, but also Airbnb. If you book a hotel on Priceline, rape the maid, and trash the room, Priceline gets zero blame. If you book an Airbnb, rape your host, and trash their house, Airbnb gets all the blame. Especially when it turns out you did all these things anonymously.
aacook 13y ago
That's a good point. Airbnb is asking people to do this online. This is likely the first time they have ever had to upload their license or passport online. I voluntarily did it, just because I stumbled on it in the settings of the site last week, and it was the first time I ever scanned in my license online. I think one time I sent in my college ID online one time, but I've never uploaded my scanned license online. Showing an ID in person is pretty different from uploading a photo of your ID online. I was thinking more about this today... maybe it is just that Airbnb has such insane supply and demand that they can afford to make this move and still be massively successful. If they're able to have a network of all verified and trusted people, the implications are huge.