3 ms·

Hi, I didn't lose anything. I said if I cancel I'd lose 50%, if they cancel they lose 3%

by blackdogie 13y ago

eli 13y ago
I understood what you wrote, but it is pretty confusing the way it's written. Maybe you want to add a clarification?
- blackdogie 13y ago
  Sure. Will fix it now. Server getting batter at the moment.
poweredbytofu 13y ago
On the flip side, as an Airbnb host myself, I have had to cancel a guest's reservation before. It was because of reasons beyond my control (ie. being sent a warning fine from my HOA). Losing the 3% isn't the only thing that happens. #1. You also get a "review" on your listing and profile that says "Host canceled booking X days before arrival". #2. Airbnb drops your listing ranking, meaning you won't show up as high in searches. Frankly, it's a bad experience for the host and guest, which is why I'm not convinced it happens all that often with hosts who have more than zero reviews. If you book a place with zero reviews, I think it's MUCH more likely to happen, as newer hosts are probably less likely to understand how Airbnb works.
msandford 13y ago
Okay I totally get that. The way it was stated didn't read as clearly as the statement you just made. I saw in another comment that you said you're fixing it. Thanks! I agree that it's not very kind to have the cancellation policy so asymmetric. According to this link (https://www.airbnb.com/help/question/63 https://www.airbnb.com/help/question/63) AirBnB charges the host 3% to book, probably no matter what. So it sounds like what they're doing is taking the money that they charged the host and giving it to you. That's nice of them, really. But as you've said it in no way deters a host from accepting a better offer. I'd be interested to know how you would split the balance instead. Charge hosts a 15% cancellation fee? 50%? I get where you're coming from but I always understood AirBnB to be a part of the "surplus" economy; I can sell a bit of my surplus space for a bit of extra cash. Not a big serious hotel business. I suppose one option might be to set the cancellation fee equal to what you'll end up having to pay in addition to find accommodations. Of course that'd quickly become a total eff-job trying to figure out what could reasonably be called "equivalent quality" so that people don't get cancelled on and stay at the Ritz.

Hi, I didn't lose anything. I said if I cancel I'd lose 50%, if they cancel they lose 3%

eli 13y ago

I understood what you wrote, but it is pretty confusing the way it's written. Maybe you want to add a clarification?

blackdogie 13y ago
Sure. Will fix it now. Server getting batter at the moment.

poweredbytofu 13y ago

On the flip side, as an Airbnb host myself, I have had to cancel a guest's reservation before. It was because of reasons beyond my control (ie. being sent a warning fine from my HOA). Losing the 3% isn't the only thing that happens. #1. You also get a "review" on your listing and profile that says "Host canceled booking X days before arrival". #2. Airbnb drops your listing ranking, meaning you won't show up as high in searches. Frankly, it's a bad experience for the host and guest, which is why I'm not convinced it happens all that often with hosts who have more than zero reviews. If you book a place with zero reviews, I think it's MUCH more likely to happen, as newer hosts are probably less likely to understand how Airbnb works.

msandford 13y ago

Okay I totally get that. The way it was stated didn't read as clearly as the statement you just made. I saw in another comment that you said you're fixing it. Thanks! I agree that it's not very kind to have the cancellation policy so asymmetric. According to this link (https://www.airbnb.com/help/question/63 https://www.airbnb.com/help/question/63) AirBnB charges the host 3% to book, probably no matter what. So it sounds like what they're doing is taking the money that they charged the host and giving it to you. That's nice of them, really. But as you've said it in no way deters a host from accepting a better offer. I'd be interested to know how you would split the balance instead. Charge hosts a 15% cancellation fee? 50%? I get where you're coming from but I always understood AirBnB to be a part of the "surplus" economy; I can sell a bit of my surplus space for a bit of extra cash. Not a big serious hotel business. I suppose one option might be to set the cancellation fee equal to what you'll end up having to pay in addition to find accommodations. Of course that'd quickly become a total eff-job trying to figure out what could reasonably be called "equivalent quality" so that people don't get cancelled on and stay at the Ritz.