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Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. That's fine and all, rich dudes aren't their target market. But I

Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. That's fine and all, rich dudes aren't their target market. But I cringe when I hear VCs talk about Airbnb, because it's nearly universally clueless. I think Airbnb is special in this way. It's a darling startup every VC loves and no VC ever uses.

waterlesscloud 12y ago
That's an interesting point. I've always assumed VCs were being disingenuous when they talked about the 'sharing economy', but it's possible they believe it's 'sharing' because they never actually use it.
- nostromo 12y ago
  I'm sure the author is ingenuous, if that's a word. :) I think he simply does not understand the appeal of the product. I use both Lyft and Airbnb and I generally know more about my Lyft driver after a ride to the airport than I know about my Airbnb host.
  - wmeredith 12y ago
    "Genuine" is the word.
pbreit 12y ago
It's far more (potentially) social than, say, VRBO.
defen 12y ago
> Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. Agreed. Maybe it was in its early days, but AirBnB today (In my experience using it ~10 times in the past 2 years, in major American cities. Could be different elsewhere) is that what you get is closer to a small boutique hotel service than a "social" experience, either with the hosts or other guests.
measuredincm 12y ago
This doesn't jive with my experience. Sure, some listings are just renting you a place and leaving you be. But I've booked non-private rooms in places and had very accommodating and social hosts.
austenallred 12y ago
I just got done with a week long airbnb stay in New York City, taking uber all the time. I talked to my airbnb host like twice - I would have loved a hotel but it was way cheaper. I hate talking to uber drivers. It's just a cheap convenient not terrible taxi. The reason VCs didn't get airbnb isn't because they aren't millennials. It's because they're not cheap enough. Relating to the problems of poor people is extremely difficult when you're rich.
jusben1369 12y ago
You raise a great point. It's highly likely that AirBNB is a success _despite_ the social possibilities not because of them. It's just a cheaper way to stay somewhere.
dang 12y ago
> Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. That's far too strong a claim. Most times I've used Airbnb have been social experiences—pleasant ones in fact, that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I'd say the same about Lyft, come to think of it.
- simonebrunozzi 12y ago
  Your experience might be like that, but reading the comments above it seems that you are in the minority.
  - dang 12y ago
    I'm not sure how much we can conclude from a sample of HN comments.
- nostromo 12y ago
  Re-reading my comment, I did overstate things. My point isn't that Airbnb is never a social experience, but that people don't use it primarily because it's a social experience. I use it because it's a superior product: more space, a kitchen, interesting neighborhoods, multiple bedrooms for traveling with friends, affordable, etc. A friendly host that I want to hang out with is a plus, but not the reason I use the service.
loceng 12y ago
So you're saying it's not a social experience? It certainly can be from my experience - not always though - it depends on the guests/host and what they're looking for, comfort levels, etc.
prawn 12y ago
It varies. Some hosts send a delegate to give you a key at best and it's a bit charmless. But it's not always like that. One host in NZ had us around for dinner and wine which was really nice. But in general, there's not much "nb" in Airbnb. I think that would limit their market quite a lot if they over-emphasised that.
xacaxulu 12y ago
Disclaimer: I'm a traveling consultant and rent 20-25 days out of a month. AirBnB is a glorified rental service. That being said, I like it because I get more room for less money, and hotel prices/taxes/locations are usually crap. The best AirBnB places tend to be almost completely devoted to rentals (i.e. not obviously lived in) where you can check in and check out with a keypad or something. If you want to hang out with people when you're traveling, CouchSurfing is still there, and works great.
badusername 12y ago
Same with Lyft. Three people looking at their phone in a Lyft Line just means that they want to get to where they want to go without some mindless chitchat.

waterlesscloud 12y ago

That's an interesting point. I've always assumed VCs were being disingenuous when they talked about the 'sharing economy', but it's possible they believe it's 'sharing' because they never actually use it.

nostromo 12y ago
I'm sure the author is ingenuous, if that's a word. :) I think he simply does not understand the appeal of the product. I use both Lyft and Airbnb and I generally know more about my Lyft driver after a ride to the airport than I know about my Airbnb host.
- wmeredith 12y ago
  "Genuine" is the word.

pbreit 12y ago

It's far more (potentially) social than, say, VRBO.

defen 12y ago

> Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. Agreed. Maybe it was in its early days, but AirBnB today (In my experience using it ~10 times in the past 2 years, in major American cities. Could be different elsewhere) is that what you get is closer to a small boutique hotel service than a "social" experience, either with the hosts or other guests.

measuredincm 12y ago

This doesn't jive with my experience. Sure, some listings are just renting you a place and leaving you be. But I've booked non-private rooms in places and had very accommodating and social hosts.

austenallred 12y ago

I just got done with a week long airbnb stay in New York City, taking uber all the time. I talked to my airbnb host like twice - I would have loved a hotel but it was way cheaper. I hate talking to uber drivers. It's just a cheap convenient not terrible taxi. The reason VCs didn't get airbnb isn't because they aren't millennials. It's because they're not cheap enough. Relating to the problems of poor people is extremely difficult when you're rich.

jusben1369 12y ago

You raise a great point. It's highly likely that AirBNB is a success _despite_ the social possibilities not because of them. It's just a cheaper way to stay somewhere.

dang 12y ago

> Anyone who thinks Airbnb is a "social experience" hasn't used and doesn't understand Airbnb. That's far too strong a claim. Most times I've used Airbnb have been social experiences—pleasant ones in fact, that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I'd say the same about Lyft, come to think of it.

simonebrunozzi 12y ago
Your experience might be like that, but reading the comments above it seems that you are in the minority.
- dang 12y ago
  I'm not sure how much we can conclude from a sample of HN comments.
nostromo 12y ago
Re-reading my comment, I did overstate things. My point isn't that Airbnb is never a social experience, but that people don't use it primarily because it's a social experience. I use it because it's a superior product: more space, a kitchen, interesting neighborhoods, multiple bedrooms for traveling with friends, affordable, etc. A friendly host that I want to hang out with is a plus, but not the reason I use the service.

loceng 12y ago

So you're saying it's not a social experience? It certainly can be from my experience - not always though - it depends on the guests/host and what they're looking for, comfort levels, etc.

prawn 12y ago

It varies. Some hosts send a delegate to give you a key at best and it's a bit charmless. But it's not always like that. One host in NZ had us around for dinner and wine which was really nice. But in general, there's not much "nb" in Airbnb. I think that would limit their market quite a lot if they over-emphasised that.

xacaxulu 12y ago

Disclaimer: I'm a traveling consultant and rent 20-25 days out of a month. AirBnB is a glorified rental service. That being said, I like it because I get more room for less money, and hotel prices/taxes/locations are usually crap. The best AirBnB places tend to be almost completely devoted to rentals (i.e. not obviously lived in) where you can check in and check out with a keypad or something. If you want to hang out with people when you're traveling, CouchSurfing is still there, and works great.

badusername 12y ago

Same with Lyft. Three people looking at their phone in a Lyft Line just means that they want to get to where they want to go without some mindless chitchat.