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Thread: Warning about airbnb

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    Default Warning about airbnb

    Hi, I wasn't sure where to post this. Anyways I have really only had this as a bad experience with them, but it is so bad I am thinking I'll never use them again. So I tried booking somewhere for 1 night while passing though on airbnb. Pretty much every listing I clicked on said error when I'd click to book. Later I found out I apparently booked 2 places in the same night (which is fucking ludicrous because how many fucking places am I gonna sleep at in 1 night like damn!)!! I ended up in a hotel anyways and didn't stay in either of these places that I wasn't made aware of by their app that I ever even booked in the first place. I tried calling their customer service about this and the first time I had some female on the other end who hung up on me while I was still talking. The 2nd time it was some guy that "opened a case" and said I could message him directly on the airbnb site. Well I did and no response in 12 hrs. So I try calling again and get a busy dial tone and auto hang up. I feel like I am blacklisted because I am trying to get a refund. Anyways I will 100% dispute this shit with my credit card company and never use airbnb again.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Report it as fraud with your credit card company instead of disputing it. Its much easier, and if you've had the same card for years and been a good customer they want to keep you happy. I've done that before when a shitty hotel hung up on me, and also to uber, who doesn't even have a customer service department. From the hotel all I wanted was a fifty dollar fee back and instead got so pissed I got over 200 back with no questions.
    "There are different kinds of darkness. There is darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful. There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good."
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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I had thought about renting out a space on that site but I got creeped out the more I thought about it. Also I'm noticing that they may not have best business practices. So many complaints. I agree have your banking institution dispute it for you. Unless you constantly have these kind of issuesbit shouldn't be a problem.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Since you had so many errors, it's possible you might have been on a fake AirBnB copy cat / phishing site.
    Not to worry you, but it is somewhat possible. You might want to consider disputing it and then re-issuing that card with a new number.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I am not a fan of them right now either. I wanted to book a studio yesterday for $66 for two nights and it was $232 at check out. I don't like things not transparent ( must have been a large cleaning fee or something as it was way more than even 20-25% taxes ). I didn't book since it seemed scammy.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I may be a little partial because I have a vacation rental property that is listed on Air BNB but... I have used them as a traveler for years and never had an issue. I booked something before and tried to cancel within 24 hours because the property was not as decribed. The host didn't respond so Air BNB issued me a credit.

    In this case OP, I feel they would absolutely offer a full refund. They know when they are having site issues. You may have already handled it with the CC company at this point anyway.

    As far as the cleaning fee and the taxes... Yes Air BNB and VRBO/ Homeaway usually have a cleaning fee. This is set at the host/owner's discretion and is usually a flat fee based on the number of bedrooms. After you check out someone is coming in and cleaning up, washing the linens and dishes/kitchen and the bathrooms. The reason you do not pay for this at hotels is because they have enough rooms to have a staff but a person with only one or a few vacation properties usually can not keep a staff of maintence people.

    I have seen cleaning fees as low as 10.00. If you are staying at a property that is 33.00 a night for only 2 nights and the cleaning fee is 150.00 it might not be worth it. If you are staying at a place that is 450.00 a night for a week and the cleaning fee is 150.00 it is negligible.

    Taxes are jurisdictional, so if they are high it is because of the area you are in. The fees are kind of dumb because they are also charging the owner/host fees as well so the are making money on both ends.

    Love it or hate it, it is here to stay. The industry is growing exponentially and in 5-10 years the only hotels left will be the big name chains.
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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    They're a really bad company
    Where Am I? Missing NYC

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I have been thinking about doing Airbnb while traveling alone because the hotels are exoensive in a lot of areas I'm planning on, but if it is not reliable or has high "cleaning fees" it might not be worth it and might just be better to stay at a hotel. Idk now. I'm confused.
    "Rather have my feet hurting than my pockets."

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Not all properties have high cleaning fees and if you are staying in the same city for a week or 2 at a time its not bad. It is when it is shorter trips that it kind of sucks.
    XoXo Gia
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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    ^ Nina, it's actually ok to use it particularly for longer ( more than 5 day ) stays. I'm very familiar with it from family owners using it ( though they do prefer VRBO as home owners ).
    It's just that this time ( the first I'd tried it as a renter ) it didn't work well for me. I assume maybe the cleaning fee was $70-$90 and that is why the actual cost seemed high . This is in Hawaii also and everything is just very high cost. I'm sure if i rented a week or more it would have come out to less than a hotel but I only needed two nights.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Quote Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
    They're a really bad company
    Please elaborate?

    Also I just avoid air b n b b/c I know how bad most people are about cleaning their homes (I used to work as a hotel cleaner). This works for me b/c I live in an area with ample cheap hotels that aren't fleabag places. However for people in metro areas I could see the appeal of air b n b.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Quote Originally Posted by SnuffleUffleGrass View Post
    Please elaborate?

    Also I just avoid air b n b b/c I know how bad most people are about cleaning their homes (I used to work as a hotel cleaner). This works for me b/c I live in an area with ample cheap hotels that aren't fleabag places. However for people in metro areas I could see the appeal of air b n b.
    They completely fuck up the local economy and harm poorer people. It used to be that the shitty "landlords" would leave some apartments alone, but now every asshole wants to rent 8 crappy apartments and call that a business, only without paying any taxes or providing any real services or standards. Now some apartment buildings do it too, like there's one on 37th and 8th that just got fined for being like a hotel. This lowers supply and drives less fortunate people out of the market.

    Additionally, Airbnb takes absolutely no care that their "landlords" are following any rules, but then repudiates them if something they do makes it into the news.

    I have no issue with people renting out their own homes, at all. But sucking up supply by paying no taxes and doing no paperwork hurts hotels and their employees, and hurts less fortunate who can't afford high rents.
    Where Am I? Missing NYC

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Ok I was able to get airbnb to resolve this on their end without disputing w/ credit card company. It took more than 1 call and took a few days, but they did fix the issue at least.

    @nina try it just be cautious lol.

    @snuffle I find Airbnb usually cleaner than hotels, but yeah some cities are better about having affordable AND clean hotels than others.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I’m the only person I know who has no interest in using Airbnb! Is it weird that I actually prefer staying at hotels instead? They take much better care of you and have nicer accommodations and actual workers who help you when you need it! I don’t feel comfortable staying in someone’s home alone without anyone there to accommodate me. Not that I’m retarded lol but it’s nice to have that! At hotels, I feel more like a princess

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    ^ NO, it's not weird at all. I know they have done some harm to certain places but I also see it in a different light ( giving hotels some competition and increasing options for those who travel a lot was really nice ). For me, it can make a huge difference in trip length if I can keep accommodations down somewhat ( and I spend LONGER in the city because of it ).

    I do get the complaints though. I was in Hawaii 5 out of the last 7 years, so I have personally seen already ridiculous rents get even more crazy mostly due to this.

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    Thumbs down Re: Warning about airbnb

    Quote Originally Posted by EastCoastDancer01 View Post
    I’m the only person I know who has no interest in using Airbnb! Is it weird that I actually prefer staying at hotels instead? They take much better care of you and have nicer accommodations and actual workers who help you when you need it! I don’t feel comfortable staying in someone’s home alone without anyone there to accommodate me. Not that I’m retarded lol but it’s nice to have that! At hotels, I feel more like a princess
    Exactly!
    Lol, once I actually stayed in a tiny, camper in a driveway, yes, saw the pics, but.
    No water to speak of, it leaked when it rains, luckily my stuff wasn't ruined.
    & this place rents for the same or more than a 2 star hotel!
    Airbnbs are way high in my area


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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I have stayed in Airbnb twice and never will again. The first time the place was absolutely filthy and smelled like piss and chicken grease. The second time the perv that owned the place went through my bags and took a bra and all my panties !

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Ew, & what.a.PIG!


    MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Quote Originally Posted by Peaches 94 View Post
    I have stayed in Airbnb twice and never will again. The first time the place was absolutely filthy and smelled like piss and chicken grease. The second time the perv that owned the place went through my bags and took a bra and all my panties !
    See this is why I've avoided Airbnb.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Experiences with Airbnb vary widely. I like to use Priceline and I've been able to find deals that were just as good if not better, and then you have the security of a hotel. If you were to use Airbnb, it's best to book a place where you can have the entire house to yourself. I had a friend who used Airbnb in Europe and she got stuck with a place that had no running water and the owner wasn't very accommodating when it came to assisting her. She was not issued a full or partial refund.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    It sounds risky—-just like tinder and Uber. I now use the competitioners as app lyft and bumble- a noticeable difference. Is there competition for it yet? I’d like to use to stay in a tiny home.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    Quote Originally Posted by trustfundkiller View Post
    Experiences with Airbnb vary widely. I like to use Priceline and I've been able to find deals that were just as good if not better, and then you have the security of a hotel. If you were to use Airbnb, it's best to book a place where you can have the entire house to yourself. I had a friend who used Airbnb in Europe and she got stuck with a place that had no running water and the owner wasn't very accommodating when it came to assisting her. She was not issued a full or partial refund.
    I'd be contacting my credit card, IDK tho how it works over there..
    In my case, the owners were great, I got a full refund (+ an extra day). They said they'd personally refund me if there was a problem, which there wasn't..
    In my case, the water thing was a quirk of the trailer, they were also on a well, they did offer me use of guest bathroom during the day.
    Yeah too much of 'mileage may vary' tho.


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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    I would give it a try . AirBnB has so many cute tiny homes.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ifyouseekamy View Post
    It sounds risky—-just like tinder and Uber. I now use the competitioners as app lyft and bumble- a noticeable difference. Is there competition for it yet? I’d like to use to stay in a tiny home.

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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    A relative of mine stayed at a super fancy air bnb for a get together in a pricey resort town, but it was obvious the owner uses air bnb to offset the cost of owning such an expensive resort town home.

    TBH I expect someone to do something like air bnb but only for luxury stays. That could eliminate the possibility of ending up at a dump with filth and panty-stealing creeper owners....

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  43. #25
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    Default Re: Warning about airbnb

    more on these scumbags - article in Medium

    Digital Exile: How I Got Banned for Life from AirBnB
    Where Am I? Missing NYC

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