Post by High Priestess on Nov 19, 2015 16:42:03 GMT
So I have been browsing the new posts on the new Airbnb groups to see what is going on there. I begin to see a problem that we may have more of on these groups which are not peer led and peer moderated, which this post is an example of:
community.airbnb.com/t5/General-Hosting/What-do-you-do-when-you-see-a-competitor-listing-that-is-clearly/m-p/2308#U2308
Carol:
What do you do when you see a competitor listing that is clearly illegal?
As a host I often look at other listings in my city and see blatantly illegal ones. Several even state in the listing something like, "Don't tell my landlord or any of my neighbors that you are renting from AirBnB! Just say you are a friend!" I see students renting out dorm rooms at the university. I see apartments and condos where I'll bet the landlord doesn't know. Can these be reported, and if so, does anyone know if AirBnB really shuts down those listings?
Jessa
Yes you can flag inappropriate listings but also do ask yourself this, when the airbnb founders got an airbed in their living room to help them cover rent cost (= the birth of airbnb) just how legal was their enterprise, just how in on it was the landlord really? Just how legal is airbnb in many of it's operating cities and countries? Airbnb is still very much illegal in many places, or under strict regulations that the vast majority of hosts in those areas disobey. Are you looking to shut down competitors because you want to improve your booking rate or are you looking to shut down listings that could be a security hazard to potential guests? If it's the first, leave those college kids alone in their dorm, they're not even competition, they're attracting other college kids looking for a cheap matrass or couch to rest on in between binge drinking. I would let these listings be unless they are a danger or fraude or rip off, you're not the police or the city council. Do flag listings that appear fake or dangerous or where hosts embed a gazzillion hidden costs in their description. If this is about improving your bookings, focus on your listing and you will be just fine I'm sure. And get a profile pic, guests are not booking with a lake but with a person, that makes a huge difference
Carol
Hi Jessa,
I work as a landlord for property my parents used to manage, a small triplex. There is a legal rental agreement and tenants can sublet with landlord approval of tenants. We pay for all the utilities of the tenants. We pay for insurance. If a tenant illegally sublets on AirBNB, the landlord is paying for the utilities. The landlord is paying for all the repairs. If you own your own home, you'll understand that you are responsibile for repair and maintenance. What's worse is what happens is there is an accident. What is neighbors start complaining. Many people think they are covered by their homeowner's insurance - but if they are running a paying business, they are not. Oh yeah, AirBnB will step in. I told my homeowner's insurance company I had an AirBnB and they immediately cancelled my policy. I now own CBIZ vacation insurance for twice the premium. This millenial generation seems to be re-inventing the wheel in many ways. Ignoring old laws for selfish benefit.
Carol
Hi Jessa,
So are you implying AirBnB is a knowingly and blatantly illegal operation? Because I thought it's legal, or I would not be doing it myself.
Carol
Wow you are a vindictive and immature person. I did not ask for your criticism of my ad. And I do have a profile pic...you just have to click the photos.. Or did you not know that! Because like many AirBnB hosts and guests you don't seem to really understand yet how it works. You're just in it for your own convenience and self-interest.
Carol
Do flag listings that appear fake or dangerous... but not illegal. Ok, so that's the gist of your conversation.
The problem that is happening in these new groups, is that the group of regular, dedicated hosts is not there to keep newbies in check and make sure they behave well and respect the regular experienced hosts. I wonder where this will go in the future. I'm not so interested in participating in a forum where there is no regular group of experienced hosts to establish the norms and to keep people behaving decently, respectfully, and where we have someone posting insults of regular forum participants like JEssa. I flagged Carol's post highlighted in blue as inappropriate...I'm curious to see what will happen.
community.airbnb.com/t5/General-Hosting/What-do-you-do-when-you-see-a-competitor-listing-that-is-clearly/m-p/2308#U2308
Carol:
What do you do when you see a competitor listing that is clearly illegal?
As a host I often look at other listings in my city and see blatantly illegal ones. Several even state in the listing something like, "Don't tell my landlord or any of my neighbors that you are renting from AirBnB! Just say you are a friend!" I see students renting out dorm rooms at the university. I see apartments and condos where I'll bet the landlord doesn't know. Can these be reported, and if so, does anyone know if AirBnB really shuts down those listings?
Jessa
Yes you can flag inappropriate listings but also do ask yourself this, when the airbnb founders got an airbed in their living room to help them cover rent cost (= the birth of airbnb) just how legal was their enterprise, just how in on it was the landlord really? Just how legal is airbnb in many of it's operating cities and countries? Airbnb is still very much illegal in many places, or under strict regulations that the vast majority of hosts in those areas disobey. Are you looking to shut down competitors because you want to improve your booking rate or are you looking to shut down listings that could be a security hazard to potential guests? If it's the first, leave those college kids alone in their dorm, they're not even competition, they're attracting other college kids looking for a cheap matrass or couch to rest on in between binge drinking. I would let these listings be unless they are a danger or fraude or rip off, you're not the police or the city council. Do flag listings that appear fake or dangerous or where hosts embed a gazzillion hidden costs in their description. If this is about improving your bookings, focus on your listing and you will be just fine I'm sure. And get a profile pic, guests are not booking with a lake but with a person, that makes a huge difference
Carol
Hi Jessa,
I work as a landlord for property my parents used to manage, a small triplex. There is a legal rental agreement and tenants can sublet with landlord approval of tenants. We pay for all the utilities of the tenants. We pay for insurance. If a tenant illegally sublets on AirBNB, the landlord is paying for the utilities. The landlord is paying for all the repairs. If you own your own home, you'll understand that you are responsibile for repair and maintenance. What's worse is what happens is there is an accident. What is neighbors start complaining. Many people think they are covered by their homeowner's insurance - but if they are running a paying business, they are not. Oh yeah, AirBnB will step in. I told my homeowner's insurance company I had an AirBnB and they immediately cancelled my policy. I now own CBIZ vacation insurance for twice the premium. This millenial generation seems to be re-inventing the wheel in many ways. Ignoring old laws for selfish benefit.
Carol
Hi Jessa,
So are you implying AirBnB is a knowingly and blatantly illegal operation? Because I thought it's legal, or I would not be doing it myself.
Carol
Wow you are a vindictive and immature person. I did not ask for your criticism of my ad. And I do have a profile pic...you just have to click the photos.. Or did you not know that! Because like many AirBnB hosts and guests you don't seem to really understand yet how it works. You're just in it for your own convenience and self-interest.
Carol
Do flag listings that appear fake or dangerous... but not illegal. Ok, so that's the gist of your conversation.
The problem that is happening in these new groups, is that the group of regular, dedicated hosts is not there to keep newbies in check and make sure they behave well and respect the regular experienced hosts. I wonder where this will go in the future. I'm not so interested in participating in a forum where there is no regular group of experienced hosts to establish the norms and to keep people behaving decently, respectfully, and where we have someone posting insults of regular forum participants like JEssa. I flagged Carol's post highlighted in blue as inappropriate...I'm curious to see what will happen.
