Post by High Priestess on Feb 18, 2016 3:00:12 GMT
Dee15 hours ago
Review suggestions
I had a women booked saying she would be arriving between 5 and 6pm, she then contacted around 5 pm on the day, saying she'd be here by 8pm. At 9.40pm she still hadn't arrived, so I messaged her, telling her I was getting ready for bed and could she let me know her plans, she said that she was in city centre and she would get a taxi to the house, considering I only live 5 minutes drive from city centre, she didn't arrive for another 50 minutes, which was by now 10.50 pm. She comes to Sheffield every week, so knew the area and was only hanging out with friends at the time.
What sort of review would you suggest
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Dee
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Deborah
Deborah15 hours ago
I would say basically what you said above but maybe a bit shorter. Also mark down on communication and write out star rating for each category so it can be seen on the site: Communication: ___ starts
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Dee
Dee14 hours ago
I know it needs to be shorter and more to the point, but wanted to give you the full picture and not really sure what to cut out of it?
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helga
helga13 hours ago
X did not arrive as planned and did not heed changed arrival hours either. I'd only recommend her to hosts with automatic access or 24 h concierge service.
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Andrew
Andrew8 hours ago
This is perfect.
Dee
Dee12 hours ago
Excellent Helga, I can work around that. Thanks.
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Alexina
Alexina12 hours ago
After experiencing far too many instances like yours, I've addressed that in my listing. It *is* rude, and I call them out on it in advance:
Other Things to Note
PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL!
Delays happen. A good Guest sends updates. If you find yourself in heavy traffic, or your flight is delayed, please send a message. Arriving late because you decided to stop for dinner, or to visit a local landmark, is inconsiderate.
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Dee
Dee11 hours ago
Thanks Alexina, I think I'll copy that for my listing if it's OK? I don't mind when it's arranged, just can't stand people keeping me wait like I've nothing better to do.
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Alexina
Alexina10 hours ago
Sure! I used to have a little bit more about this being a real person's home, which didn't come equipped with a 24/7 concierge desk for their check-ins, but I feel what I ended up with is to the point, without seeming overly aggressive!
Dee
Dee10 hours ago
I think I'm going to pinch the password bit from your house rules, love it!
C C
C C10 hours ago
It doesn't matter to me when people get here--and that makes my business boom.
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Dee
Dee10 hours ago
C C, I don't have a time for people to check in, but I expect to arrive around the time they tell me, this woman change her time to 8pm and didn't turn up to nearly 11pm, because she was drinking and having dinner with friends. By the time I finished showing her around and having a bath, it was 1.25am, when I got into bed and I had to be up early the next morning, if I'd known she was arriving late I could've had my bath earlier. She was inconsiderate!
C C
C C9 hours ago
For my deal, I would have not had her tell me any arrival time to begin with. If she did tell me a time, I would have said, thanks, and if that time changes, no need to update me--come on whenever & don't worry. I do things as I need to, and guests take very little time away from that. So no matter what she said or didn't say, or did, or didn't do, would've affected me at all.
Alexina
Alexina9 hours ago
Yes but CC, you have to know that you're the outlier here. Your system works very well for your business model: we get that. But most people would like to know when to expect their guests to arrive, so that they are not tied to their house, and can schedule other activities and errands.
C C
C C9 hours ago
I'm not tied to my house. Or the other one either. I'm amazed but glad I have a way of accommodating people that few others can understand--or do. What other hosts do worldwide doesn't concern me, of course, but I'm especially glad my local competition operates the "normal" way.
Dee
Dee9 hours ago
C C, if you arrange to go out for meals, shopping or just getting the bath and your guests arrive and you're not home or available at that moment. What do you do?
C C
C C8 hours ago
Well, Dee, I have more than one location, so obviously I cannot be everywhere at once. What I do is a Magical Secret, called hiding a key in a Secretive Unknown Location (under the mat), and TRUSTING my guests to Let Themselves In. There are a few...but basically no...other ingredients to the secret recipe, now disclosed.
Dee
Dee8 hours ago
I'm pleased that works for you, but it wouldn't work for me, I live in my house and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving keys out and I would still be listening for the door, if I was in. I also like you show my guest around and show them where things are, so that there is no need for them to go through my things or other rooms.
C C
C C8 hours ago
That is the very beauty of it! It wouldn't work for a very great many hosts. More $ for me!! My guests are smart enough to figure their way around--I've only hosted one blind one. And they don't go through my things or in other rooms, because I'd kill 'em. The one time I screwed it up, ironically would have gone better had I let them let themselves in, because I oriented them & accidentally gave them my last key.
helga
helga7 hours ago
CC, sometimes I check guests in by phone, easy in Sète, where I have "normal " apartment but risky in Paris as the atelier is unusual. So I prefer to be here. if I have to be absent, I plan for the arrival, describe everything, send them pictures etc. Half the times they don't pass via airbnb, so I need their private mail etc etc. If you have a guest not communicating or obviously out with friends and maybe getting drunk, that would be hard to get her mail and send her explanations. Every few months I have a guest locked out when I'm not in town and even that is complicated to arrange. Key in a flowerpot or key in the bistro at 2 minutes walk - even that is hard to get over to a panicked guest. So yes, it's annoying to arange arrival and then they don't show up.but it would not bother me for a bath or shopping: I just write that as they did not be on time, I have to go and will be back at x hour.
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C C
C C7 hours ago
Of course, telling them they did not make it on time, so dot dot dot is also an alternate strategy--and very Airbnby. But I've had yet to have phone communication fail me. Not saying it couldn't. Still, my guests ADORE letting themselves in. Often they're tired & would just as soon skip the meet & greet. Whatever works for anyone works for me, but I like my way better. I wouldn't feel the same with craiglisters, but Airbnb's slight bit of protection coupled with my description (if read) are a powerful part of my Secretive Secret Sauce. I found out only through experience how well it all works.
Deborahin a few seconds
There isn't enough information provided for me to give clear advice on how I would do a review -- I would need to know more -- how was the guest during the stay? Was guest apologetic about arriving much later than she said, or not? I write reviews which take into account my whole experience of the guest, so I would need to know more.
If the coming late was the only issue with the guest, I would probably not mention it specifically in the review. I would be concerned about coming across as petty for mentioning something like that -- after all those reading reviews wont' know the guest is local and knows the area well and could have better predicted arrival time. They might think her flight was late to the airport and here you were, mean host, publicly critiquing her for something that she had no control over.
If I was not pleased with the guest, I'd do the totally neutral review, "Jane stayed here in January 2016." WHich can clue in future hosts that there was nothing positive to say about Jane. Another way of dealing with it is to not specifically mention late arrival, but state that communication could have been better. Because if a person doesn't arrive when they said they would, that is also a communication issue. That way you can get a critique in but a vague one and I think that is usually better.
Review suggestions
I had a women booked saying she would be arriving between 5 and 6pm, she then contacted around 5 pm on the day, saying she'd be here by 8pm. At 9.40pm she still hadn't arrived, so I messaged her, telling her I was getting ready for bed and could she let me know her plans, she said that she was in city centre and she would get a taxi to the house, considering I only live 5 minutes drive from city centre, she didn't arrive for another 50 minutes, which was by now 10.50 pm. She comes to Sheffield every week, so knew the area and was only hanging out with friends at the time.
What sort of review would you suggest
8 comments•1 like
Follow
Like
Dee
Delete
Hide
Deborah
Deborah15 hours ago
I would say basically what you said above but maybe a bit shorter. Also mark down on communication and write out star rating for each category so it can be seen on the site: Communication: ___ starts
Reply Like Delete
Dee
Dee14 hours ago
I know it needs to be shorter and more to the point, but wanted to give you the full picture and not really sure what to cut out of it?
Reply Like Delete
helga
helga13 hours ago
X did not arrive as planned and did not heed changed arrival hours either. I'd only recommend her to hosts with automatic access or 24 h concierge service.
Reply Like 1 reply•6 likes Delete
Andrew
Andrew8 hours ago
This is perfect.
Dee
Dee12 hours ago
Excellent Helga, I can work around that. Thanks.
Reply Like Delete
Alexina
Alexina12 hours ago
After experiencing far too many instances like yours, I've addressed that in my listing. It *is* rude, and I call them out on it in advance:
Other Things to Note
PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL!
Delays happen. A good Guest sends updates. If you find yourself in heavy traffic, or your flight is delayed, please send a message. Arriving late because you decided to stop for dinner, or to visit a local landmark, is inconsiderate.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Dee
Dee11 hours ago
Thanks Alexina, I think I'll copy that for my listing if it's OK? I don't mind when it's arranged, just can't stand people keeping me wait like I've nothing better to do.
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Alexina
Alexina10 hours ago
Sure! I used to have a little bit more about this being a real person's home, which didn't come equipped with a 24/7 concierge desk for their check-ins, but I feel what I ended up with is to the point, without seeming overly aggressive!
Dee
Dee10 hours ago
I think I'm going to pinch the password bit from your house rules, love it!
C C
C C10 hours ago
It doesn't matter to me when people get here--and that makes my business boom.
Reply Like 8 replies Delete
Dee
Dee10 hours ago
C C, I don't have a time for people to check in, but I expect to arrive around the time they tell me, this woman change her time to 8pm and didn't turn up to nearly 11pm, because she was drinking and having dinner with friends. By the time I finished showing her around and having a bath, it was 1.25am, when I got into bed and I had to be up early the next morning, if I'd known she was arriving late I could've had my bath earlier. She was inconsiderate!
C C
C C9 hours ago
For my deal, I would have not had her tell me any arrival time to begin with. If she did tell me a time, I would have said, thanks, and if that time changes, no need to update me--come on whenever & don't worry. I do things as I need to, and guests take very little time away from that. So no matter what she said or didn't say, or did, or didn't do, would've affected me at all.
Alexina
Alexina9 hours ago
Yes but CC, you have to know that you're the outlier here. Your system works very well for your business model: we get that. But most people would like to know when to expect their guests to arrive, so that they are not tied to their house, and can schedule other activities and errands.
C C
C C9 hours ago
I'm not tied to my house. Or the other one either. I'm amazed but glad I have a way of accommodating people that few others can understand--or do. What other hosts do worldwide doesn't concern me, of course, but I'm especially glad my local competition operates the "normal" way.
Dee
Dee9 hours ago
C C, if you arrange to go out for meals, shopping or just getting the bath and your guests arrive and you're not home or available at that moment. What do you do?
C C
C C8 hours ago
Well, Dee, I have more than one location, so obviously I cannot be everywhere at once. What I do is a Magical Secret, called hiding a key in a Secretive Unknown Location (under the mat), and TRUSTING my guests to Let Themselves In. There are a few...but basically no...other ingredients to the secret recipe, now disclosed.
Dee
Dee8 hours ago
I'm pleased that works for you, but it wouldn't work for me, I live in my house and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving keys out and I would still be listening for the door, if I was in. I also like you show my guest around and show them where things are, so that there is no need for them to go through my things or other rooms.
C C
C C8 hours ago
That is the very beauty of it! It wouldn't work for a very great many hosts. More $ for me!! My guests are smart enough to figure their way around--I've only hosted one blind one. And they don't go through my things or in other rooms, because I'd kill 'em. The one time I screwed it up, ironically would have gone better had I let them let themselves in, because I oriented them & accidentally gave them my last key.
helga
helga7 hours ago
CC, sometimes I check guests in by phone, easy in Sète, where I have "normal " apartment but risky in Paris as the atelier is unusual. So I prefer to be here. if I have to be absent, I plan for the arrival, describe everything, send them pictures etc. Half the times they don't pass via airbnb, so I need their private mail etc etc. If you have a guest not communicating or obviously out with friends and maybe getting drunk, that would be hard to get her mail and send her explanations. Every few months I have a guest locked out when I'm not in town and even that is complicated to arrange. Key in a flowerpot or key in the bistro at 2 minutes walk - even that is hard to get over to a panicked guest. So yes, it's annoying to arange arrival and then they don't show up.but it would not bother me for a bath or shopping: I just write that as they did not be on time, I have to go and will be back at x hour.
Reply Like 1 reply Delete
C C
C C7 hours ago
Of course, telling them they did not make it on time, so dot dot dot is also an alternate strategy--and very Airbnby. But I've had yet to have phone communication fail me. Not saying it couldn't. Still, my guests ADORE letting themselves in. Often they're tired & would just as soon skip the meet & greet. Whatever works for anyone works for me, but I like my way better. I wouldn't feel the same with craiglisters, but Airbnb's slight bit of protection coupled with my description (if read) are a powerful part of my Secretive Secret Sauce. I found out only through experience how well it all works.
Deborahin a few seconds
There isn't enough information provided for me to give clear advice on how I would do a review -- I would need to know more -- how was the guest during the stay? Was guest apologetic about arriving much later than she said, or not? I write reviews which take into account my whole experience of the guest, so I would need to know more.
If the coming late was the only issue with the guest, I would probably not mention it specifically in the review. I would be concerned about coming across as petty for mentioning something like that -- after all those reading reviews wont' know the guest is local and knows the area well and could have better predicted arrival time. They might think her flight was late to the airport and here you were, mean host, publicly critiquing her for something that she had no control over.
If I was not pleased with the guest, I'd do the totally neutral review, "Jane stayed here in January 2016." WHich can clue in future hosts that there was nothing positive to say about Jane. Another way of dealing with it is to not specifically mention late arrival, but state that communication could have been better. Because if a person doesn't arrive when they said they would, that is also a communication issue. That way you can get a critique in but a vague one and I think that is usually better.