Post by High Priestess on Sept 20, 2015 15:46:36 GMT
Multiple Pre-Approvals
So, I just had my first hits on my listing and 2 people said they were interested. One guy I spoke to several times yesterday said he had to get the go ahead from the rest in his group before booking. Fine. So this morning I got a Reservation Request with another guy who already put up the money for the reservation.
I contacted the first guy early this morning and asked if he was still interested. I waiting a couple of hours and did not hear back, so I accepted the 2nd guy's reservation. I didn't want to lose the "for sure" reservation with the 2nd guy who had the money there.
But now the first guy is confused and thinks that he had 24 hour priority or something like that. So what's going on? Did I do the right thing? I was very apologetic to the first guy and explained that as a host I accepted who put the money up first.
Reply 1:
You can pre-approve as many people as you'd like - whomever books first gets the reservation. A person who submits an actual reservation request will block your calendar; at that point the folks with pre-approvals wouldn't be able to book until you decline the reservation request.
When I send a pre-approval, I tell them that it's good for 24-hours, but doesn't hold the place for them - it's totally first come, first served.
If I pre-approve a second person, I might tell the first one that there's another person interested in the same dates.
You did the right thing. You accepted the person who decisively reserved.
Reply 2:
Money talks. Just because you've interacted with guest A more than guest B doesn't mean that Guest A would have become a booking. You did the right thing in accepting a guest who didn't have to persuade others to try Airbnb. I think you avoided a headache.
Reply 3:
I think you are now starting to learn how this works. Yes, you can pre-approve as many as you like, as Allison said. But it's a good idea to let them know that pre-approval does NOT guarantee the place will be available if they don't book it soon. It's good to politely educate guests so that they won't be disappointed with Airbnb. We want future guests to always have a good experience with Airbnb so they will continue to use the service.
Reply 4:
Thanks everyone! Your replies were very helpful and mind soothing
Reply 5:
I have an overwhelming tendency to not use the pre-approval tool because I think it confuses people, creating the exact situation you described, plus it really confuses ME when I get several inquiries at once for the same time period. Turns out not using pre-approval has disadvantages in terms of listing placement, but I've made peace with taking that hit. When someone throws out an inquiry and I feel like they're a good fit, I just say "Feel free to book anytime!".
Reply 6:
It happened to me just couple days ago!! A lady contacted me and asked if we have anything available for her 2 months stay, and she is about to check in within one week. After back and forth discussion with her rental need, we decided to furnish another apartment and worked really hard in the past few days to get things ready for her, uploaded the photos so she can see, sent the special offer (discounted) and it all went silent after we sent the special offer.
Just after 2 hours we got the new unit on, we received another 2 booking requests! (very lucky!!) I messaged her right away to ask her if she is still interested since I have two guests ready to commit, no response. So we accepted the two bookings. 12 hours later (Monday morning around 4am), we received a furious message from her saying that she was so disappointed that we rented the apartment to others and didn't keep our words!! Why are some people so self- centered and entitled? She didn't commit to anything and ignore my messages of courtesy reminder, and blame us to rent to others after 12 hours later! I guess you will never know and in the end, the two bookings generate more than what we offered to her in the first place
What we thought that she was shopping for the best deal, regardless we have prepare the apartment just for her dates, and accept her request for discount rate. But when other deals fell through, she is now upset that there is nothing for her.
Lesson learned: do not negotiate, since the person asking for discount is asking everyone for it and shopping around, you are wasting time with them.
Reply 7:
I had a similar case just today. A reservation request against an information request. And i prefered the information request because this guest already came and she is lovely. I told her there was a pending reservation and she hurry up to book the place. To do, i had first to decline the reservation request because it blocks the dates. Fortunatly, it was a third party reservation. I just had to explain it was against airbnb rules. Many thanks to this group.
Reply 8:
Nathalie...what exactly was against Airbnb rules? To decline the first reservation so as to open up the dates for another to book?
Reply 9:
Third party bookings are against the rules. The person booking must be one of the people staying.
Reply 10:
You can pre approve or as many information requests you want within 24 hours. These requests do not block any dates. And you have to pre approve or decline any pending reservations within 24 hours but as they are true reservations (guest paid airbnb), they block the other reservations for the same dates.
Reply 11:
Same thing happened to me except that the original guest had so much trouble getting through the verification process...I had not heard from her for a day, and of course somebody wanted to book. Well, it is a business and boy was she pissed! I did apologize and actually found her a host nearby with an available room. Thank you me, I guess, since she never thanked me...
Reply 12:
Lol, Chantal
So, I just had my first hits on my listing and 2 people said they were interested. One guy I spoke to several times yesterday said he had to get the go ahead from the rest in his group before booking. Fine. So this morning I got a Reservation Request with another guy who already put up the money for the reservation.
I contacted the first guy early this morning and asked if he was still interested. I waiting a couple of hours and did not hear back, so I accepted the 2nd guy's reservation. I didn't want to lose the "for sure" reservation with the 2nd guy who had the money there.
But now the first guy is confused and thinks that he had 24 hour priority or something like that. So what's going on? Did I do the right thing? I was very apologetic to the first guy and explained that as a host I accepted who put the money up first.
Reply 1:
You can pre-approve as many people as you'd like - whomever books first gets the reservation. A person who submits an actual reservation request will block your calendar; at that point the folks with pre-approvals wouldn't be able to book until you decline the reservation request.
When I send a pre-approval, I tell them that it's good for 24-hours, but doesn't hold the place for them - it's totally first come, first served.
If I pre-approve a second person, I might tell the first one that there's another person interested in the same dates.
You did the right thing. You accepted the person who decisively reserved.
Reply 2:
Money talks. Just because you've interacted with guest A more than guest B doesn't mean that Guest A would have become a booking. You did the right thing in accepting a guest who didn't have to persuade others to try Airbnb. I think you avoided a headache.
Reply 3:
I think you are now starting to learn how this works. Yes, you can pre-approve as many as you like, as Allison said. But it's a good idea to let them know that pre-approval does NOT guarantee the place will be available if they don't book it soon. It's good to politely educate guests so that they won't be disappointed with Airbnb. We want future guests to always have a good experience with Airbnb so they will continue to use the service.
Reply 4:
Thanks everyone! Your replies were very helpful and mind soothing
Reply 5:
I have an overwhelming tendency to not use the pre-approval tool because I think it confuses people, creating the exact situation you described, plus it really confuses ME when I get several inquiries at once for the same time period. Turns out not using pre-approval has disadvantages in terms of listing placement, but I've made peace with taking that hit. When someone throws out an inquiry and I feel like they're a good fit, I just say "Feel free to book anytime!".
Reply 6:
It happened to me just couple days ago!! A lady contacted me and asked if we have anything available for her 2 months stay, and she is about to check in within one week. After back and forth discussion with her rental need, we decided to furnish another apartment and worked really hard in the past few days to get things ready for her, uploaded the photos so she can see, sent the special offer (discounted) and it all went silent after we sent the special offer.
Just after 2 hours we got the new unit on, we received another 2 booking requests! (very lucky!!) I messaged her right away to ask her if she is still interested since I have two guests ready to commit, no response. So we accepted the two bookings. 12 hours later (Monday morning around 4am), we received a furious message from her saying that she was so disappointed that we rented the apartment to others and didn't keep our words!! Why are some people so self- centered and entitled? She didn't commit to anything and ignore my messages of courtesy reminder, and blame us to rent to others after 12 hours later! I guess you will never know and in the end, the two bookings generate more than what we offered to her in the first place
What we thought that she was shopping for the best deal, regardless we have prepare the apartment just for her dates, and accept her request for discount rate. But when other deals fell through, she is now upset that there is nothing for her.
Lesson learned: do not negotiate, since the person asking for discount is asking everyone for it and shopping around, you are wasting time with them.
Reply 7:
I had a similar case just today. A reservation request against an information request. And i prefered the information request because this guest already came and she is lovely. I told her there was a pending reservation and she hurry up to book the place. To do, i had first to decline the reservation request because it blocks the dates. Fortunatly, it was a third party reservation. I just had to explain it was against airbnb rules. Many thanks to this group.
Reply 8:
Nathalie...what exactly was against Airbnb rules? To decline the first reservation so as to open up the dates for another to book?
Reply 9:
Third party bookings are against the rules. The person booking must be one of the people staying.
Reply 10:
You can pre approve or as many information requests you want within 24 hours. These requests do not block any dates. And you have to pre approve or decline any pending reservations within 24 hours but as they are true reservations (guest paid airbnb), they block the other reservations for the same dates.
Reply 11:
Same thing happened to me except that the original guest had so much trouble getting through the verification process...I had not heard from her for a day, and of course somebody wanted to book. Well, it is a business and boy was she pissed! I did apologize and actually found her a host nearby with an available room. Thank you me, I guess, since she never thanked me...
Reply 12:
Lol, Chantal