Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 2:09:09 GMT
Rick shared on Hosting 911 in May 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100059
Instant booking & breaking the rules@!!
Ok....Airbnb must be pushing the instant book feature....whereas I used to get about 20% of my reservations as instant books...that total is now rising to at least 30%---maybe higher...
I'm fairly easy going with my hosting & don't generally demand a lot from my guests in the way of profile & past histories....but I don't allow pets or children...My latest "instant book" involves a couple with a 7 month old...(My listing is not child friendly & I do state that I don't accept children younger than 15)....However, the "infant in arms" crowd---who are not yet toddling around & getting into everything are "perhaps okay" in my book...I did make an exception earlier in the year but for a real infant---like just a few months old...
Since they have already instant booked, I feel sort of trapped----hosts with children---;how active are 7 mo. olds?? (girl)...will they be crawling around getting into under the sink cabinets?? Licking the floor where the pest control guy just sprayed?? yipes...do I need to re think this?? Oh....& get this.....the reservation is for only TWO people (hmmm...a third person triggers an additional $20 per day charge)...
Do I let these guys slide & rack up some good Karma??
15 comments
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hey Rick! I think the guests are at fault for booking a place which states "No children under 15." It's not fair to you. Even with a babe in arms, really your particular listing is not a good fit for them. It seems to me that you would be worrying about what could happen to the infant - I also would be worrying. Can you contact Airbnb to cancel the booking, based on the fact that the guests booked in violation of your stated rules?
I don't like the Instant Book feature, and I don't know why Airbnb pushes it. I believe it's convenient for guests but not for hosts.
Good luck! Be firm! Safety and your peace of mind are important.
Reply Like 2 likes
Allison
Allisona year ago
I'll be curious to hear how AirBnB handles this if you ask them to cancel the reservation for you. I haven't started my listing yet, and I'd like to know how well Instant Book works for hosts.
Reply Like 1 reply
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I would like to know too! Personally, I don't feel comfortable with Instant Book. I believe you can set it up to accept only guests with full profiles, but I still like to have some exchanges with guests when they book.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Barely at the crawling stage. More like hands and knees trying to get into crawling position.
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Rick
Ricka year ago
Thanks, Leah....the guest told me she's not crawling yet....but if she is crying, the guests in the next cottage will certainly hear---they have a common wall...don't they mostly sleep at that age? :-)
Reply Like 2 replies
Leah
Leaha year ago
Nope, they have found their full lung range and demonstrate it often. It is full cry mode when put down and out of parental sight.
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
If you have other guests in your property, you can inconvenience them by a crying baby. It is not fair to the other guests.
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
Did she not read the listing first? My bigger concern in this situation is the guest (if she read the listing) could clearly tell you didn't accept children and she booked anyway. I would be cautious to host a guest who has shown total disregard for my rules before they even arrived.
Reply Like 4 likes
Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Good replies from everyone. Let us know how you decide to deal with this situation!
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Carrie
Carriea year ago
I would ask the guest to cancel - they reserved for two people, not three, your listing doesn't allow children. Therefore, the child is not allowed. They should cancel.
Reply Like 3 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I'm with Carrie. I would ask the guests to cancel. If we have crying babies, it could disturb our single young professional neighbors – but we do sometimes take them for a night or two - at the extra person rate.
Reply Like 1 like
Susan
Susana year ago
nope, have airbnb rehome they, they did not adhere to booking/stay requirements as you do not allow children. if you let them stay be sure to reiterate that your accommodations are not child friendly and that they may wish to reconsider and cancel as you will be charging extra for the child.
Reply Like
Sonja
Sonjaa year ago
My baby is nearly 7 months and definitely not moving far from where I safely put him down! He also sleeps for 12 hours at night, with short wakings to feed- if he does cry he settles quickly after being seen to. Of course all babies are individuals but most of my friends' babies of similar ages behave like that. They still count as babes in arms. However... If you allow two people and they tried to instant book three without checking with you that's not considerate behaviour! I had an enquiry for the summer from a family of three, for my humble second bedroom, which I declined after a bit of chat and deliberation - even if the guests would be comfortable (3 adults and 2 small kids with one bathroom...) I would not be, so it wasn't a good fit. Go with what works for you and the listing!
Reply Like
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
It might be good for your karma but wreak havoc on your nerves. I don't mean from crying -the kid could be a total peach - I mean from worry. I'd be too annoyed they a) willfully ignored a house rule and b) attempted to skate out of the 3rd person charge. 6m is exactly the age at which I'd charge the fee. It's actually my favorite age, but it's messy and loud. I'd ask them to cancel.
Reply Like 1 like
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Hey Rik I had a quick look at your 4 listings and one of them didn't mention no children. I think it was the second one. Just double check them all again to be sure. The other 3 had no children clearly listed. It might be the one they booked. I could be wrong though. Merry Xmas
Reply Like
Rick
Ricka year ago
Thanks Fleur!! My listing for the spare room in my house dies not mention children in the listing, but does in the house rules.
Reply Like
Ron and Nicole
Ron and Nicolea year ago
Had the same issue. Contacted airbnb, and they had the guest cancel
Reply Like
Nick
Nicka year ago
I had a request like this, but they booked for 2 people. I said I charge extra for the third guest. They came back with but its a baby. My response is that guests with children require additional attention to cleaning and damage and would not budge on the extra person charge, so they self opted out. This has happened a few times. Once I had a couple who would not pay for their teen claiming he/she had not used the other bed. I said sorry, put in a claim against their deposit and AirBNB backed me (after some to and fro). I was not after the extra money, it was the principle. They agreed to certain terms and I will hold them to those terms. That is the most respectful thing to do in my view.
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100059
Instant booking & breaking the rules@!!
Ok....Airbnb must be pushing the instant book feature....whereas I used to get about 20% of my reservations as instant books...that total is now rising to at least 30%---maybe higher...
I'm fairly easy going with my hosting & don't generally demand a lot from my guests in the way of profile & past histories....but I don't allow pets or children...My latest "instant book" involves a couple with a 7 month old...(My listing is not child friendly & I do state that I don't accept children younger than 15)....However, the "infant in arms" crowd---who are not yet toddling around & getting into everything are "perhaps okay" in my book...I did make an exception earlier in the year but for a real infant---like just a few months old...
Since they have already instant booked, I feel sort of trapped----hosts with children---;how active are 7 mo. olds?? (girl)...will they be crawling around getting into under the sink cabinets?? Licking the floor where the pest control guy just sprayed?? yipes...do I need to re think this?? Oh....& get this.....the reservation is for only TWO people (hmmm...a third person triggers an additional $20 per day charge)...
Do I let these guys slide & rack up some good Karma??
15 comments
Follow
Like
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hey Rick! I think the guests are at fault for booking a place which states "No children under 15." It's not fair to you. Even with a babe in arms, really your particular listing is not a good fit for them. It seems to me that you would be worrying about what could happen to the infant - I also would be worrying. Can you contact Airbnb to cancel the booking, based on the fact that the guests booked in violation of your stated rules?
I don't like the Instant Book feature, and I don't know why Airbnb pushes it. I believe it's convenient for guests but not for hosts.
Good luck! Be firm! Safety and your peace of mind are important.
Reply Like 2 likes
Allison
Allisona year ago
I'll be curious to hear how AirBnB handles this if you ask them to cancel the reservation for you. I haven't started my listing yet, and I'd like to know how well Instant Book works for hosts.
Reply Like 1 reply
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I would like to know too! Personally, I don't feel comfortable with Instant Book. I believe you can set it up to accept only guests with full profiles, but I still like to have some exchanges with guests when they book.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Barely at the crawling stage. More like hands and knees trying to get into crawling position.
Reply Like
Rick
Ricka year ago
Thanks, Leah....the guest told me she's not crawling yet....but if she is crying, the guests in the next cottage will certainly hear---they have a common wall...don't they mostly sleep at that age? :-)
Reply Like 2 replies
Leah
Leaha year ago
Nope, they have found their full lung range and demonstrate it often. It is full cry mode when put down and out of parental sight.
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
If you have other guests in your property, you can inconvenience them by a crying baby. It is not fair to the other guests.
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
Did she not read the listing first? My bigger concern in this situation is the guest (if she read the listing) could clearly tell you didn't accept children and she booked anyway. I would be cautious to host a guest who has shown total disregard for my rules before they even arrived.
Reply Like 4 likes
Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Good replies from everyone. Let us know how you decide to deal with this situation!
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
I would ask the guest to cancel - they reserved for two people, not three, your listing doesn't allow children. Therefore, the child is not allowed. They should cancel.
Reply Like 3 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I'm with Carrie. I would ask the guests to cancel. If we have crying babies, it could disturb our single young professional neighbors – but we do sometimes take them for a night or two - at the extra person rate.
Reply Like 1 like
Susan
Susana year ago
nope, have airbnb rehome they, they did not adhere to booking/stay requirements as you do not allow children. if you let them stay be sure to reiterate that your accommodations are not child friendly and that they may wish to reconsider and cancel as you will be charging extra for the child.
Reply Like
Sonja
Sonjaa year ago
My baby is nearly 7 months and definitely not moving far from where I safely put him down! He also sleeps for 12 hours at night, with short wakings to feed- if he does cry he settles quickly after being seen to. Of course all babies are individuals but most of my friends' babies of similar ages behave like that. They still count as babes in arms. However... If you allow two people and they tried to instant book three without checking with you that's not considerate behaviour! I had an enquiry for the summer from a family of three, for my humble second bedroom, which I declined after a bit of chat and deliberation - even if the guests would be comfortable (3 adults and 2 small kids with one bathroom...) I would not be, so it wasn't a good fit. Go with what works for you and the listing!
Reply Like
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
It might be good for your karma but wreak havoc on your nerves. I don't mean from crying -the kid could be a total peach - I mean from worry. I'd be too annoyed they a) willfully ignored a house rule and b) attempted to skate out of the 3rd person charge. 6m is exactly the age at which I'd charge the fee. It's actually my favorite age, but it's messy and loud. I'd ask them to cancel.
Reply Like 1 like
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Hey Rik I had a quick look at your 4 listings and one of them didn't mention no children. I think it was the second one. Just double check them all again to be sure. The other 3 had no children clearly listed. It might be the one they booked. I could be wrong though. Merry Xmas
Reply Like
Rick
Ricka year ago
Thanks Fleur!! My listing for the spare room in my house dies not mention children in the listing, but does in the house rules.
Reply Like
Ron and Nicole
Ron and Nicolea year ago
Had the same issue. Contacted airbnb, and they had the guest cancel
Reply Like
Nick
Nicka year ago
I had a request like this, but they booked for 2 people. I said I charge extra for the third guest. They came back with but its a baby. My response is that guests with children require additional attention to cleaning and damage and would not budge on the extra person charge, so they self opted out. This has happened a few times. Once I had a couple who would not pay for their teen claiming he/she had not used the other bed. I said sorry, put in a claim against their deposit and AirBNB backed me (after some to and fro). I was not after the extra money, it was the principle. They agreed to certain terms and I will hold them to those terms. That is the most respectful thing to do in my view.