Post by High Priestess on May 31, 2016 1:55:44 GMT
Peter shared on Airbnb Products UPdates and improvements
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-103131
Can't we get rid of pictureless anonymity

New Year resolution from me. I won't accept bookings from people with no picture and nothing about them. I am polite but start every such message with "could you please first post a picture and tell me a little about yourself". It even says something like this on my listing.
It can't be too difficult for Airbnb to prevent new guests from making enquiries until they have posted a picture and entered some text about themselves. I know some will put up pictures of cats and enter anodyne blurb but most people when told "before making a booking you need to describe yourself" will get the message and go elsewhere if they want an anonymous hotel room.
7 comments•14 likes
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Julie and Eric
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Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
I don't agree about the necessity to have a photo - some of my worst guests had the loveliest smiley nice photo. What I won't accept is someone with no verification at all - I still get enquiries from people with nothing, absolutely nothing. Not even an email address verified, I mean really NOTHING at all. That should be unacceptable.
Reply Like
Nic and Rach
Nic and Racha year ago
Most of my no picture and no profile inquiries were a no go but I like to experience hosting one.....I think it will be okays long as we are communicating and aware of my reservation requirements and house rule.
Reply Like
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I think it dreadful ppl won't show their face lol. Verification is my pre request. What they want to share to who knows who, is their prerogative. I sent a photo drivers license to Airbnb, surely that's enough. ?
Reply Like
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
The vast majority of my guests had / have no foto, no ID and not more than Country and City stated when requiring. Because they were all new. I don't require photo or ID but ask for presentation of ID when checking in (I write down their passport Nummer and date and City of issue only). But if no satisfying (!) information is given about age , purpose of stay and an Outlook of their agenda that allows me to check & confirm again that my private room is the right fit for both of us I decline. Lately I checked old bookings and saw that from 30 (!) guests who had no photo or ID at the time they were booking with me only two continue to have no fotos and further 9 still go on with email and Phone number only. Among them my ABSOLUTELY SUPERGUEST who started his airbnb history with me, (and yes, to whom I showed my room in advance and with whom I had payment issues due to longterm booking payment but which we sorted out perfectly) and who gets the same GLOWING reviews now from other hosts. Apart from personal standards for taking bookings:
I am wondering if an ID of somebody from a foreign country, held by airbnb is of any use when you really have to go to court? For me I hardly see this happen because the effort to sue somebody from abroad seems too much to me. Unless I get physically attacked (but then I am hopefully in the state to call police while the guest is still or around) or my appartment gets deliberately trashed (hope, that at least then the host insurance can be used) I doubt that I would go that mile. Have you ever thought about how you would /could make use of the ID information if you host somebody from abroad?
Maybe this last question is worth to open a separate thread?
Reply Like 1 like
Gordon
Gordona year ago
In this day an age, there's really no excuse not to have a photo attached to your profile. I don't want somebody knocking at my door who I've never seen (a photo of) and if would-be guests don't like that, tough; stay somewhere else.
Reply Like 3 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
The reason I ask is to lessen my risk. If the guest thinks I'll be looking for that person to arrive, so much the better. I have taken reservations from painted ceramic cows, cute puppies and even Dora the Explorer after good conversations. So I'm doing my part.
Reply Like 2 likes
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I tend to forget that some host IN their own home. Understand.
Reply Like 7 replies
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Sharyn, hosting in one's own home was/is the cornerstone of Airbnb. Otherwise it would be just like all the other vacation rentals out there. Please do try to remember that. After all, you are now profiting from all the hard work that us live-in hosts did to promote the business.
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Thanks
I shall remember
What goes around comes around, I think I am in for one sweet ride.
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Forget you don't know me, I have just spent 10 years on a computer helping ppl make money, gratis, in fact it cost me heaps. Sorry for sounding cocky
Super Host Gordon :-)
Super Host Gordon :-)a year ago
Yes. I forget that there are many that use airbnb as another booking engine for their business. I am more "true" to the original intention, share my spare room for part of my rent to short term travelers (mostly 1 person) that needs a cheap place with a friendly host that can tell them about the area.
Super Host Gordon :-)
Super Host Gordon :-)a year ago
I think of it as Couchsurfing for people that are 5 years older ;-). And that have a wallet ;-).
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I am ONLY using Airbnb and am serious about offering "time out". There is little I ever saw about the original concept, but assure you many in my family have and do run bnb,s. I cannot share a spare room in house, no full walls
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Phone makes mistakes lol
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-103131
Can't we get rid of pictureless anonymity

New Year resolution from me. I won't accept bookings from people with no picture and nothing about them. I am polite but start every such message with "could you please first post a picture and tell me a little about yourself". It even says something like this on my listing.
It can't be too difficult for Airbnb to prevent new guests from making enquiries until they have posted a picture and entered some text about themselves. I know some will put up pictures of cats and enter anodyne blurb but most people when told "before making a booking you need to describe yourself" will get the message and go elsewhere if they want an anonymous hotel room.
7 comments•14 likes
Follow
Like
Dieneke
Julie and Eric
Alexina
Lula and Larry
Carrie
+9
more
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
I don't agree about the necessity to have a photo - some of my worst guests had the loveliest smiley nice photo. What I won't accept is someone with no verification at all - I still get enquiries from people with nothing, absolutely nothing. Not even an email address verified, I mean really NOTHING at all. That should be unacceptable.
Reply Like
Nic and Rach
Nic and Racha year ago
Most of my no picture and no profile inquiries were a no go but I like to experience hosting one.....I think it will be okays long as we are communicating and aware of my reservation requirements and house rule.
Reply Like
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I think it dreadful ppl won't show their face lol. Verification is my pre request. What they want to share to who knows who, is their prerogative. I sent a photo drivers license to Airbnb, surely that's enough. ?
Reply Like
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
The vast majority of my guests had / have no foto, no ID and not more than Country and City stated when requiring. Because they were all new. I don't require photo or ID but ask for presentation of ID when checking in (I write down their passport Nummer and date and City of issue only). But if no satisfying (!) information is given about age , purpose of stay and an Outlook of their agenda that allows me to check & confirm again that my private room is the right fit for both of us I decline. Lately I checked old bookings and saw that from 30 (!) guests who had no photo or ID at the time they were booking with me only two continue to have no fotos and further 9 still go on with email and Phone number only. Among them my ABSOLUTELY SUPERGUEST who started his airbnb history with me, (and yes, to whom I showed my room in advance and with whom I had payment issues due to longterm booking payment but which we sorted out perfectly) and who gets the same GLOWING reviews now from other hosts. Apart from personal standards for taking bookings:
I am wondering if an ID of somebody from a foreign country, held by airbnb is of any use when you really have to go to court? For me I hardly see this happen because the effort to sue somebody from abroad seems too much to me. Unless I get physically attacked (but then I am hopefully in the state to call police while the guest is still or around) or my appartment gets deliberately trashed (hope, that at least then the host insurance can be used) I doubt that I would go that mile. Have you ever thought about how you would /could make use of the ID information if you host somebody from abroad?
Maybe this last question is worth to open a separate thread?
Reply Like 1 like
Gordon
Gordona year ago
In this day an age, there's really no excuse not to have a photo attached to your profile. I don't want somebody knocking at my door who I've never seen (a photo of) and if would-be guests don't like that, tough; stay somewhere else.
Reply Like 3 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
The reason I ask is to lessen my risk. If the guest thinks I'll be looking for that person to arrive, so much the better. I have taken reservations from painted ceramic cows, cute puppies and even Dora the Explorer after good conversations. So I'm doing my part.

Reply Like 2 likes
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I tend to forget that some host IN their own home. Understand.
Reply Like 7 replies
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Sharyn, hosting in one's own home was/is the cornerstone of Airbnb. Otherwise it would be just like all the other vacation rentals out there. Please do try to remember that. After all, you are now profiting from all the hard work that us live-in hosts did to promote the business.
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Thanks


Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Forget you don't know me, I have just spent 10 years on a computer helping ppl make money, gratis, in fact it cost me heaps. Sorry for sounding cocky

Super Host Gordon :-)
Super Host Gordon :-)a year ago
Yes. I forget that there are many that use airbnb as another booking engine for their business. I am more "true" to the original intention, share my spare room for part of my rent to short term travelers (mostly 1 person) that needs a cheap place with a friendly host that can tell them about the area.
Super Host Gordon :-)
Super Host Gordon :-)a year ago
I think of it as Couchsurfing for people that are 5 years older ;-). And that have a wallet ;-).
Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
I am ONLY using Airbnb and am serious about offering "time out". There is little I ever saw about the original concept, but assure you many in my family have and do run bnb,s. I cannot share a spare room in house, no full walls

Sharyn
Sharyna year ago
Phone makes mistakes lol