Post by High Priestess on May 31, 2016 5:41:14 GMT
Sam shared on New hosts FOrum Feb 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-106470
Postage for left behind item
We had a guest stay a few weeks back who left his guide book and insisted on having it mailed to his next destination. I made it clear we would do this only if he would cover the postage cost ($13). I sent it right away and didn't hear from him until yesterday when I inquired if he received it (he was only at the shipping address from the 20-22). He said it wasn't there and that I can keep it if it came back.
I'm frustrated because I have no use for the book (maybe if it was in English but it's in French! Lol) if it does come back and I'm out $13. It's not a lot of money but it's still irritating.
Any suggestions on how to follow up on this? I wish I had take it off the damage deposit but the 48 hours were up by the time he noticed it missing and when the post office was open.
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Kim
Kima year ago
That was very nice of you to mail it to him. If it comes back I would just keep it for future French speaking guests. And if it happens again maybe send the guest a special offer of postage plus 3% (that airbnb will take). And don't mail it until he accepts it.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
That's an interesting idea Kim. Sam – totally understand the irritation.
The next time, you could also collect the fee via PayPal (plus any fees) in advance, or send it postage due.
If it comes back, maybe you can selling on Amazon or eBay. :-)
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
To prevent annoyance, do not spend your money on guests after they have left your premises. If guest needs something mailed to them, it is easy to do as Julie & Eric suggest with having them pay you first via paypal. They could also send you a cashiers check or money order.
This is essentially not much different from a situation where you are selling a book online. Do you send the book first and ask the buyer to pay you when they receive it? Of course not. Similarly, don't send things to guests without prepayment. If it were me, I would be charging not only for the postage but also for my time spent going to the post office so their bill would be about $53 not $13 to get the book sent to them.
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Elizabeth
Elizabetha year ago
How have you collected payment for shipping items left behind? My thought is: to ask for a payment by check and wait for it to clear prior to shipping item BUT first one has to make a trip to the PO to get the exact shipping cost, request for pre-payment of shipping from guest, wait for check to clear, THEN go to PO a SECOND TIME to actually ship. Although I am charging a flat handling fee of $25, it is a lot of work. How do other hosts handle it?
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I've never actually had to do this, but I would not take a check because it could bounce. I would put it in a priority mail envelope, print the postage out at home/work and drop it off at the post office on the way home/on the way to an errand. Do you have a lot of items left behind to send back?
Helen
Helen a year ago
Perhaps you can add a rule that host is not responsible for things left behind,and anything left behind and not claimed after certain days will be donated to good will? I have guests left small things all the time. After a while, I'm just tired of keeping them or sending to their owners
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Shell
Shella year ago
I've had left behind items often. Here is how I handle it: first I message them about the item and ask if they want it returned and if so I make sure they understand that I will be requesting reimbursement through Airbnb. I then take the item/s to the post office and purchase the smallest/least expensive mailer they have and then send it the least expensive method. I then use the resolution tool to request the money and upload the reciept if needed. I'm not sure exactly how long you have access to the resolution tool, but I've used it about two weeks after a stay. The benefit of using the resolution tool is if they don't accept the request you can then bring Airbnb in. I have yet to have anyone not accept the request.
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
I had a couple stay and the girlfriend messaged me to say that BF had left his favourite (pretty dire IMO) shorts behind and could I send them on.
Very graciously she said she'd pay if "it was necessary". Bleedin cheek, but maybe she was from the nirvana of free postage. But because I prefer the view from the moral high ground, I sent them on hoping she'd do the right thing.
She didn't, not even a 'thank you'.
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Rick
Ricka year ago
I've sent several things to guests with no (email hidden)w, my latest return item guests sent me a postage paid envelope which I just dropped off at the post office...
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Sam
Sama year ago
Thanks for the suggestions! I feel much better prepared for next time
Reply Like Delete
KRIS & RODGER
KRIS & RODGERa year ago
My husband left his bracelets at an Airbnb last summer. We contacted the agents and we paid through PayPal for postage to get them returned. Most definitely the easiest way to do it...never send something back to a guest free of charge...
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Suzanne
Suzannea year ago
Had English guests in the Fall who thought that a US stamp for a postcard would get the postcard to friends in the U.K. It was returned to our house address; I said nothing, and added the necessary postage. But they were absolutely lovely guests.
Reply Like Delete
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-106470
Postage for left behind item
We had a guest stay a few weeks back who left his guide book and insisted on having it mailed to his next destination. I made it clear we would do this only if he would cover the postage cost ($13). I sent it right away and didn't hear from him until yesterday when I inquired if he received it (he was only at the shipping address from the 20-22). He said it wasn't there and that I can keep it if it came back.
I'm frustrated because I have no use for the book (maybe if it was in English but it's in French! Lol) if it does come back and I'm out $13. It's not a lot of money but it's still irritating.
Any suggestions on how to follow up on this? I wish I had take it off the damage deposit but the 48 hours were up by the time he noticed it missing and when the post office was open.
11 comments
Following
Like
Delete
Hide
Kim
Kima year ago
That was very nice of you to mail it to him. If it comes back I would just keep it for future French speaking guests. And if it happens again maybe send the guest a special offer of postage plus 3% (that airbnb will take). And don't mail it until he accepts it.
Reply Like Delete
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
That's an interesting idea Kim. Sam – totally understand the irritation.
The next time, you could also collect the fee via PayPal (plus any fees) in advance, or send it postage due.
If it comes back, maybe you can selling on Amazon or eBay. :-)
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
To prevent annoyance, do not spend your money on guests after they have left your premises. If guest needs something mailed to them, it is easy to do as Julie & Eric suggest with having them pay you first via paypal. They could also send you a cashiers check or money order.
This is essentially not much different from a situation where you are selling a book online. Do you send the book first and ask the buyer to pay you when they receive it? Of course not. Similarly, don't send things to guests without prepayment. If it were me, I would be charging not only for the postage but also for my time spent going to the post office so their bill would be about $53 not $13 to get the book sent to them.
Reply Like 4 likes Delete
Elizabeth
Elizabetha year ago
How have you collected payment for shipping items left behind? My thought is: to ask for a payment by check and wait for it to clear prior to shipping item BUT first one has to make a trip to the PO to get the exact shipping cost, request for pre-payment of shipping from guest, wait for check to clear, THEN go to PO a SECOND TIME to actually ship. Although I am charging a flat handling fee of $25, it is a lot of work. How do other hosts handle it?
Reply Like 1 reply Delete
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I've never actually had to do this, but I would not take a check because it could bounce. I would put it in a priority mail envelope, print the postage out at home/work and drop it off at the post office on the way home/on the way to an errand. Do you have a lot of items left behind to send back?
Helen
Helen a year ago
Perhaps you can add a rule that host is not responsible for things left behind,and anything left behind and not claimed after certain days will be donated to good will? I have guests left small things all the time. After a while, I'm just tired of keeping them or sending to their owners
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Shell
Shella year ago
I've had left behind items often. Here is how I handle it: first I message them about the item and ask if they want it returned and if so I make sure they understand that I will be requesting reimbursement through Airbnb. I then take the item/s to the post office and purchase the smallest/least expensive mailer they have and then send it the least expensive method. I then use the resolution tool to request the money and upload the reciept if needed. I'm not sure exactly how long you have access to the resolution tool, but I've used it about two weeks after a stay. The benefit of using the resolution tool is if they don't accept the request you can then bring Airbnb in. I have yet to have anyone not accept the request.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Gordon
Gordona year ago
I had a couple stay and the girlfriend messaged me to say that BF had left his favourite (pretty dire IMO) shorts behind and could I send them on.
Very graciously she said she'd pay if "it was necessary". Bleedin cheek, but maybe she was from the nirvana of free postage. But because I prefer the view from the moral high ground, I sent them on hoping she'd do the right thing.
She didn't, not even a 'thank you'.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Rick
Ricka year ago
I've sent several things to guests with no (email hidden)w, my latest return item guests sent me a postage paid envelope which I just dropped off at the post office...
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Sam
Sama year ago
Thanks for the suggestions! I feel much better prepared for next time
Reply Like Delete
KRIS & RODGER
KRIS & RODGERa year ago
My husband left his bracelets at an Airbnb last summer. We contacted the agents and we paid through PayPal for postage to get them returned. Most definitely the easiest way to do it...never send something back to a guest free of charge...
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Suzanne
Suzannea year ago
Had English guests in the Fall who thought that a US stamp for a postcard would get the postcard to friends in the U.K. It was returned to our house address; I said nothing, and added the necessary postage. But they were absolutely lovely guests.
Reply Like Delete