I’ve tried appealing my apparent lifetime blacklisted status with Airbnb. I’ve never actually rented from or hosted for anyone through Airbnb. However, in August 2016 I tried Airbnb out as a host in order to make some extra money like so many have. I set very specific dates so I probably wasn’t part of an automated automatic scheduling process. My first prospective client immediately and rudely inquired about a lock on the bedroom door before asking anything else about myself or the place. I told her there was no lock and ended up asking her why she’s so paranoid? I’m nearly 50, have owned this house for 17 years, and have rented a basement mother-in-law apartment here to mostly university students. Anyway, she responded, “So I don’t get raped, how dare you question my right to inquire about my personal safety.”
Honestly I was thrown, but politely suggested she might be a brainwashed victim of mass media propaganda, crony capitalism after all profits through greed and fear. Yes, I can be a bore and over intellectualize. The woman was pushy and manipulative and still wanted to rent the place. Eventually I decided not to rent to her and at the end of our interaction she claimed that I would fit right in where I live (Rockies) as “an ignorant asshole.” I looked up this woman’s history with Airbnb and noticed someone had given her free room and board due to some scheduling issue and gave her a poor tenant review. Her four other reviews were positive. She complained about the free place calling it “dank.” I also noticed the party that had given her the poor review and free rental had had their account removed. I know from hosting that tolerance of customers means more revenue for management and corporate anonymity can mask profit motives through boutique politics like political correctness (more customers due to less discrimination). I also believe in less tolerance to the intolerant and that parties should try and resolve disputes outside of the bureaucratic expensive legal system.
Anyway several months later I’ve tried restarting my account in case I ever try Airbnb as a renter. I have tried appealing through account.inquiry@airbnb.com and their customer service number. I apologized in an email similar to this story for having a personality conflict with someone and that I’d appreciate a chance to show that I’m fair, balanced, pleasant, and conscientious since Airbnb only gave me one circumstance to reveal my character. Through appealing for reconsideration I have also requested a corporate self-reflection without any expectations and have only been ignored. Since Airbnb has never responded to that one final decision the company seems to be cowardly, unjust, and bullying in their policies and tactics. I do know that being ignored is a horrible form of abuse and that corporations are allowed to hide behind anonymity and anonymous discrimination. I’ve felt the decision made against me was one sided and heavy handed. Currently I’m supporting competitors: tripping.com, Flipkey, Homeaway, VRBO, Housetrip, Vaystays, Vacayhero, Roomorama, and Couchsurfing. I’m also pursuing a legal resolution. Airbnb seems to be allowed to treat people any way they want while requiring their hosts to not discriminate and to behave to their mandates related seemingly only to profit wrapped in the marketing of community.
I would say no loss to be blacklisted. You are saving yourself allot of grief dealing with the touch, feely, community of Airbnb deadbeats. Airbnb does not collect and hold a security deposit, so you take a huge risk the next guest you get does not trash your place. If you try to make a claim get prepared for banging your head on a wall trying to get Airbnb to cover the damages.
Very nice grammar and punctuation. Sounds like a reporter, types like a reporter.
I believe that companies such as Airbnb and their policy to blacklisting hosts without warning set a dangerous precedent in today’s modern internet age and could create extreme unease in the Airbnb hosting community. I was completely taken back by the number of articles on the web describing numerous stories of Airbnb blacklisting hosts without explanation. Many if not most of the hosts describing their situation appeared to be completely unaware of their error.
Any responsible company should provide an explicit explanation as to why they are banning a customer. In the event that the reason is not egregious in nature, a warning or probation period should be given so the host has the ability to correct their error and the policy for banning hosts should be clearly stated in their Terms and Conditions. This is only reasonable and ethical in any modern democratic society.
Although Airbnb has a dominant position in the VR and home sharing market, they should not take this position for granted, especially when hosts start to worry about whether Airbnb will blindside them with a ban. I would definitely like to see Airbnb take a more responsible approach to blacklisting hosts so hosts have the ability to either correct their error or take necessary preparations for their listing to be removed. This is especially important because many hosts have built successful VR businesses directly off the Airbnb platform. This is a symbiotic relationship and one that should reflect mutual trust and respect. Airbnb needs to understand that for those mentioned above, banning hosts without warning can result in financially and emotional devastation with the destruction of an entire business and when no explicit explanation is provided for the ban.
” [I] politely suggested she might be a brainwashed victim of mass media propaganda, crony capitalism after all profits through greed and fear.” <— How does one suggest this assertion in a polite way? Also, have you considered that your position as a host is not to lambaste potential guests with your political ideology?
As a host, I was intrigued to read your posts, but I think YOU need to change your attitude if you want to fit in with the "sharing" economy. This is a political correctness issue or a guest issue. Airbnb is a lodging site which means you need to keep your conversations to lodging questions and answers. Stay on topic – plain and simple…and save your political rants for the numerous political websites out there!