The title understates the issue (and has typos, but whatever). It's not just that Airbnb didn't do anything for the guests they knew where doomed by their booking with a scummy operator[1].
It's that it was so easy for the scummy operator to just move over to another account, and that obviously fake -- even duplicate! -- reviews persisted while real ones didn't.
[1] I don't say "host" because this guy ran so many properties he wasn't really a host in any capacity.
Can someone explain to me why I, a hypothetical traveller, would choose to stay in someone's Airbnb instead of a similarly priced hotel? I simply don't understand the attraction. I've only heard negative things about Airbnb, their business practices, dishonest hosts/listings, etc. At least with a hotel there is some semblance of responsibility. If you walk into your hotel room and there is a big pile of dog shit on the mattress, they'll give you a new room or send some staff up to remedy the situation. Why would I ever want to bunk in Joe Shmoe's bedroom?
>>why I, a hypothetical traveller, would choose to stay in someone's Airbnb instead of a similarly priced hotel
Because in a lot of places those don't exist. Hotel is at least 2x the price of a decent Airbnb. Not to mention that you get places on Airbnb which you wouldn't find anywhere else - last month we stayed at a farm in Wales where the owner was renting out a whole converted barn on his property, it was absolutely magical and I can't even imagine comparing it to a hotel or even a standardised "cottage" like there are many. And again, the price was unbeatable.
Airbnb and hotels are just for two different purposes. When I’m traveling for business and need a quick in and out in a downtown location, hotels win. When I’m looking for a place for 6 friends to stay together on vacation, a hotel just doesn’t come close to offering that. I’ve never, ever had a bad Airbnb experience, though I don’t doubt it happens at the low end of the market where these apartments seemed like they existed.
There might be some specific exceptions (not enough to support a business) but generally you cannot find a similarly priced hotel with the same level of comfort. Not within a factor of 2, or maybe more. With Airbnb many costs become externalities.
Of course you already knew this.
I never would stay in an Airbnb because it's always been obvious that Airbnb cannot and has no desire to properly vet the hosts; and I'm not a gambler. Not in that way at least. I don't want to ruin a trip by taking the chance to save a few bucks.
1. You get better value for your money on an Airbnb if the Airbnb is honest and good. Stick with ones with high ratings and many reviews, and talk to your host if there is a problem.
2. Price. We've hosted via Airbnb for a year. We rent out a room and bathroom for $30 a night. It takes us a half hour to flip the room, plus an occasional outlay of supplies like soap, etc., so this is a good investment for me. You won't find that price anywhere in or near the major city closest to me.
Sometimes Airbnbs are cheaper priced than hotels in the same area. Also, they can provide a better experience. For example, I went on a trip to Pismo beach with roommates and we stayed in an Airbnb cottage on a hill, overlooking the whole area, with a fire pit.
No hotel would have been that fun to stay at for a trip. You go to Airbnb for a more "authentic" feel than the cookie-cutter, albeit convenient experience of a hotel.
I've used Airbnb's while driving cross-country in order to get access to a dryer outlet to charge an EV.
We recently visited people in Lawton, OK. The nearest superchargers are in Oklahoma City, OK (79 mi North-East) and Ardmore, OK (104 mi East). We were heading South-West, and the next stop was in Childress TX (123 mi West), so either of these would have added 3-4 hours to our trip.
Staying at an Airbnb meant we were able to charge the car and stay comfortably within our limit.
Also, it was a family trip, so it was nice to be able to sleep the 5 of us (plus an extra who flew in) without cramming into a hotel.
Family travel. I only stay in places where you get the whole place so it is more or less a house share. Bedrooms, kitchen, a yard to play, etc. is pretty nice with young kids.
I do a lot of travel for family reasons, and even a cheap airbnb (Joe Schmoe's extra bedroom) is better than a budget hotel.
Hotel WiFi is generally way worse than what you get in someone's house, so's the work surface. I don't need housekeeping services, and access to a kitchen can really help with healthy eating.
because you get a full house to yourself! You say hypothetical traveller so i take it you dont travel much but when you do. Apart from the space the seterility of hotels gets to you. I only stay in hotels if its a short stay and airbnb checkin time doesnt comply.
It should be "guests"; full title from link is: "Airbnb quietly shut down a top host amid scathing reviews, but hundreds of guests were left to stay with him". The dropped plural throws the whole thing off.
[+] [-] SilasX|6 years ago|reply
It's that it was so easy for the scummy operator to just move over to another account, and that obviously fake -- even duplicate! -- reviews persisted while real ones didn't.
[1] I don't say "host" because this guy ran so many properties he wasn't really a host in any capacity.
[+] [-] 19ylram49|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] adossi|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gambiting|6 years ago|reply
Because in a lot of places those don't exist. Hotel is at least 2x the price of a decent Airbnb. Not to mention that you get places on Airbnb which you wouldn't find anywhere else - last month we stayed at a farm in Wales where the owner was renting out a whole converted barn on his property, it was absolutely magical and I can't even imagine comparing it to a hotel or even a standardised "cottage" like there are many. And again, the price was unbeatable.
[+] [-] kbos87|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jiveturkey|6 years ago|reply
There might be some specific exceptions (not enough to support a business) but generally you cannot find a similarly priced hotel with the same level of comfort. Not within a factor of 2, or maybe more. With Airbnb many costs become externalities.
Of course you already knew this.
I never would stay in an Airbnb because it's always been obvious that Airbnb cannot and has no desire to properly vet the hosts; and I'm not a gambler. Not in that way at least. I don't want to ruin a trip by taking the chance to save a few bucks.
[+] [-] tenebrisalietum|6 years ago|reply
2. Price. We've hosted via Airbnb for a year. We rent out a room and bathroom for $30 a night. It takes us a half hour to flip the room, plus an occasional outlay of supplies like soap, etc., so this is a good investment for me. You won't find that price anywhere in or near the major city closest to me.
[+] [-] carlosdp|6 years ago|reply
No hotel would have been that fun to stay at for a trip. You go to Airbnb for a more "authentic" feel than the cookie-cutter, albeit convenient experience of a hotel.
[+] [-] esotericn|6 years ago|reply
Historically I've stayed in rooms in apartments or houses and socialised with the hosts.
It sounds to me like you have a view of the world tainted by bad experiences. I prefer to live as if others are good.
You can usually quite easily pick out the professional fake-hotel style listings quite easily.
It helps a lot to not go for a popular place that would encourage investors.
[+] [-] fred_is_fred|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] shaftway|6 years ago|reply
We recently visited people in Lawton, OK. The nearest superchargers are in Oklahoma City, OK (79 mi North-East) and Ardmore, OK (104 mi East). We were heading South-West, and the next stop was in Childress TX (123 mi West), so either of these would have added 3-4 hours to our trip.
Staying at an Airbnb meant we were able to charge the car and stay comfortably within our limit.
Also, it was a family trip, so it was nice to be able to sleep the 5 of us (plus an extra who flew in) without cramming into a hotel.
[+] [-] lubujackson|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rongenre|6 years ago|reply
Hotel WiFi is generally way worse than what you get in someone's house, so's the work surface. I don't need housekeeping services, and access to a kitchen can really help with healthy eating.
[+] [-] ravedave5|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] antigirl|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fred_is_fred|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SilasX|6 years ago|reply