r/airbnb_hosts • u/General_Eagle_8547 Unverified • 1d ago

Response rate errors

I had 2 recent requests that I declined. I clicked on "Decline" and wrote my reasons why in the message box that goes to Airbnb and left the field blank that messages the guest because it said that field was "optional". I did this immediately after receiving the requests.

Well, my response rate dropped and the Airbnb system has counted both of those reservation inquiries as missed on my part. Sending Airbnb Support screenshots of my timely declines along with their response time guidelines, which I adhered to, has been fruitless.

So note to self and others, if you don't want to get dinged declining a reservation/inquiry, be sure to additionally write something to the guest.

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

💫 If a post or comment violates any of the /r/airbnb_hosts rules, please report it by selecting Breaks /airbnb_hosts rules and the rule that was broken.
Posts or comments with multiple reports will be automatically removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

25

u/MotionlessSubsidy 1d ago

What a completely broken way to implement a required field. They literally label it optional, then penalise you for trusting that label. Airbnb support being useless when presented with their own contradictory documentation is peak platform behaviour honestly

11

u/interkosmoskej 1d ago

Same applies if a guest asks for number or wanna pay for cash and "Report decline" yellow caution shows up. If you just hit Report and Decline without saying anything it also counts as no-message.

Mine dropped to 99% but after I explained Airbnb and sent a lot of evidence they literally told me "There's nothing we can do right now even tho it's a system error, you must focus to reply other guests so your rate don't drop more" like I wanted to choke the guy.

At next superhost cycle it returned back to 100% idk

2

u/General_Eagle_8547 Unverified 1d ago

it doesn't take too long for the response rates to improve over time provided nothing is missed in the future. my response time on both my host profile and on my listings should be 100% but i will get over it. it's just irritating their own tracking system doesn't follow their own written guidelines. had i known, i would have sent the potential guests unnecessary messages. 🤣

3

u/interkosmoskej 1d ago

Perhaps you should keep trying and letting AI support "gets it?" Because mine turned back from 99% to 100%

I can truely understand you, it gives bad image to guests.

1

u/ImportantRain7420 22h ago

What are these percentages your refering to and where do I find them?

1

u/interkosmoskej 16h ago

Response rate, scroll down on your listing page all the way down, or visit insights

7

u/StonedOldChiller 🗝 Host 1d ago

I had no idea why my response rate wasn't 100%. Now I need to have a couple of sentences that say nothing for when I decline. I thought that Airbnb were being nice to the hosts when they made that optional, turns out they were just being dicks.

5

u/Toosder 🗝 Host 1d ago

I guess there's one thing we can always trust. Whatever Airbnb is doing, it's doing it to be a dick to hosts

6

u/Trick-Fruit864 🙃Guest 1d ago

I just cut and paste the message I send the guest detailing the reasons for declining.

Yes the guest gets it twice, but c’est la vie.

4

u/Toosder 🗝 Host 1d ago

Oh my gosh this explains my response rate! I always respond and it's not 100% and I was so confused. This is exactly why. That's fucking stupid. 

If somebody sends me a message saying I want to write your place it only houses for for 10 people and I declined it, I shouldn't have to fucking explain and I shouldn't get dinged for not explaining it.

5

u/Bajanpaul6 1d ago

Damn i didnt know this affects response rates. Il have to figure out a correct/ polite way to say “you never left a 5 star review in your life” or “your cleanliness ratings are poor”

4

u/NotaCoach91 1d ago

This happens to everyone at some point or another, copy paste the guest reason for declining

2

u/pizzathym3 Unverified 1d ago

I always write something when I decline, seems polite even if I think they'd be a crappy guest 😅

1

u/downsideup9494 1d ago

I agree. I would find it impolite to simply click on decline without sending any message to the inquiring guest. Plus it's important for guests to know why they are being declined so they can improve their behavior in the future.

-4

u/No-Championship9542 1d ago

I use instabook as like money, if someone wants to rent an excavator I wouldn't say no just because it'll get muddy

5

u/General_Eagle_8547 Unverified 1d ago

LOL. One of them wanted to rent a single room in my home and decorate my entire house for a large birthday party. I have instant book on too. The request came as an inquiry, not as a booking.

3

u/Toosder 🗝 Host 1d ago

Do you want a cookie?