Airbnb- Guest ratings

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968321#Comment_120968321

Which makes your beef with the review system a little confusing. If you look at reviews when booking accommodation, why the anger about the host reviewing you?

SteM

We used Airbnb for a place in Fuerteventura last October. We had organised an airport drop-off through the host and it turned out he was the one dropping us off, it was part of his little business there.

On the way up to the airport he asked us if we had any issues with the apartment and we were chatting away grand, but as we were getting out of the taxi he said 'don't forget to give me a 5 star review and I'll do the same'. There was definately an implication that his review would be tied to mine. I had paid for the place, followed the rules and left it in spotless so should have a 5* review without an issue. If I had issues with the place I should have been allowed to note them without a worry he would mark me down for doing that. It makes a mockery of the review system tbh.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968320#Comment_120968320

Wheres the incentive for me to rate a property badly if in turn the property owner rates me badly? The current rating system just encourages 5/5 ratings through fear and an easy life

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968337#Comment_120968337

Again, neither you nor the host gets to see each others reviews until you both submit them, or after 14 days. So you could have left a stinker of a review if you wanted, it would have no baring on his review if you.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968345#Comment_120968345

Okay, I really wasn't aware of that as I haven't used the site much. Cheers.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968321#Comment_120968321

Pat was "reading between the lines"

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968345#Comment_120968345

As it happens I didn’t think my review was a “stinker” - all my words were positive and I didn’t mention any issues in my written review - however my rating overall was about a 4/5 - not terrible by any means but obviously I’m learning how that in Airbnb land, this is like the kiss of death 🤪

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968361#Comment_120968361

I hope you see now that host/guest reviews are blind until both are submitted. There is no pressure from either side, you could rip a host, and vice versa, and that would not affect the others review.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968337#Comment_120968337

It’s your last sentence that’s the key here- “pressured ratings” are frankly worse than no rating at all.

The house I rented had something like 120 reviews which gave the overall property an extremely high 4.9 average out of 5

There was absolutely no way the property would be 4.9 on a website where the guest wasnt also rated - it would be more like a 3.8 - 4.2 range -still a very good rating but not a perfect one.

Dr Turk Turkelton

Op obviously wasn't a 5 star man.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968389#Comment_120968389

The rating is revealed at the exact same time. Neither party will know what’s in a review before doing their own review. So there’s no need to be anything but honest.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968426#Comment_120968426

Ah right ok- so obviously the person I rented from fears losing their “superhost” status - I think you need something like four 5 star reviews for every 4 star review submitted in order to remain a superhost.

So essentially while a 5 star rating could mean the place is bloody brilliant, it’s more than likely just saying that the place is commensurate with the description provided - they probably should have just made it a simple yes/no rating - getting caught up with star ratings that come with much more baggage linked to traditional rating systems doesn’t really make sense

loobylou

Unfortunately some people rate the property in a similar way to hotel ratings, ie the place/experience was very nice but not really like a 5star hotel level of comfort, more a 3 star. So they leave a 3 or even 4 star review which is a kiss of death in Airbnb world!

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968490#Comment_120968490

I’m getting that now alright- yeah, star ratings reviews come with many years of rationale - Airbnb is that little bit different and as a result should’ve steered clear of such a ratings system

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968513#Comment_120968513

I suspect most see the rating system as one of the best things about Airbnb. Knowing that reviews are provided only by hosts/guests who actually stay there and comment on their experience in a manner which is free from dependence on/influenced by the other’s review, lends credibility and incentivises good conduct/service.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967854#Comment_120967854

Even hosts that have a separate property are trying to make some money, and I doubt many have the cash reserves to fix up a property after hooligans.

I see no problem with guests being rated, don't be an asshole and it won't be a problem.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968665#Comment_120968665

Look I’ll hold my hand up here- I’ve learned over the last day that the rating system on Airbnb is quite different to that on other websites and the meaning of 5 stars is more like “nowhere is perfect but this place is good enough” and 4 stars probably means “this place has some issues that need to be resolved” .

The property owners know this very well as it’s in their ongoing interest - as an occasional property renter, this aspect kindof passed me by and I imagine it probably passes other people by too.

Also I can see now the benefit of independent reviews if both renters and property owners- my review by the property owner was perfectly fine - it just feels that the whole property reviews at least are kindof based on an accepted 5/5 approach - I’m not mad on that idea but at least I’m now aware of it.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058308968/airbnb-guest-ratings

The ratings system is a vital component, it allows both guests and hosts to judge where to stay or who to host , if hosting strangers in you’re own house while you are there , you don’t want problem people

we do Air B n B and have never had a bad guest

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968767#Comment_120968767

Did you always get a 5/5 rating and if not how did you feel?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968790#Comment_120968790

I can tell you that we got a bad review from a guest who we refused to let her two dogs stay in the house, even though our ad states a no pet policy. It didn’t bother me as it was out of kilter with all the other reviews.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968800#Comment_120968800

That was bad form alright- nothing you could have done about that

hollypink

When I'm booking, I place more weight on what's in the reviews (and sometimes what's not) than the actual rating. One place I looked at had great reviews but just one mentioned that the house was the owner's home and when guests came, he moved into a caravan somewhere on the property. Which other guests didn't seem to mind but I would not have felt comfortable with. And that wasn't mentioned in the listing.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968790#Comment_120968790

Never received less than 5 but if highlighted issues needed improvement, it’s welcome

We stayed at a very well know hotel and it's know to be expensive it's a fabulous hotel for what it offers, however when I read the reviews a large amount seem to believe expensive = 5* and luxery and seem to be shocked thst it wasn't. The hotel in question is not a luxery hotel but it's still fabulous it's very hard to get that across in a riview. In other words don't only really on reviews.

Tavrin Callas

All of this "everybody rating everybody else" whether customer or supplier, in a whole range of different circumstances and businesses is really making that Black Mirror episode, Nosedive, with Bryce Dallas Howard seem for more like a reality.

Montage of Feck

I do find it hilarious reading some of the bad reviews on Airbnb.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120969068#Comment_120969068

I’ve rated 5 star hotels 3 and 3 star hotels 5 in the past - not so much in IrelAnd but abroad, 3 star accommodation coupled with decent pricing can make for an absolute cracker of a stay

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968665#Comment_120968665

Would it not be possible - at least in theory - for an individual to advertise their place for 1 Euro a night for 5 nights, accept 5 different bookings from their mates (refusing all other requests) and then have 5 fabulous feedbacks for a kip of a place?

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968259#Comment_120968259

How clean you left the place

I mean, I wouldn't be advocating leaving a dirty protest on the walls, and I'd make sure that any dishes or cutlery used were washed etc, but I wouldn't be expecting to have to polish the taps. Don't most places charge a "cleaning fee"?

looksee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967909#Comment_120967909

'...or dressed the bed' why would you dress a bed that you had finished with and the owner was -presumably, hopefully - going to strip and re-make? Certainly leave it tidily folded back to air, but making it/dressing it suggests you think the owner is not going to bother with clean sheets! It would be more reasonable to strip it and leave the sheets for washing.