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Comment by ldjkfkdsjnv | Hacker News Reader

AirBnB has gotten so expensive with fees. Not only that, most AirBnBs I have rented, have looked nothing like the pictures when I get there. The last one in NYC had cockroaches, with over 100 good reviews. Perhaps them doing this signals confidence and strength in their business, but the act of renting a place is almost like online dating. Everything looks great until you meet in person.

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AirBnB's advantage was how cheap it was compared to hotels and other accommodations. That advantage is pretty much gone now, so basically you get an expensive place, with horrific quality control. It's a roll of the dice.

I've gone back to hotels. The experience is streamlined. No janky lockboxes with codes that don't work, no unresponsive hosts (someone available 24/7 at most), places are cleaned on request, and other amenities are typically available right on site.

Also going back to hotels. I've enjoyed staying at AirBnB rentals, but more and more I get the feeling that I'm just a pest who is supposed to help pay the mortgage on their investment property. The notes and manuals left by hosts can be off-putting, and the last place we stayed at looked like a bad flip-job with minimal furniture.

They're public now. No more undercutting hotels off the teat of venture capital. Now they're in the uncharted waters of having to make a profit.

The fact that hosts can leave reviews for customers provides a disincentive to leave a bad review.

I’ve stayed in two places in the last two weeks.

First wasn’t like the pictures at all. Rammed with furniture and had no way to put garbage out.

Second stunk of mould on the first floor, AC was useless; and the washer/dryer was broken (actually dismantled causing the mould smell). We had to use a laundrette.

They both got glowing reviews because I can’t risk not being able to use the platform as they’ve swallowed the entire short term rental market.

That's on you. The host can't see your negative review until after they have submitted their review of you. This is clearly stated on the review page.

Rip 'em a new one. They deserve it.

But could a future host see that they posted a negative review and not rent to them, fearing a honest review themselves?

Where would a future host see that? There's no interface that shows reviews left by the guest.

Hosts actually use software for that :)

https://rankbreeze.com/airreview/

Oh cool, I do not use the site and that was what I was wondering. I was curious if a host could click on a user and see all of their reviews.

They can edit reviews though no?

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