I do not think of airbnbs as identical to hotels in every way possible, and I don't want them to be. I am ok with doing some basic cleaning tasks despite being charged a cleaning fee. I naively still consider airbnbs to be a little bit like sharing a space, with an implied social contract. I expect to do a little stuff that is low cost to me, high value to the host. I also know they're still going to have to pay a cleaner. And I really would prefer them to not unconditionally wash and dry the bedding for every single unused bed in the place. That's how our planet got into this mess.
I tend to be way more distrustful of previous guests than I am of the host. There are a lot of nasty and entitled people out there.
You have your perspective. Others of us share mine.
As I’ve stated before these are my personal beliefs - and they may have been influenced by my age. I come from a time long before Airbnb was even the merest glimmer of a thought in anyone’s mind, and base my expectations and experiences on that.
Whilst Airbnb started off as folks sharing their properties. It’s now a fully fledged business for many where “hosts” are now corporations who buy properties to let out (in 2021 the figure stood at 28%).
Thank you for that perspective. I spend a week a month in my airbnb, so it is considered more of my second home than a business. There are photos of my wife and I in the house, and I think the house feels "warmer" for guests because it's not just a sterile hotel or full-time business.
My cleaning fee is for washing the bedding, mopping the floors, wash inside the oven, was inside the refrigerator, vacuum all floors, wash all floors, clean every surface, scrub the shower, scrub the toilets, clean the sink and mirror, etc etc.
None of which I expect guests to do. So it's not double dipping.
You've been explained why you're wrong ten times now, and still drone on about it. Maybe airbnb just isn't for you? Book a more expensive hotel instead, and then those thinking my cabin is a good deal can do so and be happy.
Ohh my god, come on, you've been explained this a hundred times by now. It's not that I can't handle it. It's that it's fairer for everyone if the price is set based on the actual cost.
My cabin costs $200 a night to rent, and $100 to clean. If you stay 2 nights that's $500 total, or $250 a night. Do you suggest I just should set the price to $250?
But what then for those renting for 7 nights? Normally they pay $1500. But with your scheme it will be $1750. Or I would have to eat the cleaning cost for those staying 2 days, making no money and instead just pulling it from the market and everyone loses.
The customer doesn't even see the cleaning fee. They see a total price. Then it's up to them to decide if they think it's worth booking or not.
Perhaps this is because I live in Europe, where all costs must be up front. Hence there is no scamming going on here. And I don't care what a cabin on the other side of the world does. I do what makes sense in my local market (people here even bring their own bedding!!). Get it into your head that people want freedom to choose a stay that fits them. If you don't want to care about this, then just don't book.
“And I don't care what a cabin on the other side of the world does”
And there’s the rub. You’re getting very emotive about the subject whereas I am approaching it simply as a customer experience issue.
When I book the cabins I get a cheaper price the longer I stay.
The issue would therefore seem to be that the Airbnb doesn’t provide you the flexibility you desire. The cabin’s I’ve stayed at are owned by different people but rented out by a company that handles such properties in a reasonable manner.
And besides, you continue to ignore my initial first statement: That I feel it’s immoral to charge a cleaning fee AND expect customers to do cleaning.
The original post I replied to stated that they expect the customers to strip the bed plus more cleaning tasks, AND they charge a $200 Cleaning fee.
Even the Airbnb CEO stated he felt that it was wrong to expect customers to strip the bed.
The Cabins I stay are request that when you leave the property you have gathered plateware etc. into the kitchen, and towels etc are left in the shower, and all furniture is left in the basic state you found it.
That takes all of about 10 minutes - which is fine by me. All costs in cleaning and maintenance is taken out of the rental fees.
So no, in my “scheme” costs are not higher because the company I rent through handles rates accordingly.
If this keeps up, we're going to have to ban you. I do not want to ban you, so if you'd please review the rules and stick to them from now on, that would be good.
And secondly if you reread my post you’ll see that I think it’s morally wrong to charge a cleaning fee AND expect guests to clean as well.
That’s double dipping.