Surface Extract
When Airbnb debuted, the travel industry had seen nothing like it. Co-founded by RISD classmates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia and later joined by technologist Nathan Blecharczyk, the service successfully booked its first customers at a conference in the summer of 2008, when travelers got struggling to find short-term housing in San Francisco. Guests and hosts have praised its variety of options and hassle-free online booking.
From Airbnb’s starry origins, the tech unicorn has gradually turned into chaos. Early complaints about negative experiences escalated. Rooms infested with pests. Hidden cameras. Bait and switch scams. Last minute cancellations. Intrusive hosts. Excessive charges. Chore lists. Facing a torrent of backlash and public scrutiny with every misstep, Airbnb listings now come with a long list of rules that guests must follow or risk poor ratings, and even more fees. And these are just minor offences. Airbnb has hired a world-class “security team” that keeps guests away when their rental experience is downright nightmarish to prevent further public relations disasters.
“The change has been so slow and gradual that there has never been a single moment when Airbnb has gotten so awful. But as one-stop family vacation rentals have given way to corporate property management juggernauts , Airbnb’s charm slowly eroded until all that remained were unpredictable lodging experiences at high prices,” writes Sam Kemmis for . outweigh the benefits so often that travelers – even stingy backpackers – might reconsider its outsized role in the world of travel.”
Many Airbnb issues arise because, unlike hotels, individual rentals lack full-time staff. Even the seediest motels will at least attempt to resolve issues and change rooms, but Airbnbs guests often have to sort things out on their own if their hosts aren’t responsive. (Don’t think about leaving bad reviews, either.) But when you’re inundated with chores, adhering to excessive rules, and hit with hidden fees without the conveniences of a hotel, the perks of a rental Does Airbnb always outweigh the cons?
Twitter doesn’t seem to think so. “Airbnbust is right around the corner,” wrote a Dallas-based housing expert, who tweeted screenshots of a Facebook group called “Airbnb Superhosts” in which members complained about low bookings. The tweet went viral and drew a passionate response from users. “Holiday Inns are usually pretty nice and don’t give me chore lists like I’m in third grade,” one person joked.
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