When Airbnb goes wrong: Cancellations and covert listings (Marketplace)

We investigate some of the most common complaints about the world's largest home sharing platform. From last minute cancellations, to concerns over community, and the lengths one condo board is going to keep short-term renters from moving in next door. We also go undercover to check out “covert” Airbnbs. What happens when you book a stay only to be asked to lie and sneak around in a building where Airbnb is not welcome? Plus, we start asking Airbnb about one Albertan who was out $6,000 after a last minute cancellation, and he gets a full refund.
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[@sal5440]

How about making hosts who cancel last second pay the guests reaccommodation fees, I bet you they would stop the BS.

[@andyc254]

That plus a penalty that should go to the guest!

[@Quagthistle]

My thoughts, exactly!

[@samanthamorgan8117]

I’m a host, I have six units. I have only cancelled on a guest due to a natural disaster. Point is, things happen. Last minute cancellations happen, stressful yes, but making the host pay for the guests other accommodations is not realistic. Especially this guy. 6k really?

[@sal5440]

@@samanthamorgan8117 you are pointing out an obviously different scenario. No one is complaining about if a host has a serious emergency, people are mad at shady hosts who cancel for no reason. I have a feeling you knew that though.

[@DaisyZhangAI]

@@samanthamorgan8117 sometimes guests cancel because of emergencies, but it's typical because of the cancelation policy that the guest still have to pay for some if not all of the cost had they stayed. Appropriate insurance purchased beforehand can typically help cover the cancellation costs associated with emergencies. Are there insurance policies for airbnb hosts?

[@yyyok8974]

To avoid this problem, Airbnb need to show the hosts' cancellation-rate on their own homepage, and warn the customers who are considering to book reservation from the host with a highly cancellation-rate.

[@ChristieLynnnn]

YYY OK they already do. This video is soo misleading

[@yahwehsonren]

Agree

That's excellent idea

[@sionsideup]

or just remove them from being a host when they reach a certain cancellation percentage

Or even better, they charge host a penalty if he cancels in less than 3 days before arrival. They won't play with multiple listings knowing they'll loose money if cancel last day

[@mamakitty6549]

Hosts should get fined for cancelations. Make if hurt if you cancel. People will be less likely to scam you if it could cost more money to do it that way.

[@JosiahRichards]

Hosts don't get to keep the money if they cancel on the guest. AND there's a fee. What's happening is nefarious "hosts" are creating multiple listings for the same unit, and keeping the highest paid booking. As an experienced host (and seasoned Airbnb traveler) with multiple listings (2 spare bedrooms in my home), I could see how hosts can get creative and abuse/manipulate the platform. Not all guests are saints, either. We have been very fortunate to have over 400 really amazing guests the last 2.5 years. I've certainly cancelled a few questionable reservations, some last-minute bc the booking was made within 24 hours of check-in. We take a firm unofficial policy of either not booking or really scrutinizing locals who want to stay with us. Or a guests presents a last-minute change we cannot accommodate (i.e., too many traveling companions). In those rare cases, I call Airbnb to explain the situation and can cancel penalty-free. Ultimately, guests AND hosts need to aware of what they are doing, and be vigilant. There will always be bad actors no matter what the platform or business. Personally, I've worked too long and hard to maintain Super Hosts 5-star status to ruin someone's trip. I think it's fare the say the vast majority of Airbnb and other STR hosts are good people doing their best for weary travelers.

[@bethhague9448]

Yes but sometimes you have to cancel for not bad intentions such as family emergencies or damage in the property

[@chiqa2448]

@@bethhague9448 there should be compensation even if there's an emergency, even if it's just a plane ticket home

[@CHR15718N]

@@bethhague9448 This is the business risk when offering a service. When their is an family emergencie you have to book them an room in another airbnb. When their is a damage in the property you should still allow gests to stay, but offer them a discount for the thing not being available.

[@blacklyfe5543]

Has to be less then 24 hours

[@sventer198]

I rented a “pet friendly” Airbnb and was texted as I arrived to tell me to sneak my pet in through the basement as pets were not allowed 😂

[@destiny5664]

S Venter 😂 😂 lol

[@silkice.]

"Shhhh, hide the pets, quick, they won't catch them if you go through the basement" that is actually amazing lmao

[@heylez9263]

The actual unit's pet-friendly but the building actually isn't? Hahahahah

[@texasktea]

Wtf?

[@mexifaith]

That happened to my brother in San Fran! He snuck his dog in and was told it was pet friendly. Ridiculous

[@NoOneHere2Day]

If a host cancels last minute or double books, they should be banned from the site.

[@xXPurpleLoliTranceXx]

Agreed.

[@jalisaalanaye1662]

Or be 100% responsible to pay back what they never even provided ! I don’t understand why they have to pay if they never even stayed there !

[@lizf3325]

I always stay in hotel's, I've never liked how abstract airbnb seemed. This is disgusting If they cancel or double book it should be a full refund! Its just very suspicious!

[@adamguymon7096]

I agree. There should be a rule that once you have confirmed to a person and the person who is staying there cancels then they would have the right to keep at least one nights stay and they would be allowed to re-book someone else if the original guest doesn't actually enter the premises within the first night on the agreed time and date. If the agreement was only allowed to only go through the Air-B&B system/site and all communications had to go through the Air-B&B this would make it so people could list through that Intermediate source this would help in lots of these situations. This would mean you renting out your place would need to have a Air-B&B Representative check out the place being rented and or having a local rep that can inspect it so it can be up to local code and make shore that if someone says it is wheelchair accessible it really is.

[@bethhague9448]

Well if a family emergency happens or the host falls ill they are entitled to cancel the booking. They are human as well. If it’s a consistent issue then sure they should be bad

[@tribequest9]

If AirBNB says these incidents are rare then they should have no problem as a 30 billion dollar company to accommodate the consumer 100% of their loss and inconvenience.

[@u3rae368]

tribequest9 this is so true though!

[@tomadias4583]

@growlingbehemoth Woah there...

[@randyrandalman8234]

They cover 110% - that's more than 100%. That David guy put down $900, and he's asking AirBnb to give him $6000 because he wanted to stay at a nicer place. Dude comes off as super greedy and gets 0 sympathy from me

[@tribequest9]

@@randyrandalman8234 ever heard of walk a mile in someones shoes?

[@CarlosSanchez-en6mr]

tribequest9 its actually 31 billion Get you facts right You’re probably a lizard

[@ceh4702]

They should use a 7 day cancellation rule. If they cancel within 7 days then the host pays for the stay at an alternate location with similar amenities. Air B & B should write that into their contracts.

[@prettyboimut1]

chas4702 right

[@WildDisease72]

I agree - if you were contracting directly with the host you could sue for any amounts paid above what you were going to pay the host due to finding alternative accommodations, as breach of contract

[@blacklyfe5543]

NO

[@WhatsGahd]

You do understand how most businesses are ran right? Morons scamming the morons.

[@cmr053]

Rather go to a hotel than deal with these scams.

[@TheNraveles]

“Negative instances are rare” *has entire website dedicated to horror stories from the service *

[@aidanw9378]

see, that's fair, but when you consider that 6 guests check into an Airbnb rental every SECOND..... even 10,000 bad stories could be considered the exception.

[@jenniferlorence1950]

The Nraveles: Exactly!

[@infinitecuriosity9210]

The only reason David got any money back was because of the show showcasing this, I'm sure airbnb s nightmare

[@redwingsfan3621]

8:20

[@MTA3]

Let’s be honest tho, he defo didn’t deserve that much money back.

[@CosmicButPlugg]

I don't think everyone understands what exactly airbnb is. It's a home sharing service. This dude made a reservation 6 months in advance lol. Imagine you promised someone they can use your house for 5 weeks 6 months from now for a low as fuck price. A lot can change in 6 months to normal people, not some gigantic chain of hotels that will be there for decades.

[@samlsd9711]

It should be banned in Canada as a whole!

[@samlsd9711]

@@MTA3 Well did you think about the ticket and the hassle? He should've sued for 10k. they are billionaires.

[@meehow72]

My host cancelled the night I arrived. I was at the airport at 11pm with no place to stay. Air B&B basically did nothing to resolve. This was for a one-month stay for a work contract. I had to return home 2 days later. Air B&B is pure evil as far as I am concerned.

[@jenniferlorence1950]

Yes they are, but couldn't you book another airbnb on their site that same night?? Sometimes, it's a lot Cheaper when you find a rental right away, because Airbnb usually refunds most or Some of the money when is the host that Cancels, unless they didn't do it back then when it happened to you.

[@jenniferlorence1950]

Airbnb does nothing to Help the Renters. They didn't help me either when One Host Scammed me in London, England.

[@RubyKeyvani]

This is why I continue to stay at hotels when I travel. Much less headache and I feel safer.

[@francesfinney8188]

I would rather stay in a nice hotel. No headache.

[@DMRoper1]

I agree.

[@eliza2063]

I agree having used Airbnb on a number of occasions. In one instance, the host was pretty scary and support was no help at all. It is best to stay at a hotel/motel where problems are generally addressed right away.

[@zombiasnow15]

Oh,but the headaches don't stop just because it's not an air bomb! I had many bad experiences with hotels too! That's why I only do staycations now.

[@itsmrsbossyyupimback4011]

Yeah, it's just not worth the headache. I rather a hotel.

[@billybobkumar9231]

Everyone can't afford that. I've use it a couple of times, but only when visiting my hometown -- so I know the areas well, can find accommodation if they cancel, etc. For the money, I find VRBO to be best, but it is more expensive.

[@williamhaynes7089]

I always use hotels, I cant take this drama

[@clairepark8750]

@@cory8837 He's not misleading or something. He is suggesting an alternative choice other than Airbnb.

[@joaosimoes7065]

@@cory8837 I've had great experiences at hotels.

[@lendluke]

@@cory8837 ,everyone has a different tolerance to risk. These horror stories can't happen very often for Airbnb to stay in business, and every time I've been at one, it has been much cheaper than comparable hotels, but some people would rather not risk trying to find last minute alternatives if a host cancels.

[@SaintAliaOfTheKnife]

Hotels & car rentals are just as bad. I process so many disputes for all of three of these!

[@dannydaw59]

If I stay at a hotel I don't feel like I'm walking on pins and needles. I need peace of mind on my vacation.

[@mitchellmaytorena1137]

1300 for 5 week vacation? Sounds too good to be true.

[@Greendragon434]

Mitchell Maytorena Yeah, the guy who booked it said it "almost" seemed too good to be true... I know it was the host's fault for running a fraud...but still, that guy should have had alarm bells going off like crazy at a price that incredibly cheap for a place that nice

[@faithnewman9081]

It is in Mexico though, so maybe its just below average there?

[@ebob1967]

That sounds about right for Mexico. I was there on business last October and stayed at a hotel about a two-hour drive outside Mexico City and it was about $40/night. It was a fairly new hotel and while maybe not quite what one would expect in the US or Canada it was modern, clean, and comfortable and included breakfast.

[@cataderian]

Anticipating a 7K accommodation for 1K was silly, should have researched. Expecting a business to pay the difference between what you wanted and what you paid for is ridiculous. Take the similar rental that you paid for or pony up the money for what you wanted. Nobody owes you.

[@adolfolopezserranor.4916]

@@faithnewman9081 Hahaha. No. It is a beach resort. Hotels go up to 850 USD a night in that area. A lot more in other beach destinations or Mexico City. Of course you can find very cheap options, but they won't be good.

[@DeathSpellXVI]

Y'all need to chill with that background music, sounds like someone's being chased or something...

[@greenbanana311]

True

[@Griselda_Puppy]

😂🤣 *RIGHT?!*

[@fredgalaxy7632]

Someone is being chased! They are chasing manipulative bnb renters! And attempting to stop their corrupting behaviours!

[@DoughnutCream699]

Once stayed in one of those attached basement apartments in Seattle. The place was lovely but we had to have “quiet hours” past 10 pm and in the mornings we could hear the owners walking around and their dog barking. It wasn’t too bad but the feeling of having the owners right above us and feeling like they were watching and hearing everything was too much for me. Never liked the idea of staying in some complete strangers house and never will. I’ll gladly pay more for a hotel room tyvm.

[@SunnyGirlFlorida]

The hotel is better where you have differnt people all around you and above and below. Quiet hours at a hotel are pretty much 10PM too. That seems pretty reasonable.

[@inkstainedgirl]

What Air BnB needs to do is de-list people who cancel more than once a year. The host gets one emergency cancel a year, if they do it again they are assumed to be scamming by listing it on multiple sites and are no longer allowed to do business with air bnb.

[@JosiahRichards]

They can and they do de-list bad hosts, but nefarious hosts can create another account. Many hosts do list in multiple sites, and I think that's OK, so long as they keep their calendars updated and synced. Airbnb is simply one of many platforms STR hosts can maximize their rental capacity. We list on 2 platforms, but 99.9% of our bookings come through Airbnb. (I actually asked a returning guest to use the other platform just so I could see how it works - it works a lot like Airbnb, but just a different market base.)

[@MTA3]

I can happily say that they do have one! When my Airbnb host cancelled days before my brothers wedding in a small town Airbnb informed me that they give hosts warnings and if it happens a total of three times or something like that they won’t be allowed to host anymore

[@misschris1740]

And the thing is they can choose when to make their place available so there is really no excuse for a cancellation. I totally agree! I hate this company!

[@sh.a.3333]

It's really ridiculous that such a Tech giant company like Airbnb even let such last-minute cancellations happen on its platform without any penalty!

[@soniag4516]

That's LEFTY capitalist for ya!

[@breathoffreshair7795]

Sonia G thats actually real capitalism not left or right, just little interference from government.

[@charlottetown4422]

There r penalties for hosts. Believe it not? Airbnb is just a bad company to deal with period.

[@Paineinyourblank]

I would feel creeped out staying in a strangers home. Id rather take a hotel room

[@SunnyGirlFlorida]

Many of the homes, the owner does not live there. You prefer to stay at a hotel that has probably had the bed sleeped in more and not cleaned as well?

[@WolfieVlogsXD]

These aren’t really peoples homes 90% of the time.

[@dinolandra]

@@SunnyGirlFlorida it's not true that airbnb's have had their beds slept in more. A lot of airbnb hosts book back to back and don't clean as well as hotels do.

[@Griselda_Puppy]

*I prefer airbnb's due to the price, and the comfortable feeling. I only stay with 5star only superhosts, and in 4 years of using the service, and have _never_ had any issues (since I've always taken these precautions), thankfully! I do feel for people who have had problems, though! *

[@Griselda_Puppy]

@MamaLandra *I always take a portable blacklight with me to check that beds, couches, towels, etc have been properly cleaned. I only stay with 5 star superhosts, and have never had issues with cleanliness. If I ever did though, I would definitely confront the host.*

[@joselyn6766]

“when Airbnb goes AirbnBAD” 🤠 ok

[@epifanny]

I got a cancellation notification after landing in Singapore from a 10 hour flight...airbnb did nothing for me.

[@shanniworld8310]

AIR DOES NOT CARE

[@laurasosa859]

Just happened to me after an 8 hour flight to spain... right off the plane too. AirBnb did nothing, took my credit, took my money, I had to pay $400 towards another place

[@shanniworld8310]

@@laurasosa859 Airbnb does not care about anyone not guests, or hosts that is why the hosts are so bitter now. I usually book direct. I shop air and look for listings in the area of my choosing with a business name and then I book direct and save. They are usually wayyyy more professional when not having airbnb in the mix

[@shanniworld8310]

Yeah, they did nothing for you, but they used your misfortune to make an extra hundred bucks when they charged the host $100.00 and left you to fend for yourself.

[@OurFreeSociety]

@@shanniworld8310 - some of the hosters have business names? Do you get cheaper rates when you book with them direct? I'd be nervous if someone isn't there to back me up, but I've wanted to go around Air BnB once & didn't know how. I don't use it often.

[@JeandrePetzer]

So the host can accept a booking, Take the full deposit amount, And then cancel for reasons only known to them and keep the money? No. That should not even be legal. AirBNB should blacklist them, Or charge them the $920 :P

[@sarahw9385]

Hosts don't receive any money until you've stayed at least one day. Airbnb holds it in case either party cancels before hand.

[@potterbond007]

Hosts don't keep the money. You are refunded.

[@KewBlinkla]

People staying cancelling within 24 hours of check in time do not get their money back for that night, but as they cancel the entire trip 99% of the time, the host only receives that first night’s cost. Cancelling over 24 hours in advance means the hosts do not receive money either. Cancelling after the 24 hours only allows the host to collect money for the first night stay. They also do not have to pay the cleaning fee as they never checked in. To me this makes sense - at the end of the day we still cleaned the space, readied it for the guests, and altered our schedules (albeit only minority) to make sure we can be there during their check in. I’ve run air b n b in my home for a year and people cancelling the night before their due to arrive at 7 am is quite annoying.

[@spikefivefivefive]

@@KewBlinkla - "I’ve run air b n b in my home for a year and people cancelling the night before their due to arrive at 7 am is quite annoying." If you think that's "annoying", try being a traveler whose host cancels on him or her the night before. You still have a place to sleep. He doesn't.

[@KewBlinkla]

spikefivefivefive oh 100%, I just didn’t like how this portrayed that the only person dealing with shitty people are the travellers. Another side of the story would be awesome to show as well. I’ve never cancelled a trip with a guest and would never leave them without a place to sleep after I accepted their booking. The people that do that are crappy. I wish there was a block so they couldn’t cancel within 2 weeks without receiving a full refund. Especially when people travel hours away to a place that’s hard to find other accommodations

[@wifeyb.9779]

I'd talk to security on last day lol

[@45876]

People there are really sick people out there. Renting to a stranger in short terms might in danger you and your neighbors. Also the doorman or the concierge in the apartment buildings are not prepared to deal with Random customers. I remember once I startled my mom in a hotel room and she screamed. Two Minutes later, two security guards and one customer service showed up in my front door and asked to check my room. I felt safe in a hotel more than ever.

[@sacramentoman228]

I feel airb&b need to start dropping hosts that have multiple double booking cancelations it makes customers fearful when they travel such distances and it hurts the airb&b business people will just not use the service. plus the stress on a family trying to find other accommodations Quickly or sleep at the airport. air B&B will be out of business within months due to lack of customers not rentals. And I don't feel a customer looking for a low cost vacation rental should have to be an airb&b supersaver bonus customer to get the rental they booked in advance from a host. And the hosts that do business with airB&B should demand action from the company people rent rooms to supplement there income or assist with there morgage payments. And customer want nice reasonable vacations. And the dishonest hosts are make the business look bad and causing financial hard ship on the honest host that are trying to make ends meet.

[@shatteredreality11]

Terrell Man they just make a new account with photos at different angles

[@sacramentoman228]

They might but again air B&B need to find a way to manage their membership

[@marcosreal11]

AirBnb needs a policy that hosts who cancel at the last minute should pay the difference. Also put a star beside the host's name and allow the cancelee to write a review. If a host wants to rent a property more cheaply as a backup then they should block out the property's calendar until the last minute when they are sure the property is not going to rent elsewhere at a higher price. But there need to be consequences for scammer hosts or their behaviour will continue.

[@Stephanie56372]

Depends on the host. If it's the first time for the host hosting then they don't get penalized. But if not then the host get penalized and then they get a loss in ppl searching them up.

[@semicolon593]

What is said in the video doesn’t apply for all host, some may cancel due to maybe a fire or accident at the home, or maybe some other reasons.

[@blubbness]

they should be very strict about cancellation tracking. if they just say they decided to not rent it out anymore they should be deactivated completly and cover price differences for remaining bookings. if there is a fire i am sure they would be able to send some kind of proof to avoid the fees.

[@AmberU]

Agreed.

[@potterbond007]

Hosts that cancel within 48 hours of your trip have an automatic review on their page saying that they cancelled.

[@samfrancisco8095]

As I was leaving the condo I would tell the staff I just stayed as an Airbnb guest. These people need to be punished for fraud.

[@aidanw9378]

Dang I like that idea.

[@tabbypanda82]

🙌🏾 YES

[@Efalonda]

Then don't use it in the first place...

[@heenanyou]

@@Efalonda The guests are not told by the host until it is too late to make other plans.

[@Efalonda]

@@heenanyou I get that but I think have integrity and if you think this is immoral then don't stay and THEN report. Leave to a hotel & report. Seems hypocritical

[@Mr539forgotten]

"The company (AirBnB) says negative incidences are extremely rare." Boom! Easy solution then. If it's a massive company making huge money and these incidences are extremely rare then AirBnB should just 100% cover the cost of difference for all last second host cancellations because it would cost them nearly nothing to do such a thing for an incident which is extremely rare.

[@missmike3693]

That's exactly my thought. Air bnb is apparently greedy and has little regard for their clients.

[@MissAdventures]

I smell a scam. Show high priced places for a song to attract customers, then cancel at the last minute with only second grade places for the same price.

[@DrX_1030]

This isn't at all whats happening

[@pablovi77]

Airbnb is a scam.

[@ithedirector]

I agree. it's a scam. bait and switch. and Air B and B still probably has cheaper options than the local hotels, so the person is forced to still use Air B and B.

[@alstonjacobs4934]

AirBnB doesn't own or rent any of the places. It a tech company that has a place for homeowners and vacationers to meet. Its exactly like uber, but for short term rentals

[@pablovi77]

Alston Jacobs That’s why it’s a scam, they make money without risking anything, or having assets.

[@SirenaSpades]

Actually Superhosts CANNOT cancel, or they lose that status. So that is the way to avoid this problem.

[@TheRusschannel]

i'm a superhost and just canceled someone w/ 2 days too spare, and I'm STILL a superhost lol

[@TheRusschannel]

@R S not when the place catches fire and its not your fault LOL _ Ive canceled many times and retained my superhost badge

[@GoLeafszGo]

@@TheRusschannel I am a real superhost and The only time I am unable to cancel a reservation unless it is within 24 hours of the "instant book" ONLY orelse I will lose my superhost status.

[@dakotamathews6808]

I know someone who is a superhost they cancel on people all the time and they are still a superhost I think your Info is a little off

[@leoleon6401]

@@TheRusschannel why you cancel somebody 2 days before

[@paulywogstew53]

1,300 for a 5 week stay come on man you know that's too good to be true.

[@flashmedia8953]

Ikr, canadians are so naive

[@roryh2241]

Fr that’s on him

[@breesmith7520]

The company still shouldn’t allow scammers

[@roryh2241]

@@breesmith7520 yea but like what can they do :/ if they paid for the entire stay for everyone who got scammed they would go out of business quickly

[@craigfirman1809]

13:54 all she had to do was read the reviews and she never would have had the covert airbnb problem. airbnbs cost less then hotels but you need to take more time to check what you are getting. Read the reviews of the place and the host, compare it to similar airbnbs in the area. If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS! common sense in necessary when booking airbnbs.

[@cherylrodgers3096]

Most people don't read anything let alone the reviews. They just look at the price and go with that!

[@pixpusha]

If you put $920 down, you should get ALL of that money back if the host cancels on you. This doesn't make any sense. And I agree with the below commenter (YYY OK), AirBnB should publish their hosts' cancellation-rate. Or at least have it be like Ebay where you bid on the rate you're willing to pay for your stay.

[@Mosesthecat]

I always look at the rating. If they have a cancel in their review or arent verified as a super host then I run

[@TriggaTreDay]

He did get all of his money back, he just couldn’t afford the rates of the other locations that were similar to the one he booked. So he was telling ABnB that they needed to pay for the difference $ for equal accommodations of the unit they allowed to cancel on him last min.

[@OurFreeSociety]

@@TriggaTreDay - people just do NOT know how to listen - sigh Maybe someone should type out the transcript for them LOL

[@pixie1310]

hotels all the way! Especially the ones with free breakfast!!

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Yea really, you'll never get that at an Airbnb

[@sikherhead1092]

Free BF squad!

[@Borg2364]

Hell yes! Just stayed in a hotel last week. They had a pianist in the evening accompanied with free wine, beer, and fresh baked cookies. Breakfast included in the morning too all for 90$ a night.

[@nanaamma3642]

Nothing like y free breakfast.

[@Hevva67]

Which there aren't many of now!

[@andratoma9834]

You should make a show about nasty customers ( guests) that destroy the place, cancelled and all sorts of horror stories

[@Youngbl33zy]

First time I used air bnb I got screwed when the host cancelled when I drove 14 and was only 2 hours away from my air bnb with no where to go.. smh air bnb gave me $50 credit and refund but would not pay for the difference I had to pay to buy a new place

[@Funkteon]

I know two Airbnb hosts who have explained this issue to me.... Aside from listing their properties at multiple prices on multiple websites, the issue of "The host cancelled on us at the last minute" or "during our stay" is also caused by hosts who are renting out their actual apartments that they live in, and not planning other arrangements for themselves properly. They find themselves sleeping at either their partners or parents or friends houses, or staying in super cheap hotels/hostels that cost less than they're making from Airbnb, and when they get kicked off their friend's couch or can't book another night in the cheap hotel, they have to go back to their own apartment which is midway through an Airbnb booking.

[@sugarplum2467]

That's pathetic. Only rent out your place if it's a vacation place you don't use, or if you're going away for whatever reason. That's always been the premise of the site.

[@hindwidad2723]

Thats poor planning on the host's part. Why would you rent out your place not knowing for sure where you would be staying then inconvenience the renters by canceling last minute..that doesn't make sense

[@akosua8779]

Then dont try to run a business with your home when you cant afford to run it. Pathetic excuse

[@donnaeckwortzel6127]

Airbnb has the worst support both as a traveler and host. They don’t follow up on their million dollar coverage when people damaged our property. We were in Amsterdam when our host showed up drunk and when he showed my family of 4 to the room, there were people in it already

[@Grasshopper.80]

That’s the whole point not to provide support.

[@Shawnne86]

My solution: A HOTEL. A WELL ESTABLISHED WELL RATED ONE, AT THAT. Your welcome.

[@vajayna_eklhabouh]

You're ***

[@cortlandxxzombkillerxx9690]

Right! Thats exactly what I was thinking, just use a hotel

[@pearluniverse7878]

Jeff Flumerfelt Airbnb can be cheaper, nicer, better location, more comfortable etc

[@KneeJerkReactor]

Hotels are NOT HOMES. THAT IS THE PROBLEM AND ITS NOT JUST "DRAMA". I am a Millenial so for now with me, Hotel is fine. BUT IF YOU ARE SOMEONE BIT OLDER, YOU WANT YOUR ACCOMODATION to be like a cabin. Somewhat similar to a house. Hotels do not give that experience. The rooms, accomodations, amenities, hospitality, I could go on and on. So to answer: NO ITS NOT A SOLUTION FOR ALL.

[@PointsofData]

Hotels can be more expensive and less convienent...its not that simple man. Plus most aren't usually pet friendly.

[@DMWBN3]

"If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is" Yet, he still went ahead and booked.

[@Coco-uh9wh]

I don't wanna victim blame but i mean come on, 5 weeks at THAT place? the closest thing he could find was over 6k more and not once did he go, 'hey maybe this $40 per night mansion isn't legit?'

[@ibrahimpasha8229]

I mean you should know $1,300 for 5 weeks is sketch af...

[@pearlytakeda2136]

1500 canadian even

[@carableu]

Totally sketchy!

[@TomikaKelly]

Not really...

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

I booked from $350 to $500 in Tokyo and it worked out good. So not too sketchy really.

[@ibrahimpasha8229]

David Johnson $37 a day? Unless you’re in some third world country that’s basically impossible. You’re talking about a plan ticket we’re talking about staying in a property for 5 weeks, over a month.

[@MR-tn5kv]

That is truly awful, cancelling at the last minute!! In the reviews you can see how many times a host has cancelled to serve as somewhat of a warning. But yes, Airbnb should kick hosts off the site for last minute cancellations without a proveable emergency as a reason. Fortunately, as a guest with over 6 years using the site frequently, I’ve never had a host cancel. And yes, Airbnb is destroying the rental market for locals, without question.

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Airbnb costs taxpayers millions in lost hotel taxes that go to parks and schools.

[@eginteractive]

My wife and I had a house a few years back that we rented. We found out that the tenant was listing on Airbnb, so we actually went "undercover" using a family friend to book a stay. His rent was $750 a month, and he was often late / short on the rent, and getting a hold of him was a pain. I'd consider myself to be a pretty generous person, always giving people the benefit of the doubt because I myself (when I was younger) was occasionally late on rent due to unexpected expenses / other issues. He was charging $140 a night, and when we went in, all of the furniture was different, the two 50" flatscreens that were in the property initially had been changed to smaller ones (we still don't know what ever happened to them, I'd assume they were resold / stolen for his own personal use), he had put up partition walls to accommodate more guests, he was making tons of money. It took almost a year to get him out due to the slowness of the courts in the U.S., and afterwards when we inspected the changes he had made (I actually work in construction), he had added many extra outlets (20 amp outlets using 14 AWG Romex which is only rated for 15 amps, some of the outlets clearly had burn marks around them), and when we gutted the place after evicting him, we found drug paraphernalia (including more than a dozen dirty, uncapped syringes stuffed in vents, under the bathroom sink, etc.), holes in walls, it was a complete nightmare. It cost me thousands to renovate the place after the damages that him / his renters caused. We took the house off the rental market, and I later sold it to a family member. While Airbnb can be a good thing for actual homeowners who have multiple properties (seasonal), there are definitely a lot of downsides. They don't vet the hosts to even verify home ownership before allowing them on the platform. When we reported the issue to Airbnb to get his listing pulled, they were not helpful in the least. It took multiple cease and desist letters sent to the tenant (with copies provided to Airbnb), and a lot of legal threats just to get Airbnb to take down the listing. The other thing is, hosts aren't even required to undergo any inspections like regular hotels are required to. Often times these properties have been modified (without proper building permits), and include shoddy and unsafe work. My recommendation to landlords and also guests, always double check the homes. If you're a landlord, check on Airbnb to make sure your property isn't actually listed, and to guests make sure that you report to Airbnb if the host does anything sketchy (like telling you to avoid talking to certain people, watching out for certain vehicles passing by, etc.). I don't see anything inherently wrong with allowing services like Airbnb to exist, but they should have to follow the same regulations / inspections that hotels / other rental properties have to have.

[@PipoLipo9000]

This is why you stay in hotels. 100% accountable.

[@lifelove6164]

True vrbo and homeaway. I've been renting condos thru them for past 5 years. Never had any issues with them. I've rented places in Bahamas and Barbados.

[@lifelove6164]

@Beautifulbajan86 thanks boo...I was just there. Had a blast. I actually feel safe in Barbados and Nassau compared to another island I visited. But I know its important to be careful

[@neilsumanda1538]

the hotels are expensive and usually owned by international corporations...

[@calmgirlify]

I've been using Airbnb domestically and in Europe for years. I'm no longer treated as a welcome guest in some bookings. The quality of accommodations have gone down as well. Hilton with points is looking better and better.

[@soniag4516]

Airbnb isn't the only BnB service out there, we use other sites as well for overseas, always having a blast

[@Undecided0]

I'm in the US. I work IT at Amazon. It's a 1 to 1.5 hour express bus ride to work. During the holiday season I worked a lot of OT & got an AirBnB. Eventually I started cutting out the middle man & dealing with the host directly.

[@booth1906]

"I don't want to say I took them on, but I didn't give up. How's that?" So humble and reasonable. Darn Canadians.

[@heenanyou]

We skip the drama that Americans love so much and just do it.

[@thepanel2935]

I spent six months travelling in Australia, Asia and the US throughout 2019. I didn't stay at an AirBnB place _once._ On my travels in 2014 I used AirBnB exclusively. What brought about my change in approach? AirBnB wasn't _any_ cheaper than traditional hotels, which are far more service-oriented than getting someone's spare room on AirBnB.

[@itsmrsbossyyupimback4011]

That's exactly my point. Why not just rent a hotel? For the prices Air bnb is charging you can get a nice 4-5 star hotel. You're paying the same price.

[@chickwithaguitar6876]

Yes. Originally it was supposed to be cheap accommodations in peoples homes when they were away now is just as expensive as a hotel room

[@thepanel2935]

@@chickwithaguitar6876 I predict that AirBnB will fail. Not only is it as expensive as a proper hotel room in a professionally run establishment, but you can encounter lots of problems in someone's private house that will not happen in a professional hotel establishment.

[@rygarisfun8164]

Totally! Airbnb prices are more than hotels

[@sandyxloredo]

I love this show thank god they upload clips on KZbin!

[@jbdragon3295]

So as typical, a few people screw things up for the majority.

[@jon18m]

That's why you book a hotel with free cancellation just in case this happens!

[@ocky88]

Great idea

[@elsanabilar]

I’m a host in jakarta. There are already around 4 books and most are from america but i was confuse the people who came were indonesian. These 4 different books they say the same thing that they booked using their friend’s account. Then on the 4th book I realised that it’s actually a scam. they hacked other people credit card. I realised when this person stayed in my place for 3 nights for $300. Then on the 3rd night suddenly the money just gone I did not receive any money and suddenly the room was cancelled by airbnb. However they already stayed for 2 nights. From there my new driver who know so much about IT told me that it was a scam. They use other people account to pay for the stay. Then from there i called security from downstairs to kick the person out from my unit.

[@-Ashie...]

OMG how scary!!!! 😯😫😮

[@dreonthetube]

I recently experienced a cancellation from airbnb. Booked 2 months in advanced for a specific weekend as I was attending a concert. Owner unexpectedly cancelled the week before and it was really difficult to find a place last minute. Ended up having to shell out much more money and all I got from airbnb was a 10% bonus off of the original cost of my stay towards another booking for my inconvenience.

[@Pyxelles]

I'm quite surprised millions of people love this, not sure I'll be comfortable having complete strangers in my home or me going to a stranger's home either. I'll stick to hotels or friends and family!

[@gruffencip]

I wouldn't be confortable either. If I rent a place, I rent the whole place, not just a room!!

[@ashe4158]

@@gruffencip which is typically what most people that I know do. I've stayed at AirBnB several times in several different cities and have had absolutely no problems. I booked with friends. We had the entire place to ourselves, it was clean and had nice accommodations. The issue arises when people want to find "deals" and they end up in a rinky dink or dealing with a scammer. I approach it as alternative travel accommodations which are oftentimes nicer than hotels around the same rate. On the flip, I probably would not let strangers stay in my house though.

[@dustigenes]

I work for a company that rents out short term places. A lot of the homes are purchased by people who never live in them, just rent them out from the beginning. Some of the places are basement suites, with the owners upstairs. Others are vacation homes, where the owners are there a month or two out of the year. It varies, some of them have personal owners touches, like family pics on the walls, others we have completely outfitted. Most it is a combination.

[@sugarplum2467]

A lot of people these days buy or rent apts for the purpose of airB&B so it's not their home. I wouldn't want to stay there, though.

[@rnegoro1]

I agree. Deals don't male sense.

[@issmansour]

There’s also Racism... A host might list their place as available on the calendar. But when you try booking..they say sorry, I forgot the unit is not avail for that period.

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Exactly! And that's against federal law.

[@celestes.7187]

That happens in renting too

[@_Forever555]

I had the same experience as this last year in Japan. I had to call Airbnb while I was there to sort out the situation. I recommend a traditional hotel, I don’t feel comfortable going to an Airbnb anymore. This documentary is very eye opening to some of the things I saw and experienced. It’s all true..

[@scottwebb7552]

I dont even live in Canada and I'm addicted to these videos

[@asmrpleasures4885]

Hotel. Solves the problem and headaches.

[@soniag4516]

Lots of headaches in m experience and ver ylittle with Airbnb since 2009

[@lds_drive]

@@soniag4516 If you've had lots of headaches with hotels, you must be doing something wrong.

[@potterbond007]

Hosts that cancel within 48 hours of your trip have an automatic review on their page saying that they cancelled.

[@ninkindy1072]

He was notified of the cancellation Friday and was to start his stay on Monday. Over 48 hours notice, probably on purpose.

[@greeleyestateslove]

The person bought their flight weeks ago!

[@celestialroses9674]

I was shocked to see this video because the same thing happened to my family, 22 hours notice we were not even in the country that the air BNB cancelled in. We have limited money and we decide to spend it on vacations instead of stuff, we also budget our vacations in advanced, we went out a couple thousand dollars which we did not have, money became tight a couple months after. We have not been refunded by air BNB.

[@MOBU76]

REMEMBER....ALWAYS GO WITH SUPERHOST LISTING !!! THEY WILL NEVER CANCEL ON THEIR GUEST CAUSE THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SUPERHOST STATUS!!

[@melodite6381]

Thanks for the advice! Definitely been hesitant on using air bnb

[@jaggae9]

Yeah we did that but we still got burned. The place was filthy. Towels had pubic hair and were damp. The "sofa-bed" was a love-seat. We managed to get a full refund, but we also spent 3 hours looking for a nearby hotel, and paid 3x the airbnb price, and only slept 4 hours to get to the hotel in time so we can proceed to an attraction we had already bought tickets a month ago.

[@james-p]

If it walks like a hotel and talks like a hotel, it's a hotel. They should be subject to the same rules.

[@shazam6926]

What about Uber then? Shouldnt they be subject to the same rules as cabs?

[@james-p]

@@shazam6926 If it walks like a taxi and talks like a taxi, it's a taxi. Yes, "ride shares" are taxis and should be subject to the same laws IMHO.

[@JosiahRichards]

Not all short-term rentals are equal. A hotel is a hotel. A home is a home. They are not the same thing. Short-term accommodations are categorized based on the number of rooms and occupancy. It may vary from state to state, but basically, accommodations with 3 or fewer rooms may be considered a B&B home or establishment. Four or more rooms range from a quaint inn to a mega resort hotel. Four or more rooms also triggers fire code safety standards that 3 rooms or fewer may not be required to meet. There's also a caveat for owner-occupied dwellings used for STRs, but the room and occupancy thresholds are still basically the same. The question of food is also important. If food is provided as part of your stay - everything from prepackaged on-the-go snacks to full-on sit-down plated meals, virtually all locales require food safety certification and inspections, and fire codes require fire suppression systems. I suspect most hosts who exclusively use Airbnb, HomeAwaye, VBRO, etc. may not be providing food, as many have kitchens in which guests can prepare their own meals. Other hosts who use STR platforms such as these, may still need to conform to local and regional laws around food and occupancy limits.

[@OurFreeSociety]

@@shazam6926 - actually many places ARE trying to make Uber have to get licenses or at the very least pay the drivers more. I can't afford taxis & when I was living in Vegas the taxi mafia wouldn't allow Uber in there, so this was a huge stressor for me, but I've heard how Uber rips off customers too.

[@CutHardstylez]

So basically just rent listings with good reviews, got it.

[@PineppleSnapback]

Common sense isn't so common.

[@vajayna_eklhabouh]

Right? Thats the point of the reviews and the star rating....

[@drfusioncraft]

@@vajayna_eklhabouh till you learn that good reviews can be purchased for..

[@faithnewman9081]

And you can see when the host is a serial canceller, just dont book with them...

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Many fake reviews though.

[@benjaminsanders3073]

Lesson Learned: DON'T stay at Airbnb, just stay at a decent hotel or resort, simple.

[@Jackylification]

Matthew Sanders I wouldn’t mind AirBnb but I keep finding that hotels are cheaper with more amenities, so why wouldn’t you use a nice hotel?

[@raulfuerte5512]

Pokemon Maniac Jak they’ve had to become this way in order to stay afloat. In the pre home sharing age, the hotel industry was just as overpriced and savage as the funeral industry

[@blacklyfe5543]

You're paying more money no thanks

[@PointsofData]

Most are more expensive and less convient...and not pet friendly.

[@SunnyGirlFlorida]

Often, the hotels in area are much more expensive or are located farther away from where you want to stay. I stayed in a lovely airBnb log cabin on top of a mountain and also one in the forest.

[@donnaallgaier-lamberti3933]

I live in a small condo community in a small Midwest town (of 18,000 people.) Our condo does not allow ANY B&B rentals in our community. I would NOT have purchased my full time condo home here if they did. Who wants people coming in at all hours of the day and night, stomping down the engineered wood walkway, noises in the hallway, doors slamming, people talking and laughing? Not me!

[@eit225]

We had luxurious AirBnB apartment unit (1 bedroom, living room, dining room,kitchen, balcony) in Phuket, Thailand with all the amenities like big infinity swimming pool, gym, sauna, top notch security system, etc for only 70 USD for 1 week. Amazing!

[@aeromedical6750]

Wow. What a great deal!

[@MsMorningjamie]

Can't be true

[@Bluetangg]

We’ve had many really good Airbnb, Homeaway and VRBO experiences. In Hawaii, Europe, Mexico, Grand Cayman and within the US and Canada. Now that I’m listing, I realize there have been a lot.

[@vajayna_eklhabouh]

@@MsMorningjamie Honestly, you're missing out. My favourite AirBNB experience was in Bali... I stayed in a villa facing the rice paddies, with a pool... like as if I was in the movie/book... Eat, Pray, Love... costed me CAD55/night. It's not a bad platform. You just need to know how to use it properly. Pick ones with 4.5 star reviews, and ones people have stayed in before..

[@talknight2]

I think you mean 70 per day for a week, with all those amenities. I've looked at listings in Thailand and 70 a week is more like a small house in a village.

[@imMsPear]

As a real estate agent in Vancouver, all condos/apartments have their bylaws amended several years ago to ban airbnb & short term rentals. So....if you see a condo listing, it is against the rules.

[@aluminumdragonfly]

MissPear Some condos in Vancouver have changed their bylaws to prohibit short-term rentals so City of Vancouver bylaws don't allow short-term rentals in those buildings. Condos that don't have bylaws that prohibit short-term rentals can be rented out on a short-term basis if the hosts meet the strict requirements of City of Vancouver bylaws. City authorities have been taking aggressive enforcement action against hosts that are breaking short-term rental bylaws. Before making a short-term booking in an apartment block, visitors would be wise to ask the host to confirm that the rental is legal.

[@freezerlunik]

There are stratas in Vancouver that do allow short term rentals. I know of several. You may have a limited experience with such buildings; i'm a layperson and know of at least two such stratas in Vancouver.

[@imMsPear]

@@freezerlunik would you be kind to provide those building addresses? There are clients looking for these airbnb allowed buildings for investments!

[@roseoverdose6451]

oh that's a cool idea. i am launching an airbnb and will look into doing that higher price booking trick. Thanks CBC!

[@arlethdelaf]

It happened to me twice. I believe hosts are allowed to advertise on different venues with different prices so they end up going with highest price

[@arlethdelaf]

This happened to me in Mexico as well

[@estellepatella2520]

I never use those so called home sharing scams. I always book a legit hotel.

[@TheMonkiAss]

AirBnB creates many more problems. I used to get so excited to book with them before, but not anymore after some bad experiences. I haven't booked with AirBnB in the last years and it has been much better. The worst problem about AirBnB is what it does to the local economy and rental prices for the locals in that area.

[@themetadaemon]

Brokers like AirBNB need to have some legal accountability. Hiding behind their existence as a "platform to connect people" is not sufficient protection. This is a prime area for legislative intervention.

[@happyhandylife4101]

We stayed in a vacation rental for a week-long camp that my kids were doing. The location was perfect for what we needed and the price was great. When we got there, it was extremely clear that this place was a residental condo complex and that vacation rentals weren't allowed. We were freaked that we would be kicked out the entire week we were there. We have never rented a vacation rental since. I'd rather pay more and stay in a Marriott where I know they won't randomly cancel or kick us out for being in an illegal rental.

[@chickeabiddy]

I'd prefer proper hotels as they have 24-hr service concierge and proper cleaning services.. airbnb is nice if u wanna stay in some quaint neighbourhood

[@veganpiranha3302]

Yue Y You are not wrong

[@Y_Canada]

The gentleman who had to pay extra $6,000 should have stoedp wasting his time talking to customer service and gone straight to the Small Court. He should also include his time WASTED by AirBnb, pro-rate it at a reasonable pay, and add it to the claim. And claim damages and emotional distress, because JESUS, he had a lot of distress when his 5-week accommodation was canceled. AirBnb won't bother doing the right thing until they get a lawsuit served to them.

[@dafirnz]

Suing someone in what would amount to small claims court and internationally, would be a waste of time and effort. So suing the "host" would be a waste and AirBnB would just point to their terms of use.

[@sugarplum2467]

You have to be able to show damages (loss of work) and emotional distress (certifiable by a psychiatrist) before you can claim that stuff.

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

@@dafirnz A demand letter works wonders.

[@salhj112]

I love CBC's investigate reports. In this case, my personal experience is different. Airbnb gave me money for a cancellation.

[@mamakitty6549]

"Where did this go wrong?"... You went with air bnb lol

[@isaachii]

Please book with a superhost next time. As superhost you can't cancel or the status will be revoke.

[@MrDemon3434]

I was cancelled on by super host in Las Vegas. I lost thousands because it was mansion for my wedding

[@isaachii]

MrDemon3434 then either your that lucky or unlucky. The SuperHost is willing to give up his status because of you. As a SuperHost myself Airbnb criteria is 0/year. Which the host is willingly giving up for you. Your that special my friend

[@sugarplum2467]

So? The person loses the status, maybe they don't care.

[@AMYV3]

5 weeks for just over $1000 for a condo in Mexico. What did u expect. Sorry. But that’s a scam to begin with

[@stevenlee5146]

lmfao i know right... why bother renting or purchasing a property

[@danhidde3841]

That price you can rent the top condos in China.

[@AMYV3]

Dan Hidde I don’t know anything about renting in China. But certainly not in Mexico lol.

[@AMYV3]

Dan Hidde I just looked and it seems they aren’t far off of any other city. $70-$200 per night ?

[@narutoxinwen2005]

@@danhidde3841 uhhh depends on the location in china

[@gayboadvanced2397]

I remember I was going to sign up for a remote position for AirBnB. One look at their FAQs page and how hosts were scrambling to help each other--I noped the frick out!

[@spacheco72]

We got to ours. It was dirty, no sheets, doors didn't lock. The host was listed as a super host. They did nothing to help and we never got a full refund! Had no place to stay though, every hotel was booked because of graduations and baseball tournaments. Finally found a sketchy motel 6 at almost 1 in the morning. We were 9 hours from home!

[@blimpcommander1337]

The first part of the segment looked a lot like bait and switch. Sell something great at a low price and then switch to something with a higher cost. As a seasoned traveler that for 9 years, I was on the road 330 nights a year. I will share something with the rest of the world. Stay in a hotel. I only had one circumstance that a hotel sold out from under me. Also I was not traveling alone. My normal reservation was with 8 rooms minimum up to 14 rooms per night. I will say that my preferred method of booking is front desk direct. I ask about rate and availability, and don't be shy about asking if they have a better rate or deal. I apply the same method for high end and medium priced hotels.

[@pxxnxh]

You're saying you get at least 8 Hotel rooms PER night for ~330 nights in a year?...

[@mrdkaz]

After staying at an Airbnb with roaches, its never again for me. The stress and hassle it took to get my money back was not worth the money I saved.

[@MsJustaskme]

A condo building in Ottawa has a spot for real estate agents to leave a lock box for prospective buyers agents, but the problem is it is also full of lock boxes for apparent Airbnb unit rentals. I am guessing the next time I visit my family there the boxes will be gone hopefully due to complaints to property management.

[@jessperspective1306]

Hosts shouldn’t be allowed to cancel within 72 hours or have to pay a fee to the customer

[@flightographist]

Quality hosts never cancel, there are indeed penalties on our end. Your first solid clue you booked a dud is a host cancellation, unless they googled you and discovered something unsavory- we do that too.

[@kart112]

I have used AirBnb in Europe, UK, Asia and Canada for a few years now. I've not had anyone cancel last minute yet but I'm always so worried this would happen. I try to only book superhosts or ones with lots of reviews and no cancellations as it does state when the host cancels on someone. I try to travel on a budget and honestly Airbnb can be cheaper then hostels.

[@soniag4516]

Much better accomodations and hotels have done us wrong in the past when we used 4/5 star hotels so no guarantees in life like other things--shit happens.

[@macadarco]

Airbnb should fine x5 of the last minute cancellation host except for medical problem or natural hazards. And def Airbnb should have some it’s own insurance or such to cover these problems.

[@soniat8493]

Well here are the weaknesses that the competitors of Airbnb can use to make the difference... it's a pretty good SWOT analysis... Thanks CBC

[@charlesz8531]

Thanks for posting the video.

[@Steven-xf8mz]

if someone is hosting from a HOA unit, call them out when leaving the building with the management, that'll resolve all issues. LOL.

[@freezerlunik]

That's a good point. AirBnB isn't motivated to police condo/hoa violations, but the strata/condo councils and management certainly are. And the penalties for this are quite extreme. Like, with most stratas that prohibit short term rentals, it's a huge risk for the host to get busted, to the tune of potentially thousands of dollars in fines if the no-rental bylaw violation continues for multiple days.

[@Cityoftrees1911]

Im doing just that and the association is throwing a tantrum but thats their problem I'm stacking up the profits.

[@Cityoftrees1911]

@@davet1081AA its also my property, all their fines and fees are already built into the budget. Got something against capitalism?

[@Cityoftrees1911]

@@davet1081AA you seem just like those tyrants trying to tell me what I can do with my own property. Keep up the stink eye and hollow threatening letters lmao. $$$

[@Cityoftrees1911]

Yes I'm violating the F out of it. I dont advertise online I use a 3rd party so theres no paper trail. Why are people so angry about this type of situation anyway? Like I mentioned it's only capitalism in its truest form.

[@automotivetv9861]

Very interesting story, great point of view from all angles.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

"Did you make it to the gym or the pool"? "Er , what do you think"?

[@aarayacr]

David wanted a FREE lunch.. thus, he got screwed...

[@thamjunyan6992]

Airbnb itself is a scam if they allow this, having no protection to the customers and no heavy penalty for the host, l've had such experience myself, getting dropped in the last minute after arriving at the city.

[@tT-hw8yu]

If airbnb makes it legal for hosts to scam people, many hosts will take a advantage if that. Ive never used or plan to use airbnb.

[@telcobilly]

It just happened to me in Spring Texas. I was coming back from California to the Houston area to be with family. Sure enough, when I called to check in after a 3 day drive from California, the host never heard of me. To Airbnb's credit, I got my $940 refunded by the next morning. Had to get a hotel for one night and my son got me a place through his contacts. While I was told the room wasn't, it was still listed on airbnb at a higher price than what I paid. NEVER AGAIN.

[@gm7285]

I'm so happy I came across this video. It's shameful that Airbnb doesn't take responsibility for taking care of their customers or some sort of punishment for the flaky hosts. This is theft. I was excited to look into Airbnb for an upcoming trip to Greece. Not taking the risk after watching this.

[@jenvilekar3479]

I always stay in hotel if im going for a holiday. Its hassle free.

[@thetruth4865]

wise

[@LordArioh]

yepp, same here)

[@cybertrk]

Dude books an airbnb expecting a hotel experience...... yeahhhhh... dude, just book hotels. Airbnb's are for people who are flexible not for someone who's planning a 50th birthday

[@SWLinPHX]

Once you find a vacation rental you like and can trust (most are decent and some exceptional) then you are paying about 1/3 the cost of a decent hotel with triple the space (not to mention a full living room and a kitchen to save on eating out every meal every day).

[@vgrepairs]

@@SWLinPHX yes, but if you are shooting for a bargain you better be prepared for a possible obstacle. or be willing to opt out of the fuckin private pool and 5 star flat and just rent something cheaper.

[@SWLinPHX]

@ZionHillCalling Huh? wtf you talking about? Who do you think paid for it all? smh

[@SWLinPHX]

@@vgrepairs Huh? Finding a good bargain or paying less for more is being cheap? Hmmm, I call it smart. But I guess a fool and his money are soon separated.

[@StarDustCrusaders12]

Philip Emanuele my sister did it for her Birthday and they were great host js

[@andrewstones2921]

12.08 Question: "Did you make it to the Gym?", Answer "I don't even know where it is". I nearly fell off my chair laughing at that.

[@heatherfeather9951]

Haha, she found Tim Hortons instead.

[@Plasmaticification]

The biggest issue with this story is the guy saying "It looked too good to be true" and thats the issue as a whole. If it looks too good to be true, it is! You are not some amazingly special person to find something for a really good price that everyone else just missed. if a listing or product costs $100, and it seems really good for the price, and all the other listings for similar products/places is well above this pricetag, and products/listings at a similar pricepoint are no where near the one you found? yea it's too good to be true.. Yes, Airbnb should do more to ensure this stuff doesn't happened, but this is also an issue with users...

[@giuseppenero110]

Spot on!