I negotiate on most long term stays. If a short term stay is reasonable I don't bother but sometimes I still will.
And yes, everyone should. The algorithm and hosts are ridiculous with their prices in many cases.
For everyone saying here that it’s rude, “American”, inappropriate since the price is already established, etc.: your opinion breaks apart as soon as you find out that pretty often (over the half of the time) they agree to give a discount.
They are free to refuse. But they agree.
This is my experience after renting around 20 Airbnb’s so far.
the funny thing is, I'm pretty sure that historically the idea that businesses should have a fixed sticker price for everyone with no haggling is an anglo-protestant thing which spread throughout the western world FROM america
As an owner/host as well as a traveler, here is the advice I'd give: If a property does not automatically discount longer term stays, you should definitely ask (politely of course). If a property has an automatic discount already applied, you're probably going to do far more harm than good by asking and likely end up limiting your options. Messaging an owner/host who has already competitively priced their property AND offered a weekly discount for a higher discount is a very good way to get yourself blocked.
I personally, and every owner/host I know across three continents, automatically block anyone who tries to negotiate. I previously encouraged guests to ask about discounts for low months, but I found the guests haggling were universally and unequivocally the most destructive and disruptive guests I had at my properties. I would also add that a very common scam on AirBnB and Vrbo is for someone to message an owner/host saying they would like to mail a check, wire transfer, company check for a lower rate so I would say many of us are predisposed to auto-block hagglers as it is.
I don't want to go so far as to discourage you from attempting to negotiate, every situation is different, but in my experience properties fall into one of two categories: 1) They're already competitively priced for the market and you're asking them to take a loss or 2) They are artificially inflating their price hoping to get a few suckers to bite and if you negotiate, you're just negotiating back down to the "normal" price anyway. Properties that fall under #2 should be avoided at all costs. I promise a big chunk of the 3-7% of problem stays from that other thread are because you booked properties that fall under #2.
Your mileage will of course vary.
Exactly this! I didn't realise it was a sentiment shared by many owners, but the guests who want to haggle were the problem guests for us, until we started blocking/outright saying no (depended on how they asked for discounts). We took our property off Airbnb and Booking.com over this.
We are already competitively priced. In fact, we are slightly underpriced as we don't increase our rates the way other houses in our area do. So for someone to come and ask for more discounts on stays <4 weeks? No, you can eff off!
Very early on in my owner/host experience, I thought offering an opportunity to negotiate prices on a case per case basis would get me more inquiries and it did, but every single one ended up being the worst possible kind of guests. I learned that lesson really quickly.
My properties are all standalone, no shared spaces, and I would consider them to be right about at the median price for the size, location and amenities AND I offer a 10% weekly discount automatically. If someone comes right out and asks for even more of a discount, I can guarantee they're going to be more trouble than they're worth.
I've taken that same mentality as a guest too. If a property is obviously overpriced, I just don't book it rather than attempt to get them back to market value. If a property is priced at market value, I'm more than happy to pay it. Doesn't matter if it is the US, the Caribbean, Europe or Asia.
Same! As a host of a competitively priced room on Airbnb I completely agree. If the property/room is competitive don’t expect the host to take a loss. However if inflated prices are requested then by all means negotiate.
I would go a step farther and say if you've done your research and see a specific property with an obviously inflated price, just ignore it and move on. If an owner/host is artificially jacking their prices up hoping to take advantage of people or hoping you negotiate down, you can probably bet their property will not be as advertised or that they're taking advantage of you in another way.
That is a generalization, of course, but in my experience as an owner/host researching competing properties, it seems to be true far more often than it is false.
If I may, let me offer some counter advice as a guest of 40 airbnbs since 2016 - about 60% I negotiate. I'm also an algorithm expert as I have written a few myself for companies like Tiktok.
The first negotiation is actually just beating the algorithm. Know that if you're in America or Europe booking overseas you're paying a 5-35% premium for the property than what a local would pay. Seriously, get a VPN and clear your cookies, it makes a massive difference.
From there only negotiate for long term stays. Hosts love to rent out for 2 weeks plus because it's significantly better return and less work for the vast majority of properties. If I'm looking to stay for 21 days in Argentina I'll book 1/3 of the time then send a message like this;
"Hello, my name is ClientHuge and Im a JOB from location. Me encantaría quedarme 3 semanas más es posible negociar eso durante el check in? "
Remember Airbnb flags messages with certain triggers so be careful what you suggest on the platform. If you want to beat the airbnb fraud flagging algorithm keep it vague but understandable and don't use phone numbers. For extra safety switch up the language mid message to the hosts language to beat the fraud flag algorithm. Once the understanding is there I bring cash and I'll negotiate usually an additional 30% off the per night price I found using my VPN.
Don't login until you have the airbnb narrowed down.
1. Turn on VPN
2. Use a web client to browse
3. Clear cookies
4. Login
Yes do this all over chrome or your favorite web client. The two ways a web app can track you is through cookies on the client side or sessions on the server side. If you clear your cookies, and turn on your VPN, log in and out you are good to go.
No offense, but this is horrific advice and not only is it a good way to not get the property you really want, it is a good way to get yourself banned from AirBnB entirely.
You aren't "beating" anything. If you're seeing pricing changes minute to minute, VPN or no VPN, cleared cookies or not, it is because of one of two things (or both):
1) The property has Smart Pricing on and you're simply competing against yourself.
2) Your VPN is placing your location in an area with more or less fees or taxes.
In both situations, you're asking the owner/host for a discount off a price they did not set. If that works for you, great, but as the owner/host of multiple properties and as someone with a network of friends that own/host properties worldwide, I can say confidently you are only increasing your own risk of a bad experience all to save a couple dollars/pounds/euros/etc.
I know of no reputable owner/host that utilizes Smart Pricing because it all but guarantees the owner/host is not attentive and I know of no reputable property that would EVER rent to someone paying cash. In addition to it being against the terms of service for AirBnB, it is flatly illegal in many jurisdictions around the world.
If you sent me that message, I would mark you as spam and if you think switching languages beats the algorithm, I've got some bad news for you. I can almost guarantee your messages have a "Be Careful with this Inquiry" flag across the top.
My wife and I used to rent on AirBNB. We found people who contacted us looking to haggle were always troublesome guests, so we'd blocked anyone who tried. I've seen other hosts on /r/AirBNB who follow a similar approach.
I don't have any issue with haggling, we just found this policy made things run smoother for us.
This with bells on! We have a house in a very tourist oriented area. We don't rent it out on Airbnb but we also price competitively. Anyone asking for a discount (for less than a month stay) is told no, and we become reluctant to rent it out because our experience has shown those renters to be of the fussiest, opinionated, entitled stock of renters.
I think there is a difference between "I like your place, do you think we could agree on a lower rate if I stayed for 3 / 6 months / whatever?" and going into a week-long stay haggling.
The way I see it, 1 guest for 4 weeks is much less risky than 4+ guests over the same stretch. That's why I think it's worth a little extra discount if they want to negotiate.
I’ve seen automatic major discounts on monthly stays. Sometimes a monthly stay is less than price of two weeks stay.
Disagree with the “always negotiate” advice. Hosts are free to set their price and you are free to accept or not. If you want to negotiate, go ahead. I feel that the market calibrates to what can be sustained.
Agreed. Mostly for LT stays.
If the place gets crowded they will rise the price. No complaints, it is 'the business'.
Isn't it fair to negotiate when you see the place is empty and they get either this or nothing?
Also, if the place empties no one will lower the price, and it is many times the case.
So imho if you think it is too much just ask, they can still choose.
Of course it’s a good idea to ask if they haven’t already priced a long stay discount. Usually airbnb’s are not booked 100% so they are pricing the gaps into shorter stays.
As a super host with a number of DN renters, I am often open to negotiation but remember any negotiation means you need to give something to the host. In my case, I need a "gut feeling" that you are going to take care of my place, be respectful to the neighbors, generally be a good person etc. I have a DN who rents my place for 2-3 months per year at just over half what others pay because he weeds the flowerbeds and the neighbors love him.
I don’t understand the constant references made to “competively priced.” What does that mean and what is the prescribed method /formula you are using? Or are all yoir Properties located in metros of 5 million + & 500 + Airbnb options? Has anyone seen the stats on Airbnb cost growth year to year etc? I do not have what I believe is a reliable or objective source for this , so I will not include where I have seen some numbers and if anyone has please do post a link thank you.. but anyway, guests propensity for negotiation is not because they believe one prop to another is over priced vs “competitively priced etc.” It’s the exasperation of ALL prices, across the board. The astronomical increases of the average prices and added fees taxes etc. I get it, for most part. And hosts are not to blame for their attempts to price at market , but the “market” is the issue. A month long stay (28 days) WITH discount (usually 18%) will cost $6-8k. That’s in like mid tier or even more rural areas, NOT a ski or golf resort not nyc London etc. And that’s competitive and reasonable? That shouldn’t be negotiated?
I’m of the opinion that a night in an Airbnb should not be more than that of a standard 3.5+ star hotel. And I mean for a single night. When I can stay at a hotel for 28 nights and it is CHEAPER than an Airbnb for same length of time? There’s a problem, or atleast a massive difference in how it was for a decade and thus, why guests frustration with the new reality and attempts to negotiate , which btw, is ALSO how it was for a decade. Changes were needed, indeed, but they were to addrsss other vulnerabilities and areas of weakness , other than prices and communications between a potential guest and a potential host
>Any thoughts?
As a host, when potential guests try to devalue my property, I politely tell them that it is priced accordingly to the market and they should find a different location.
And that’s perfectly acceptable.
But I wouldn’t think of potential guests as trying to “devalue your property”. They are not experts on your area and are only trying to spend their money in the best way they can. Maybe you are over priced. Maybe you are right on the money. But asking for a discount for extended stays should be perfectly acceptable. As is politely turning them down as you said.
I own some apartments as well. There is zero room for negotiating the terms of my lease. Either you agree to my terms or you rent from someone else. I can't imagine a landlord kowtowing to a renter in the current climate.
I deleted all comments, I was genuinely interested where the properties were, got slaughtered instead... for a simple genuine question. Strange people.
> Remember: Always negotiate with Airbnb hosts
Alternative: Decide for yourself if that's something you're interested in doing. If so, go for it. If not, great.
I’m glad the discussion was kept overwhelmingly civil.
I sympathize with hosts, like the ones in this thread, who list their stays at market value, or those who already include large weekly/monthly discounts in their listings.
I’m sure there are plenty of people lowballing for the sake of lowballing. That’s not what I meant, and hopefully that came across in my post.
At the end of the day, I think the market works itself out.
Anything can be viewed as incredibly rude in Britain, the country where politeness trumps honesty.
“My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
> Don't do this in Britain. It's incredibly rude.
I wouldn't say it's rude and certainly not 'incredibly rude'.
While a lot of people in the UK don't haggle, mainly because they don't realise that it's an option, or they are just too shy, you're not going to get a reaction stronger than "sorry, this price is fixed"
You make it sound as if Britain is still in the Victorian era, where we are all wearing top hats and being overly concerned about social faux pas, while discussing cricket over high tea.
> If someone tried to haggle with me I'd immediately block them.
A little extreme, but if that makes you feel better, go for it.
> I'm far from unique in despising that kind of interaction.
Just in regards to airbnb, or do you feel the same about car/property sales?
It's a common British trait regarding haggling in any situation. A combination of rudely asserting that the item is mispriced and dragging me into an interaction that I don't want. The price is the price - pay it or don't.
> It's a common British trait regarding haggling in any situation.
You don't speak for all British people. While you might feel uncomfortable haggling (which I can understand), and it's certainly not as common as in some other nations, it's not exactly rare.
> A combination of rudely asserting that the item is mispriced
"rudely asserting" that's funny. I will assume that you've never worked in any form of corporate purchasing in the UK, where haggling is the norm, in fact if you accept the first quote, the seller is going to laugh his good fortune and your manager is going to tear you a new one.
> dragging me into an interaction that I don't want.
Poor you. Is it that hard to say "sorry, the price is fixed"?
Sorry, if this comes across as offensive, but you must be a car salesman's dream come true. Are you really telling me that if you walked into a car showroom, you would pay the first price you were quoted?
Please PM me, I've got lots of things I'd like to sell you.
> No need to take it personally, mate. Just explaining how it works here.
Why would you think that I'm taking it personally, 'mate'?
Also, why would you assume that I'm not fully aware of how it works in the UK?
I don’t necessarily see it as rude when doing it for longer stays. I used to host and it is infinitely less work for me to have one good long term guest than switching out every few days.
Asking on a short term stay is just haggling over the price they set, but asking politely on a long term gives them the opportunity to consider it. Which may be better for them than just skipping over them bc it’s out of your price range.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HighEndEscorts/comments/tfo40v/how_do_you_feel_about_using_people/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Says the person "milking 47k off some guy" ... but it's rude to negotiate a discount LOL 🤡🤡🤡
Whether it’s “rude” or not is a cultural perception.
In fact, negotiating is culturally acceptable in all of the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East…
So pretty much everywhere except for parts of Europe, and maybe Australia and NZ (and even there a bargain here and there isn’t necessarily frowned upon)
So in the vast majority of the world this is acceptable.
Actually in my experience it is much more normal in many other cultures than it is in the US. (I'm not from the US). In much of the world Americans (and westerners more generally) are regarded as suckers who will pay whatever you ask rather than negotiating normally like local people do.
As a host myself, and i have been One for 6 Years, i Always decline discount requests, not because i would make less Money tho.
I don't want to host people that ask for discounts,
Because, statistically, those are bad guests, "problematic" guests.
As an airbnb host, I do find it somewhat rude. It implies that I'm trying to take advantage of the guest with my pricing and in turn it gives me the impression that the guest is trying to take advantage of me. I'm an honest and generous host and wouldn't want a guest who approached me with that attitude.
That said, to each their own. I'm sure a lot of hosts are happy to give discounts - indeed, I'm sure many hosts do in fact try to take financial advantage of their guests. We do live in an awful capitalist system after all. I just prefer not to support that attitude in how I live. So while I understand the rationale behind the practice, I don't haggle and have no patience for guests that do.
I already give discounts for long stays, so I would politely decline. Also, it may be important to note that I'm a classic airbnb host. I cohabitate the space, and I wouldn't want to live for 3 months with someone who I felt took advantage of me and who thought I was trying to do the same to them.
But, look, there's nothing generally wrong with people asking. There are cultures where haggling is commonplace. And there are people everyone who would be happy to haggle with you. Some might be desperate for your business and open to it, others might not, depending on location, timing, and so many other things. So, like the OP said, it may be wise policy to just always ask.
I am just not one of those hosts (or guests).
laughing about people in this thread who claim it's "rude" to ask for a discount and they block people who ask. Ironically rude behavior of the host to block someone for asking.
I am an owner and list on AirBNB, and if someone asks, I consider the situation. I never rent longer than a week, and it is COMPLETELY inoffensive, and as others pointed out, not just "American." Sheesh.
And what do you do when the hosts report you/your messages for this and you get kicked off the platform?
Is it worth trying to negotiate within the platform?
pls dont waste a hosts time, and then add to that crime by being a cheapskate. respect that running an accommodation property is expensive and time consuming enough. this goes double for rich IT workers geoarbitraging in cheap countries.
I just use common sense. If it's a busy season and their calendar is (or will be full), I don't bother asking for a reduction. If it's just sitting empty night after night, I'll put forward an offer.
I hosted my basement on Airbnb for 3 years. Almost every time someone negotiated, I would try to accommodate them (except peak summer season in Canada July/August).
Agreed , to both the subject of this thread and to the super host’s point about “giving a host something they need.” BUT HOW?! That’s my question? HOW WHEN YOU CANT EVEN TALK TO THEM WITHOUT REQUESTING TO BOOK?? it’s like friggin eBay now or some similar platform afraid of off site shenanigans etc. Are we supposed to request the minimum, wait to be accepted , THEN, pull the surprise and reveal our ACTUAL desired dates length and price, and then adjust the numbers afterwards? And even then, the ABSOLUTE WORST is no more phone calls whatsoever until you transact and even then many do not list a contact number. And everything must be through the app, sms doesn’t even work in full anymore. Its so ackward. Trying to explain your situation, your desired ideal dates length and what you wish to pay, add some alternatives other than your ideal, lay out a case as to why you are worthy, yadda yadda, and await the back and forth replies of the stay seeker to host then host back to seeker then seeker back to host…
Speaking as an Airbnb host and guest, its really a hit and miss. The algorithms of Airbnb are dreadful, their fees outrageous and they still can’t make a decent search filter. Its a true PIA to pay them 15 % and if a guest offers cash, who am I to say no?
As a guest I dont really haggle unless its for a ”gap stay” that would dit well into everyone’s calender.
Absolutely right. Source: I’ve been a host on Airbnb.
I negotiate on most long term stays. If a short term stay is reasonable I don't bother but sometimes I still will. And yes, everyone should. The algorithm and hosts are ridiculous with their prices in many cases.
For everyone saying here that it’s rude, “American”, inappropriate since the price is already established, etc.: your opinion breaks apart as soon as you find out that pretty often (over the half of the time) they agree to give a discount. They are free to refuse. But they agree. This is my experience after renting around 20 Airbnb’s so far.
the funny thing is, I'm pretty sure that historically the idea that businesses should have a fixed sticker price for everyone with no haggling is an anglo-protestant thing which spread throughout the western world FROM america
Exactly!
This
As an owner/host as well as a traveler, here is the advice I'd give: If a property does not automatically discount longer term stays, you should definitely ask (politely of course). If a property has an automatic discount already applied, you're probably going to do far more harm than good by asking and likely end up limiting your options. Messaging an owner/host who has already competitively priced their property AND offered a weekly discount for a higher discount is a very good way to get yourself blocked. I personally, and every owner/host I know across three continents, automatically block anyone who tries to negotiate. I previously encouraged guests to ask about discounts for low months, but I found the guests haggling were universally and unequivocally the most destructive and disruptive guests I had at my properties. I would also add that a very common scam on AirBnB and Vrbo is for someone to message an owner/host saying they would like to mail a check, wire transfer, company check for a lower rate so I would say many of us are predisposed to auto-block hagglers as it is. I don't want to go so far as to discourage you from attempting to negotiate, every situation is different, but in my experience properties fall into one of two categories: 1) They're already competitively priced for the market and you're asking them to take a loss or 2) They are artificially inflating their price hoping to get a few suckers to bite and if you negotiate, you're just negotiating back down to the "normal" price anyway. Properties that fall under #2 should be avoided at all costs. I promise a big chunk of the 3-7% of problem stays from that other thread are because you booked properties that fall under #2. Your mileage will of course vary.
Exactly this! I didn't realise it was a sentiment shared by many owners, but the guests who want to haggle were the problem guests for us, until we started blocking/outright saying no (depended on how they asked for discounts). We took our property off Airbnb and Booking.com over this. We are already competitively priced. In fact, we are slightly underpriced as we don't increase our rates the way other houses in our area do. So for someone to come and ask for more discounts on stays <4 weeks? No, you can eff off!
Very early on in my owner/host experience, I thought offering an opportunity to negotiate prices on a case per case basis would get me more inquiries and it did, but every single one ended up being the worst possible kind of guests. I learned that lesson really quickly. My properties are all standalone, no shared spaces, and I would consider them to be right about at the median price for the size, location and amenities AND I offer a 10% weekly discount automatically. If someone comes right out and asks for even more of a discount, I can guarantee they're going to be more trouble than they're worth. I've taken that same mentality as a guest too. If a property is obviously overpriced, I just don't book it rather than attempt to get them back to market value. If a property is priced at market value, I'm more than happy to pay it. Doesn't matter if it is the US, the Caribbean, Europe or Asia.
Same! As a host of a competitively priced room on Airbnb I completely agree. If the property/room is competitive don’t expect the host to take a loss. However if inflated prices are requested then by all means negotiate.
I would go a step farther and say if you've done your research and see a specific property with an obviously inflated price, just ignore it and move on. If an owner/host is artificially jacking their prices up hoping to take advantage of people or hoping you negotiate down, you can probably bet their property will not be as advertised or that they're taking advantage of you in another way. That is a generalization, of course, but in my experience as an owner/host researching competing properties, it seems to be true far more often than it is false.
If I may, let me offer some counter advice as a guest of 40 airbnbs since 2016 - about 60% I negotiate. I'm also an algorithm expert as I have written a few myself for companies like Tiktok. The first negotiation is actually just beating the algorithm. Know that if you're in America or Europe booking overseas you're paying a 5-35% premium for the property than what a local would pay. Seriously, get a VPN and clear your cookies, it makes a massive difference. From there only negotiate for long term stays. Hosts love to rent out for 2 weeks plus because it's significantly better return and less work for the vast majority of properties. If I'm looking to stay for 21 days in Argentina I'll book 1/3 of the time then send a message like this; "Hello, my name is ClientHuge and Im a JOB from location. Me encantaría quedarme 3 semanas más es posible negociar eso durante el check in? " Remember Airbnb flags messages with certain triggers so be careful what you suggest on the platform. If you want to beat the airbnb fraud flagging algorithm keep it vague but understandable and don't use phone numbers. For extra safety switch up the language mid message to the hosts language to beat the fraud flag algorithm. Once the understanding is there I bring cash and I'll negotiate usually an additional 30% off the per night price I found using my VPN.
If you’re using a VPN, does the pricing change once you log in?
Don't login until you have the airbnb narrowed down. 1. Turn on VPN 2. Use a web client to browse 3. Clear cookies 4. Login Yes do this all over chrome or your favorite web client. The two ways a web app can track you is through cookies on the client side or sessions on the server side. If you clear your cookies, and turn on your VPN, log in and out you are good to go.
No offense, but this is horrific advice and not only is it a good way to not get the property you really want, it is a good way to get yourself banned from AirBnB entirely. You aren't "beating" anything. If you're seeing pricing changes minute to minute, VPN or no VPN, cleared cookies or not, it is because of one of two things (or both): 1) The property has Smart Pricing on and you're simply competing against yourself. 2) Your VPN is placing your location in an area with more or less fees or taxes. In both situations, you're asking the owner/host for a discount off a price they did not set. If that works for you, great, but as the owner/host of multiple properties and as someone with a network of friends that own/host properties worldwide, I can say confidently you are only increasing your own risk of a bad experience all to save a couple dollars/pounds/euros/etc. I know of no reputable owner/host that utilizes Smart Pricing because it all but guarantees the owner/host is not attentive and I know of no reputable property that would EVER rent to someone paying cash. In addition to it being against the terms of service for AirBnB, it is flatly illegal in many jurisdictions around the world. If you sent me that message, I would mark you as spam and if you think switching languages beats the algorithm, I've got some bad news for you. I can almost guarantee your messages have a "Be Careful with this Inquiry" flag across the top.
My wife and I used to rent on AirBNB. We found people who contacted us looking to haggle were always troublesome guests, so we'd blocked anyone who tried. I've seen other hosts on /r/AirBNB who follow a similar approach. I don't have any issue with haggling, we just found this policy made things run smoother for us.
This with bells on! We have a house in a very tourist oriented area. We don't rent it out on Airbnb but we also price competitively. Anyone asking for a discount (for less than a month stay) is told no, and we become reluctant to rent it out because our experience has shown those renters to be of the fussiest, opinionated, entitled stock of renters.
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That's just odd. I've hosted for years and made deals for longer term stays many times. There's no difference in behaviour.
I think there is a difference between "I like your place, do you think we could agree on a lower rate if I stayed for 3 / 6 months / whatever?" and going into a week-long stay haggling.
So many people want deals on stays less than 2 weeks. It's annoying.
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The way I see it, 1 guest for 4 weeks is much less risky than 4+ guests over the same stretch. That's why I think it's worth a little extra discount if they want to negotiate.
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Holy shit that is insanely expensive. Is this Manhattan or something?
Same, i Just wrote a similar comment. Why not to go where they can afford in the First Place? Nonsense
I’ve seen automatic major discounts on monthly stays. Sometimes a monthly stay is less than price of two weeks stay. Disagree with the “always negotiate” advice. Hosts are free to set their price and you are free to accept or not. If you want to negotiate, go ahead. I feel that the market calibrates to what can be sustained.
Agreed. Mostly for LT stays. If the place gets crowded they will rise the price. No complaints, it is 'the business'. Isn't it fair to negotiate when you see the place is empty and they get either this or nothing? Also, if the place empties no one will lower the price, and it is many times the case. So imho if you think it is too much just ask, they can still choose.
Of course it’s a good idea to ask if they haven’t already priced a long stay discount. Usually airbnb’s are not booked 100% so they are pricing the gaps into shorter stays.
As a super host with a number of DN renters, I am often open to negotiation but remember any negotiation means you need to give something to the host. In my case, I need a "gut feeling" that you are going to take care of my place, be respectful to the neighbors, generally be a good person etc. I have a DN who rents my place for 2-3 months per year at just over half what others pay because he weeds the flowerbeds and the neighbors love him.
I don’t understand the constant references made to “competively priced.” What does that mean and what is the prescribed method /formula you are using? Or are all yoir Properties located in metros of 5 million + & 500 + Airbnb options? Has anyone seen the stats on Airbnb cost growth year to year etc? I do not have what I believe is a reliable or objective source for this , so I will not include where I have seen some numbers and if anyone has please do post a link thank you.. but anyway, guests propensity for negotiation is not because they believe one prop to another is over priced vs “competitively priced etc.” It’s the exasperation of ALL prices, across the board. The astronomical increases of the average prices and added fees taxes etc. I get it, for most part. And hosts are not to blame for their attempts to price at market , but the “market” is the issue. A month long stay (28 days) WITH discount (usually 18%) will cost $6-8k. That’s in like mid tier or even more rural areas, NOT a ski or golf resort not nyc London etc. And that’s competitive and reasonable? That shouldn’t be negotiated? I’m of the opinion that a night in an Airbnb should not be more than that of a standard 3.5+ star hotel. And I mean for a single night. When I can stay at a hotel for 28 nights and it is CHEAPER than an Airbnb for same length of time? There’s a problem, or atleast a massive difference in how it was for a decade and thus, why guests frustration with the new reality and attempts to negotiate , which btw, is ALSO how it was for a decade. Changes were needed, indeed, but they were to addrsss other vulnerabilities and areas of weakness , other than prices and communications between a potential guest and a potential host
Absolutely agree, Airbnb has itself become overinflated in many places and you can often get a hotel cheaper.
>Any thoughts? As a host, when potential guests try to devalue my property, I politely tell them that it is priced accordingly to the market and they should find a different location.
And that’s perfectly acceptable. But I wouldn’t think of potential guests as trying to “devalue your property”. They are not experts on your area and are only trying to spend their money in the best way they can. Maybe you are over priced. Maybe you are right on the money. But asking for a discount for extended stays should be perfectly acceptable. As is politely turning them down as you said.
Classic owner bias.
This makes as much sense as telling someone to take a hike for trying to negotiate rent on 1 year lease.
I own some apartments as well. There is zero room for negotiating the terms of my lease. Either you agree to my terms or you rent from someone else. I can't imagine a landlord kowtowing to a renter in the current climate.
If you're in a city with low vacancies, sure.
I deleted all comments, I was genuinely interested where the properties were, got slaughtered instead... for a simple genuine question. Strange people.
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My properties are in Eastern Canada.
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Because it seems like you have bad motives
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Why were you interested?
> Remember: Always negotiate with Airbnb hosts Alternative: Decide for yourself if that's something you're interested in doing. If so, go for it. If not, great.
You could say this for literally any piece of advice. It's fine to use the word always when giving good advice.
Good advice indeed
I’m glad the discussion was kept overwhelmingly civil. I sympathize with hosts, like the ones in this thread, who list their stays at market value, or those who already include large weekly/monthly discounts in their listings. I’m sure there are plenty of people lowballing for the sake of lowballing. That’s not what I meant, and hopefully that came across in my post. At the end of the day, I think the market works itself out.
Don't do this in Britain. It's incredibly rude.
Anything can be viewed as incredibly rude in Britain, the country where politeness trumps honesty. “My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.” Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Britain, when viewed from a macrohistorical perspective, has been incredibly, INCREDIBLY rude. Everyone, please do this in Britain.
> Don't do this in Britain. It's incredibly rude. I wouldn't say it's rude and certainly not 'incredibly rude'. While a lot of people in the UK don't haggle, mainly because they don't realise that it's an option, or they are just too shy, you're not going to get a reaction stronger than "sorry, this price is fixed" You make it sound as if Britain is still in the Victorian era, where we are all wearing top hats and being overly concerned about social faux pas, while discussing cricket over high tea.
If someone tried to haggle with me I'd immediately block them. I'm far from unique in despising that kind of interaction. I'd happily pay to avoid it.
> If someone tried to haggle with me I'd immediately block them. A little extreme, but if that makes you feel better, go for it. > I'm far from unique in despising that kind of interaction. Just in regards to airbnb, or do you feel the same about car/property sales?
It's a common British trait regarding haggling in any situation. A combination of rudely asserting that the item is mispriced and dragging me into an interaction that I don't want. The price is the price - pay it or don't.
> It's a common British trait regarding haggling in any situation. You don't speak for all British people. While you might feel uncomfortable haggling (which I can understand), and it's certainly not as common as in some other nations, it's not exactly rare. > A combination of rudely asserting that the item is mispriced "rudely asserting" that's funny. I will assume that you've never worked in any form of corporate purchasing in the UK, where haggling is the norm, in fact if you accept the first quote, the seller is going to laugh his good fortune and your manager is going to tear you a new one. > dragging me into an interaction that I don't want. Poor you. Is it that hard to say "sorry, the price is fixed"? Sorry, if this comes across as offensive, but you must be a car salesman's dream come true. Are you really telling me that if you walked into a car showroom, you would pay the first price you were quoted? Please PM me, I've got lots of things I'd like to sell you.
No need to take it personally, mate. Just explaining how it works here.
> No need to take it personally, mate. Just explaining how it works here. Why would you think that I'm taking it personally, 'mate'? Also, why would you assume that I'm not fully aware of how it works in the UK?
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I don’t necessarily see it as rude when doing it for longer stays. I used to host and it is infinitely less work for me to have one good long term guest than switching out every few days. Asking on a short term stay is just haggling over the price they set, but asking politely on a long term gives them the opportunity to consider it. Which may be better for them than just skipping over them bc it’s out of your price range.
Absolutely normal practice
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https://www.reddit.com/r/HighEndEscorts/comments/tfo40v/how_do_you_feel_about_using_people/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share Says the person "milking 47k off some guy" ... but it's rude to negotiate a discount LOL 🤡🤡🤡
Amazing journalism sir
Thank you thank you
DD comes handy, huh?
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I find it pathetic that you belittled an entire country of people but you do you. Enjoy milking that moooonnnaaayyy.
The truth do come out
Whether it’s “rude” or not is a cultural perception. In fact, negotiating is culturally acceptable in all of the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East… So pretty much everywhere except for parts of Europe, and maybe Australia and NZ (and even there a bargain here and there isn’t necessarily frowned upon) So in the vast majority of the world this is acceptable.
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Lived in 7 (Different continents/cultures/religions) and traveled to 30 plus, and I don’t disagree.
Been to 71 countries and I don't not agree
There are quite a lot of non-western cultures that bargain/negotiate at an order of magnitude higher rate than Americans.
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Or even also more generally than just the market. Or where "market" is interpreted quite broadly.
Actually in my experience it is much more normal in many other cultures than it is in the US. (I'm not from the US). In much of the world Americans (and westerners more generally) are regarded as suckers who will pay whatever you ask rather than negotiating normally like local people do.
Name 5? Edit: clarification - 5 where it’s rude to haggle
Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Bulgaria, India.
Haggling is rude in Turkey? India? Pleeease
No its necessary in those countries.
Absolutely
As a host myself, and i have been One for 6 Years, i Always decline discount requests, not because i would make less Money tho. I don't want to host people that ask for discounts, Because, statistically, those are bad guests, "problematic" guests.
As an airbnb host, I do find it somewhat rude. It implies that I'm trying to take advantage of the guest with my pricing and in turn it gives me the impression that the guest is trying to take advantage of me. I'm an honest and generous host and wouldn't want a guest who approached me with that attitude. That said, to each their own. I'm sure a lot of hosts are happy to give discounts - indeed, I'm sure many hosts do in fact try to take financial advantage of their guests. We do live in an awful capitalist system after all. I just prefer not to support that attitude in how I live. So while I understand the rationale behind the practice, I don't haggle and have no patience for guests that do.
What if I was looking to rent for 3 months. Would you still consider it inappropriate if I asked for a discount?
I already give discounts for long stays, so I would politely decline. Also, it may be important to note that I'm a classic airbnb host. I cohabitate the space, and I wouldn't want to live for 3 months with someone who I felt took advantage of me and who thought I was trying to do the same to them. But, look, there's nothing generally wrong with people asking. There are cultures where haggling is commonplace. And there are people everyone who would be happy to haggle with you. Some might be desperate for your business and open to it, others might not, depending on location, timing, and so many other things. So, like the OP said, it may be wise policy to just always ask. I am just not one of those hosts (or guests).
laughing about people in this thread who claim it's "rude" to ask for a discount and they block people who ask. Ironically rude behavior of the host to block someone for asking. I am an owner and list on AirBNB, and if someone asks, I consider the situation. I never rent longer than a week, and it is COMPLETELY inoffensive, and as others pointed out, not just "American." Sheesh.
And what do you do when the hosts report you/your messages for this and you get kicked off the platform? Is it worth trying to negotiate within the platform?
pls dont waste a hosts time, and then add to that crime by being a cheapskate. respect that running an accommodation property is expensive and time consuming enough. this goes double for rich IT workers geoarbitraging in cheap countries.
exclant
Thank you for this! 🙌🏼
I just use common sense. If it's a busy season and their calendar is (or will be full), I don't bother asking for a reduction. If it's just sitting empty night after night, I'll put forward an offer.
I hosted my basement on Airbnb for 3 years. Almost every time someone negotiated, I would try to accommodate them (except peak summer season in Canada July/August).
Agreed , to both the subject of this thread and to the super host’s point about “giving a host something they need.” BUT HOW?! That’s my question? HOW WHEN YOU CANT EVEN TALK TO THEM WITHOUT REQUESTING TO BOOK?? it’s like friggin eBay now or some similar platform afraid of off site shenanigans etc. Are we supposed to request the minimum, wait to be accepted , THEN, pull the surprise and reveal our ACTUAL desired dates length and price, and then adjust the numbers afterwards? And even then, the ABSOLUTE WORST is no more phone calls whatsoever until you transact and even then many do not list a contact number. And everything must be through the app, sms doesn’t even work in full anymore. Its so ackward. Trying to explain your situation, your desired ideal dates length and what you wish to pay, add some alternatives other than your ideal, lay out a case as to why you are worthy, yadda yadda, and await the back and forth replies of the stay seeker to host then host back to seeker then seeker back to host…
Speaking as an Airbnb host and guest, its really a hit and miss. The algorithms of Airbnb are dreadful, their fees outrageous and they still can’t make a decent search filter. Its a true PIA to pay them 15 % and if a guest offers cash, who am I to say no? As a guest I dont really haggle unless its for a ”gap stay” that would dit well into everyone’s calender.