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Reviews & Feedback

Updated 16 days ago on . Most recent reply

User Stats

70
Posts
39
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Josh Ball
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Baton Rouge, LA
39
Votes |
70
Posts

STR guest leaving me no choice but to refund 50% of their stay??

Josh Ball
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Baton Rouge, LA
Posted

Little back story. We have a new STR property in a small coastal town. There are a TON of new units in this complex (20+) all starting around the same time so it's very competitive. Being a Superhost I believe has a positive impact on us getting bookings over some of the competitors in our complex.

We had a last minute request for a 3 night stay. Before booking the guest asked for a discounted rate being so last minute. I told him "no we have already worked the last minute pricing into these rates". They arrive around 7 pm & messaged that everything looking exactly like the photos & the unit is perfect. 

Their first day they message that the water has a sulfur odor in the shower. I explain that this is a City/complex wide issue that we have had plumbers out to assess with no resolution & apologize for it. I get a messaged from the city at 9:47 AM that the water will be shut off to the entire community at 10 AM for 2 hours to do repairs/maintenance. I inform the guest 2 minutes after getting the message & they reply that this is a serious inconvenience & the power is also out. Power comes back on 13 minutes later. Water returns within the 2 hour window the City provided us. They then message that they found some debris from the previous guests. Asks for some type of compensation for the inconvenience. I apologize & give them 1/2 the cleaning fee back for this & the inconvenience of the water item.

Later that night 7ish they message that the water still smells like sulfur & the water pressure isn't near what it was before the City did their work. I inform them that I will reach out to the City first thing tomorrow morning but they're closed being so late.

I wake up the next morning to a message basically saying with all these inconveniences we've had there is no way I can give you a good review. You can either give me 50% of my money back & I won't leave you a review or can ignore it & I will leave a negative review.

1. Found debris

2. Power outage

3. Water outage

4. Water odor

5. Low water pressure

My concern now is, with a poor review it is likely I will lose Superhost which I see as out advantage over the current competition in this market. I see it as my only option is to issue another refund despite these issues being a City item more than an issue with out specific STR unit.

Am I wrong in this? Is there anything more I should've done/do for future? Do I let them leave a review & just leave a response explaining? All feedback is welcome. I am still new to this hosting thing (6ish months) & constantly trying to improve.

Most Popular Reply

User Stats

2,601
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3,656
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Collin Hays
#4 All Forums Contributor
  • Property Manager
  • Gatlinburg, TN
3,656
Votes |
2,601
Posts
Collin Hays
#4 All Forums Contributor
  • Property Manager
  • Gatlinburg, TN
Replied

Your guest is attempting to extort you.

I don’t negotiate with terrorists. A poor review now and then isn’t a big deal. Let them leave one and move on.

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.
5.0 stars
1 Review

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