VRBO Service Fee AND Booking Fee?

[Leigh Ann Smith]

We've been using AirBnB for a year but just listed on VRBO yesterday as a pay-per-booking property.  I got an inquiry this morning for a 2 month stay.  She wants more of a discount, which is fine, but I was shocked at the fees.  If I charge her $900/month, there is a $101 service fee + a $47.50 booking fee (for 1 month).  The booking fee is part of the quote, so it looks like that is a fee to her, but I thought the booking fee was our fee.  It's 5.3% of the total.  Her service fee is 11.3% which is already pretty ridiculous.  Can anyone explain to me what's going on here?

[Kevin Lefeuvre]

The fact that you are on the pay per booking mode makes your fee a percentage which becomes huge for a 2 months rental. That is supposed to be just for trial. Once you feel confortable with them pay the flat fee annual  $400 and that's it. Of course they charge the guest as well just like airbnb but hey they bring you business, right? 

I am not a big fan of vrbo, prefer airbnb but wanted to clarify this point to be fair. Also vrbo has done a huge progress in the past few months with a much better calendar, better user interface in general,  $1M liability coverage and a better phone customer service (than airbnb). My business for a beach property is 80% vrbo 20% airbnb,  while for downtown LA it's the other way around. We need both platforms and their competition is great for us.