alt Hacker NewsI find it so odd to claim that explaining my prior experience is "ragebait". It's what I experienced over 100s of stays, consistently.
That's only _part_ of what I experienced though. I stopped using the service by my own volition. They have changed some rules since, but those fees and rules were not the tipping point. The decline in service, misadvertising of spaces, poor customer service and general decline in value stop me from continuing to use AirBnB.
I've been forced into an AirBnB recently, and it was the same nonsense. I could not pull into the driveway because the curb was incorrectly built. Host argued with me that it was fine, drove over and couldn't get their OWN car into it. Then they claimed they hadn't been to the property "in months" and "since the work was done"????? They told me I could park at a nearby grocery store and walk over, but they wouldn't be refunding me. AirBnB sided with them. I logged everything with photos (including the hosts car unable to get into the driveway), screenshots and had my company file a chargeback.
Doesn't even make it into my top 50 worst experiences. Total joke.
I'm talking about the cleaning fee specifically being part of ragebait. You are paying for the cleaning service and whatever operating costs an Airbnb or hotel has otherwise they wouldn't be in business. Whether they put "Cleaning Fee" on the checkout page or not is arbitrary and a total psychological effect, that's it. Hotels were doing the same thing with "Resort Fee" or whatever else they have. It's a ploy to show you a lower price on the search page, get you to the checkout screen, and shrug past the hidden costs once you've already committed to buying. It doesn't change the final price you ultimately paid, just how its presented. And yeah it's a shitty practice and I'm glad its been going away.
I don't know where you are using Airbnb, but seems statistically odd that 100s of stays have been miserable for you. If it were that bad for everyone nobody would be using it and yet Airbnb is still growing YoY. Pretty much everyone I know (including myself) has maybe 1-2 bad experiences over dozens of stays. And sure some stays are "fine" and not exceptional, but that's true of anything. Hotels are not necessary much more reliable these days either - I've had to leave more hotels in the last 2 years over broken/missing amenities, smells, dilapated rooms, etc than I ever have Airbnbs honestly. Many don't do daily room cleaning any more. It doesn't really line up with the rosy view of hotels that proliferates on here and they have far fewer excuses with dedicated staff, spare rooms, etc.