Anonymous wrote:I would tell Airnb that you would like them to get involved. I always assumed that these types of issues are why airnb charges a fee.

Agreed. I used Air BnB in 2 countries in Europe last year, my first time ever using it, and both places/ hosts were great- very welcoming and friendly. I didn't pay a security deposit for either one (maybe it would have been different if I had rented a whole apartment or house, and not shared with owners?). I didn't read the fine print when I signed up but I didn't even know they could bring a claim (but I guess it makes sense, sure).

However, I would definitely involve the company in any dispute, and particularly this one- that is what you pay them for. I am on your side, OP- you should fight this.

OP here. Thanks for the input. Again I have NO PROBLEM paying for the damage even exceeding $500 if that is what it cost. I just have a problem with them pulling the figure of $500 without any proof. I probably will never use Airbnb ever again after this not bc we owed additional money but I feel it opens the guests up to liability that it is very difficult to dispute. Really what would have prevented them from asking for $1700 as she claims she paid that for the table. We have no way to dispute it and Airbnb was not real interested in assisting us. We stayed at an Airbnb as we traveled with our teen daughter and allowed her to bring a friend and felt more comfortable in a house w them v. 2 hotel rooms. We weren't in an area like the beach that has tons of beach rentals thru reputable agents so this made sense.

Replacing the table tom the tune of the security deposit seems fair. You must've really messed it up fro them to have even seen it. I never would have noticed a small nick on a table!

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't pay this. They should have insurance through Airbnb, they are probably just trying to avoid filing a claim. At most I would pay the amt of the security deposit - that is what it's for.

This!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is precisely why I won't do airbnb.

I don't understand the appeal either. Nothing about Air BnB seems relaxing or reassuring.

It is a potential cost saver when hotels are too pricey.

It is not just the cost. It is the space. For the same price as a hotel you get a living room and a kitchen. When travelling with small kids it can be a life save. My DS is ravenous when he wakes up.
Being able to make him breakfast while everyone else gets ready is t great. Plus having a living room for adults to congregate helps once the kid is in bed.

But it is like everything else, most experiences are get, a few are bad.

I would tell Airnb that you would like them to get involved. I always assumed that these types of issues are why airnb charges a fee.

OP admitted they chipped a coffee table. Generally you can't fix a coffee table and I believe OP should replace. Tell them you find it online and will pay the 300 plus tax to replace. That is also commensurate with security deposit (weird that they didn't have you pay it) so that should settle it. You can't stay in someone's house and ruin their stuff. Airbnb is an awesome service because you can save SO much from staying in a hotel and be more comfortable. Why shouldn't they replace something they broke? OP doesn't seem to be disputing that or refusing responsibility. Using a service like airbnb there is human decency, trust, good will, and personal responsibility involved. That's why it's generally a win-win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would deal with the host directly and try some of the following:

Ask for a receipt for the purchase of the table.
If they don't have that, then a credit card receipt or record of the purchase.
If they don't have that, then the make and model of the table so you can look it up, or even "we bought it in 2007 from Pottery Barn" so you can find a comp.

They can't very well claim that they forget where they bought it, since they are so very sure it cost $1700, right?

You can then go back at them with the info you received, verify it or find something comprable, or call them out on their BS.
You can use the formula insurance companies use for subtracting a percentage of the original cost, like they do for example, when your bathtub from 1992 is destroyed in a flood and they are figuring out how to reimburse you.

I'm not one to just believe someone and hand over $500.
Ask for pictures of the table, receipts, store name, all that. If they are lying they may realize you're not just going to roll over and accept the $100 you offer them.

I'd be much more likely to make AirBnB get involved but if OP wants to deal with the hosts directly, these are very good ideas for OP to use.

I should add, I've stayed at several AirBnBs before and have never had a claim filed against me. I have a really hard time believing OPs friend did $500 worth of damage to a crappy coffee table and think it's likely these folks are just looking to get a coffee table replaced for free.

Anonymous wrote:I would deal with the host directly and try some of the following:

Ask for a receipt for the purchase of the table.
If they don't have that, then a credit card receipt or record of the purchase.
If they don't have that, then the make and model of the table so you can look it up, or even "we bought it in 2007 from Pottery Barn" so you can find a comp.

They can't very well claim that they forget where they bought it, since they are so very sure it cost $1700, right?

You can then go back at them with the info you received, verify it or find something comprable, or call them out on their BS.
You can use the formula insurance companies use for subtracting a percentage of the original cost, like they do for example, when your bathtub from 1992 is destroyed in a flood and they are figuring out how to reimburse you.

I'm not one to just believe someone and hand over $500.
Ask for pictures of the table, receipts, store name, all that. If they are lying they may realize you're not just going to roll over and accept the $100 you offer them.

I'd be much more likely to make AirBnB get involved but if OP wants to deal with the hosts directly, these are very good ideas for OP to use.

Get this back on track folks! Help OP not criticize her choice of where to stay when traveling! Geez!

- Someone who already posted a helpful response and isn't even a fan of Airbnb

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is precisely why I won't do airbnb.

I don't understand the appeal either. Nothing about Air BnB seems relaxing or reassuring.

It is a potential cost saver when hotels are too pricey.

We have an upcoming aBnB reservation. Why? Because to stay at the Residence Inn near my in-laws house would cost $270 per night for a one BR and $295 for a two BR (which we would normally stay in). I can get a Hampton Inn for as little as $229 per night. To get the rate under $200 per night, I have to stay 25+ minutes away.

Alternatively, we found a 3-BR, 2BA 2500 sf house that will cost just over $800 for the week instead of $2300. Even if we have to pay the $300 security fee or $500 for a damaged piece of furniture, I'll come out ahead. Plus, the house is much nicer than the hotel.

My parents live in a suburb where the closest hotel is 15 miles, 25 min away. The suburb just doesn't have any hotels of any sort. They have one guest room and when only one of us comes to visit, we're fine. When we have a family gathering with both of my siblings, all of our spouses, and 5 grandkids, we can't stay in the one guest room and we don't really want to commute 25 minutes both ways daily. But there are a couple of homes with at least 2 BR in the neighborhood that are within 10 minutes drive of my parents home. Plenty of space, nice homes and convenient.

My BIL/SIL like to spend vacations at a small town on the Oregon Coast. There is one flea-bitten motel in town that has seen much better days. When they visit, they airBnB to stay in the summer homes of locals that aren't using them. Significantly nicer than the hotel. Otherwise it's about 35 minutes to the nearest hotel that doesn't feel like it was last updated in the 1950's.

There are many reasons that people airBnB.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is precisely why I won't do airbnb.

I don't understand the appeal either. Nothing about Air BnB seems relaxing or reassuring.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't pay this. They should have insurance through Airbnb, they are probably just trying to avoid filing a claim. At most I would pay the amt of the security deposit - that is what it's for.

+1

Just security deposit. Nothing more.

I wouldn't pay this. They should have insurance through Airbnb, they are probably just trying to avoid filing a claim. At most I would pay the amt of the security deposit - that is what it's for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is precisely why I won't do airbnb.

I don't understand the appeal either. Nothing about Air BnB seems relaxing or reassuring.

It is a potential cost saver when hotels are too pricey.

Or when you need a kitchen and are trying to stay would like to stay together with a number of people.