In the past month, in my travels. Airbnb hosting, and online selling I’ve come upon many instances of people who claimed damage or poor service who were either:
1. Out for revenge for whatever reason
2. Or angling for money
3. Or trying to promote another business
Whatever you’re selling or buying (like if you’re a guest at an Airbnb and a host claims bogus damage — or an Airbnb host with a guest doing the same) you need to stand up to them when you know they are merely angling for one of the above.
By the way I’ve been a Superhost on Airbnb for a long time and it’s really only 2% who have tried to play me. The rest being the world to my doorstep. So much fun. (Here’s a referral link if you want to try Airbnb hosting, and I can give you insights.)
On Yelp you see this all the time: “Thank you gift your concern and I would be happy to fix the issue, although we have no record of your having hired us / dined here, etc.”
This is how we do it!
Recently, I had an EBay buyer who I gave a great deal on an antique book, lower than my selling price. Upon receiving it he says the cover is torn off and “my bookbinder” (because we all have our personal bookbinder) says it will cost $75 to repair.
I point out that Amazon has a new paperback version of this 300 year old book for $50. Hell if I’m selling the antique for a comparable price ripped cover or not!
You don’t buy an antique book and complain about fragility just as you don’t buy handmade candy and complain that each one isn’t identical.
The test of a scammer is to offer to have the marketplace moderate the disagreement; I had told the Ebay buyer I would refund the money and pay for return shipping. Oh no. He wants to keep the book.
I say we need to turn it over to Ebay to decide. Heh heh. “No need to involve Ebay!” He says. And shuts up about the alleged matter.
So I reported him. Why? How many other sellers is he doing this to?
But wait that’s not all.
A week later an Airbnb host went into a rage and long list of fees because my friend had put a blanked over her scummy sofa to avoid sitting on it, not only saying now she had to clean the sofa but it was obvious another person had stayed there.
This time it was the seller trying to squeeze money from the buyer. Again thankfully customer service was there to intercede, read the messages (which you should never handle outside the marketplace for this very reason) and determine the host was somewhat on the borderline.
Got horror stories of buyers or sellers who you deflected from a bad situation?
