Hi @Gemma,
I'm not real sure what you mean but I think I understand how you feel. All I can talk about is from my experience so here goes ...
I think Airbnb must have changed in the last 6 months because I have not had a good experience with my first two guests, however my third was wonderful but it was after I raised my prices to almost double what Airbnb suggested I charge at first.
Those of you who have been hosting for years must have started doing it before the word was out that first time hosts had cheap places and were willing to bend over backward trying to please to "get those great reviews".
Both my first couple of guests were entitled, uppity and the second one was horrible - downright rude! They both had petty grievances and seemed to expect a castle for an unusually small fee. They seemed to have a chip on their shoulder. Then to boot gave me only 4 stars for unreasonable reasons! I was not happy at all with my first experiences until my third guest came, who was delightful, appreciative and gave a 5 star review. Hey the third one’s the charm so I will stick it out a little longer and see what happens – but the jury is still out on this.
I don’t think it is right to have these 1st budget people, that we get in the beginning, judge you and give you stars because at first we are learning and the guests are experienced at using the system to their advantage and know they can get away with being petty and unappreciative.
Now of course not all guests are like this and maybe you and I have just been unlucky but I doubt it. I have been renting my apartment out for 12 years before Airbnb and I tell you I have never seen such attitudes from guests like this!
And if guests “judge” their hosts and grade them then I feel hosts should “judge” guests and grade them too. I bet that would clear up a lot of the attitude these entitled arrogant guests have.
I believe Airbnb are creating a groub of abusive monster guests by not having hosts grade guests like they do us.
That's my three cents.
Mary Ann