Block on days in calendar mysteriously removed

[KandT0]

Anyone else had blocked days in their calendar reopened by a bug or glitch?

I did find one reference here to precisely that problem (https://community.airbnb.com/t5/New-Hosts/Problems-bugs-glitches-and-issues-with-AirBNB-that-need-to...), but I'd like to hear from other hosts to get some idea exactly how common the problem is.

We reported one instance of this to Airbnb support, but they're trying to tell us we never even had the days blocked. We know we did, and we believe the block was lost when we were making other, unrelated changes to various settings in the listing.

It's not the only bug/glitch we've experienced, but it's the first to cost us our 100% commitment rating.

Getting a response from support that barely contains any accurate statement has led me to decide a little more follow-up is needed on this one.

[Elenor0]

Take a screen shot first, so you remember which days were blocked!

Sorry for posting previous message twice, it's 3am here.

Maybe after your testing you can mention the problem in Host Voice to see if Airbnb can fix it.

[KandT0]

Screenshots: Absolutely. Did you see my earlier post about the test I already ran?

I am now loath to mention problems anywhere but at the highest level I can reach.

I've found that "customer experience specialists" deny problems exist, blame the host, spout inaccuracies, and repeat over and over why they can't help. Their priority appears to be closing tickets, not resolving issues. I think there is too much focus on buddying up to customers and not enough on knowing the product and fixing issues. 

That's just me, though. Rant over.

[KandT0]

Elenor,

I just ran that test I mentioned to try replicating your issue, and I was unable to.

I went four months ahead, so the entire period for which smart pricing works was covered.

None of the blocked days was unblocked after switching smart pricing on and switching it off again.

Are you sure you did not also adjust the period for which you will accept advance bookings? That unblocked days three months ahead (November in my test), when I switched from six to three months.

This bug was pointed out to me here in this thread by James, an experienced host in the US. Scroll back a bit to take a look.

[Elenor0]

The unblocking of blocked days still happens to me occasionally and it appears to be random.  I notice it because I add notes on the days I block and if I see a note on an unblocked day I know something has gone wrong.

Adding a zero to the end of the price has given me some piece of mind that I won't get double-booked.

[KandT0]

What device/browser are you using? My understanding is that errors are caused when you use anything but Chrome to make changes/respond to messages etc. Even the Airbnb mobile app has issues for anything but monitoring your account, I'm hearing.

[Michelle354]

Hi I had a glitch putting on a specific day for someone to check in which made it impossible for me to book my entire calendar even when I set it for a one night minimum. I tried to set those specific days to a lower price to get it booked out, not realizing the glitch and I couldn't figure out how to do it. Could you tell me how to go in the settings to do that? 

[Elenor0]

Dates becoming unblocked happened to me when I switched to Smart Pricing, then switched back to Manual Pricing.

I received an Instant Book at a time when we were renovating the apartment.  We honoured the booking but got 3 stars because the apartment was not finished.

Anyway, because I am now scared of the "unblocking" glitch, what I do is add an extra $1000 onto the price of blocked days, so that if they do accidentally become unblocked, no guest will book them at that price.

[KandT0]

The latest is that my faith in Airbnb's commitment to hosts has been restored by the intervention of their Quality folks.

Now our own issue has been addressed, and I believe there will be some effort made to deal with this bug as well as others.

So there's a result.

[Michelle354]

Im sorry. What does that mean, quality folks? Is that another department?

[KandT0]

I only just saw your question. It was Airbnb customer service in Ireland. They called themselves the Quality team. I would guess that makes them customer service management -- the people who take over when you get into a dispute with their juniors.

[Raúl-Alfonso0]

I have the same issue. I block the whole (September) month 3 days ago and I got a reservation even that the days were blocked. I had to cancell the reservation and now Airbnb take me 45 euros because they say that I cancell the reservation.

Even when you call to the customer services and they notice that there is an error, they take my money for the cancellation.

If the system has bug, we don´t have to pay it because it was not my fault.

[KandT0]

Raul,

I wrote you a reply here a couple of days. Now I don't see it. I hope that's because there was an error or I didn't post correctly, because it would be a real shame if it was rejected by moderators here.

Anyway, the gist of my reply was that your error does not sound like it closely matches our own, and you need to be careful to make sure you hit the 'Submit' button after you select days on your calendar to block.

Also, a good tip from another host here is to also manually set a very high price on days you block. For example, $2,000. Then if the days get unblocked somehow, no one will reserve them at such a high price.

Regarding the cancellation case you mentioned, I think you should start by trying to replicate your unblocking issue. Take screenshots to record your findings. Then contact someone at a higher level within Airbnb if you feel you have not been treated fairly.

[Jenny96]

I had a guest enquire about a stay even though the dates he put in were not available due to prep time (blocked out in the calendar), but he was still able to put in an enquiry. Luckily it wasn't an instant book, but that shouldn't have even been available for him to select? I have now gone through every booking and block out the day after the prep time to ensure that potential guests can't use that bug/loophole.

[KandT0]

One host a little earlier in the thread says she doubles up by setting the price to $2k on the blocked days. The idea is that no one will want them even if they get unblocked.

[Ilona15]

I had the same situation three times in last month and were charged cancellation fee- last charge was 100$! I called airbnb already twice trying to ask what was wrong with my calendar and why closed dates were open for booking! I was told that case manegar will contact me...so, never called, never sent me any confirmation of investigation or whatever else! They are stilling our money! Is this an other way to make money for airbnb? Is these leagal? Should we take a step forward leagally to stop airbnb bull....ing us?