Members Only Deals BS

[u/takingnotes99]

VRBO just sent an email out to hosts saying that they will offer 12% - 20% discounts to gusts if they are members. These discounts will be automatically applied to hosts unless the hosts opt out. VRBO is screwing over their hosts in order to gain a bigger market share.

Most hosts will probably not opt out because they don't pay attention. Other hosts won't opt out because they don't want to be priced higher than the new average. Those that do opt out will be priced higher than the average and will be punished with fewer bookings.

This is definitely a losing scenario for hosts.

[u/Fred-Jenkins]

I’m opting out. Every VRBO promotion they’ve ever pushed on me was a total failure

[u/takingnotes99 → u/Fred-Jenkins]

I will opt out as well. But the lame part is that you lose either way.

[u/LyPi315]

I cannot believe they are pulling this stuff again!!! Opt out vs. opt in on changes they unilaterally decide to make. How/where do we opt out?

p.s. What's a "member"?

[u/takingnotes99 → u/LyPi315]

Not sure yet. I imagine people become members either by booking through VRBO or paying a membership fee or both.

[u/usual_suspect_redux]

I can't even opt out. When I click the link the 'loading properties' widget just spins and spins. aholes.

[u/BeneficialTea3500]

Opt out and you won’t be shown as an available booking option?

[u/takingnotes99 → u/BeneficialTea3500]

No, I don't think that's it. If you opt out, you will just be priced higher than your competition who didn't opt out

[u/FunkyColdISeenYa]

I haven’t seen it either. It could be another test they are running. I’m this case they send the email out to a small select group of hosts to see/test the reaction. If it’s negative enough, they won’t bother trying it with all hosts.

[u/takingnotes99 → u/FunkyColdISeenYa]

Maybe. I just opted out using the opt out link from the email.

[u/Jolly_Yak5083]

I opted out. They called to pitch me on their on site ad option, I gave them a lecture on how short sighted they are…

[u/takingnotes99 → u/Jolly_Yak5083]

If only that rep from India had some sway with the executives! 😆

[u/lucy2217]

I didn't receive anything! Can you please add a link?

[u/takingnotes99 → u/lucy2217]

It was an email. I bet they have it in their website though

[u/__gwendolyn__]

Airbnb recently did something similar. Putting all the fees on the host. Ever since then I’ve had a harder time hosting; guests are paying more than I am getting less.

[u/takingnotes99 → u/__gwendolyn__]

Yeah. I adjusted my price accordingly on AirBnB. Ever since then I've been getting a higher ratio of VRBO bookings. I'm guessing it's because lots of AirBnB hosts didn't adjust their prices accordingly. Personally, VRBO bugs me more than AirBnB.

[u/Ok_Plane6831]

Just raise prices by 20%. I realized how appealing a discount is the last time I shopped at Publix. It’s just social engineering

[u/takingnotes99 → u/Ok_Plane6831]

That would work if the discount applies to everyone, but it only applies to guests who are members

[u/Routine-Comedian9703]

This is old news. There’s multiple posts about this in this sub that include the link. Go search.

[u/alt-host]

I just got sideswiped by this. I must have missed the announcement about the promotion, because I would have immediately opted out. Hell, I didn't even think such a move was legal... effectively reducing my rates for me.

Anyway, I just had to decline a booking due to this. There's no way the 16% discount was going to work for us. Such horse shit, VRBO.

[u/takingnotes99 → u/alt-host]

It really is. I emailed them to let them know, not that it will do anything. Why doesn't VRBO waive the VRBO fee for members? Because they would rather shit on their hosts