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OT: SAY NO to VRBO's new 9% "service" fee
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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
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PostSat Mar 12, 16 12:51 pm    OT: SAY NO to VRBO's new 9% "service" fee Reply with quote

If you book through VRBO/HomeAway or list a property this affects you. Join the rebellion.

Alien

https://www.homeaway.com/info/townhall/march

https://www.facebook.com/saynotovrbo

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davidguetta402

Since 17 Jan 2019
1 Posts

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PostThu Jan 17, 19 2:22 am    Re: OT: SAY NO to VRBO's new 9% "service" fee Reply with quote

Wind Slither wrote:
If you book through VRBO/HomeAway or list a property this affects you. Join the rebellion.

Alien

https://www.homeaway.com/info/townhall/march

https://www.facebook.com/saynotovrbo


Although VRBO and Homeaway are the same company Smile

____________

PennySaviour

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lewmt

Since 04 Aug 2010
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 8:17 am     Reply with quote

And airbnb has their stupid anti-Israel crap happening.

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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 8:19 am    Re: OT: SAY NO to VRBO's new 9% "service" fee Reply with quote

davidguetta402 wrote:

Although VRBO and Homeaway are the same company Smile


David, if I indicated otherwise I didn't mean to, but at least someone responded to my post.

VRBO started out great. Like a Craig's List for vacation rentals. Then they got bought by HomeAway. But the TRUE EVIL started in 2015 when Expedia bought HomeAway.

Since then the gouging of owners and guests is truly remarkable. In their latest act of greed, they now insist on withholding state and city taxes from our guests. They are collecting taxes on their own "service fees" and cleaning fees which is incorrect.

10 years ago, if you googled "Oregon coast vacation rental" you got pages of local management companies back. Now all you will get is VRBO, VaCasa, and AirB&B. Of the 3, AirB&B is only slightly less evil. These guys have taken over and they know it. There's no real alternative if you want to maximize your bookings.

If guests come to us wanting to book around VRBO to avoid the fees we accommodate them even though VRBO threatens to reduce our ranking score and/or pull your listing if you do this. I recommend if you find a house you want to rent on VRBO to ask the owner to deal with them directly.

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lewmt

Since 04 Aug 2010
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 8:24 am     Reply with quote

I'm finding more & more rental owners willing to book around those businesses & good for them! I've found 2 places in OBX I love & have gotten to know the owners & its so much nicer to deal directly anyway. The key is finding venues to get your place noticed if you're an owner & that's where the behemoths have done such an amazing job of capturing the marketplace.

It seems like they are on the verge of overplaying their hands opening the door to new competition.

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SalmonSlayer

Since 27 Nov 2005
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 9:11 am     Reply with quote

VRBO doesn't "gouge" customers. They are free to set fees and change fees. Potential customers decide if they want to pay the fee or find an alternative.

Changing their fees is no more greedy or evil than you asking for a raise.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 10:24 am     Reply with quote

SalmonSlayer wrote:
VRBO doesn't "gouge" customers.


It seems to me that the current situation pretty much fits the definition of "Gouging".

Price Gouging: The term is not in widespread use in mainstream economic theory, but is sometimes used to refer to practices of a coercive monopoly which raises prices above the market rate that would otherwise prevail in a competitive environment.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/kudlow061400.asp Jewishworldreview.com. 2000-06-14.

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user124

Since 02 Aug 2012
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 10:25 am    VRBO Reply with quote

I don't own any rental properties, but I'm a frequent customer and renter. I've moved away from VRBO/Homeaway when I can for the reasons listed above. What I typically will do when possible is find a local vacation property manager with several properties that look appealing. Usually you can get a better price and service this way anyway.

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jeffwestco

Since 21 Jan 2014
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 10:35 am     Reply with quote

SalmonSlayer wrote:
VRBO doesn't "gouge" customers. They are free to set fees and change fees. Potential customers decide if they want to pay the fee or find an alternative.

Changing their fees is no more greedy or evil than you asking for a raise.



Yes -- businesses are entitled to change their fees -- however -- they (VRBO/HomeAway) changed their fee structures and listing order algorithms to down list any owner that doesn't use their calendar and booking system (only way around the fee) They began charging these fees to renters on top of what they charge owners often in the middle of annual contracts with owners...all while claiming these fees are for a secure booking experience and to offer 24/7 support. (it is not...if you have a problem they do nothing.) Adding a 9% fee for absolutely no value I see as gouging. They also try to make communication between owners and renters difficult.

I've switched almost entirely to using HomeEscape instead...VRBO SUCKS!!!

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lewmt

Since 04 Aug 2010
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 10:52 am     Reply with quote

Its hard to say what VRBO's operating costs are, whether the 9% represents a gouging fee or not, or if its just the company checking the market to see what will be tolerated to enhance their own bottom line. It's all fair. However, its also fair for the free market to work its own magic & some upstart interweb player come in & offer equivalent(or better) service at a better price. Its valuable to know publicly that VRBO is pushing the envelope of what their customers may be willing to tolerate. Again, just advocating for the free market to do what it does best.

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SalmonSlayer

Since 27 Nov 2005
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 1:29 pm     Reply with quote

lewmt wrote:
It's all fair. However, its also fair for the free market to work its own magic & some upstart interweb player come in & offer equivalent(or better) service at a better price. Its valuable to know publicly that VRBO is pushing the envelope of what their customers may be willing to tolerate. Again, just advocating for the free market to do what it does best.


I am not sure why this is so hard for so many to understand. It is a very organic process based on the free choice of individual entities.

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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
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PostThu Jan 17, 19 3:50 pm     Reply with quote

SalmonSlayer wrote:
VRBO doesn't "gouge" customers. They are free to set fees and change fees. Potential customers decide if they want to pay the fee or find an alternative. Changing their fees is no more greedy or evil than you asking for a raise.


Best practice business is about the win-win. This will catch up with VRBO. They did their homework. They knew just how far they could turn the screws without losing business to competition.

If pkh were to start charging, where you gonna go, Kite Scoop? LOL

Hey, they gives me an idea, Phil, can you whip up a vacation rental website? Thumb's Up

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cathy o.

Since 11 Aug 2014
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PostSun Jan 20, 19 2:23 pm     Reply with quote

Anyone had any experience with this service? I've just started seeing adverts for it.

https://evolvevacationrental.com/

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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
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PostTue Jan 22, 19 8:46 am     Reply with quote

cathy o. wrote:
Anyone had any experience with this service? I've just started seeing adverts for it.

https://evolvevacationrental.com/


Cathy, this appears to be a management service layered on top of any fees you pay directly to their "partners" (VRBO, AirB&B, etc.) to list on their sites.

So they take 10% for handling inquires, managing the dynamic pricing, etc.

BTW, "dynamic pricing" is VaCasa's big scam that is catching on. It's where they jack prices way WAY up for peak weekend and gouge the guests, and then charge almost nothing for your house to rent it during the slow times so that owners get wear and tear and they collect the same fees.

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SalmonSlayer

Since 27 Nov 2005
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PostTue Jan 22, 19 8:54 am     Reply with quote

Wind Slither wrote:

BTW, "dynamic pricing" is VaCasa's big scam that is catching on. It's where they jack prices way WAY up for peak weekend and gouge the guests, and then charge almost nothing for your house to rent it during the slow times so that owners get wear and tear and they collect the same fees.


We need to stop pricing that takes advantage of incontrovertible principles like supply and demand Rolling Eyes

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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
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PostTue Jan 22, 19 9:09 am     Reply with quote

SalmonSlayer wrote:
Wind Slither wrote:

BTW, "dynamic pricing" is VaCasa's big scam that is catching on. It's where they jack prices way WAY up for peak weekend and gouge the guests, and then charge almost nothing for your house to rent it during the slow times so that owners get wear and tear and they collect the same fees.


We need to stop pricing that takes advantage of incontrovertible principles like supply and demand Rolling Eyes


Salmon, the thing is, as an owner, the peak pricing might be good, but the low period pricing where VaCasa still collects their minimum fee and keeps their housekeepers busy, while my house gets thrashed and I make squat is no advantage to me.

Not arguing these companies have a right to do these things, this thread is about "saying no" in a free market way.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
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PostTue Jan 22, 19 11:25 am     Reply with quote

Wind Slither wrote:

Not arguing these companies have a right to do these things, this thread is about "saying no" in a free market way.


Thumb's Up

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