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"Host" not answering...
Submitted by Damien Demoget on Wed, 2009-10-28 05:34
Hi.
I have read many topics about hosts who would get upset because some guests would not show up, or not on the day they where supposed to, and so and so, but there is another issue I think is worth mentioning : "hosts" that never answer to your request.
I recently went from my place in the Alps to Spain.
I contacted someone in Barcelona (from the WS list) who was not marked as "not available at the moment".
More than a week later, there was still non answer, not even a negative one, so I contacted someone else and tried to check my email as often as I could (not always easy when touring).
The day before my arrival date in Barcelona, I still didn't get any answer (it turns out that they send an answer in the evening).
And, same thing happened with someone living south of Barcelona, on the way to Valencia.
3 "guests" contacted, no answer (or 1 very late answer, beeing noticed in advanced goes both ways).
If you people can't host (I understand you have a life and can't always be available), but, can't you simply say that you are not available on your profile?
If you people don't want to host, well, just delete your profile...easy.
I have been contacted once by someone who wanted to stay at my place but unfortunatly, I was not home at that time, but still, I contacted on of my friends and arranged for that person to stay with him so he wouldn't be left outside.
Sorry if that sounds negative, but it really annoyed me.
I will still host travelers (am also a member of CouchSurfing and recently joined the Hospitality Club)
Damien.
Keep your email current...
One of the biggest problems we've had over the years is with "stale" users. People who really don't actually *get* the email from a potential guest, or who never check that email, etc.
That's why we ask everybody to log in and update their info at least once a year, and why we delete members who don't respond to the request to do that.
But please, please do respond to any member who sends you a request for accommodation. You can *always* say no, with no reason given. But please respond. And please use an email that you always check.
Finally, you should note that there is now a link to "mark this member as unresponsive" at the bottom of every member profile. If you do run into a host that does not respond, please click that link. Over the long term, that should help us weed out problem/unresponsive members.
Guests: For some people it's best to also call the phone number provided. There are plenty of people in the world who do not actually use their email that often, and use the phone more.
I'd love to see us have a 100% response rate on member contacts. Don't think we're going to. But many people have better than 50%, and that's far better than some hospitality networks.
Thanks to all of you for your kindness and generosity to touring cyclists.
-Randy
Well, thank you for your
Well, thank you for your concern.
I actually did "mark those members as unresponsive", but, since we can't see it on their profile, I don't really see what difference it would make.
Somebody mentioned Couch Surfing.
On their website, you can leave reference about your host/guest, something you can do on Warmshowers too (not exactly the same way) but it looks like people here don't do it as much as they do on CS.
Why is that?
Anyway, I will still be available for hosting people when I'm home, but not sure I will use WS as a "guest".
Thanks again for your answers.
Marking members unresponsive
Thanks for marking unresponsive members as unresponsive, and responsive members as responsive.
I haven't yet rolled out the *use* of this marking, but I will get to it. Your development staff (me) has a day (and night) job and only occasionally puts a few hours together for warmshowers improvements.
Thanks to all for your hospitality to touring cyclists.
-Randy
Re: "Host" not answering...
Damien,
I am sympathetic to your complaint that some warmshowers hosts are tardy in responding to a request to host. Hopefully this only occurs rarely and is not the norm.
Those of us involved in administering the warmshowers list are trying to address this issue. We take a variety of steps to keep the membership list as up-to-date and accurate as we can. If you have any suggestions on improvements we would like to hear them.
At this point there is only one thing that I can recommend. If you go to the bottom of the account of an unresponsive member you will see the highlighted link "Mark this member as Unresponsive". Please click on it. By doing this you will warn other warmshowers members that this member was unresponsive on at least one occasion.
Please note that you can also "reward" good warmshowers members by marking them as "Responsive" -- plus you can write them a good recommendation (recommendations are also highlighted links found at the bottom of every member's account).
When there are multiple hosts in a location you are touring through you may want to focus your contact efforts on those that have been marked "responsive" and/or have good recommendations.
Regards,
Kevin
kevinoleary@warmshowers.org
Re: "Host" not answering...
This is a problem common to all hospitality sites - I have guests here in Buenos Aires on Couchsurfing who tell me they have contacted more than half a dozen hosts without response. If you could include a 'sort by last login date' option on the search it may help at least a little.
Thanks for the suggestion
Thanks - yes, that might help. We're trying to add more and more ways to determine which members are "real". The "mark unresponsive" is one of them, although the feedback on it isn't implemented yet (you can mark people, but you don't see the results).
We used to include the last login time and may do so again. We actually delete people who don't login for more than a year, though.
Only too common
Hi
I no longer expect "hosts" to reply. Most don't, especially in the USA for some reason. I send what I hope is a chatty message with an apology for causing inconvenience and so on... and then, more often than not, nothing.
Almost nobody replied from Boston, USA. Nobody at all replied from Vancouver, Canada. Only one of however many people are listed for Bellingham, Washington, USA, answered but she made up for all the others and couldn't have been more helpful.
I see the requests e-mailed to me and my outgoing messages don't seem that different. So, is it me or is there something about North Americans?
happy days
léo
blocked request
Unfortunately, there is one more reason for a host to be unavailable. Recently I was trying to find someone to arrange hosting us during our `Promenade niçoise' in April-May, 2011, found a proper person listed on WS, wrote him a message using WS interface, but... the message from WS was blocked by spam filter on the mail server of our potential host. Unfortunately, there is no option to send private messages within WS, so, perhaps, we and The Host would like to meet each other, but there is no way for me to reach him.
For any occasion I post the link, where we announce our trip, maybe someone will be interested to get new experience
http://romanycz.travel.ru/201x/1105-FR/index.htm
To host or not to host, this is the question?
Hi Damian,
Sympathy for your plight. I guess as they say, when a thing works and works well, it is a great thing. Obviously though, people don't always do what they say or expect of themselves. Sort of like an inner tube, we want them to behave and not puncture, but the little buggers do. We can stamp our feet and get frustrated, but it doesn't change a thing. So, don't worry, just take it in your stride and keep pedalling. Happy travels mate.
Russell.
Hi Russel. I still enjoy
Hi Russel.
I still enjoy traveling on my bike, but I just don't use Warmshower anymore.
Don't lump us all together
We also have had non-responsive hosts, but also had very responsive hosts. Even when I can't host, I do reply to requests.
Since we have moved very close to a designated cycling route, we get more requests and do respond to all of them. But, I will admit to
responding to one very late because I forgot to check one of my filters.
Damien, please don't give up on all NA hosts.
(Unfortunately, I suspect that just like with Couch Surfing, some people only sign up because they are looking for free places to stay and have no intention of ever hosting anybody.)
Tess
I agree don't lump us all together
I just signed up the other day for this sight. The main reason is that I thoroughly enjoy being a host
and my home is so close to a popular east west cross country route. I have every intention of replying
to all inquiries even if they are on short notice.
In this day and age when most everyone is in constant contact with the world via some electronic device
there is NO excuse for not having the decency to answer a request.
hosting issues
ID LIKE TO SAY WE WERE AWAY AT THE BEACH IN THE SUMMER IN NEW ZEALAND FOR 2 WEEKS NO COMPUTER ABOUT WHEN WE GOT HOME WE DISCOVERED A MESSAGE FROM GERMAN TRAVELLERS LOOKING FOR US TO HOST THEM TOO LATE WE COULD NOT CONTACT THEM BACK AS THEY LEFT NO RETURN REPLY THEY HAD rang SO ITS ALL A 2 WAY THING AS WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HOST THEM WE EVEN CONTACTE WARM SHOWERS TO TRY AND TRACE THEM ! NOW WE SEE WE HAVE ON OUR FILE A COMMENT AS NON RESPONSIVE WHICH IS REALLY UN FAIR BREIGE
To avoid that situation,
To avoid that situation, there is an option on your profile so you can be seen as being "not available for the moment".
responding
I agree that both sides have a responsibility to be responsible!
However, I also have to agree with those who ask that we not be all lumped together.
I am generally a responsive host, but recently I got a call from someone that did not leave a number to call. My computer was having issues so I couldn't get on. When we could get connected our primary concern was watching out for tornado and flood potentials. On top of it we were leaving that night on vacation!
I would have loved to be "responsive" and feel bad that I was not able to get back to the caller.
Sometimes things just happen.... :>)