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Airbnb Asks People to Donate Money to Landlords, Backlash Ensues

posted by Fnord666 on Sunday July 19 2020, @04:02PM   Printer-friendly
from the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished? dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Airbnb-asks-people-to-donate-money-to-hosts-15407730.php

Airbnb's latest attempt to appease hosts and customers amid a tumultuous year was met with a searing backlash on social media.

The online vacation rental marketplace, headquartered in San Francisco, initiated a feature this week offering customers the chance to donate money and "kindness cards" to hosts.

"Today we're introducing a new way to connect with your favorite hosts. Now you can create personalized kindness cards that make it easy to send a message of appreciation or encouragement, with the option to add a contribution. We hope these cards will make hosts smile, and bring a little joy your way," a message from the company to customers read.

"Airbnb has lost its f---ing head, why would I donate to my host? I can't even afford one house." Twitter user olenskae fumed.

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  • (Score: 2) by NateMich on Sunday July 19 2020, @08:24PM (2 children)

    by NateMich (6662) on Sunday July 19 2020, @08:24PM (#1023819)

    I think you're over-analyzing this. This sounds exactly like the stupid shit that my last company would do, and it was always the marketing people.
    I would be willing to bet some idiot marketing person, who is perfectly isolated from the problems others are having in the economy right now, came up with this shit.

    Starting Score:    1  point
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Arik on Sunday July 19 2020, @09:09PM (1 child)

    by Arik (4543) on Sunday July 19 2020, @09:09PM (#1023825) Journal
    He says mind control, you say marketing, there's no difference.

    That's what marketing aspires to do - to control a mass of weak-minded people and make them buy what we want to sell.
    --
    If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @08:27AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @08:27AM (#1024010)

      That's what marketing aspires to do - to control a mass of weak-minded people and make them buy what we want to sell.

      I see what you did there.