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

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: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @02:41AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @02:41AM (#1023940)

    "If you use it, you're putting legitimate hostels and renters out of business."

    I have no sympathy for the hotels. They are not legitimate and don't deserve any special treatment in the form of having their competition eliminated. To the extent that you want to get rid Airbnb because they are competition this is the exact reason why we should not get rid of them. Competition is good.

    Kinda like the fact that big media hates Uber and Lyft because they compete with the taxi cab industry and their illegitimate medallion monopolies. The medallion monopolies should be abolished and the reason we should keep Uber and Lyft around is exactly to provide fair competition.

    Many of those hotels are predatory. They use local government to lobby in ways that limit competition. If a business wants to open up their own local in house lounging place for their traveling employees to save money, one that's cleaner and more luxurious than the local hotels/motels, the hotels will lobby the local government to make them go away and to make sure it doesn't happen.

    Sorry, I have zero sympathy for the hotels. Just like I have zero sympathy for the taxi cab industry that obtains medallions to limit competition in ways that hurt the drivers and the customers. They aren't special and should be forced to compete like anyone else.

    I recognize that most of the hatred towards Uber and Lyft that I see in the headlines is really done by those that support the medallion monopolies and have the underlying agenda harming both the consumers and the taxi-cab drivers.

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @04:00AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @04:00AM (#1023968)

    > The medallion monopolies should be abolished and the reason we should keep Uber and Lyft around is exactly to provide fair competition.

    I agree that medallions have turned into a corrupt system, perhaps more so in some cities than others. However, if you think Uber and Lyft provide fair competition, I have a bridge to sell you. Both are extremely well funded by VCs (and other deep pockets) and are prepared to make a loss until such time that the earlier system of taxi cabs has been put out of business. At which point Uber and Lyft prices will increase due to their new monopoly.

    While Uber and Lyft represent themselves as hip "ride sharing" companies, they are in reality normal capitalists that actually want to be monopolists.

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday July 21 2020, @10:56PM

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 21 2020, @10:56PM (#1024773) Journal

      Both are extremely well funded by VCs (and other deep pockets) and are prepared to make a loss until such time that the earlier system of taxi cabs has been put out of business.

      I think the coming taxi genocide is quite a fair use of VC money.