Spain-Holiday sell out

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outlook
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 9:52 pm

Spain-Holiday sell out

Post by outlook »

I am truly disappointed with the sellout to Bookiply. I have been with S-H since 2008. During this time I found the system worked well and was able to build up good feedback and offer a consistent service to clients. The bulk of my bookings came from old-school Spain-Holiday listings.
I was contacted by Bookiply and naturally had lots of questions. Questions that were not well received and my call was cut short by Arian of Bookiply saying her scheduled time slot for talking to me was over. She did not contact me back as promised. Later when talking via email to Jimmy a member of the original Spain Holiday team, I discovered I had been put on a list as "not interested in switching to Bookiply"

Here are the questions I asked
1: How long do you hold booking payments. (they hold them until clients move in. In the case of advanced bookings this means one's yearly cash flow is interrupted and there will be no money in the kitty for villa prep)

2 Is there any way to vet clients? ie to avoid the groups of young party makers.
(it would seem that this is not possible with their compulsory Instant Booking system)

3 Charge-back protection? (um.....)

4 Client communication prior to booking? (No, Blookiply will do this for you using an automated computerized response and do not allow any direct communication between guest and host.)

5 Can I have a contract? (No, the Bookiply rental form is a contract!)

6 Who will write my listing description? (Bookiply will write the description.) God knows how because they have never been at the house.

7 What is your strictest guest cancellation? (no penalties to the guest until one month before arrival)

8 Can owners cancel a booking if the guest is not suitable? ie a party group. (Yes but with a penalty charge to the owner starting at 50Eur going up to 20% of the rent.)

Finally: if you don't like it you don't have to work with Bookiply says Arian repeatedly. She seems to have forgotten that Spain-Holiday is in fact a community of Home Owners. All we have to do is unite against unfair bullying policies.

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Last edited by outlook on Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
CSE
Posts: 4414
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:34 pm
Location: Galicia

Post by CSE »

Welcome to the forum.
There are a number of very recent posts about this portal.
https://www.laymyhat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29708
https://www.laymyhat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29699
There other threads about alternatives too.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
outlook
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 9:52 pm

Post by outlook »

Thank you CSE, I will take a look!
volcano
Posts: 84
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:24 am
Location: Lanzarote

Post by volcano »

As long as the guests do not understand that it is WE who manage the houses and all of the problems associated with them, nothing will change. We will continue to be only inventory for the platforms that can be exploited, otherwise we have nothing to report.

As long as the owners put up with that, nothing will change.
All platforms have bad to very bad reviews and yet there are still incorrigible ones who offer their houses there and the others who also book there. And who later complain and get upset at Trustpilot etc.

Only when guests and owners get back to the original business idea: owner to guest DIRECTLY will satisfaction return.
outlook
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 9:52 pm

Post by outlook »

I hear you Volcano. Looking at Trustpilot's reviews for AB&B, Booking.com and the others, one would not trust them at all. Lets hope these automated megaliths collapse inwards from the stress, mistrust, blocked communications and fraud. Fancy basing business on blocking communication!

I just came across this Holiday Rental site offering an old school "Spain Holiday" model. I am not sure if it is viable but looks good on the surface.
https://www.bookingsforall.com/services-and-prices.aspx

It might be worth a look. If enough of us joined it might take off.

What do you guys think:?:
volcano
Posts: 84
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:24 am
Location: Lanzarote

Post by volcano »

looks good, sounds good. what is the catch? here..

https://www.laymyhat.com/forum/viewtopi ... ingsforall
outlook
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 9:52 pm

Post by outlook »

Perhaps this would be a better option. https://www.holidayviewsdirect.com/[/url]
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