How to do a VRBO discount

I'm finding the whole VRBO API a bit awkward. I'm wondering what the best way is to send a "special offer", much like AirBnb, when someone has sent just an inquiry via VRBO. Right now, I am having them send in an actual request to book, then I can send them back an updated quote. I think that's a little weird for the guest, because it looks to them as if they are booking at the higher price than negotiated. Is there an easier way?

Unfortunately, no, this is a known clunky bit and limitation of the Vrbo API:

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations-vrbo

We're actively pursuing a better solution with Vrbo, but it's complicated and may be awhile.

Also, with the VRBO API, since the booking always shows pending, even on the guest side, after it's been booked, I'm assuming they can never leave a review?

That seems wrong - can you write in to the Helpdesk with a specific example we can investigate?

Hi Ken! Is this still the case or has it been updated with an easier way? Will VRBO charge the guest service fee on the discounted rate or the original request to book amount?

Vrbo will charge service fees on the higher of the original or modified total.

Is there a way to request that VRBO charge their fee based on the discounted rate? Seems like it would be in their favour to have positive customer service interactions like that one

Here are a few strategies for adjusting pricing for a guest:

(Note: The Vrbo ~15% booking fee will not be reduced in amount if you adjust the price down on OwnerRez after the guest books.)

1. Discuss and Refund: You can discuss a discount with the guest (via the Vrbo inbox or a quote). They book at the original price, and you adjust the charges and refund the difference if they paid 100% upfront. The downsides are that guests might be wary of not receiving the refund, and you could incur credit card fees on the refunded amount if you use Stripe or if the adjustment occurs after daily settlement by your payment processor.
2. Adjust Rates and Min Nights: Agree on a price with the guest, then adjust the rates and minimum nights for the booking period in your settings. The risk here is that once the new rates sync, anyone could book those dates. You and the guest must be online simultaneously; you make the changes, let the changes sync (10-15 minutes), and the guest books immediately. Note that if you use dynamic pricing, these manual adjustments will be overwritten during the next sync. This approach requires quick coordination between you and the guest. (This will allow the guest booking fee to be based on the new discounted amount)
3. Instant Book Adjustment: If you use "Instant Book," temporarily change your property rules to create a "pending" status. This allows you to process the price adjustments and then revert your booking rules back to their original settings

Or, if you are Request to Book: If you use the "Request to Book" feature, you can adjust the pricing on a booking request before confirming it. You and the guest agree on a price within the Vrbo inbox to make the guest comfortable with the request, then adjust the charges before confirming the booking.

I was looking at the discounts, then the account got shut down due to their bad billing practices, & we fired them. 
VRBO’s new “commission” system uses the credit card on file .
They didn’t tell us it wasn’t working- & no way to check on the account or balances. 
After an awkward help desk call with some poor person in Southeast Asia or India, I got ANOTHER emailed invoice. 

VRBO is less than 2% of our bookings, & hasn’t given us the best quality guests, so we fired them. 
More & more I would rather people used our direct booking site, & skipped the tech bro upcharge, bad service, & over-reliance on AI (looking at you, AB&B) that leads to a lot of frustration- it took us months to be categorized as “near national parks” despite one being .5 miles away (C&) Canal), & the other (AntietamNB) about 2 miles away. 
I had to repeat the category request at least 6 times. I guess they just got tired of saying no. 

The platforms have gotten incredibly “enshittified” taking more, & providing less, all the time. 
We are moving towards getting as many direct bookings as we can, & telling the platforms (except Crewdogs, they are cool) to take a longer walk off a shorter pier. 

EDG
antietamdome.com