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I haven't heard any plans from VRBO to remove the renter email address after booking. We'll see if they stick with that, or if that, too, becomes something that goes by the wayside with them.
Glenn Moore said:
On a second topic, has anyone moved to the pay per booking model? Is it worth it?
Aside from the inability to send a quote, have they locked down the ability to send an email through their 'walled garden'? For example, AirBnB has a walled garden and I never do see the guest's real email. (mind you I do get their phone number that I can text to... which technically does bypass their 'wall'). Regardless, when I get a booking from AirBnB, I am given a special AirBnB email address that I can use. I use OR to manage the reservation and send several emails to the guests automatically regarding access codes, cleaning, etc. I am aware that any site links will be stripped away and do not have them in my email templates to the guests. It works for me.
Is VRBO doing essentially the same thing? If so, then I have no real problem with it. Sadly I have given up quite some time ago on doing quotes and payments out of OZ. The triggered emails are what I now pay for. If VRBO blocks all emails, even from OR, then I too am hooped.
Right now, on VRBO I do not see the renter's email address until he/she books. After that it is revealed to me and I update it in my booking. It is a real email address. I guess they haven't fully built the 'wall' out to my part of the woods yet.... Mind you, I have not moved to the pay per booking model yet.
On a second topic, has anyone moved to the pay per booking model? Is it worth it?
That's wonderful!
We actually do have a rates download/upload now!
We haven't broadly announced it, but if you look at bottom of the Tools menu there is a Export Rates/Seasons to Excel and Import Rates/Seasons from Excel.
Let me know if you've got any questions on that.
Would love a simpler way to enter rates instead of having to set up seasons/dates and then rates. A downloadable excel or CSV file that could be manipulated and uploaded would be wonderful. Or even just something simpler like selecting the dates then entering the weekly, nightly, minimum stay, turnover day all on one screen would be preferred. As of now I have to create multiple "seasons" then the rates and filter by property (filter then gets reset each time I enter something). It's currently extremely time consuming and cumbersome especially to make changes.
Looking forward to this as well. Speaking for my condos, it appears people prefer to text VS call or email.
Personally, I like texting because you still have a "paper trail" and it's easier than email.
I also plan to dabble in bulk messaging (similar to email lists) so potential guests cell phone #s are just as valuable to have as their email address.
It would indeed! And that's planned for future development. The idea is that there will be Email Templates (what we have now) and SMS Templates. In your triggers, you'll be able to specify a SMS Template to send at a trigger instead of (or in addition to) an Email Template. It's gotten pushed back a bit because of current wok.
Would it not be great to have an option to text short messages such as door code, check in/check out time reminder.
We've now released an update to allow this.
If you go into the Book Now/Inquiry widget settings you will find a checkbox for "Simplify Charge Details" (to turn on simple mode) and also uncheck "Quote Is Approximate" to remove "From" language.
Tammy P said:
We have noticed that our link for the ownerrez quote is now also being blocked. Is there no way around this either?
We have noticed that our link for the ownerrez quote is now also being blocked. Is there no way around this either?
They've locked things down hard on all avenues, particularly if you only have one listing or on pay per book.
I can't recommend trying to get around the blocking because that's part of the agreement with the listing sites. Sometimes they just don't support what's needed to communicate with the guest and get locked in. I have heard of people messaging leads using search terms for their website or their website name. I.e. "search for craggy cabins" or "go to craggy cabins com (put together with dots)".
I tried to specifically send a lead from HomeAway my e-mail...4 different times! Each time I thought I had removed tags that HomeAway would recognize, and each time they figured it out and sent ------@---.com to the lead. Very frustrating! Some way to go direct would be very helpful!
I'm sure erentallock is a great option, but using the guest's cell number has worked well for me. I never get calls from guests about forgotten door codes :)
Thank you for the reply, Michelle. While your idea is feasible, I will just send the message manually for now and copy/paste their cell number in the door code information.
Hi Janice,
Is there a reason you can't use the booking field codes for guest phone number that are there right now? Talking about these:
That isn't specific to the **cell** number of course, but you could use the multi code to show all the numbers you have on file and then word it like so:
"The code is the last four digit of your phone number. We currently have this list of phone numbers for you:
{CPHONE}
Please try the last four digits of each of those numbers."
Not perfect, but it would allow you to automate it.
I assume it is correct..Unless they volunteer to tell me otherwise. No issues so far, but I also no longer use cell # for the key code - I use erentallock and that generates unique code for each renter - I have no control of actual digits in that code.
I would like this feature also. Like Janice, I use the last 4 digits of the guest's cell as their door lock code.
Yes, guests usually do supply that number. But, I would like to be able to include their cell number automatically in an email that I send out using a trigger. Otherwise, I have to go to another tab and copy the number, paste it in my email and then send manually. Also, some people just leave the field blank, but I need that number in case I need to contact them during their stay.
Example:
Your reservation information lists your cell number as {guestcellnumber}. Please let us know if this number is not correct since we use the last 4 digits of this number as your door code during your stay.
(wording is off the top of my head... haven't composed the actual yet)
Dont they supply their phone on reservation?
I would like to have a field code for guest's cell number. I ask guests to verify their cell number since I use the last 4 digits as their door lock code. It would be helpful to be able to add this field code in email templates, especially if I use a trigger with that template.
Thanks for considering this request.
I am experimenting with WH too on AirBNB and TA channels. The drawback is that now my WH TA prices do not necessarily match OR prices as I book TA inquiries via OR.
Yep, we don't do anything automatically to VRBO.
The inquiry import is done via email. Here's an article on that: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/inquiry-import
The calendar import and calendar export are done via iCal and you can set up one without the other. Here's an article on that: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/calendar-sync
Often what you'll do is to set up a booking import from VRBO and only update availability back to them, not all booking info. If you follow the instructions in that article, that's what you'll get.
Hi Chris,
thanks for the reply. So, can I limit the vice versa ? I don't want owner rez to update vrbo ...
thanks
Lou
VRBO isn't accepting us to their "PM" integration right now.
What we do have is integration via email parsing (so anything they send you in the inquiry email will show up in OwnerRez). We've also got integration via two way calendar sync, so bookings created in VRBO will show up in OwnerRez and vice versa.
Has this happened.
I use AirBnB's smartpricing-gotta be very careful with it
I am trying WH out on my AirBnB listing. personally not overly impressed as I noticed that they have set some holiday rates lower than I KNOW they could book, and I had to interfere and manually override the price. Overall, i do not think it makes property to book more or earn higher .. I guess my existing rates were already pretty fine tuned...
I am thinking, as a start, just a cleaning date (doesn't even have to be hooked up to anything) on the booking would be of tremendous value to me as long as I could see it on the bookings listing view.
Glenn
