Page 9 | Airbnb host refusing to send AirPods without me paying?

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 17/03/2026 18:06

I think the people who are calling them CFs and suggesting that they see it as a handy nice little earner are completely barking up the wrong tree. They don't WANT to have to do it at all, so the fee is to dissuade you from taking up so much of their time and headspace.

They would far prefer people to do the obvious standard thing of taking a couple of minutes to walk around the property just before you leave to check if you've left anything. For something both expensive and very little and easy to overlook such as Airpods, I'd make a special note to myself or set an alarm so as not to forget them - or even just put them right next to your car keys or passport so you can't possibly miss them.

To you, it's a one-off; but to them, it's an extra big burden that they never agreed to and don't want to do for every single person who doesn't bother checking that they've got all of their belongings before leaving. They're a business - and this is not even part of their actual business; it's nothing like asking your mum or dad to pop something in the post to you that you forgot when you last visited.

I know it's not exactly the same thing, but it reminds me of the businesses in busy public places that have a permanent stream of non-customers wanting to use their toilets - it's seen as no big deal by every individual in isolation, but dozens if not hundreds of extra people every day represent a very significant cost to their business, not to mention the inconvenience and delay for their actual customers.

WildLeader · 17/03/2026 18:05

We were at war with France for 500 years.

can see why.

staringatthesun · 17/03/2026 18:05

Imagine if they had to do this for every guest? I don't blame them at all, they are not a courier service.

Randomtiringwalk · 17/03/2026 18:04

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Purplecatshopaholic · 17/03/2026 18:04

What’s cheapest.. buying new ones, travelling back over there and collecting them, or paying the £50? It’s daylight robbery yes, but they don’t have to send them, it was your mistake. Terrible customer service though.

BoogieTownTop · 17/03/2026 18:03

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Again, the postage is in addition to the £50!

Randomtiringwalk · 17/03/2026 18:00

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SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 17/03/2026 18:00

As a PP mentioned if its a management company who has to deal with it it will be a straight charge yhat someone's going to have to pay

nomas · 17/03/2026 17:59

maturemummy · 17/03/2026 17:55

€50 plus postage is daylight robbery but they are doing you a favour.

Someone might need to go to the Post Office to send it via registered mail, that employee needs to be paid for their time.

Toomuchprivateinfo · 17/03/2026 17:59

FreddysFingers · 17/03/2026 17:08

£50! That's ridiculous. You should cover P&P and that should be it.

So the owner should give their time and trouble for free? Because someone was careless enough to leave a valuable item?

Randomtiringwalk · 17/03/2026 17:59

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nomas · 17/03/2026 17:56

ItWasnaMeGuv · 17/03/2026 17:51

YANBU My DH recently left his phone by the bed of a UK hotel we stayed at. I arranged with reception to send them a stamped addressed envelope (I had used my phone for correct weight cost) which they could stick phone in and post. They did not ask for extra payment. I am not sure what the £50 is for, perhaps it is a french thing.

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What envelope and stamps is OP going to send to Paris?!

maturemummy · 17/03/2026 17:55

€50 plus postage is daylight robbery but they are doing you a favour.

Toomuchprivateinfo · 17/03/2026 17:55

ItWasnaMeGuv · 17/03/2026 17:51

YANBU My DH recently left his phone by the bed of a UK hotel we stayed at. I arranged with reception to send them a stamped addressed envelope (I had used my phone for correct weight cost) which they could stick phone in and post. They did not ask for extra payment. I am not sure what the £50 is for, perhaps it is a french thing.

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The difference being the hotel employs many staff who are being paid anyway and can do this as part of their daily duties.

Toomuchprivateinfo · 17/03/2026 17:53

CrowMate · 17/03/2026 16:35

I’d expect them to post them
back for the cost of the postage.

What about the cost of their time to package them, travel to the post office, queue up etc?

It’s much more than just the cost of registered delivery or whatever.

ItWasnaMeGuv · 17/03/2026 17:51

moryn · 17/03/2026 16:31

Recently got back from a short break in Paris.

I left my AirPods on the bed, the host refuses to send them back unless I pay £50 plus postage.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

YANBU My DH recently left his phone by the bed of a UK hotel we stayed at. I arranged with reception to send them a stamped addressed envelope (I had used my phone for correct weight cost) which they could stick phone in and post. They did not ask for extra payment. I am not sure what the £50 is for, perhaps it is a french thing.

BananaSkinShoes · 17/03/2026 17:46

£50 plus postage? Cheeky fuckers. What’s the £50 for?

My husband left the contents of his bedside drawer in a cottage we rented in the uk recently. We had to pay the postage but nothing else.

He also left his fancy chef’s knife in another (he has form) and those nice people sent it FOC.

BoogieTownTop · 17/03/2026 17:45

Helpfullright · 17/03/2026 17:42

Don’t forget it’s got a battery in. So postage will be more.

Heathrow Airport won’t even post them due to the battery, you have to go and collect!

Again, the postage is being charged on top of the £50.

Helpfullright · 17/03/2026 17:42

Don’t forget it’s got a battery in. So postage will be more.

Heathrow Airport won’t even post them due to the battery, you have to go and collect!

user88766554 · 17/03/2026 17:41

When i left something in an Airbnb, I offered to pay for the host’s time to return it. She declined, but I would happily have paid

anyolddinosaur · 17/03/2026 17:39

It's a steep fee and once you have either got them or decided not to mention it in your review. I dont think you can claim the cost of your airpods from insurance as they arent lost or stolen. If you mention it in a review it will be obvious they were not lost or stolen.

CurlewKate · 17/03/2026 17:38

I would certainly expect to pay postage plus costs…

ultraviolet4753 · 17/03/2026 17:37

Do their booking t&cs mention this?
We had one that mentioned a charge for posting back lost property.
A fee is fine, but seems too high.

BoogieTownTop · 17/03/2026 17:36

IngridBurger · 17/03/2026 17:07

On the face of it £50 in addition to postage seems excessive but if the owners are using a management company I suppose this could realistically be what they are charged for someone to go out to the property to find lost items, package them up and take them to post. If that's the case I can see why they would want to pass that expense along.

If the cleaner didn’t find an item left on the bed, then they need to cleaners! They don’t need to send someone to look for them!

Imisscoffee2021 · 17/03/2026 17:34

It's probably for time, where knows where post office is.and how long limes are, intl postage etc etc. It's steep but it's to be expected.