As though things hadn't got bad enough...

As though things hadn't got bad enough, HomeAway have now removed the PRICE LIST ("Rates") from my listing with no prior warning or reason given! This is unreasonable and I'm inclined to say unacceptable - except that one is faced with either accepting it or leaving because there is no discussion, no consultation with their owners who are also their customers.

Consequently the very useful "currency" drop down menu enabling travellers from around the world to obtain a guide price in their own currency has also disappeared. Going to the "owners dashboard" reveals the previously entered rates to the owner only but even then the "currency" button no longer works. The currency sign before the prices changes but not the actual numbers!! This impacts greatly on guests from Ireland for example who use the UK HomeAway website but have Euros as their currency.

I have no idea when this rates panel was removed but to imagine its sufficient for travellers to only be able to see the price of the period they have inputted without seeing weekly rates for all other months, is a huge marketing error. Everyone wants to scan a price list seeing the peak and lowest priced months. Reading a price list / looking at a menu is in our nature and to deny people this is unforgiveable when as an advertiser I signed up and paid for a listing that portrayed a price list.

It also disables owners from introducing "stand out and named" special promotions previously visible on the rates list when last minute offers could be highlighted for unlet weeks in the near future. Such stupidity doubtless instigated by unimaginative people who have never had to run a business or promote a product or service in their lives.

No explanation for either deficiency has been forthcoming from their so called Customer Services, manned it seems by a call centre in Bulgaria.

I should say that I have been advertising with Owners Direct for many years. My calendar is always updated, I have 6 five star reviews and, unlike many owners, I have no quibble with the introduction of the so-called service fee levied upon the travellers, my guests. Those that pay it to HomeAway obviously believe it is worth doing so (not one has complained to me about it).

But the "offering" has now moved so far away from the formula that was the recipe for success that it's easy to imagine Expedia or whoever bought these businesses seeing serious shortfalls from their original business plans once competing websites develop, gain search engine prominence and offer owners and travellers alike the product they used to enjoy and still very much crave.