Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra :: Airbnb looks like it will be the next bubble

[quote name="skip"]It has a 13 billion dollar valuation. What the fuck? I use Uber but less because I believe in the "sharing economy" but because it has lower prices with better customer service than cabs. The drivers never hassle me for a tip or to pay in cash. If cab companies got their act together and fixed those two things, I might even go back to just hailing one instead of dealing with Uber's surge gouging. I haven't found a reason to use Airbnb other than the fact that it's cheaper than hotels so college kids and those with equivalent salaries don't have to stay in a hostel. Hotels have 24/7 customer service, maids, complimentary breakfast, and some sort of accountability. You can stay in a "quirky" place (Look, you can stay in a treehouse! Not like you couldn't do that at home or just pitch a tent and go camping to get a similar experience) and pay less but you're getting so little back, I don't get why you'd do it unless price was your only concern. Frontier Airlines charges cheap fares but I won't use them either since you lose so much in customer service and amenities. I read somewhere that this crowdsourcing shit doesn't signal a trend towards sharing but is a sign of the death of the middle class and I'm inclined to agree. Instead of higher wages, we get to experience a vacation from someone's sublet.[/quote]