Vacation Rental Owners

[doncoulter]

I also use FlipKey, and I'm unhappy with some aspects of its service. But in this case, Robert, I have to take FlipKey's side.

What FK is describing in the email it sent you is its longstanding policy. Like any business, FK has to make money. The way it makes money is that, in exchange for publishing your listing and making it available all over the world, it collects a small percentage of the rent you charge whenever someone reserves your property via its website. This seems to me a perfectly legitimate business model.

Now, in order for this business model to work, FK has to keep people from doing an end run around it. If a prospective renter finds you via FK and you then try to cut out the middleman and communicate with him directly, FK fears it will miss out on its percentage.

For that reason, FK forbids such end runs. This is crystal clear on its website: "Prior to payment, contact with travelers by phone, video chat, or personal email . . . is prohibited." This rule is nothing new.

It appears you've violated the rule, and FK has warned you not to do so again. Seems fair to me.

Don