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Couchers is officially out of beta

(couchers.org)
246 points laurentlb | 3 comments | 02 Jul 25 18:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.675s | source
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doctorpangloss ◴[02 Jul 25 19:10 UTC] No.44447637[source]▶
Michael Sandel’s book had a good section on Airbnb killing couch surfing. Maybe the one thing Airbnb really did do.

Another POV is, everyone is fatigued out of selling to customers who cannot afford to pay more. In this space: Trusted House Sitters is like having a homeless person stay over. Couchsurfing: is it similar?

replies(1): >>44448571 #
1. nabramow ◴[02 Jul 25 20:39 UTC] No.44448571[source]▶
IMO AirBnb and Couchsurfing have to entirely different aims.

AirBnB is about the space itself. You pay for the space.

Couchsurfing is about the people sharing the space with you, cultural-exchange, etc. You do not pay, it's more about connecting and meeting with people.

replies(1): >>44450451 #
2. subarctic ◴[03 Jul 25 00:49 UTC] No.44450451[source]▶
Ya in some cases Airbnb can be like Couchsurfing if the host is there in the same apartment/house and actually more of a host/local guide, and I think some Couchsurfing hosts may have transitioned to Airbnb, but there's definitely a difference in what the "default" expectation is
replies(1): >>44451300 #
3. bemmu ◴[03 Jul 25 03:13 UTC] No.44451300[source]▶
We've been hosting both AirBnB and Couchers/CouchSurfing.

AirBnB has the vibe that you as the host are a provider of a service, which will be rated by the "customer". Couchsurfing is just some people hanging out.