It was a wonderful idea but they site knows the reality. Free couch is easy to sell for them. So they deliberately don't have a system to rate the guest's cultural sharing or friendliness. The reference system is exactly the same for surfer and the host while the host is the one making an extra effort.
They don't do it because they are getting an endless supply of single males who host and females who request either alone or with friends/partner.
No surfer (not hosts) actually believes that they are there to form a friendship. Everybody's best intention is to bother the host, happy to take whatever the host has to offer or just need they could crash at the end of the site seeing the whole day. They might make an effort to be friends in case in they plan to come back to same city later.
I was at a couch surfing meet with a serial surfer who said in the meeting - "you cannot expect someone to become friends after a few days of hosting!!"
K
Kenneth Field
9 years ago
The site and the system is actually aimed not at cultural exchange but to maximise benefits to surfers (girls) at the expense of hosts. The site has a created a monopoly by only aiming for higher number of users.
Majority of surfers are female and 99% of them only surf and act as judges to the hosts 90% of whom are single men. After hosting around 50 people, I have learnt there is no cultural exchange. Majority of surfers are youngsters who are believe that they are being hosted as they are the cool people and some older person is simpleton they can freeload from. The site doesn't have a system for a very high percentage of people who don't show up the last minute. Majority of surfers are promised a free bed without there being any effective rating for what they offered the host.
K
Kian Wee
10 years ago
Featured
I'm missing the CS spirit of 2008. New people to CS are getting the idea that CS is just a freeloading site because of CS management's poor leadership. You guys need to do some deep soul-searching!
A
Abraham Kang
10 years ago
Not just a free home indeed.
S
Sascha Heylmann
10 years ago
Not sure if CS will change anything for a 1000 people petition - but it surely would be worth it. CS is not about a free place to stay - it is about reaching out and building friendships across cultures.
A
Anabell Munoz
10 years ago
SHARE YOUR LIFE!!!
G
Gabriel
10 years ago
No free loaders
A
Anne-Grete Bjørlo
10 years ago
Featured
In the good old days (2007-2011) Couchsurfing focused on building friendship - not a free hotel where you crash in and let the host do your laundry. We built friendships across agegroups and country borders - the point was sharing! Please try and capture this spirit again!
R
Roberto
10 years ago
Featured
It's a pity that CS has lost the real and original spirit. My house is not a free hostel. I am interested to share culture
N
Nikki Tan
10 years ago
We need to bring back the beautiful past of this community. They think they can do whatever they want now cos they're for profit! BS!
E
Emilia
10 years ago
Featured
They forget that CS is based on its users and community, and change the concept and market it without taking in consideration what the CS community feels or thinks about it... :(
M
Martin
10 years ago
Indeed. Let's all head back to the intent
A
Aishah Md
10 years ago
This kills the real msg of the old couchsurfing.
J
j mitchell
10 years ago
Cs leadership has little experience couchsurfing or traveling
L
Lau Chye Hiong
10 years ago
Let's find back the beautiful spirit.
L
LEE HONG HUI
10 years ago
I agree. What was once a beautiful and wonderful cultural exchange now becomes a ugly tagline on the website.
S
Shang Qian Song
10 years ago
Featured
I feel that the CS Spirit has dwindled in the following years. People are joining CS as a means of getting free accommodation instead of the genuine cultural exchange that was intended from the inception of this website.
There needs to be something done about this issue!
U
Ummar
10 years ago
Featured
Airbnb was inspired by Couchsurfing's concept so why is Couchsurfing trying to inspire to be like Airbnb? If CS keeps marketing itself like a free hotel/Airbnb it will keep attracting cheapos rather than hospitality-exchange-minded travelers.
It was a wonderful idea but they site knows the reality. Free couch is easy to sell for them. So they deliberately don't have a system to rate the guest's cultural sharing or friendliness. The reference system is exactly the same for surfer and the host while the host is the one making an extra effort. They don't do it because they are getting an endless supply of single males who host and females who request either alone or with friends/partner. No surfer (not hosts) actually believes that they are there to form a friendship. Everybody's best intention is to bother the host, happy to take whatever the host has to offer or just need they could crash at the end of the site seeing the whole day. They might make an effort to be friends in case in they plan to come back to same city later. I was at a couch surfing meet with a serial surfer who said in the meeting - "you cannot expect someone to become friends after a few days of hosting!!"
The site and the system is actually aimed not at cultural exchange but to maximise benefits to surfers (girls) at the expense of hosts. The site has a created a monopoly by only aiming for higher number of users. Majority of surfers are female and 99% of them only surf and act as judges to the hosts 90% of whom are single men. After hosting around 50 people, I have learnt there is no cultural exchange. Majority of surfers are youngsters who are believe that they are being hosted as they are the cool people and some older person is simpleton they can freeload from. The site doesn't have a system for a very high percentage of people who don't show up the last minute. Majority of surfers are promised a free bed without there being any effective rating for what they offered the host.
I'm missing the CS spirit of 2008. New people to CS are getting the idea that CS is just a freeloading site because of CS management's poor leadership. You guys need to do some deep soul-searching!
Not just a free home indeed.
Not sure if CS will change anything for a 1000 people petition - but it surely would be worth it. CS is not about a free place to stay - it is about reaching out and building friendships across cultures.
SHARE YOUR LIFE!!!
No free loaders
In the good old days (2007-2011) Couchsurfing focused on building friendship - not a free hotel where you crash in and let the host do your laundry. We built friendships across agegroups and country borders - the point was sharing! Please try and capture this spirit again!
It's a pity that CS has lost the real and original spirit. My house is not a free hostel. I am interested to share culture
We need to bring back the beautiful past of this community. They think they can do whatever they want now cos they're for profit! BS!
They forget that CS is based on its users and community, and change the concept and market it without taking in consideration what the CS community feels or thinks about it... :(
Indeed. Let's all head back to the intent
This kills the real msg of the old couchsurfing.
Cs leadership has little experience couchsurfing or traveling
Let's find back the beautiful spirit.
I agree. What was once a beautiful and wonderful cultural exchange now becomes a ugly tagline on the website.
I feel that the CS Spirit has dwindled in the following years. People are joining CS as a means of getting free accommodation instead of the genuine cultural exchange that was intended from the inception of this website. There needs to be something done about this issue!
Airbnb was inspired by Couchsurfing's concept so why is Couchsurfing trying to inspire to be like Airbnb? If CS keeps marketing itself like a free hotel/Airbnb it will keep attracting cheapos rather than hospitality-exchange-minded travelers.
CS is losing its way
True to that.