3d ago

Something's up with all those airbnb locks | Purplepingers

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They stopped using them on construction sites specifically for that reason. You can just cut them off (or knock them off the wall), and open them at your leisure. Everyone hides the keys instead now.
Also, its just a stupid solution for AirBNB too, since anyone can easily clone the keys. You're better off installing a lock that accepts pin numbers and you can change whenever a guest leaves
- Everyone uses them because usability is dramatically more important than security.
  The key is only in the box for a few hours between guests, and during that time the cleaner will be there.
  Even if someone picked the lock or cloned a key... all they can steal is some shitty ikea furniture and maybe make an instant coffee.
  
  The point is you can have both security and usability
  If the guest loses the key too, it's not an issue
  I suspect people mainly use the lockboxes only because other people do
  
  I suspect people mainly use the lockboxes only because other people do
  I suspect it's a cheap and easy hack, I don't work with locks but I assume they don't need to 𝙿̝̃𝙰̤͙̑̇𝚈̲̠̤̪͒̉͐͑ ̲͇̳̺͈̽͌̇̓̄ ̟̝̹̞̩͔̼̀͂̓͑͒ͦ̓𝙼̞̹̩͎̣̥͇̟̒̊͂̽̇͗̓͌͊ͅ𝙾͚̲͎̰͔̖̼̐͑͒̀́ͩ̚𝙽͇͍̖̖̙ͮ̓̎ͤ̿𝙴̪̺̜̱̅̋̆̊𝚈̯̘̇̚ to install a whole new locking system on the door itself, just change the lock cylinder and put the new key in a cheap box.
  
  We have an apartment in a holiday village. We couldn't rent to long term tenants if we wanted to.
  We have a fancy electronic lock. The codes update automatically to the last 4 digits of a guest's phone number.
  It was expensive. $1,200 or something.
  You need to change the batteries. Not every week, but maybe once every few months.
  Guest's struggle with it. We literally send a diagram with step by step instructions for how to operate it but guests still struggle.
  Occasionally guests call us because they can't find the key-safe. "I'm looking at a key safe but I think it's for the neighbours apartment and it doesn't look like your diagram and my code doesn't work".
  We had another version of the same thing previously which was terrible. The number pad kept dropping the connection to the lock and it was just a shit show.
  On balance, I do like this fandangle new lock and I do like that we don't have to change the codes and that guests only have access for the duration of their stay. There is definitely a reduction in usability, although we've been able to mitigate that. I don't regret getting it but there's definitely something to be said for these cheap usable boxes.
  
  Even if someone picked the lock or cloned a key… all they can steal is some shitty ikea furniture and maybe make an instant coffee.
  Well, they could also sabotage the AirBnB if they wanted to devalue the property, or they could steal from a tenant who isn't home.
  
  If a tenant isn't home they will have the key with them, it won't be in the box.
  Sabotage would be covered by insurance. It wouldn't de-value the property. Who would actually do that? Huge personal risk for a vague improbable social benefit.
  If you wanted to sabotage surely a molotov through the window would be more effective.
  
  If a tenant isn’t home they will have the key with them, it won’t be in the box.
  I was thinking about if a key was taken when it was there, then the attacker leaves to have a duplicate key cut, returns it (to prevent suspicion and the lock being replaced) and infiltrates with it whenever they want.
  insurance
  I don't know how that kind of property insurance works, but surely there are limits to what is covered? Plus, as another motive, it might just be out of spite, rather than to devalue property.
  If you wanted to sabotage surely a molotov through the window would be more effective.
  Yes, but there's surely a larger chance of needlessly getting on the federal shitlist for firebombing.
  
  If these things ever happened no one would use those boxes.
  Stealing from guests would still be high risk / low yield. I doubt people are leaving cash and jewellery in their apartment when they go out for lunch. If you want to engage in a life of petty crime I'm sure there are more rewarding ways.
  There isn't really a limit to what's covered by insurance. That's kind of the idea of having insurance. Low-cost damage isn't covered, but if you started a campaign of petty vandalism the owner would address the security deficiency.
- You can just cut them off (or knock them off the wall), and open them at your leisure.
  When it comes down to it, there's usually a brute-force way through most standard locks, say, bolt cutters, pin raking (or bumping), unscrewing the door hinges if they're on the wrong side. But in populated areas, a loud break-in isn't ideal, especially for squatters who plan on sleeping overnight. So for all intents and purposes, I'd assume the point of the lock is just to make it not worth a basic squatter or thief's time and tempt them to search elsewhere for an easy win.
  Everyone hides the keys instead now.
  I'm curious - if you went to a new construction site, do you reckon you could find their key/s within an hour or two without already knowing where they were?

25 comments