Please advise regarding my “flagged” nomination

Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭
edited February 2021 in Nomination Improvement

I submitted a nomination for a unique, locally owned bakery and espresso shop that is a very popular gathering place.

The reason for “ineligibility” provided yesterday by Niantic floored me:

”Nomination was flagged for targeting other players with the purpose of abuse, ridicule, trolling, or harassment.”

Here is the entirety of my nomination, so you may advise me on next steps. The nomination was rejected a month ago for “dark photo” (trust me—-it wasn’t).

“Xxxxxx Bakery has been a popular hyper-local hotspot, locally owned and operated, for over 20 years. It’s a perfect place to meet folks for socializing over an espresso and handcrafted pastry or bread. There’s always something new & exciting at Xxxx.”

“This is the southeast location of xxxx bakery; the only other location is downtown. Very safe, easy pedestrian access city sidewalks, and large, well-lighted parking lot. Bike parking is plentiful. Xxxx is a popular hotspot for lunch, coffee, and hanging out in a comfortable, welcoming environment.”

Please—I’m lost. I know this is a ridiculous reason for labeling the nomination “ineligible.” What is my next step? I prefer to appeal this decision, but don’t know if that is possible. I know I may resubmit it, but am very concerned about the highly inappropriate reason given for calling the nomination “ineligible.”

Thanks.

Comments

  • LukeAllStars-INGLukeAllStars-ING Posts: 4,625 Ambassador

    Can you send pictures of your nomination ft. picture/title/description/extra information/location?

  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    Luke, I copied all of the information submitted with the nomination. Do you think pictures would qualify the nomination as abusive? Reason provided by Niantic was unrelated to pics.

  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    Luke and all, I just posted screenshots but don’t know why they aren’t showing up here. Perhaps they must be approved.

  • sogNinjaman-INGsogNinjaman-ING Posts: 3,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Photos do need Mod approval but they come through pretty fast.

  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    Thanks, sogNinjaman. I hope they show up here. The nomination is so mundane that charging it as abusive truly floored me.

  • LukeAllStars-INGLukeAllStars-ING Posts: 4,625 Ambassador

    they will, when a mod is going through all the new posts with pictures. Normally, that takes max 3 hours.

  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭
  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    Luke and all, here are screenshots from the actual nomination. I was trying not to identify the site but at this point am so confused with the “abuse” accusation that I will go ahead and disclose the location. Thanks.

  • Lechu1730-PGOLechu1730-PGO Posts: 537 ✭✭✭✭

    Regardless of the reasons given, which are known to be wrong sometimes, I think reviewers are faulting the nomination as not meeting acceptance.

    From what I see from their website, they've won several local awards which you might want to include in the nomination. It also says it has only two locations, so doesn't look like a chain to me. But places like this are hard to get approved it seems.

  • sogNinjaman-INGsogNinjaman-ING Posts: 3,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2021

    Honest opinion - your coffee shop looks vey "generic", not much to distinguish it for any other "coffee shop". Something like this is going to be a hard sell to reviewers. What makes this special? Has it won any awards or featured in any travel guildes / articles? Why should this be accepted over every other coffee shop. Mentioning "pedestrian access" and "a large parking lot" are pointless, we can see that from the photo. Put something more interesting text in its place.

    Ignore the "Abuse" comment, all it takes is for one reviewer to click on that button to reject your submission and it will come through on the e-mail. The "ineligible" comment is the bigger issue, as mentioned, what is special about this place that makes it eligible AND acceptable. At the moment your sub and text are fairly "generic", and "generic" places are ineligible.

    Post edited by sogNinjaman-ING on
  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭
    edited February 2021

    @Lechu1730-PGO Thank you for the suggestion. Yeah, if there ever was a classic “local hotspot,” this is one. I need to make the case. I waited almost an hour to get photos unobscured by parked cars that could be identified.

    @sogNinjaman-ING Thank you, too. That is news to me—a reviewer can flag a nomination as abusive or harassing, and not be held accountable for the lie? I had no idea. I will take your advice, too.

    Frankly, after this rejection for such bizarre reasons, I’m feeling pretty burned out on participating in the community. You know, it seems so petty to reject a worthy nomination that would be a great place to add to the regional play. Considering we all just want to enjoy what we do in our small amount of leisure time, I don’t have time for the games and negativity. Might just start gardening early this year. 🥸

  • Kellerrys-INGKellerrys-ING Posts: 696 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The only parts that felt "genuine" about description were "locally owned for 20 years" and "handcrafted pastries and bread". Rest read like an advert lifted from the company website.

    Could be just my impression though.

  • SakoRUnited-PGOSakoRUnited-PGO Posts: 84 ✭✭✭

    I'd reject this nomination too but the reasoning of abuse is flooring me as well

  • Babarushki-PGOBabarushki-PGO Posts: 195 ✭✭✭

    I didn’t “lift” the description I wrote. I’ll work on the sincerity of my writing.

  • Kellerrys-INGKellerrys-ING Posts: 696 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Babarushki-PGO Ah. Didn't mean to accuse you of plagiarism, sincere apologies if you had that impression. :/

    I do think your nomination has a chance. Bakery being in business for 20 years and voted the best place nine times out of last ten years can't be "just a bakery".

    Good luck.

  • FrealafGB-PGOFrealafGB-PGO Posts: 354 ✭✭✭✭

    Award winning non chain coffee shops are exactly the sort of waypoint that Niantic have highlighted as a great place to socialise, and are generally eligible.

    Don't give up on it. It might just take a few tries.

    I would shorten the description to only 1 or 2 lines and mention the awards it's won in the description - to make it more obvious. Also don't call it a hyper local spot - that's language from the criteria I know, but the description can be much more straightforward than that - just state a couple of interesting facts here.

    I have had a play area flagged for abuse too, we've all had these stupid rejection reasons.. Try not to worry.

  • cyndiepooh-INGcyndiepooh-ING Posts: 1,321 ✭✭✭✭✭

    i have received an "abuse" rejection that stumped me as well - the only thing i could think of is that they thought i was trying to fake a nomination (and a photosphere) since the trail crossing i was submitting did not show up on google maps yet.

    it didn't affect the number of nominations i got or anything, so don't worry about it.

  • Jtronmoore-PGOJtronmoore-PGO Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If i came across this nomination i would more than likely reject as well. Your description and supporting information don’t do anything to show if this coffee shop is unique or interesting to be accepted. Talk about the awards they have won, show some proof with url’s in supporting info. We know every coffee shop is a spot to hang out. If i got a dollar for every coffee shop/restaurant nomination that said these exact same things I would be paid very well 😂 support your claims!

    I wouldnt waste your supporting info space on saying it has safe access if your picture shows a sidewalk thats good enough. And you basically re said the socialization point in supporting that you already did in description

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