I recently received an email stating that my Wayspot nomination appeal for Westend Barbers - Community Hub was approved. However, it’s been more than 48 hours and I haven’t seen any changes in Pokémon Go.
There’s currently a PokéStop and Gym in the same parking lot, but they’re associated with a company that’s been out of business for 2-3 years. My approved nomination is for Westend Barbers, a currently operational business located at the same parking lot.
To clarify, please provide insight into the following:
What factors determine whether an approved nomination is added to the game or not?
Does the proximity to existing PokéStops or Gyms play a role in this decision?
Can existing PokéStops and Gyms associated with non-operational businesses be replaced with new nominations?
Are there any plans to update or remove existing PokéStops and Gyms that are no longer associated with valid businesses?
How does Niantic evaluate and implement new Wayspots, especially in cases where existing locations may be outdated or inaccurate?
I’d appreciate any insight into this matter, as it would help me understand the process and potential outcomes for my approved nomination.
I have this written up for people looking for their Pokestop:
I know the prompt tells you that you are submitting a “Pokestop” but you are actually submitting a Wayspot to the Lightship database, which can only become a Pokestop or gym if it is alone in a level 17 S2 cell. This is a good article about S2 cells and PoGo: https://pokemongohub.net/post/article/comprehensive-guide-s2-cells-pokemon-go/
If you share the Title and gps coordinates of the nomination, someone here will be able to tell you if this is the issue.
These should be reported for removal. You can submit a report in game by tapping on the title, then the three dots to bring up the menu, or through one of the forms linked at the top here on the forum:
I find the “Reporting Abuse” form easier to use, but others prefer the “Wayspot Removals” form. If you use that second one, ignore the automated email asking for your credentials as property owner. Wait until a real person responds before replying.
I think I answered everything but just in case:
What factors determine whether an approved nomination is added to the game or not? If by the game you mean Pokemon Go, see that first link I gave.
Does the proximity to existing PokéStops or Gyms play a role in this decision? Kind of, it depends on being alone in a level 17 S2 cell, not physical distance. They can be very close together as long as that cell line is between them.
Can existing PokéStops and Gyms associated with non-operational businesses be replaced with new nominations? Kind of. The correct procedure is to report the business as removed and then submit the new IF it meets criteria. Just editing the Wayspot to the new business is “repurposing” and is not allowed.
Are there any plans to update or remove existing PokéStops and Gyms that are no longer associated with valid businesses? These should be reported to Niantic for removal. Niantic may find them anyway internally when doing a review of the area, but is best to report.
How does Niantic evaluate and implement new Wayspots, especially in cases where existing locations may be outdated or inaccurate? Wayspots are considered on their own merit. It does not matter what is around it, unless it is a duplicate.
If that wayspot is removed, yours should then appear in the game.
Streetview is from 2 years ago and clearly shows a different sign there so it should be relatively easy to report and remove.
Separate feedback for future submissions……
The photo you have submitted as the main one would have made a good supplementary photo as it shows the barbers in the context of the whole building. I also can’t easily see if there are any licence plates but with cars in the photo you run that risk and therefore a rejection.
I did wonder if the wrong photo had been selected during submission.
I took this from streetview to illustrate what sort of composition works best-
Ideally you would have the westend barbers part in the middle so it would show nicely in the Pokestop photodisc.
I appreciate that getting a photo without your reflection might be tricky so it might need a slight angle.
I would be nice if next time you are there you take a new photo and submit it. You can then click on when looking at the details to enable it to be the photo on display.
I hope this advice is useful for future nominations😎
I’m currently at the location and ready to take a photo as requested. However, I’m unsure about resubmitting a photo through the Pokémon Go app. Could you please provide a step-by-step guide?
I wanted to follow up with you specifically because you were instrumental in helping me get my PokéStop submission approved, which is now live as “Westend Barbers - Community Hub”. Thank you again for your assistance!
I noticed the gym and two PokéStops were removed due to the business no longer being there. I’m excited to update the photo for the new “Westend Barbers - Community Hub” PokéStop.
Since this area previously had two PokéStops and a gym, I believe there’s room for another Waypoint. I submitted a gym request, which was initially declined. However, after appealing the decision, my submission “Westend Community Plaza Arena” was accepted. Given the history of this location and the fact that it now only has one PokéStop (“Westend Barbers - Community Hub”), since being accepted and it being the time asked of and not appearing, which you’ve explained the reasons why it may or may not appear, can we just add the gym I submitted, appealed, and got accepted to the same area that the “Westend Barbers - Community Hub” PokéStop is?
I don’t know why this nomination was accepted, your description makes irrelevant game references that are not allowed. I would also argue that “Arena” in the title is irrelevant as well.
You submitted a Wayspot to the Lightship database, which is used by 5 games, plus independent app developers. These games and developers decide what to include on their platform. IOW PokemonGo and others have their own unique inclusion rules.
Wayspots should not mention a specific game. The reference is out of place in all other uses.
I suggest you submit a description edit right away, to remove your game reference. Open the PokeStop and look for the three dots.
Then, the only way you can influence gym selection (which won’t happen until the area has enough pokestop’s on the map), is to add pictures (and thumbs up) until the desired PokeStop has more than the others in the area. Usually a couple pictures will do the trick.
The OP should be aware that trying to influence which becomes the gym has been called out as abuse by Niantic on the old forum. Adding and liking photos is not abuse though.
Hello @Falcon1305
Did you manage to submit a new photo?
I don’t submit in Pokémon Go, but when you are at the pokestop you should be able to click on the photo disk.
Use the arrow top right to bring up the wayspot picture in full
Top right there are now 3 dots, click on that.
You should then get to the contribute to this pokestop.
An option is add a photo.
If the photo is approved you can then go into the photo I. The same way and click on the thumbs up symbol. This should then make it the main photo.
I think calling it a community hub when it’s a barbers is not good, as the term normally refers to a distinct meeting space as opposed to a business which is important to the community. So whilst there you could edit out that phrase.
Looking at the overall situation you can’t simply request another wayspot to be added.
As others have said you are adding wayspots that might be gyms or Pokestops.
when looking at the details to enable it to be the photo on display.