Being a long time customer of NianticLabs’ game Pokémon Go, I remember when allowing customers to submit requests for new Pokéstops was only a wish list. And now that I have chosen to participate in creating new locations, I am puzzled as to the process now in place to accept these requests. Having attempted to submit multiple locations, I have been denied at every attempt. As I look through the reasons of denial, I have attempted to be more compliant with the strict requirements. But with my latest submission, I duplicated the format and guidelines followed by others who were successful, yet I was again denied. The denial reason this time was lack of cultural significance. There are literally a dozen similar submitted locations within my community. So now I am forced to ask.. is this personal? Are these community volunteers set against allowing any submission from my account?
Therefore, I ask, what is the criteria for accepting and are you being consistent and fair with all customers?
I would urge you to make a separate post in Nomination Support to discuss a rejected nomination and get advice from the community. Being similar to something in game is sadly not evidence that it meets criteria. You can see the Wayfarer criteria here - be sure to look at all four topics: Wayspot Criteria — Wayfarer Help Center
The rejection reason you mentioned appears to indicate that “Generic Business” was selected if the nomination was reviewed by the community.
Hello and welcome @winnebegoman
I am going to create your own query in Nomination Support so we can try to help you understand what has gone wrong and how to improve things.
If you could post an example of one of the rejected nominations that would be a good starting point.
A screenshot of your nomination, including rejection reasons if it has already been rejected
Include the title, description, both photos, and supplemental information
Copy and paste the title, description and supplemental so others can translate them
If you feel comfortable please share the location, as it is helpful (i.e. hidden duplicates), but you can mask it if you wish.
Being a long time customer of NianticLabs’ game Pokémon Go, I remember when allowing customers to submit requests for new Pokéstops was only a wish list. And now that I have chosen to participate in creating new locations, I am puzzled as to the process now in place to accept these requests. Having attempted to submit multiple locations, I have been denied at every attempt. As I look through the reasons of denial, I have attempted to be more compliant with the strict requirements. But with my latest submission, I duplicated the format and guidelines followed by others who were successful, yet I was again denied. The denial reason this time was lack of cultural significance. There are literally a dozen similar submitted locations within my community. So now I am forced to ask.. is this personal? Are these community volunteers set against allowing any submission from my account?
Therefore, I ask, what is the criteria for accepting and are you being consistent and fair with all customers?
Examples taken from the community. Several other similar locations include waste containers at residential apartment buildings and beside adjoining streets.
These in game poop signs were presented in the Title and Description as being trail markers. Trail markers meet criteria by encouraging exercise and exploration. I would most likely have rejected these anyway, but can’t say for certain without seeing the full nomination. And they most likely do not meet removal criteria now that they have been accepted.
In your submission, you have accurately described these as pet relief stations, and those are just infrastructure. That rejection reason usually means community reviewers selected “Generic business” but if your rejection email said the decision was from “Our team,” it seems like it can simply mean “Generic”. I would expect to see this rejected by the community as “not Distinct”.
Unfortunately the consistency of items accepted vs denied is clearly based on the reviewer. As I posted, I have several other examples where there is no cultural significance or relevant location encouraging outdoor activity and walking. I will amend these examples later. This is also a Catch22 scenario as I cannot nominate a walking path without first creating a Pokéstop location. We have a regular 2-mile walking path regularly frequented by the citizens and their pets on a daily basis. My goal is to encourage youth to join us with the addition of a certified path and Pokéstops.
I hear you. But Wayfarer is game agnostic. The criteria is the criteria - admittedly some of it gray area - and has nothing to do with what would be good for Pokemon Go. I will post that link again here so it is handy.
Wayfarer is a lot more fun if you can change your point of view from where it would be great to have a pokestop to what would be a great place for exercise, exploration, or being social. Sometimes there just isn’t anything eligible where you want a pokestop.
Your photo looks like a sidewalk along a residential neighborhood. For those kinds of spaces, I look for common areas. Pools, parks, clubhouses, little free libraries, etc.
I’m not sure I have the area right so take all advice with a grain of salt. This does look like a very suburban areas full of private single family property which is ineligible. However at some of the culdasac ends there are little walking paths connecting to the neighborhood on the other side. You could talk with the local community and install trail markers at these points and even connect them to a larger walking path through the neighborhoods. It looks like it could even have been made as a way to walk to school. On the west side of the community is a trail system that has access point at the end of each road. these entrances are eligible even without a trail sign since the infrastructure is distinctive. The small park nearby has been cleverly mapped out but there are a few picnic areas that could be added. There is a church, martial art hall that teaches adults as well as children, and unique restaurant nearby. There is a wood statue near the firehouse but well away from the emergency routes. Some more next to the bay doors but ignore those as they can interfere with operations and are ineligible. Does the golf course have a walking trail? There are streetside entrances. There is some kind of brown marker on the path by the main road. What does it saw and can it be used as a trail marker? This should give you a few ideas
