Hello can someone advise on how I can improve my Pokestop submission to get this approved? This is a local game shop that hosts official Pokemon challenges and cups for the TCG, VGC and Go communities. After several months of having go events at the store players continually ask about when a pokestop will be added. After a half dozen rejections, I keep updating to adhere to any feedback from the appeal but seem to be stuck in a loop. If I don’t include a note about the store hosting Pokemon events, then it’s flagged as not a relevant location. If I include why it’s relevent to pokemon go players then i’m flagged for including the name of the game in the submission. Any advice?
Description
Local hobby and snack store that sells Pokemon cards and accessories and hosts offical Play! Pokemon challenges and cups for the Pokemon Go community.
Supplemental Information:
This location holds monthly Pokemon Go events that are official Play! Pokemon tournaments including challenges and cups. Its a gathering place for Go players and needs a Pokestop.
This is a really tricky one, and it might be easier if the store could request a sponsored stop instead.
I would however try one more time and be less specific - don’t mention pokemon go necessarily but talk in a generalised form instead.
So instead of mentioning pokemon go tournaments, say they hold gaming tournaments. It will make the submission easier. I do agree that it is relevant to mention pokemon, but since reviewers are really uneducated about this topic, they will see the work pokemon and reject it, without seeing how its actually relevant
So my advice is dial down the pokemon talk, mention gaming tournaments in general in the description, and talk about the Go stuff in supporting only, or not at all. This is an eligible locatjon as its a great place to socialise. Pokemon go doesn’t make it eligible, just hosting places for gamers to meet up and play is what makes it eligible, regardless of the game
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Oh the other thing is your picture is REALLY bad. You can see your full body reflected as well as loads of cars. Try to take it at an angle to avoid the reflection, and avoid cars. Or focus on the sign and crop the rest out. Currently this picture is not really eligible so it would have been rejected even if people didnt pick up on the word “pokémon”
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In my opinion, the specific reason given for the appeal rejection is incorrect. The words “Pokemon Go” are relevant to this nomination.
I don’t think this appeal rejection can be overturned, though. Your reflection is centered in the in the glass doors, and I think that you would be identifiable in the full resolution.
Normally I suggest to people that they get low and aim high at the sign to avoid reflections and cars for a situation like this. But with the temporary banner draped over a previous sign, it looks temporary. Is there a permanent sign you could take a photo of? Here is an example of getting low and aiming high to avoid reflections. A square crop looks good in game:
In your supporting section, you say that the place “needs a Pokestop.” Needing a Pokestop is not wayfarer criteria. You should provide links that prove the place is what and where you say it is, that it is not just temporary with that banner, and that it hosts the events you mention. I could not find a link to prove that. With the Web Submit form, you can use additional supporting photos and could show the event(s) happening. I saw a signboard on Google photos, so I do believe that they have these events.
I also see an “Anytime Fitness” on the map by your pin. As an exercise business, you may have more luck submitting that. The community sometimes rejects these exercise chains as “generic business”, but the appeals team usually accepts them.
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Hello and welcome,
There is a lot of good advice already.
The key is to be clear about how this location meets socialisation criteria and is permanent.
The picture of the sign as a banner not properly in place does not convey permanence. If possible a different focus for the picture may stand a better chance.
The online info about “once upon a kernel” is all about the popcorn, any info about hosting tournaments is not obvious. So you need to be clear is about it as a place to eat where you can play games or the other way around. And this needs to be backed up with evidence.
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