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Abuse of Waymarking for own advertising purposes

kaschper69

By kaschper69
in General Waymarking Topics

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kaschper69

+kaschper69

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hello,

 

I know that through the existing categories certain categories are advertised through our waymarks. But since a few days there are more and more submissions of waymarks from users, who apparently want to use this platform for their own company for advertising purposes, without following any posting instructions. So far I have noticed it in the category "Advertising Columns" and "Thrift Stores".  All users have a zero statistics regarding their posts and visits. It's a bit annoying if you take the time to control the waymark and then find out that you could have spent the time better. In the "Advertising Columns" category we block the submitted waymarks immediately, because otherwise they will be re-submitted immediately without meeting the requirements in the least.

What is your experience in this respect? How do you react to such submissions? What else would make sense?

Greetings

 

Greetings

Frank 

 

Examples: WM11ANR, WM11ANH, WM11AC8

 

Edited by wayfrog
Screenshots deleted, Waymark codes added
  • Surprised 1
Touchstone

+Touchstone

Posted
Posted

I think that would be regarded as a Terms of Use violation to advertise on the website without HQ permission.  Obviously, there are some Categories that have commercial content, but these examples don't appear to meet the Category requirements, and to be honest, look pretty blatant misuse of the website.

 

You can contact HQ through the Help Center contact form:

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/

 

In all likelihood, they will Lock the Accounts and you'll never hear from them again.

iconions

+iconions

Posted
Posted

That's why it's important to have REALLY diligent officers in categories, especially the commercial ones, to weed out the chaff from the wheat!  
I especially wouldn't trust someone who couldn't get coordinates right...  

  • Upvote 1
  • Love 2
kaschper69

+kaschper69

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for your feedback!

 

I'm curious to see if there really will be any support. So we have to stand in the back again :(

 

Answer from HQ:

"Hello kaschper69-

Thank you for contacting us about Waymarking.

In order to support the rapid community growth of Geocaching.com, it was necessary to shift dedicated resources from Waymarking to Geocaching. Unfortunately, at this time we are only able to provide limited support."

Max and 99

+Max and 99

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, kaschper69 said:

Thanks for your feedback!

 

I'm curious to see if there really will be any support. So we have to stand in the back again :(

 

Answer from HQ:

"Hello kaschper69-

Thank you for contacting us about Waymarking.

In order to support the rapid community growth of Geocaching.com, it was necessary to shift dedicated resources from Waymarking to Geocaching. Unfortunately, at this time we are only able to provide limited support."

I would be surprised if they said anything different!

Max and 99

+Max and 99

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, 8Nuts MotherGoose said:

kaschper69 said -  In the "Advertising Columns" category we block the submitted waymarks immediately, because otherwise they will be re-submitted immediately without meeting the requirements in the least.

 

How do you block the submitted Waymark?

Maybe lock it? I'm curious too.

Max and 99

+Max and 99

Posted
Posted
33 minutes ago, PISA-caching said:

If you edit a waymark, there's a checkbox "Block original waymark poster from editing this waymark?" right above the "Update Waymark" button. Maybe that's the way they do it.

This should rarely be used. Rarely!

 

Just FYI, here's a previous discussion on the subject of Advertising waymarks:

 

 

elyob

+elyob

Posted
Posted

Do the officers at Advertizers need another officer to assist with controlling the fake waymarks?  If so, I will join the group.  I do like the category.

vulture1957

vulture1957

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, Max and 99 said:

How the heck did this get approved? Good news, though! It's also a confluence spot!

 

WM11AN3

but the restaurant isn't there. Nothing is. The restaurant is supposed to be in Virginia, not Asia.

 

Max and 99

+Max and 99

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 minutes ago, vulture1957 said:

but the restaurant isn't there. Nothing is. The restaurant is supposed to be in Virginia, not Asia.

 

I was joking. It was clear from the beginning that the coords are bogus.

Edited by Max and 99
saopaulo1

+saopaulo1

Posted
Posted
34 minutes ago, elyob said:

 

Which categories?

It was buffet restaurants, tattoo and steakhouses. I'm not against a business putting their tattoo shop as a waymark, but follow the posting requirements. 

adenium

+adenium

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, vulture1957 said:

but the restaurant isn't there. Nothing is. The restaurant is supposed to be in Virginia, not Asia.

 

 

It was me, they slipped this one past.  I didn't notice the submitter had exactly one posting ever... the one he was submitting... nor that it was in the middle of nowhere.  Tried to Reevaluate Waymark this morning, but the website doesn't want to let me do that.  I removed their phone number and website from the Waymark and blocked them from editing.  Will be on the lookout for spammers now.

iconions

+iconions

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, adenium said:

 

It was me, they slipped this one past.  I didn't notice the submitter had exactly one posting ever... the one he was submitting... nor that it was in the middle of nowhere.  Tried to Reevaluate Waymark this morning, but the website doesn't want to let me do that.  I removed their phone number and website from the Waymark and blocked them from editing.  Will be on the lookout for spammers now.

We accept your confession - go and sin no more - LOL...  :)
Seriously, stuff happens.  I wonder if someone else went and did the reevaluation...

adenium

+adenium

Posted
Posted

I was able to delete the Waymark (I think) and added the following text to the category description...

NO ADVERTISEMENTS! We will look at your profile to confirm that you are not simply posting a Waymark to promote your own business.
  • Upvote 2
iconions

+iconions

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, adenium said:

I was able to delete the Waymark (I think) and added the following text to the category description...

NO ADVERTISEMENTS! We will look at your profile to confirm that you are not simply posting a Waymark to promote your own business.

Perfect!  :)

elyob

+elyob

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, adenium said:

I was able to delete the Waymark (I think) and added the following text to the category description...

NO ADVERTISEMENTS! We will look at your profile to confirm that you are not simply posting a Waymark to promote your own business.

 

The waymark still exists but at least it has been denied by your category.  The waymark already has 13 views.

elyob

+elyob

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, vulture1957 said:

well, you gotta give them points for getting the cords in Wisconsin

 

...and they were within an accuracy of 33 miles.

  • Funny 1
QuarrellaDeVil

+QuarrellaDeVil

Posted
Posted

http://www.Waymarking.com/waymarks/WM11BNF_Pints_Quarts

 

Wayfrog, if you're reading this, you might tell these folks to, uh, mind their Ps and Qs.  Frankly, though, other than the poster advertising their own business, I thought this one looked like so many walk-bys and drive-bys in the category.  ?

 

"Detailed Description:  We're a fly-by-night bar with terrible food, terrible service, and poor quality alcohol.  If you're looking for the good stuff, please drive up the road to one of our competitors -- a list follows -- and enjoy yourself.  We're the Bates Hotel of pubs in the area!"  Add a little click on the box next to "Block original waymark poster from editing this waymark?" and fire up "Fly, Robin, Fly".

 

[I'm kidding about the second paragraph.  Nobody freak out.]

Max and 99

+Max and 99

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, QuarrellaDeVil said:

http://www.Waymarking.com/waymarks/WM11BNF_Pints_Quarts

 

Wayfrog, if you're reading this, you might tell these folks to, uh, mind their Ps and Qs.  Frankly, though, other than the poster advertising their own business, I thought this one looked like so many walk-bys and drive-bys in the category.  ?

 

"Detailed Description:  We're a fly-by-night bar with terrible food, terrible service, and poor quality alcohol.  If you're looking for the good stuff, please drive up the road to one of our competitors -- a list follows -- and enjoy yourself.  We're the Bates Hotel of pubs in the area!"  Add a little click on the box next to "Block original waymark poster from editing this waymark?" and fire up "Fly, Robin, Fly".

 

[I'm kidding about the second paragraph.  Nobody freak out.]

And here I was, worried about my submission to that category!

  • Helpful 1
vulture1957

vulture1957

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, elyob said:

 

This is an ad, not an object.

and it was approved by the category leader (and founder), but he doesn't notice that it doesn't meet the (crappy) category description.

  • Upvote 1
Master Mariner

+Master Mariner

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 4/9/2020 at 12:15 AM, vulture1957 said:

Another one slipped thru  Waymark Code: WM129V8

I have already reported this one to Waymarking but they say they are unable to look at it at this difficult time due to resources being removed from Waymarking to Geocaching. I am surprised that someone has "visited" it as there is nothing to see there apart from a gated apartment complex.

Edited by Master Mariner
Speeling mistake!
  • Funny 1
sernikk

+sernikk

Posted
Posted

I've run into this waymark WM14BWC which seems to be a self-advertisement. This waymark doesn't even have a proper photo of the place. But this didn't bother the leader, who approved it. My question is, can something be done about it, because it seems to me that it should?

  • Funny 1
  • Helpful 1
ScroogieII

+ScroogieII

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 6/17/2021 at 3:10 PM, sernikk said:

I've run into this waymark WM14BWC which seems to be a self-advertisement. This waymark doesn't even have a proper photo of the place. But this didn't bother the leader, who approved it. My question is, can something be done about it, because it seems to me that it should?

 

Can something be done about it? Certainly. But, for the most part it's up to you, the conscientious Waymarker, to do it. Make your voice heard!

 

If you're an officer, just click Decline and move on. These do not deserve your time or energy.

Otherwise, it wouldn't hurt to contact the the leader, letting her/him know that he/she has been less than diligent in her/his duties.

 

Sneaky workaround - suggest an edit, reversing the signs in both latitude and longitude coordinates. If the officers are REALLY less than wholly diligent, they might just accept your edit, sending the Waymark to the opposite side of the earth. :):D

Keith

Edited by ScroogieII
  • Funny 1
wayfrog

wayfrog

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, PISA-caching said:

Just for the records: I just declined 4 waymarks in "Feeding the Animals", that were no WM at all:

 

XXX

 

Thanks for the info, we take care.

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