Google immediately denies edits for UPS Store/PO Box style listings

[HikingMike]

It seems like Google is fine with UPS Store and PO Box style listings, in contradiction to their policy. I'd be interested to hear what you have heard about this kind of thing lately, from Google or product experts. I'm just coming back to look at this again.

I recently made several attempts to mark a listing as "doesn't exist".

The first listing I edited had the address of a UPS Store. I did this with two different Google accounts, both with good edit history and are Local Guides. I added photos both times showing the UPS Store signage, address number, and the whole building. The change was immediately "not accepted".

I made another attempt for another listing, this time it wasn't a UPS Store but a completely different business. All signage was for the different business. It was in a different place so I used Street View imagery. Same result here - not accepted.

So I don't really know what else I could do in those edits to make it clear. I have also used the Business Redressal Form a bunch of times in the past with no luck.



It's possible that Google Ads have something to do with this. They are running ads and perhaps Google immediately rejects any edits, or at least "doesn't exist" edits, for listings associated with ads.

The businesses in this industry have very few real locations - just one or single digits, but provide service to people all over. So it's not so much "spam" to have these listings as it is a tremendous competitive advantage. It makes them appear far more often and prominently in search and maps with potentially many listings in every metro area. If I looked and counted, I would probably find they have hundreds of false listings like these. Do you know a way to show all listings when zoomed out on the map? It definitely limits the number when zoomed out, as I see more appear when I zoom in.

They presumably get more business from that huge visibility, and Google gets more money from the ads. The people that lose out are the ones that play by the rules.

Can anyone confirm if they run ads, does that mean they have some impunity with the rules for listings?

 

[Stefan Somborac]

@HikingMike, you should be able to get Google to take down any profiles that are based at a PO Box in a UPS store.

I recommend that you try the redressal form again. If it doesn't work, try a second time.

If that doesn't work, create a post in the community forum and include the two case IDs from your redressals and your proof.

A short, compelling description of the situation should convince a Product Expert to escalate the case and that is, IMO, your best shot at having the listing removed.

 

[HikingMike]

@HikingMike, you should be able to get Google to take down any profiles that are based at a PO Box in a UPS store.

I recommend that you try the redressal form again. If it doesn't work, try a second time.

If that doesn't work, create a post in the community forum and include the two case IDs from your redressals and your proof.

A short, compelling description of the situation should convince a Product Expert to escalate the case and that is, IMO, your best shot at having the listing removed.

Thank you Stefan. Alright, I will try the redressal form for this one and we'll see how it goes!

Do you know what I should put in for the field titled "Name of the entity or organization that is getting impacted. *"? I imagine that this language would make more sense for fake reviews, incorrect information added, or incorrectly moved markers.

 

[JS Girard]

It's common for suspension-type edits on verified profiles to be instantly rejected. it's probably not unique to UPS boxes.

 

[HikingMike]

I submitted the redressal form. We'll see how it goes!

 

[Stefan Somborac]

@HikingMike - Sorry for the delay. I missed your question.

I'm not exactly sure what Google wants to see in that field! I usually put in the name of the business I'm reporting.

 

[HikingMike]

I recommend that you try the redressal form again. If it doesn't work, try a second time.

If that doesn't work, create a post in the community forum and include the two case IDs from your redressals and your proof.

It has been about 2.5 weeks now since I submitted the redressal form and I haven't seen any further email from Google. And the listing is still there. How long should I wait before submitting it again?

 

[luischavez0104]

Hi, could you try marking it as a duplicate? If they have other locations it's possible that google would show another location when you click mark as duplicate and you can get rid of it that way.

 

[HikingMike]

Hi, could you try marking it as a duplicate? If they have other locations it's possible that google would show another location when you click mark as duplicate and you can get rid of it that way.

Thanks for the reply. That doesn't seem like the right thing to do. But I gave it a shot anyway since the straightforward method didn't work and I'm just trying to figure out how things work here.

This edit was also immediately denied. They did send me an email saying -

Your place edit is being checked
We're checking your edit
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of ...
Edited Oct 11, 2024 · Pending
Edits are checked for accuracy by our moderation system before being published. Timelines can vary.
You can track the status of your edit anytime in Edits.

I got one last time too.

However when I go to My Contributions and look under Edits, I see that it was denied already. So marking it as a duplicate appears to be the same situation.

Here are some screenshots.

Not true, Google. I didn't get an email after review last time so I bet I won't get an email this time.

Here's an email that I made an edit.

And here's how it shows up in My Contributions. The ones from September look the same way still, so this appears to be the end of the road.

 

[Stefan Somborac]

It has been about 2.5 weeks now since I submitted the redressal form and I haven't seen any further email from Google. And the listing is still there. How long should I wait before submitting it again?

There is no specific rule, but I usually wait one week before pushing back on Google.

I know from personal experience that if you get an email from support and you pepper them with frequent, repeated replies, they will stop responding. So, spacing out your inquiries appears to be helpful.

 

[HikingMike]

There is no specific rule, but I usually wait one week before pushing back on Google.

I know from personal experience that if you get an email from support and you pepper them with frequent, repeated replies, they will stop responding. So, spacing out your inquiries appears to be helpful.

Ok thanks. Do people actually get emails from Google support?

Well, it's been more than 3 weeks, so I submitted the Business Redressal Form again a couple days ago.

The automatic email says-

Note: Replies to this email will not be monitored and you will not receive further communication about your complaint.

So I'll just check back in a couple weeks to see if the listing is still there, and if it hasn't been removed, I'll start a new post on the community forum with the case IDs from those, as you suggested.

 

[HikingMike]

Alright, it has been more than 2 weeks since my last submission of the Business Redressal Form. The listing remains. So I just posted in the community forum! I'll cross my fingers

Here's my post - https://support.google.com/business/thread/305983823

 

[seowned]

i just went in to their maps listing and suggested an edit, then chose "doesn't exist here". so, hopefully that might help lol

 

[keyserholiday]

It seems like Google is fine with UPS Store and PO Box style listings, in contradiction to their policy. I'd be interested to hear what you have heard about this kind of thing lately, from Google or product experts. I'm just coming back to look at this again.

I recently made several attempts to mark a listing as "doesn't exist".

The first listing I edited had the address of a UPS Store. I did this with two different Google accounts, both with good edit history and are Local Guides. I added photos both times showing the UPS Store signage, address number, and the whole building. The change was immediately "not accepted".

I made another attempt for another listing, this time it wasn't a UPS Store but a completely different business. All signage was for the different business. It was in a different place so I used Street View imagery. Same result here - not accepted.

So I don't really know what else I could do in those edits to make it clear. I have also used the Business Redressal Form a bunch of times in the past with no luck.





It's possible that Google Ads have something to do with this. They are running ads and perhaps Google immediately rejects any edits, or at least "doesn't exist" edits, for listings associated with ads.

The businesses in this industry have very few real locations - just one or single digits, but provide service to people all over. So it's not so much "spam" to have these listings as it is a tremendous competitive advantage. It makes them appear far more often and prominently in search and maps with potentially many listings in every metro area. If I looked and counted, I would probably find they have hundreds of false listings like these. Do you know a way to show all listings when zoomed out on the map? It definitely limits the number when zoomed out, as I see more appear when I zoom in.

They presumably get more business from that huge visibility, and Google gets more money from the ads. The people that lose out are the ones that play by the rules.

Can anyone confirm if they run ads, does that mean they have some impunity with the rules for listings?

Something drastically changed recently with the suggest an edit system. I have more edits being automatically rejected or going into pending review. The redressal form is hit and miss. Did you link to the photo when you submitted the redressal form?

Excellent job on the Google sheet and documentation. I found several of their fake GBPs in my area and they are located inside of computer repair businesses.

 

[HikingMike]

i just went in to their maps listing and suggested an edit, then chose "doesn't exist here". so, hopefully that might help lol

Hah, thank you. But I would guess probably the edit was denied immediately if you check. I don't know if there is any cumulative effect.

Did you link to the photo when you submitted the redressal form?

I believe I just put the Google Maps listing URL in the "What is the public URL for the location" field in the redressal form. My photos are right there in the listing though, from when I did "suggested an edit" right on the spot with my phone. There are 14 photos in the listing and 6 of them (including the Street View) show it is not the correct business.

Excellent job on the Google sheet and documentation. I found several of their fake GBPs in my area and they are located inside of computer repair businesses.

Thanks. You must have read through the support thread with Mike Blumenthal.
For anyone else, I'll just update here that Mike has been assisting how he can as we communicate through the support forum thread, going on about 4 weeks now. He had suggested this is a bigger problem and it is more likely for Google to take action if the bigger problem is addressed.

Google is easier to get off the dime if you put together proof of a widespread problem across many locations.

So I picked out one metro area in the US and found 60 listings for this company!!! These were basically all either computer shops or cellphone repair shops, and of course NOT the business in the listing. Though they had photos of brochures in the listing. I put them in a Google spreadsheet and submitted that to the Business Redressal Form. Google has not done anything so far.

The most recent news is-

Google has again said that they are in compliance. I have pushed back but have not gotten an answer yet. Stop back in a few days?

They are in compliance.... that is ridiculous. Google ignores their own guidelines. So I'm really not happy. I'll keep up with it in case Mike can do anything.

 

[keyserholiday]

Some people either create a Google doc with the evidence and links to the images or a drive folder with the photos. You have to spoon-feed them. I can't believe Google is claiming that they are in compliance. What a joke!!!

 

[HikingMike]

UPDATE-
Well, after 6 weeks or so of communicating with Mike, and with Mike communicating with Google, providing them with more detail, and pushing back on them... Google reiterates to him that these listings are in compliance.

google is saying that they are in compliance. There is nothing left for me to do. Sorry

So I've hit the end of the road there. With how strange this is, I strongly suspect this company must be whitelisted by Google and their listings will not be removed. I asked Mike if he can confirm that with them.

Google wouldn't tell if they are.

 

[keyserholiday]

UPDATE-
Well, after 6 weeks or so of communicating with Mike, and with Mike communicating with Google, providing them with more detail, and pushing back on them... Google reiterates to him that these listings are in compliance.



So I've hit the end of the road there. With how strange this is, I strongly suspect this company must be whitelisted by Google and their listings will not be removed. I asked Mike if he can confirm that with them.

Let me work my magic.