Groundspeak Portal

We have the group ready to go to peer review but being this is my first i would love for some opinions for you guys. We are going to include all Big Box stores except Walmarts and Sams Club being that they have their own cat already.... please have a look and let me know what you think...

http://www.waymarking.com/groups/details.aspx?f=1&guid=137457ca-8350-40ba-a7ea-269dcce638ed

I think you should remove this sentence from the Instructions for posting:

"Tell us why you went to the store and what did you purchase while you were there."

It's already in the Instructions for Logging as it should be.

Hate to rain on your parade but  the feeling I get this isn't going to "fly" Too broad a Category to include all "Big Box Stores"
 - A couple such as Home Depot were turned down so I don't see including them all under one heading would work
-- but then again I have been proven wrong before

Jake39:

Hate to rain on your parade but  the feeling I get this isn't going to "fly" Too broad a Category to include all "Big Box Stores"
 - A couple such as Home Depot were turned down so I don't see including them all under one heading would work
-- but then again I have been proven wrong before

I don't see a problem. We include inclusive categories such as all State Parks, cemeteries, libraries, and airports which are very wide categories. Big box stores actually is a fairly narrow grouping.

The problem is that there is (right or wrong) a dislike for retail categories where there isn't a dislike for "State Parks, cemeteries, libraries, and airports".

Even if it passes I predict a rocky comments section in the peer review. If that is the case overlook the bad and glean from the truly constructive criticism....and try again if it fails.

One problem I see is that it doesn't address the big box stores that currently fit into categories that are already established. Walmart comes to mind.

What about locations that do not fit the mold entirely. Like this Jerry's location in my city. Two locations but as big or bigger than the big boxes in the area. http://www.jerryshome.com/


 

I also think it is too broad.  If you had limited to electronics big box stores then maybe.  Some of the big box stores already have categories individually including at least one that is listed in your description (Target).  Walmart is also would be considered a bigbox store thus it also has a category though I see you are excluding them.  I think this one expanded too far from Fries to all big box.  I would bring in the focus some.

Besides my general hate of this type of commercial category... this one is even more unpalatable.

I think we all have categories that we don't like but they are there. Is this not the same as micros and ammo cans in geocaching?

Come on people read the description, Walmart and Sams Club have been excluded from the beginning.

Target will also be excluded. We forgot it already had a category.

This has been stated as large chains so local large stores will not qualify.

txoilgas:

Come on people read the description, Walmart and Sams Club have been excluded from the beginning.

Well, I did read it and I read it fairly well but missed the exclusion...like your group missed the Target category.

Your exclusions should be bolded and line itemed so they will not be overlooked.

No need to get testy the OP asked for feedback and as far as I can tell so far we have given feedback.  My feedback was not at all critical but observations based on previous experience in peer review.

Your "Come on people" retort which appears to be aimed at me leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

As others have said it seems to broad. A category of this nature will have a rough time in peer review. Apparently you are not really interested in feedback only that someone agree with you.
Enough said. I am now taking my ball and playing elsewhere.

txoilgas:

I think we all have categories that we don't like but they are there. Is this not the same as micros and ammo cans in geocaching? Come on people read the description, Walmart and Sams Club have been excluded from the beginning. Target will also be excluded. We forgot it already had a category. This has been stated as large chains so local large stores will not qualify.

If you view this category as a micro in geocaching then you need to rethink the category. 

If you don't really want feedback in the forums... well we will hold our feed back for the NO vote during peer review.

I have no problem with commercial categories, but I think this is too broad. Especially when there's already two categories for specific stores. I think it would be better to do the Big Box Electronic Stores. It's not as small as Fry's and not as big as one from all big box stores.

ok wow didnt mean to get an argument started =( was feeling that the big box electronics was too inclusive.... im not opposed to changing it to the electronics one....... and please no more arguing...........

themayfieldfamily:

ok wow didnt mean to get an argument started =( was feeling that the big box electronics was too inclusive.... im not opposed to changing it to the electronics one....... and please no more arguing...........

Discussing and giving feedback is different than arguing.

The purpose of putting things up in the forums is to 'take a temperature' on the likelyhood of the category passing AND being successful.

We all see things from different perspectives. so each of us may share different opinions, but it's not arguing.

Sometimes I flip-flop after reading someone elses well presented opinion on a subject.

I had no intention of taking a shot at any one individual. However when two of the forum regulars both miss one of the key exclusions of the group then that is frustrating.

I believe that one of the purposes of the forum is to educate. Instead of just tearing down a potential group I believe that the "old timers" should help the "newbies" that want to start a group. So instead of it won't work because.... Maybe a comment like "maybe you need to highlight this portion so people will not confuse the purpose" would be more helpful. I believe that most of the new groups are proposed by people that are fairly new to waymarking and are not familiar with all the groups.

I don't think this category as a micro. My comment previously ment that a lot of people hate micros that are hidden in the woods. There are different strokes for different folks.

We do want feedback. That is why we are here. Withholding feedback and voting no does not do anyone any good since I would think that the purpose of the forums would be assist a group get it done right.

I still believe that if we have a category that covers the Fry's and others then that category should cover the whole group. This is actually a better option, in my opinion, because it will eliminate the possibility of generating multiple other smaller big box categories.

I generally dislike commercial categories, but that doesn't keep me from voting yea on them, so long as they're well-written and meet the criteria.  I'm kind of in favor of this one as it may prevent future sprawl of individual categories for these stores (fitting, as these stores are emblematic of urban sprawl).

One thing to consider: more often than not, big box stores come in clusters. Will you allow a separate waymark for each one?  Do you maybe want to consider "cluster" waymarks that cover several at once?

dinoprophet:

Do you maybe want to consider "cluster" waymarks that cover several at once?

The disadvantage of clustering would be that it would be hard to report addresses/hours etc. for each item in the cluster

I'd go so far as to say that "Big Box Electronics Stores" is still too vague, unless "name" is a variable.

It would be my expectation that OpinioNate / Bootron / Checkmark would eventually create a sub-department for "Big Box Stores" once there are 5 or more to splinter out. Much like happened with "National Restaurant Chains" then "Hamburger"

Personally I like categories named after the store in question or on a common service.

However, I could get behind a "Power Center" category which is usually home to 3+ big box stores... much like an "Indoor Mall" is already an accepted category.

BQ