am I wrong to flame this guy?

askthecoffeeguy

http://askthecoffeeguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/when-social-networking-goes-wrong.html

blanyon

Interesting lesson I think, with the benefit of hindsight you could have offered him a "mayoral special" on his next visit to flush him out rather than risk offending him. Unfortunately in the digital world people can take things the wrong way very easily and quickly and you have to be very careful how you word things. In answer to your question yes you were wrong to flame him as you have now lost him as a customer and potentially others as well. Was he in the right? I don't think so but he has nothing to lose (except great coffee) and you have a reputation and a business to protect so you have to be careful. Thats just my 2c. Brett PS how do you find four square from a business perspective?

DoubleRistretto

hi Pat - wasn't exactly clear from your blog how you found out about him in the first place, and why he seemed to be a problem. dR

askthecoffeeguy

ok so the guy is / was the mayor my of my cafe on four square -  a social network site for business - which is achieved through logged visits only problem is that noone knew who the guy was - and he's supposed to be my most regular customer now I pride myself ion knowing all my regulars by name and the coffees that they drink - and this guy was a mystery to me so I tried politely (at least initially I think) to flush him out as I mention in my blog I've bumped him of his mayoral position a couple of times only to have him reappear the next day - without wishing to cast aspersions on the guys character I was curios how this happens To complicate matters his photograph was I thought somewhat misleading - leading me to confuse him for someone else - and according to my staff (I still don't know who he is) he mostly orders takeaways - so its no wonder I'm having trouble placing him It wasnt my original intention to torch the guy - but there's only so much a guy can take - and I figure I'd lost him as a customer anyway so.... smart business sense? no, probably not but I am fiercely protective of what I create and I have very high expectations of every aspect of my work environment - including the social network elements, which I not so much guard jealously, as watch over with a watchful eye oh well... at least it opens up the possibility of someone else becoming mayor and reaping the rewards associated with that position! ACg

admin

I agree with dR - it wasn't immediately apparent [at least to non-4Square people] what a mayor was and therefore why it was a problem; however now that you've explained it, I wouldn't blame you wanting to flush him out. A

askthecoffeeguy

on 1291151977:

I agree with dR - it wasn't immediately apparent [at least to non-4Square people] what a mayor was and therefore why it was a problem; however now that you've explained it, I wouldn't blame you wanting to flush him out. A

well... the same guy is mayor of 17 venues including a couple of cafes nearby - which lead me to question the genuineness of his logons - which is not to say its not possible just highly unusual is all, and I have learned to question anomalies! 

beanflying

I think you asked nicely and he went on the attack so flame him I reckon. My shop has a fake mayor I wouldn't know if I fell over him. Similar story this guy is Mayor of 6 or 7 places. Mayors like all elected positions can be booted by hose higher up the food chain or by those at the bottom who come in more often

hazchem

I hate foursquare cheats. As a user of the software I'm always excited to become the mayor of a venue, especially cafes that I love. I don't think you did anything wrong by questioning the legitimacy of the mayorship of your cafe Pat. I also think you can apply to foursquare to register as the owner of the venue and get checkin stats for it.

askthecoffeeguy

on 1291536257:

I hate foursquare cheats. As a user of the software I'm always excited to become the mayor of a venue, especially cafes that I love. I don't think you did anything wrong by questioning the legitimacy of the mayorship of your cafe Pat. I also think you can apply to foursquare to register as the owner of the venue and get checkin stats for it.

I still to this day don't know who the guy is and business is booming which is the best recommendation for any venue I've also been logging on each time I'm in and I still haven't pipped him off his post But I have I hope left the way open for legitimate patrons to let their presence be known and I have regular customers who are there every single day which I am genuinely thankful for