Google Places Duplicate Listings

[itrogers]

Hey Mozzers-

I know the basic process for handling duplicate listings, but I just want to make sure and ask because this one is a little sensitive.

I have a client with a claimed and verified listings page, which is here:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=chambers+and+associates&hl=en&cid=9065936543314453461

There is also another listing (which I have not claimed yet) here:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=dr.+george+chambers&hl=en&cid=14758636806656154330

The first listing has 0 reviews, where the 2nd unverified listing has 12 fantastic 5 star reviews. We can all agree that if I can get these two listings to merge, his general listing will perform much better than it already is (the first listing has about 200 actions per months).

So, what is the best way to merge these two without losing any reviews and without suspending my places account? Thanks in advance!

Ian

[itrogers]

I'm going to head this route....thanks a lot for your help!

[adriandg]

True it is techinically against google's TOS. but i think that relates more to people who are doing it in a malicious way.  I think everything we have explained above is legit, even if he temporarily holds two of the same location in his places account.

If they actually got ahold of him to complain about it, it would probably be useful, because he could state his story and they would resolve the issue quicker.

But it's not like that would ever happen.  Google staff are way to preoccupied to approach businesses on a case by case basis like that.

[AndyKuiper]

It is against Google's TOS to have more than 1 Places listing. If (as is the case in some countries) there is no 'Report A Problem' link on the Place page, you may (as suggested by a Google Places rep (I have the link somewhere) claim the duplicate and then delete the undesirable one: follow the steps as Storwell Self Storage has laid out.

If the Places page/s is in the USA, you'll want to follow Jacob's suggestions, as well as #5 from Storwell Self Storage

5. wait a couple days, if that listing is still showing up in the search results, go to its places page, and click the Report A Problem link, and select “Place has another listing”. If you can, include a link to your claimed place page in the comments section.

Here is the link to the Google Places help page for duplicate issues:

http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=183009

[adriandg]

1. claim the second listing, the good one.

2. fill out the profile to 100% complete (5 videos, 10 pictures, categories, all the works)

3. make sure that this new listing is now set to active in your places acount (you should now have 2 listings in your places account)

4. find the listing with no reviews inside your places account and click **"**Remove this listing from my Google Places account".

5. wait a couple days, if that listing is still showing up in the search results, go to its places page, and click the Report A Problem link, and select “Place has another listing”. If you can, include a link to your claimed place page in the comments section.

[nwinternetmarketing]

I actually just got done with a similar issue.

The best way to take care of this, in my humble opinion, is to delete the claimed (and inferior) listing. Do this first.

http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=154102

Then, claim the better listing like normal.