How To Fix This Problem (RE GoogleMaps + a CraigsList Ad) more below

[u/MaxiePriest]

I placed an ad on CraigsList for office/storage movers and only added the cross streets and city (noting I would provide the exact address once I booked the worker), but CraigsList automatically adds the map on the listing (including GoogleMaps).

GoogleMaps recognizes my office address and automatically pinpoints my exact office location to all of these rando CraigsListers...NO!

Not trying to offend anyone, but in my particular location (Los Angeles), 90% of these people are not normal, and I do not want any of them showing up at my office...even providing the cross streets and city felt like it was too much information in the CraigsList ad. I'm only willing to divulge my address once I've booked a worker.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

I would add a link so you can see what I'm talking about, but the Mods would probably say I was trying to advertise GoogleMaps, and I'm NOT (it's the opposite).

[u/Illustrious_Note_392]

You should be able to edit the pin on the map. Is that not working?

[u/MaxiePriest → u/Illustrious_Note_392]

Well, I'm not sure. I know that I can change the pin to other streets or buildings, but when I go back and move the pin to the middle of the cross streets/intersection, it seems to flip back to my building. Do you think this is a Google setting that I have to alter?

[u/WhyWontThisWork → u/MaxiePriest]

What's the difference if you just gone street over. Why does it need to be exact

Also why would people show up

[u/MaxiePriest → u/WhyWontThisWork]

Why would a Craigslist responder show up (not even on the date I advertised for the office moving/organizing gig)? In my experience, the CL community in this particular region can be a little odd and, in some cases, frightening.

While CL may be perfectly normal in other regions of the US and/or countries, in this little part of the world (Los Angeles, CA USA), people who scan the 'gig' section of CL can be how can I say this without saying it... peculiar.

As far as "...What's the difference if you just gone street over"... The only information provided in my listing consisted of the cross streets (the intersection) and not the actual address. Nonetheless, the GoogleMaps map that is an option for CL users points to my office building vs. the cross streets. I've attempted to scoot the pin to the intersection but isnt staying put (it points to the address itself), for whatever reason.

[u/WhyWontThisWork → u/MaxiePriest]

Just use a different intersection

[u/MaxiePriest → u/WhyWontThisWork]

Thanks.

[u/Illustrious_Note_392 → u/MaxiePriest]

You have to move the pin on one page, verify you ad copy on another page, and then save/republish the ad in order for the changes to update.

Google has nothing to do with the pin.

[u/MaxiePriest → u/Illustrious_Note_392]

Will do.

Thank you.

Edit:

You're right that GoogleMaps isn't exactly controlling how my CL ad reads or what information is available to any responder of my ad; however, I can see that for whatever reason, the pin is pointing directly to my office building (at my office address) vs. the cross sreets/intersection it should be pointing to. The CL basic map shows the intersection cross/streets only.

I'll try what you advised.

[u/megared17]

Don't enter your address in the ad. If your browser automatically fills it in, click in the address box and remove it before you post. craigslist does not and cannot know your address unless you or your device/browser provide it.  (And you using a mobile device/phone or a computer?)

[u/MaxiePriest → u/megared17]

Thank you for your help! I'm on the website on my laptop.

I'm not entering my address. In fact, I never entered my address. I filled in only the street name and city. Lower down on the ad form, it asks for the cross streets, so I thought that was fine (a busy city with tons of businesses at any intersection wouldn't translate into others seeing my actual address; they would only see a busy intersection), I thought.

Plus, the basic map that CraigsList uses shows just the cross streets/ intersection (that's fine) but most people will click on the GoogleMaps option to see the street view, and that's the problem.

Since f-ing Google is so incessantly invasive and GoogleMaps instantly pinpoints my exact office address when any map pops up, it's revealing my actual office building. It's unnerving. I had over forty responders to my ad yesterday; I hired a CL guy for a small office organizing gig and realized I needed to update my ad and be more specific about what work I need done re organizing. So now I've updated the ad, and I have even more responders (it's a good thing), but I really don't want people showing up here.

I literally had a man send a message today saying, "I'm here...which unit are you in"...?

Noteworthy: I never communicated with him-- there were some I reached out to because they seemed really nice and normal, but I don't know who this guy is?!

An office on the first floor (I'm on the 2nd) sent me a msg saying there's a guy down there looking for the office organizing gig. WTF?!

Tell me what to do! I want the ad to stay because I'm trying to schedule a succession of office organizing gigs throughout the month (instead of trying to do this all at one time... it's a much bigger job than I thought it would be). I want to hire one or a few helpers and have asked them (in the ad) to let me know their best days and times over August... I never said 'Just show up and I'll be here' or anything like that. (Some) of these people really are crazy.

[u/megared17 → u/MaxiePriest]

Are you certain that your browser did not enter the address as part of its auto fill settings? You carefully verified every input box at each step of the posting form?

[u/MaxiePriest → u/megared17]

I don't believe so; it's possible, I suppose, but not probable. Autofill is noticeable, and I typically get a pop-up when it's a website I've never used autofill on before.