Corporate sponsored POI files

O.K. This site is free, the only thing that might cost is the Red light camera POI, but if you meet the requirements of a Contributer (Posting at least 3 messages in 5 weeks) You can d/l that free. Free is what makes this site so fantastic. Most of the POI's here have been done by just regular folks who enjoy GPSr's. If your file is here already and needs to be updated, you can either email the creator or Miss POI. Welcome aboard, and I wish there would be many more coming. Problem we have is with a lot of companies aren't willing to do what you want to do. We have emailed plenty and all we get back is a link to their website where their store locater is. Or a sorry we can't help. I found a few store locator's that are restrictive, will only list stores if you give it City AND State, or a zip code. But won't list every store in the state or country. I guess I sound like a frustrated creator? I love to create POI's, but get frustrated when the company I am making one for, is uncooperative. Well enjoy the New Year and welcome again.

Thanks for the reply. I will get the updated list of our locations and work with the original author of the file I found here to see about updating that file.

I understand completely about companies not "getting" what the request for locations listings was for. If you contacted one of our distributors or even the wrong department at headquarters we would also probably misinterpret the request. Since i just got my GPS I am excited to help and participate.

I don't understand why companies wouldn't want to help, its like getting free yellow page listings. I am sure they didn't get it.

Thanks for the input.

...which owns about 6000 auto parts stores around the country.You know, something people might need to find when traveling.

Heck, I even offered to do the batch encoding and file maintenance.

Dead silence. Crickets chirping. Looked at me like I was crazy.

I believe in reciprocity, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. I look at this community as the GPS Points of Interest eye openers of the business world.
I would love to see every company provide POI files on their own sites for their customers to use. It is all about getting the information to the people.

Miss POI

Though I think mainstream GPS usage is only just past infancy. Its a toddler now. When I talk about custom POIs, most people just look at me blankly. They have no idea what the capabilities are. Even when I explain it, they don't quite get it. Right now, they are happy having the device route to an address and allow them to play music on the way. That'll change as people get used to the technology.

I think in the next few years you'll start to see a more savvy buisnesses offer POI data. If not an actual POI file, at least coordinates. It's in thier best interest. Just like everyone now has a web site, if they didn't they'd be invisible. Everyone will have to offer POI data, or they'll lose out on potential buisness.

Great comments. Thanks. Let me get the list of our current locations as a start and see if Driven1 who did the first list wants to update it with the info. Then if Cummins wants to use the file or wants one made I can post here if anyone can help with that. Sound like the right thing to do?

Thanks,

Well, I don't know if we are savvy but I'll try. Since I have access to our service provider system I generated a report with Longs, Lats, addresses and names of our locations in the US and Canada. Its in Excel. I contacted Driven1 to help me with it and will post it as soon as we have it ready.

My tip for getting companies to get you the lists of their locations is to call their HQs and ask for the VP of dealer or franchisee development or a territory/regional manager for the list. The basic contact numbers are so far down the red tape line that it takes to long to get a response but they can get you a territory guys phone or email address.
Thanks for the feeback.

Letting everyone know that I'll be helping mexglx out with this in a teaching capacity. The problem with this type of POI, as he previously stated, is that they can be outdated rather easily. My feeling is that the folks that have readily available access to the necessary info should create and update the files as necessary.

mexglx has already sent me a spreadsheet with all of the necessary information to create a new, updated Cummins.csv .

Also, as stated in other posts, for the life of me I can't believe that a majority of companies haven't latched onto the idea of POI's as a marketing tool. I think that may be changing in the very near future as handheld and mobile units evolve and have better information storage and display systems. Has anyone seen the latest from Garmin and Groundspeak? If not you can check it out at

www.whereigo.com
It opens up a world of possibilities (albeit the new units are darned expensive)

I emailed my favorite tex mex and asked them to make a poi of all of thier locations. They said they would..

I'll be looking for the list when they send it to you. Thanks.