Forum location error?

[AlanDB]

Recently, the "Ebike Shops Near You" ads at the bottom of the EBR Forum web page started showing bike shops on the USA west coast (I am in Iowa). I am not using VPN or anything else that would mask my online location. It is not a big deal as I know where my local LBS's are, although it was always interesting when a new one popped up that I didn't know about. I am just curious as to why this was changed. It seems like the shops paying for these ads wouldn't be happy that they are no longer targeted by location.

 

[6zfshdb]

I'm seeing the same thing here Alan. The locations change from time to time though, not sure why. Right now, I'm getting shops in the NYC area, not my locals.

Every so often, I enter my zip code in the search box to check for new local dealers.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

I rarely look at those things but when I do they are rarely more accurate than my quadrant of the US. Sometimes not even that. I always figured I don't have location services turned on, but I don't care enough to look into it.

TT

 

[AlanDB]

I'm seeing the same thing here Alan. The locations change from time to time though, not sure why. Right now, I'm getting shops in the NYC area, not my locals.

Every so often, I enter my zip code in the search box to check for new local dealers.

I think you are right ... this is probably not controlled by the web site determining your location, but by whatever was typed in the search box and then carried from session to session with a cookie. I don't remember ever typing my zip code in the search, but I probably did at some time and now that cookie has been cleared. Not a big deal, just a curiosity.

 

[Roamers]

Interesting. Although I typically ignore it, my LBS was always there. I looked just now and LBS for the city I last Google sought directions to are listed. And my serches in that area have nothing to do with biking.