I have had the intentions of writing a post towards this for quite a while now. It is finally materialising so here you are. It’s a post regarding local guides perks,gifts and rewards I definitely should mention,before I continue that we have an official post for local guides reward. Therefore if you have Question-about-a-Local-Guides-reward-email-Read-this-first !!! . That’s the first port of call and main official link when it comes to this subject . Just to state that as a kind of a disclaimer before I continue.
Now to continue with my own post regarding this. One main person I think has been very active on these cases of perks,gift,rewards etc is @iyudhi . I do comment his efforts and I have taken a shine to it as well. I see lots of cases he has been able to sort out with the help of the other Googlers. Working on posts and issues like that we often refer local guides back to the main post on rewards and also merge the posts in there if necessary. That’s to keep the forum organised as always.
- Now may I ask a question? What’s the main reason of our joining the local guides program? What’s the motivational force behind your being on the program or forum? Is it necessary? Is it helpful? What do I get from it anyway?
You will remember Traci wrote a post on Why-be-a-Local-Guide? That’s also another official link incase you are wondering. Now my own case and story as a case study. I joined the local guides program without knowing but I started enjoying it. My main reason or motivation for joining(Contributing) then was to make my own travels easier viz a viz others. As a missionary I travel with Nigeria and around West Africa so much. Therefore this program was ideal and Google maps the very thing to have on travels like that. Therefore activities like;
- Writing reviews to help make informed choices
- Adding photos of POIs to ease travels and make locations easier
- Answering questions
- Check facts (when it was there)
- Editing and adding new POIs etc
These all became interesting and fun. It soon became my new found hobby and way of expressing myself. Then a surprise !!! I got a pair of socks in 2020, never expected it all. I Wasn’t and never asked for it. Nevertheless it was a turning point and motivated me even more. I found connect immediately after that and that’s another story entirely. These perks are a token to say thank you to local guides for their contributions and it’s limited as well. It also depends on your Geographical region. If it doesn’t come your way,don’t feel bad or demotivated. Keep contributing quality and perhaps your turn will come sometime fingers crossed.
Back to that question again,what’s the motivating force behind you being a local guide? Would you stop if you don’t get gifts or rewards,socks,tot bag,pin badge? One fact about this is that there is absolutely no pattern or fairness in the distribution of material rewards to local guides. Morten often says its a marketing gimmick. Getting a perk doesn’t really mean you are great as a local guide. Not getting a gift doesn’t mean your contributions are worthless either. I believe it hasn’t much to do with your contributions really.I got a pair of socks as a level 5 local guide,meanwhile,there are other level 10 that were far better than me who didn’t get anything as at then.Don’t make rewards/perks/gifts your main preoccupation,sole aim or motivational factor as a local guide. You will not get too far on this very interesting and fun-filled local guides program. It is a voluntary program and there are a bunch of things to enjoy the perks aside. Knowing that your contributions are helping others is a great reward in itself.
Now there are questions regarding perks that have been answered at least a thousand times on connect and it still keeps coming. If yours is not listed here,please let me know. I will be prepared to update the post then and add it. Lol
General questions on rewards !!!
- Why have I not received perks/gifts/rewards as a local guide?
Answer: There is no just reason or particular answer to this.There is no guarantee and there isn’t a firm rule that states that as a local guide you should be given a gift or rewarded at a certain level. It also depends on your geographical region. Please note that some regions are off the radar for gifts.Please keep contributing quality and participating on connect. You maybe lucky someday soon. Nevertheless don’t bank on it so as to avoid disappointments. If you don’t get any gift move on and keep on…
- How can I track my reward item?
Answer: Sometimes tracking numbers are provided Sometimes it’s not provided. If it wasn’t provided to you in the rewards E-mail,that’s it.Kindly wait patiently for the arrival of your item. I’ll like to mention the fact that the post or delivery system of some countries does make receiving these items difficult. I had issues receiving my guiding stars gift in Liberia(West Africa) Some local guides in Nigeria have complained of a non-delivery of their items in Nigeria for instance. That therefore becomes a within the country problem and not a Google problem.
- I received an E-mail from local guides to redeem pin,and I failed to redeem it on time. Now,the code of the reward is expired. What should I do?
Answer: There is usually nothing can be done to help this issue. Local guides are expected to redeem the gift as soon as the Email arrives. Local guides are also expected to check their Emails from time to time to avoid code getting expired before redemption.
- Its been a long time since I redeemed my rewards yet it hasn’t arrived what should I do?
Answer: If it is 6 weeks since you placed the order and no arrival od the gift.This kind of case usually need a replacement of order and that can be done using the 
the FAQ page. Kindly visit the page. There are a range of issues available on the help page;
How long will my reward take to arrive?Answer: Technically speaking 3-6 weeks but practically speaking it could even longer depending on your geographical location. Please wait patiently and hopefully your gift will arrive.
I missed the deadline to redeem this reward. Can I get an extension?
Answer. No !!!
Where is my tracking number?
Answer: Sometimes no tracking number is Provided. It depends
Why doesn’t my redemption code work?
Answer: Please visit the FAQ page and fill the form. You might also need to contact the team as well. Please tag a moderator(Not multiple).
What can I do about a missing or damaged item?
Answer: Please fill the form accordingly.(source main post and FAQ page)
Settings to be adjusted regarding rewards/perks/gifts
subscribed to emails about rewards, be sure to update your email preferences.
To see where you are signed up for Local Guides, please visit your Local Guides settings.
Please be sure that your email preferences have reward emails enabled by visiting your Local Guides settings.
Hope you find this helpful and happy guiding.
Cheers
வணக்கம்.
team have to give perks, rewards or goodies for the appreciation of localguides work and for their contribution …its really motivate them to do more help to people on Google Maps.