Google Maps - Google seems to have lost the plot

[rich_b]

Ok, I love Google Maps. It's great. Really good. The road directions suck but satellite view is awesome, and so is the web 2.0 ajaxy stuff. So, as I'm sure you'll appreciate, I'm not a Google Maps knocker. But what the funky chicken is going on? I open maps.google.co.uk and I search for 'Fleet'. It's a location in England. The more perceptive of you will already have guessed that even if you didn't know it because I already opened MAPS.google... There's the clue in CAPS. I'm thinking that in 0.25 seconds I'm going have that map zoomed in and job done! But no, what have we here?

fleet
Categories: Vehicle Fleet Management Consultants, Vehicle tracking

Que? Is this a map or the Yellow Pages?

Fleet Indian

You what? Whatever this link goes to it's not even in Fleet, it's in Fleet Road, London. Gimme Fleet!

<car rental company name> Ireland

Whoa, fleet management? Nooo, Fleet - the location. It's Google Maps. I want geographical locations! Fleet, the location, is not on the first or second page of Google results. Time to go to a competitors map site to get what I need...

I think you get the point. I certainly don't get what Google have done!

Now, admittedly if I type 'Fleet, Hampshire' it works. But why do I have to be so specific now when I never used to? I'd understand the results if I typed them into Google search. But it's Google maps. Ok, rant over. I'm sure someone can explain this. :) I hope.

[Slinger]

Yes, I can explain this as you have requested....

This is a case of you drinking to much coffee.

LOL

[AnkitMaheshwari]

Just remember, more specific your query is, better results you will get, or I should say better directions in this case....

There are business out there who have submitted in Google Maps with Fleet either in company name, street address or in other form. None must have added Fleet city independently.

[edited by: AnkitMaheshwari at 5:27 am (utc) on April 23, 2009]

[rich_b]

@Slinger: Heh, I don't drink coffee! I thought I must be seeing things though. Might be a good time to quit the hallucinogenic drugs... :D

@AnkitMaheshwari: Fleet the location has always existed in Google Maps. They've got the majority of UK locations in there and have done for a while now. What's changed is that if I type Fleet I no longer get the location at all, I get business related results for companies with some link to either industries with the word 'Fleet' or who are located in 'Fleet Road'. But if I wanted 'Fleet Management' or 'Fleet Road' I'd type that. If I type 'Fleet' alone then Fleet the location should be what comes up first. I think that what is appearing now is illogical and broken.

[Meenakshi Mosaic]

I think local google searches for the industry first in case one word is searched. As users will type to search about services and location can be identified by user IP...

[leadegroot]

It can be a little unpredictable - like the time I put 'Roma' into maps.google.com.au (its a country town in Queensland, which is an Australian state) and got back... you guessed it - Roma, Italy!
Changing it to Roma QLD gave me the result I wanted - but you'd think it would default to local places for the cctld? Happens to me all the time :(

Try adding a postcode (or whatever they are called in the UK) or county to your search.