First of all, The Metro has never stated that they are a news source.
Second of all, I work for The Metro and I personally COUNTED those ballots. If a company chooses to ask their employees to vote, then I don't see that as being unreasonable. Many employees don't have to ask their customers because they are great companies.
I personally counted and called everyone that filled out a ballot...fake or not. If no one answered, then we called back a few days later. You are given 4 chances to answer and confirm. Some of the time, we are given fake phone numbers...which we don't count, or the person did not fill out the ballot; therefore, we don't count that vote either. You must tell us that you did indeed fill out the ballot. It does NOT matter who advertises with us. This is a "Reader's Poll." Plain and simple. Whoever has the most votes wins...advertiser or not.
Anyone who wants to see the votes can. We have them in our computer on a counting system and printed as well. So for those non-believers and people who want to wish that this poll is rigged...we have the results right here. All the ballots are filed accordingly and saved over the years.
Editors Note: Sadly they sent this in anonymously.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
33 comments:
name one company that won and did not ever advertise in the metro please.
We never said the Metro was the one cheating. What we said was that certain businesses were asking their employees to fill out the ballots in favor of that business. I'm sure many in the business community are networked and help each other out. Not all businesses do this, but I'm sure some do.
I think Metro should do some sample polling at places like the mall to see just how close the polls would be to the ballots. I'll bet it wouldn't be close.
How many of you couldn't believe some of the results? People that eat out know who's good and who's garbage. We know what businesses have good customer service and who is the best "banker". What a joke these polls are. Just a tool to get more advertising dollars, which of course gets passed on to the consumer. Creat a good product and word of mouth advertising will feed you and your family for generations.
The Metro is a load of crap. It's a way for local businesses to advertise to no one. I wouldn't put a single dollar into the Metro if it was the only exposure available.
Petsmart never advertised in the Metro and had won best groomer since they came to town. Until this year!! There it is one, do you want more?
Everyone looks at the Metro. It is a great marketing tool it you want exposure.
mardela, you are right! the catagories are catering to whom they want to win. Banker, salad dressing,realtor...why werent all of the catagories used in all of the regions? maybe Worcester doesnt have a good salad dressing !
WTF -- is this all about????
why worry about it. Is it that important to see your favorite place shown in print in some free magazine? if you dont think that the metro is a reliable source, then dont read it. They are a paid for by advertising type of magazine that highlights businesses in the area.
If people dont pick up the magazine and they are left on the stands, Metro will get the point and stop publishing (or change their business model)
I think Metro magazine is missing the point.
They've now been 'outgunned, outflanked, outmanned, and are finding themselves in an entirely different league now that SBYnews has emerged as the BEST THING GOING ON THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE.
If I were Doug and Carol Naarup, I'd try to find a new angle as an alternate to Voted Best of the Best concept.
It's Old News.
Anyone that believes the Metropolitan's " Best of the Best " contest isn't fixed -- and that many of the winners don't solicit or fill out multiple entry forms for friends,etc.--must also believe in the tooth fairy.
That's not a free magazine, far from it. Front page with a write-up is probably about $8000 a pop just the front page by now.
Inside two first pages and last two inside pages and back of the magazine are I bet $3-3500 if not $4000 by now.
They do give the local elites a few nights out where they can dress up in their Tuxedos and fancy gowns.
Kind of upscale for this area if you ask me but to each their own. People move here to be able to take their shoes off!
The Metropolitan is not trying to be like sbynews. It is a marketing tool available to local business owners to get their products and services recognized. And obviously it works considering it is getting this much attention even on this blog. Bottom line if you want your business to be thought of first in this tough economy, be in the Metro. EVERYONE reads it.
PS here is another winner that has never advertised...Backstreet Grill won best new restaurant.
This "Best of" is a joke!
I was going to participate a few years ago, and then I read the disclaimer.
You must select one for EVERY category.
Well, I didn't use SEVERAL of the categories services, so how can I possibly give an HONEST vote of that establishement? I can't.
So....needless to say, I have never particpated in the Best Of and it makes NO impression on who I choose to use.
In fact, every time I see one of those plaques in a location, I laugh to myself...what a joke!
If you really want to know who is the Best Of...create an HONEST ballot.
joe you think i dont reconize you???
im impressed you found one, more would be nice.
Reference to 8:22 Post
I too laugh every time I see one of those Marques labeled 'Voted Best For 10 Years In A Row'.
As a local, it now discourages me from doing business with the establishment displaying these slogans because of the loss of Credibility associated with Metropolitan Magazine.
It is a running joke for those of us who are locals.
They had better find a new gimmick.
I can tell you this much. A high profile saleswoman at Pohanka informed me that since the story broke about Metropolitan/Pohanka marketing gimmick, the number of sales inquires has fallen dramatically.
Of course it could be the stock market economy that is bringing it down also.
I replied, you can always ask your government for a possible bailout plan as an alternative to sales.
I went to Backstreet Grill 3 different times during the first 3 months they were open. I missed the "Build Your Own Sandich" idea from Market Street.
Each time my wife and i ordered a simple sandwich, fries, and a soda. It took over an hour after ordering to receive our food every time.
Sorry but 3 strikes and they are off our list!
Kevin
I noticed it was anon too
Outback, Applebees, and all the other national brands dont advertise in the magazine and they won a few things...
Joe did I miss something or did my putter not show everything? did I miss the intro?
3:42- the restaurant I work at doesn't adveritse in Metro, but we won several "Best Of" awards!
Here's a question....does Metropolitan's Best of have a category for Best Local Media source? That would be the category to question. Most people who support sbynews prefer to do so anonymously.
It's a subjective poll based upon how one "feels" about a certain service or establishment. Because it's not objective means it's not exactly accurate. A lot of the places that won "Best of" solicate their patrons and employees to vote. Free publicity and advertising, that's what it's all about. If there was a catagory for best blog, Joe would runaway with it.
A silly local magazine calling some joint "Best of" has almost no impact. An effective Blog site telling me about a personal experience with BK North will change my spending habits.
Are we forgetting what the true reason behind the "BEST OF" is?? It is for charity. Find something else to do with your time.
using a charity to promote misinformation should be a crime
i, too, believe much of the awards list is a joke. if businesses advertise in the metropolitan and do not win an award, they will probably think their advertising dollars will be more wisely spent elsewhere and pull their funds. the metropolitan would rather have continuous advertisers each month and know money is coming in, therefore it would be bad business to have these advertisers pull their funds.. hence, award categories are created for some to win, and i would not be surprised if some awards were all but given to a few of the businesses. when a local restaurant advertises a full page ad on the back cover each and every month for the last several years and wins the same exact awards every year, i find that a tad suspicious. it may be very innocent; but on the surface it looks very fishy. but maybe i just notice that one because it boggles my mind how people would vote for frozen conveyor belt food. and i think voting for franchises is a joke, too. the ballot requires 50 categories to be filled out in order for it to count, so many people fill it in with junk. didn't mcdonald's win or come in 2nd for burgers one year? and how about pizza hut and papa john's 1st or 2nd for pizza? i do have to give kudos to metropolitan though for a great idea to generate business and buzz.
Oh, that's nice. It's okay to be a "fraud" if it's for charity.
Oh Please!
I work at outback steakhouse and we won best steaks and 1 other award. i have worked at the salisbury location since it opened 4 years ago. We have won mutiplie years and have yet to advertise once with the metropolitan
Do you think by chance that the Metropolitain is contacting everyone they can to cover themselves on this question?
I can speak to this. My wife and I filled out ballots this year. We were called on consecutive nights around a month ago to verify we filled out the ballots. Why such outrage over this? I moved to the area four years ago. Being new here, I found the best of magazine useful. I ate at Zia's for the first time becuase of it, and decided I did not like it. I also went to Fratellis becuase of the magazine and keep returning for the great crabcakes. I would have never known about the crabcakes if it were not for the magazine. The Metro is not the bible. It is a free read for the public where advertisers can chose, or not chose to advertise to gain the consumers business.
I don't have a problem with the publication itself...as you said, it does contain some good information, especially someone coming in from outside the area. It does have some nice articles in it and it's sorta upscale because it's done in glossy color.
However, I have a real problem with the "Best Of" practices of the publication, which if you read the posts, that is the concern...not the publication itself.
And Joe, I think you're right, I think they contacted who they could to get them to post "good" things.
Keep your publication Metro, but get rid of the fraudulent gimmick of the "Best Of" unless you are willing to do it so you get HONEST entries and not people just picking the name on some of the entries because that's the business they recognize simply because they don't USE a business in that particular category.
For instance, just in case you cannot figure out what I'm saying.
If one of your categories is "Best Accounting Firm". Well, I don't use an accounting firm, so I would have to check whatever name I recognized.
Now, they have a vote from someone who has never used them AND has not used their competition either.
So how does that make them the BEST?
It doesn't. It says that their name is more recognizable to me.
That's not BEST OF!!!
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