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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHas Anyone Heard Of A Website Called "Nextdoor".....
I received a letter the other day that appeared to come from a neighbor. It was an invite to join 'nextdoor.com' (don't click on this). I liked the idea that it included me in a forum with my neighbors in my school district - so I visited the site and entered the password it provided in the letter. The response was that I didn't have the correct password - so I couldn't join. The name on the letter turned out to be a lady around the block from where I live - but no contact info. I went to the internet. Googled her name. Got her address and two telephone numbers. Called. One was disconnected and the other only provided a constant static. So in my next walk around the block - I left a note in this ladies mailbox requesting a more current password. A day later I had a message on my phone where this lady called me and said she dropped out of nextdoor.
I was talking with a friend on the other side of town - telling her of my experience and she went to her table - where she pulled out the exact same letter (type face/font/message, etc0 as the letter I received - only hers was customized for the community around her house. She said - she felt it was a scam. She looked at the postmark on the envelope and it was from a zipcode in California. We're both in Illinois.
When I came home I pulled out my letter and compared them and they were exactly the same; same postmark and message - only both were customized to the neighborhood that surrounded our house. I must confess - she was more suspicious than I and she looked at the postmark, etc.
Anyway - now I'm wondering why somebody completely on the west coast would go through all the trouble customizing these letters and sending them out. What's the scam here? Is it a scam? Is this legitimate?
So I'm posting this here to see if anyone else on DU has received a similar letter and is either participating in nextdoor or if they were taken advantage of. I'm curious - as to where in the country you might be located. Again - we received these letters here in Illinois and they were mailed out - not by one of our neighbors - but came from someone in California - that did a lot of research to ID our neighborhoods, including names of real neighbors - that they included in these letters.
What's the deal?
GPV
(72,386 posts)SoCalDavidS
(9,998 posts)Once you prove you're located in the specific are you're signing up for, it allows you to post about any news happenings in the neighborhood. Also things like missing pets, local service provider recommendations, garage sales, etc.
Jilly_in_VA
(10,045 posts)Then it got heisted. Not only by scammers, but by some really nasty folks in some neighborhoods....bigots, racists, gossips, etc. Kind of like another website I used to use called Topix, which was originally a good place to find out what was going on in my home town and then turned really nasty.
EYESORE 9001
(26,026 posts)It was chock-a-bloc with the same gossip and rumors that made me want to GTFO all those years ago.
dameatball
(7,405 posts)thing. Lived in a great little small town. Seems it never got off the ground and just disappeared. Oddly enough I have received a few notifications this past year. Haven't responded or logged in. I would enjoy keeping up with things back there but am a bit distrustful. i do recall when Topiux turned into a complete cesspool.
Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)I've used it to get rid of stuff I don't need - just post some info and location and it's gone within hours. It's also a useful source of local info like street repair, etc. Unfortunately it's also where a lot of Karens and neighborhood scolds hang out.
marble falls
(57,479 posts)My neighborhood site contains a high degree of pearl clutching, dog hating, homeless fearing folks who stand at the ready to cluck cluck at anything or anyone that doesn't conform to their insular, privileged, and comfortable existence. But it's also a great place to find a handyman or sell something.
cinematicdiversions
(1,969 posts)Like anything else it is what you make of it. Of course it helps if you live in a good neighborhood with decent people.
yellowdogintexas
(22,292 posts)It is really easy to be booted if you break the rules.
SWBTATTReg
(22,201 posts)actual help for and by neighbors in your immediate area. It was more of a complaint fest, w/ personal feelings interjected on just about everything not neighborhood-related, nothing at all like DU if you want a comparison. I also rec'd tons of emails that I didn't want, buy this, buy that, etc., so much so that I dropped out within a couple of days. A true disappointment. One point, they don't monitor this either, so you can further imagine what I'm talking about.
You're better off talking to the neighbors across the fences of your backyard, in the alleyways, elsewhere live, to get feedback if you want on issues.
The scam, I wouldn't be surprised. I am surprised that you went to so much trouble to locate an usable password, perhaps you too, like I did, really looked forward to the benefits that such a neighborhood group would offer. Sadly, this particular org. Next Door has a long, long way to go. You were smart to drop out immediately.
jmbar2
(4,920 posts)I was wondering what others had experienced. Think Imma gonna pass on it.
Fla Dem
(23,875 posts)I joined, but after a while got bored with it. Also made me angry/sad with all the missing dog and cat posts. But I'm sure it serves a purpose to rally neighbors on local issues. Lots of advertising. Recommendations for restaurants were good. In fact that was one of the better aspects of the site, recommendations for service providers (auto repairs, painters, landscapers etc). However, hard to tell what was self promoting and real recs. Also lot of for stuff for sale. So if that interests you you may find it worthwhile to sign up. Just wasn't worth my time to be checking it everyday. Also it covered more than just my neighborhood and surrounding area. Got to the point where communities were added that were 5+ miles away. Some were on the other side of the intercoastal waterway, so not even remotely my neighborhood.
I finally left the site. I get enough junk mail, emails etc. Just didn't need any more.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)No, nobody did any research.
Its entirely automated. They make more money from showing you ads and selling your data than it costs to send out direct mailers. Theres no human doing any research.
Nittersing
(6,391 posts)I found a great, licensed electrician who lives in my neighborhood. And I have a 14yo coming over to do some yardwork (she did an aMAZing job for me a couple of weeks ago). Great for restaurant recommendations (especially during the pandemic). There's a neighbor who makes "Free Little Libraries" that look just like the homes they're posted in front of.
There is also constant complaining about unleashed dogs, dog poop, homeless camps, random fireworks (were those gunshots?) and a host of other issues that are on regular rotation.
I think Nextdoor has "Leads" that are supposed to monitor discussions and in my area, they seem to keep things from getting too nuts.
I like the app.
cinematicdiversions
(1,969 posts)Complete with doorbell video.
Anon-C
(3,430 posts)ret5hd
(20,563 posts)You know what they call a group of Karens? You know, like a covey of quail or a flock of birds.
Its called a nextdoor of Karens.
Have you ever witnessed people working themselves into a panic over:
a strange man just came to my door and hung a something on my doorknob!!!
or
there is a strange car parked on the street outside my neighbors house!!!
or
someone is walking down the street who is obviously not from this neighborhood. I think he is casing my house!!!
And dont get me started on the anti-vax, out-of-context-bible-verse, climate change deniers.
Or the full-grown macho men who get terribly intimidated by panhandlers outside the local CVS.
If you get bored on a weekday evening, NextDoor can be quite entertaining.
Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)I guess it's good that people are paying attention, but recently on my Nextdoor there was total freakout by someone who saw a guy taking pictures of her yard. The thread went on and on; finally she figured out that the guy was an insurance adjuster from a company she'd called about a new policy. And everybody else on the thread is like, "Why didn't you just ask him who he was and why he was there?" Then there are the posts about someone's purse being stolen from their car and they wanted people to know there were car break-ins in the neighborhood, and everybody else piles on to tell her she shouldn't have left her purse in the car. Kid's bike gets stolen? Kid shouldn't have left their bike where it could get stolen. Dog is missing? Why didn't you make sure your fence was secure? Lots of judgmental assholes on Nextdoor. And this being Minneapolis, it was totally exploding with conspiracy theories of all political stripes during the George Floyd protests.
But it can be fun reading and occasionally useful.
there was this video posted about a "suspicious" guy - AA with dreadlocks - all he was doing was ringing a doorbell......is it a BURGLER???? The man was wearing flip-flops - I very much doubt that someone who may need to make a fast getaway would be wearing flip-flops....also, no mask, when there is a perfect reason to BE masked now.
Ridiculous.
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)It appears to be a startup trying to eventually make money. Some of it hasn't been working so well. I have heard of some "neighborhoods" turning racist. Also, there is this story from Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nicolenguyen/nextdoor-scams
I ignored it. We already know lots of our neighbors, and my wife knows everyone in city government.
EYESORE 9001
(26,026 posts)Im astounded by the number of lost pets and people who freak out over loud noises.
yellowdogintexas
(22,292 posts)Lifesaver!!!
Folks can still private message each other
ItsjustMe
(11,281 posts)And all of the mods are right wingers.
I've gotten several 30 day bans from next door because I often tell these right wingers to STFU. I had someone message me the other day accusing me of being a drug user because I had told some trump supporter to STFU. I just replied to him with his full name and address. I never heard back from him.
Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)just a lot of Karens fussing about their neighbors' behavior and panicking over an unfamiliar car parked nearby. But I mostly use it to get rid of stuff and keep track of local street repairs.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)It isn't political where I live because NDers here shut down political posts very quickly.
I deactivated my account because I received too many alerts and notifications, and yes, there are a lot of lost dogs!
When I reactivated, so I could search for services I needed, I turned off all notifications and that works well.
yonder
(9,685 posts)ItsjustMe
(11,281 posts)Trump supporters pretty much run the site, but we do have a liberals of California section.
Scrivener7
(51,083 posts)the neighborhood makeup. I quit and I made a complaint. I looked back in and they had gotten rid of one or two of the "make me a sandwich" charmers, but others had taken their places.
Just no. It's a hate fest.
TrogL
(32,822 posts)The neighborhood is using it to track bad guys and lost pets.
NNadir
(33,583 posts)She got some very nice living room furniture, bought slip covers, and so far, no cat problems; the cat's now taking to our bed since the replacement furniture is less cat accessible. We bought it a very low price from an old retired lady who was looking to remodel.
We also got a very beautiful dining room set to replace the one my son destroyed when he was in Art School. It was from a young guy who was moving back in with his very nice Mom, who we met.
My wife likes Next Door, more or less, but my wife is a garage sale/estate sale kind of person.
woodsprite
(11,940 posts)The rest of ours is political and religious posts. The good posts are vendor reviews/recommendations, lost pets, and other helpful neighborhood information.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)But you sign up with your email and make your own password, so that letter thing is odd.
Peregrine Took
(7,418 posts)Lost and found, general news, items for sale and free ones, etc.
I love it.
sinkingfeeling
(51,493 posts)is going on in the area. Even has a place to list items for sale or give aways.
yellowdogintexas
(22,292 posts)for a hilarious comment! We have some folks who do Trap Spay Neuter (feral cats) and they are invaluable.
There is a map posted on Halloween to let folks know if you are giving out treats,
and a map to mark really great Christmas decorations around the area.
I wrote a review of a pizza place we really like and apparently about 25 people who read the review all showed up at the same time on a Sunday night and he was by himself. He had to call two workers back in to take care of the business. That was an example of great use of the site.
THen those folks came back and wrote their own rave reviews.
GoddessOfGuinness
(46,435 posts)But it seems to be a hotbed of ignorance.
Since I joined, its become evident that there are a lot of people who live next door to people without actually being neighbors.
vanlassie
(5,695 posts)Not only are there lots of Ring related ads that look like true stories, but the general tone of be afraid supports security sales.
chillfactor
(7,587 posts)in the New Mexico mountains. Very close small community and I look forward to the post notices In get in my email.
Laffy Kat
(16,392 posts)You'll get updates on suspicious characters, cool items for sale, notices about yard sales, lost pets, found pets. good and bad places to eat, etc. You do have to be invited to join.
Mr.Bill
(24,365 posts)and although I can't remember the details it seemed like they wanted way too much of my personal information, so I passed on it.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)I quit mine because it was mostly people complaining about their dogs and cats getting loose, missing, or running away.
I was viciously attacked when I suggested people needed to be more responsible pet owners.
Also there were multiple complaints by people who left their cars running, keys in the ignition, door open as they returned inside their home to get that last cup of coffee ... And surprise surprise someone stole their car.
Complaints of someone walking down the street who these people never saw before. "Should I call the police?" Or, "I saw a blue car today. No one in this neighborhood owns a blue car. What should I do?
UTUSN
(70,783 posts)Voltaire2
(13,257 posts)Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)Lots of lost pets, stuff for sale/give away, fussing about unfamiliar cars parked on the street, porch pirates, some Karens griping about their neighbors, not much political or right-wing blather.
yellowdogintexas
(22,292 posts)I was invited by a friend through the "invite a friend" function.
Sometimes it is hilarious. It appears our neighborhood is covered with suspicious characters, lost or found pets, and discussions about favorite merchants/eateries etc
Oh yes the Amazon Package thieves.
There a lot of specialized groups. Our county Democratic Party has a county wide group (private) which is great fun.
Let's see: cooking/baking; crochet/knitting; books; gardening; cats (of course) Local merchants & eateries.
I do not know about other locations but Fort Worth has "Neighborhoods" which often form Neighborhood groups. I am in Wedgwood East for example. You can choose to only see your own neigborhood or the ones which border yours or go further out.
I had to set my notifications to one a week but I can send or receive private messages
I do not understand why someone would go to all the trouble you described? It sounds like they are trying to set up a chain mail.
Anyway, you can give it a try but you might just go to the Nextdoor site and join up there.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)Our NextDoor can be useful but it can also be a real shitshow at times.
avebury
(10,953 posts)in reporting lost and found animals, seeking help for work you need done or seeking recommendations. You can find out what is going on around you.