After exchanging emails with AOL, we've learned this evening that they do not intend on respecting their published deadline regarding voting for AOL CityGuide "Best Of",which includes of course, "Best Coffeehouse" in Pittsburgh.
AOL's representatives haven't come right out and said that we didn't win, but as we were in first place at the published deadline of 3pm but not at midnight - the time they now claim to be official - we expect we won't be named the winner.
Regardless what happens, we thank you for giving us a strong showing. Every time we reminded y'all to vote, you did. Our only mistake was telling everyone that the voting ended at 3pm. We all probably could have continued voting until the AOL site ceased taking votes, but we simply figured they'd roll back the voting to the 3pm deadline.
We do not wish to disrespect any other competitors, but we consider what AOL is doing to be extremely poor policy and a huge disrespect to everyone who went to AOL to vote in the "Best Of" survey.
How a company with billions in assets and one that is a supposed technological leader does not possess the software capability to (a) lock down voting at the published deadline, and; (b) failing (a) above, rollback the voting to 3pm, is beyond us.
Their official winner will be announced on Monday.
The vast majority of network administrators and computer professionals absolutely hate AOL - I won't expand on what they say AOL stands for! But congrats anyway for the great showing and those of us who visit your shop regularly will continue to do so!
Posted by: Larry | January 27, 2007 at 10:07 AM
You'll always be a winner to us!!
Posted by: Planet Art's Linda | January 27, 2007 at 11:58 AM
The good news is your customers know you're the best! Here's to #1 Aldo
Posted by: Pat Collins | January 28, 2007 at 02:01 PM
I haven't heard anyone whine about voting this much since 2000. Keep e-mailing AOL, and in the meantime, hopefully, the absentee and over-seas ballots will have arrived.
Posted by: anonymous | January 30, 2007 at 10:22 PM
hey Drew and Matt - "anonymous" above is trying to give your coffeehouse a bad name.
Posted by: Rich | January 31, 2007 at 07:21 PM