[Geowanking] Store hours of operation database

[Kevin Elliott]

Here's something I'm curious about, that has been a time and again problem
for so many people designing "yellow pages" or trying to use such data.
There's no real store hours databases on the net since it requires such a
collaboration between customers and/or store owners to provide accurate data
to a "central" database. It's a lot of work. One of the companies I worked
at, we tried to create such a database in one of our products, but even with
self-stamped and addressed postcards sent out to a ton of local businesses,
we got very little response, even when we explained the benefits of
providing their store hours. It seemed to us that MOST store owners were
lazy, and didn't like to put extra efforts in, or just couldn't see any
benefits.

 

Anyway, a couple years has passed, and maybe something exists now. In some
realtime gps mapping software I'm developing, I'd really like to get such
information so assist people in organizing their schedules when they have
multiple destinations to route to in their vehicles and homes. Knowing when
stores are open and closed is valuable for "auto organizing" their schedule
to enforce certain destinations to occur before or after other ones (for
example: to get to Office Depot before it closes before you head to your
mother's house for Turkey dinner), etc.

 

Anyone aware of a service that exists? Preferably one that is free since
this is a hobby project and not intended for commercial use yet (if ever).
If not, anyone interested in working on one with me?

 

Regards,

 

Kevin Elliott

kevin at phunc.com

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