Google is handing out a little Christmas bonus to its most proactive Google Map users. The Californian search company is dishing out a discount code for 20 percent off select purchases from the Google Store, which sells all of the latest Google-designed hardware, including Nest security cameras, smart heating systems and Pixel 3a.
The discount code is designed to be a little ‘thank you’ to Google Maps Local Guides. These users leave reviews on local businesses, restaurants and pubs to help keep Google Map users in the loop about the best places to visit, they also help amend opening times, holiday closures and other extra information to make Google Maps more accurate and helpful.
Google incentivises more contributions with Local Guides badges that fans of the app earn as they post more onto the site. Google sends out perks as users reach higher levels of the programme.
The latest perk is a 20 percent off code for the Google Store just in time for the Christmas shopping rush. Google Maps users on Reddit have shared the emails from Google informing them about the discount. However, it’s unclear exactly what the criteria for the discount are at the moment.
Emails heading out to those lucky contributors don’t highlight any specific activity as the cause of the generosity but simply says that Google is rewarding “recent contributions”. Although the promotion started in the UK, it seems Google is now rolling-out the discount to different countries too. Reports are trickling in from Germany and Spain about Local Guides receiving the discount code in their email too, so it’s very possible this could be part of a worldwide promotion.
If you haven’t already received the email, you might be out of luck. If you’d like to make sure you’re eligible for any similar bonuses in the future – you can head over to the Local Guides website and register to contribute to the Google Maps knowledge database going forward.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to the promotion. Your shiny new 20 percent off code doesn’t apply to absolutely everything in the Google Store.
Google doesn’t let you drop the price of the brand-new Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, or a subscription to its Netflix-esque video game service, Google Stadia. Those with Nest security cameras won’t be able to discount their subscription plan to Nest Aware, either. That’s a little disappointing. However, there are still some pretty phenomenal deals to be had on the likes of the Google Nest Wifi system, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max or Pixel 3a.
But if you’re eyeing up an early Christmas gift for yourself, you’d better be quick.
All discount codes sent out to Google Maps Local Guides are set to expire on December 13, 2019. So, you’ll need to add whatever you’d like to find under the tree to your shopping basket sooner rather than later.
The news comes as Google pushed-out an update to its Google Maps service on iOS that brought the ability to use the app in an Incognito Mode – preventing the navigation app from recording your search history to create targeted advertising. Like Google’s all-conquering Chrome web browser, you’ll now be able to set the browser to Incognito Mode to keep your sensitive searches safe from informing all of the adverts you see spread across webpages online.