Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Find My Elotero?
Find My Elotero is a live mapping platform connecting customers with nearby elote vendors in real time. Vendors share their location, and customers discover fresh elote wherever they are.
2. How do I find elote near me?
Click the "Find Elote Near Me" button on the homepage and allow location access. The map displays all live vendors within a 100‑mile radius. Click "View Full Map" for detailed directions.
3. What is the maximum search radius?
The service shows vendors within a 100‑mile (≈160 km) radius of your current location, ensuring you find vendors in nearby cities or towns.
4. How do I sign up as an elote vendor?
Visit the "Sign Up as Vendor" page, complete your profile, and click "Detect My Location" to capture your coordinates. After submitting, your listing is reviewed and, once approved, you can go live in the Vendor Portal.
5. How do I go live on the map?
In the Vendor Portal, toggle the "Live on Map" switch. This starts geolocation tracking in your browser and updates your location live for customers to see. Toggle off when you close for the day.
6. Is my personal data secure?
Yes. We use Firebase Authentication and Firestore security rules to ensure only you can update your own data. HTTPS encryption protects all data in transit, and we never sell personal information.
7. Why can't I see any vendors?
If no vendors appear, ensure you've enabled location permissions and there are vendors live within 100 miles. Try refreshing the map or moving to a different location to expand your search area.
8. How often does the map update?
The map listens for live vendor updates every few seconds via Firebase. If a vendor toggles off, their marker disappears in real time.
9. Do you charge customers?
No, the service is free for customers. We support operations through unobtrusive native ads and optional vendor promotions to keep the platform accessible to everyone.
10. How can I contact support?
For assistance, visit our Contact page. We typically respond within 24 hours.
11. How do I get directions to a vendor?
Click on the vendor marker, then select "Get Directions" in the info window to open Google Maps with route guidance directly to the vendor.
12. What does the heatmap show?
The heatmap visualizes areas with the most active map viewers in the last few minutes, helping vendors identify high-demand hotspots around them.
13. How do I allow location access on my iOS or Android device?
To see nearby vendors, you must enable location services:
- iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, turn it on, then scroll to your browser (e.g., Safari) and select “While Using the App.”
- Android: Open Settings > Location, enable it, then in Apps > Your Browser > Permissions, allow Location access.
14. Can I add Find My Elotero to my home screen like an app?
Yes! For quick access:
- iOS (Safari): Tap the Share icon, then choose “Add to Home Screen.”
- Android (Chrome): Tap the menu (⋮) and select “Add to Home screen.”