Day #11: Three Requests, Still No Study
Day #11: Three Requests, Still No Study
Today I sent my third request for the Home Insurance Insights study referenced by Nextdoor.
Here’s the timeline:
June 15: Initial request for the full study.
June 22: Follow-up request.
Today: Third request.
As of today, it’s been 11 days since my original email.
The result?
No acknowledgment.
No explanation.
This isn’t about whether I agree or disagree with the findings.
It’s about transparency.
If a company publicly references research, it seems reasonable to expect that someone requesting the underlying methodology, demographics, and supporting information would at least receive a response.
Instead, the silence has become the story.
It also raises a broader question.
If this is how an investor is treated when requesting information referenced in a public article, what should users, local businesses, advertisers, or other shareholders expect when they have a question that needs attention?
Leadership sets expectations.
Culture determines whether those expectations are met.
At some point, a simple reply becomes less about one email and more about how an organization values communication and accountability.
If the study arrives tomorrow, I’ll gladly share that update too.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Day 2: The Study That May or May Not Exist
Nextdoor recently published another LinkedIn article, this time highlighting a survey about FIFA and Canadian neighbors' excitement about hosting part of the world's biggest sporting event.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouverites-split-hosting-fifa-world-cup
As I read it, one question immediately came to mind:
Where is the link to request the full study?
I couldn't find one.
Does the complete research actually exist for public review? Or is this another example where the optics of looking neighborly stop at the marketing copy?
This is now Day #2 since I sent Jacob Chavis a direct request for the complete insurance study referenced in another Nextdoor publication.
So far, I've received:
No report.
No acknowledgment.
No "We're working on it."
No "You'll receive it shortly."
Not even a polite "No."
It almost makes me wonder whether there's an unofficial policy that says, "Don't engage with Niel Flamm."
Organizations often deny having unofficial practices while employees describe cultures that say otherwise. Years ago, officers in the NYPD alleged unofficial productivity expectations despite formal denials. Wells Fargo's incentive culture became infamous even though the company didn't have an official policy encouraging fraudulent accounts. Employees at major cellular carriers have also described "performance metrics" that felt a lot like quotas.
Which leads me to a fun challenge.
If anyone from Nextdoor would like to anonymously provide verifiable evidence that there is an unofficial policy directing employees not to engage with me, send it to:
The information must be verifiable and not AI-generated.
First one to provide credible documentation wins a gift card for dinner for two at your favorite neighborly restaurant.
Ready...
Set...
Go.
Nextdoor's Latest "Study" or Just Another Sales Pitch?
For months, I've been requesting transparency from Nextdoor leadership regarding the surveys and research they publish. I've asked for methodology, sample sizes, demographics, confidence intervals, moderation metrics, and the data behind the headlines.
The questions have largely gone unanswered.
Now we're presented with another report claiming that 74% of Nextdoor neighbors are open to switching home insurance providers. To me, this comes across more like a marketing vehicle designed to encourage insurance companies to advertise on the platform rather than independent research.
Suppose the data is legitimate; great. Show us the methodology. Show us the complete report. Let everyone evaluate the findings for themselves.
Today I sent an email to Jacob Chavis requesting the comprehensive research behind the study. We'll see what happens.
Based on my past interactions with the company, I don't have high expectations. Requests for information have historically gone unanswered or taken an unreasonable amount of time to respond.
Transparency builds trust. Marketing headlines without supporting data create more questions.
I'll happily update this post if and when the full report is provided.
South Carolina Voters: Earn $125 for Two Hours of Your Time
I'm helping spread the word about a South Carolina voting market research study that will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, June 10, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The study pays $125 for participation and is looking for White/Caucasian males in South Carolina who are comfortable participating on camera during a Zoom discussion.
If you think you qualify and would like more information, send me a direct message. Feel free to share this opportunity with someone who may be interested. Seeking White/Caucasian males in South Carolina who are comfortable appearing
I Asked A Silly Question. I Won A Silly Prize.
In my previous post, I questioned the transparency of a Nextdoor survey and joked:
"Has nobody at Nextdoor watched John King on CNN election night?"
After thinking about it, that was a silly question.
The answer is obviously no.
If anyone from the top down — including CEO Nirav Tolia — spent much time watching John King drill into data, methodology, assumptions, and details behind the numbers, perhaps we'd see more transparency in areas like moderation, appeals, and internally published survey results.
Then I started thinking about other groundbreaking studies Nextdoor could publish without providing full methodology:
🏆 The Lawn Blade Encroachment Survey
How many inches onto a neighbor's property can grass grow before it becomes an international incident?
📦 The Missing Amazon Package Emotional Impact Index
After receiving a delivery notification, how long should a neighbor wait before accusing porch pirates, nearby residents, and organized crime?
🍂 The Neighborhood Leaf Migration & Border Security Report
Who owns leaf cleanup responsibilities after leaves illegally cross property lines?
🚲 The Emergency E-Bike Teen Threat Assessment
Which represents the greater threat to civilization: teenagers riding e-bikes or teenagers staying indoors staring at screens?
🐕 The Official Barkonomics Report
At what decibel level and dog count do connected neighbors formally declare war on one another?
Maybe the results would be fascinating.
Just don't ask for the sample size, methodology, demographics, margin of error, weighting, response rates, or full questionnaire.
Those details might get lost somewhere
Subscribe to NielFlamm.com.