I was just wondering if any of you have experienced this:

Schedulers call us to ask for favors and offer to waive the time requirement rotation in order to have the specific shop performed before the end of the period. We accommodate this request and then next month we really need this exact location shop but now we cannot do it because we do not meet the time rotation requirement. When we call the scheduler and ask them to waive the rotation, they tell you that they cannot do that. How frustrating is this? Is it worth helping the schedulers? Shouldn’t this be a two way street? I am seriously considering not helping these people anymore. After 10 years of mystery shopping, I think that I’ve had it.

They probably need to leave it up for a certain amount of time before they can waive the rotation. Some companies are sticklers on the rotation, too. I was about a week shy of a 6 month rotation for a cell phone shop. The shop starts at $12.00 and they had it up to $35.00, and they wouldn't waive the rotation. My rotation is up, but I didn't take the shop at $12.00 this month. It's up to $35.00 again.

I take favors very seriously. I remember when I owe someone a favor and I remember when someone owes me a favor. However, I usually give someone who owes me a favor more than one chance/way to repay the debt.

Sometimes, a scheduler's hands are tied. Just because she was able to waive rotation when a shop needed to be done does not mean she can waive rotation for you on a particular shop now.

If I were you, I would give the scheduler another chance/way to repay.

True. I think you are right, but this was the case with a few of them..Some of them just worry about getting the shops assigned and that's about it..


BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I take favors very seriously. I remember when I
> owe someone a favor and I remember when someone
> owes me a favor. However, I usually give someone
> who owes me a favor more than one chance/way to
> repay the debt.
>
> Sometimes, a scheduler's hands are tied. Just
> because she was able to waive rotation when a shop
> needed to be done does not mean she can waive
> rotation for you on a particular shop now.
>
> If I were you, I would give the scheduler another
> chance/way to repay.

Just remember the good and the bad ones. Don't get mad. Get even. =D

I say, don't get mad or even.
Find your lesson then move forward.

It all depends on your tolerace level.....

newyorkdan1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How frustrating
> is this? Is it worth helping the schedulers?
> Shouldn’t this be a two way street? I am
> seriously considering not helping these people
> anymore.



To please most MSC's... you have to drive through the tornado... in the dark and pouring rain... and sit in traffic for six lights at a snail's pace... edge into a distant parking spot ten minutes before the shop closes for the night... walk through the pouring rain to enter the store and perform the shop... drive the reverse route through the heavy traffic, rain, dark, and tornado to get home.... and submit it within a few hours... and all this for $7-10 a shop.

It SHOULD be a two-way street; there would be a lot less frustration on the shopper's part if it was. I have come to the conclusion that scheduler's don't have a clue what shoppers go through to meet deadlines... and most schedulers do not appreciate shoppers. Three months into working as a mystery shopper, I realized shoppers are a dispensible commodity to MSC's. There's always someone who will crawl through the mud for them trying to get a few bucks. I know, I used to crawl through the mud a lot trying to impress companies or schedulers. No one was impressed.



>After 10 years of mystery shopping, I
> think that I’ve had it.

I know the feeling quite well. And... when I see someone with your experience and years of service making a statement like this... I wonder why I continue to shop.

2TN is poor on returning a favor ever. Please please please do this shop.... next month oops I already assigned the one you wanted.

I agree with you. If we make a scheduler happy, it is for a short time and they forget real quick. I have a bunch of schedulers that are nice people.

Keep going...
...


Ms.Baker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> newyorkdan1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How frustrating
> > is this? Is it worth helping the schedulers?
> > Shouldn’t this be a two way street? I am
> > seriously considering not helping these people
> > anymore.
>
>
>
> To please most MSC's... you have to drive through
> the tornado... in the dark and pouring rain... and
> sit in traffic for six lights at a snail's pace...
> edge into a distant parking spot ten minutes
> before the shop closes for the night... walk
> through the pouring rain to enter the store and
> perform the shop... drive the reverse route
> through the heavy traffic, rain, dark, and tornado
> to get home.... and submit it within a few
> hours... and all this for $7-10 a shop.
>
> It SHOULD be a two-way street; there would be a
> lot less frustration on the shopper's part if it
> was. I have come to the conclusion that
> scheduler's don't have a clue what shoppers go
> through to meet deadlines... and most schedulers
> do not appreciate shoppers. Three months into
> working as a mystery shopper, I realized shoppers
> are a dispensible commodity to MSC's. There's
> always someone who will crawl through the mud for
> them trying to get a few bucks. I know, I used
> to crawl through the mud a lot trying to impress
> companies or schedulers. No one was impressed.
>
>
>
>
> >After 10 years of mystery shopping, I
> > think that I’ve had it.
>
> I know the feeling quite well. And... when I see
> someone with your experience and years of service
> making a statement like this... I wonder why I
> continue to shop.

Most of the schedulers I know have started out as shoppers for the MSC and are recruited by the company to schedule so they more than understand what you are going through. I only take shops now that are worth my while and I would do even if it wasn't for a shop. i.e. hotels and restaurants I frequent anyway. I then feel I am getting something from them versus the other way around.

Ms.Baker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> newyorkdan1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How frustrating
> > is this? Is it worth helping the schedulers?
> > Shouldn’t this be a two way street? I am
> > seriously considering not helping these people
> > anymore.
>
>
>
> To please most MSC's... you have to drive through
> the tornado... in the dark and pouring rain... and
> sit in traffic for six lights at a snail's pace...
> edge into a distant parking spot ten minutes
> before the shop closes for the night... walk
> through the pouring rain to enter the store and
> perform the shop... drive the reverse route
> through the heavy traffic, rain, dark, and tornado
> to get home.... and submit it within a few
> hours... and all this for $7-10 a shop.
>
> It SHOULD be a two-way street; there would be a
> lot less frustration on the shopper's part if it
> was. I have come to the conclusion that
> scheduler's don't have a clue what shoppers go
> through to meet deadlines... and most schedulers
> do not appreciate shoppers. Three months into
> working as a mystery shopper, I realized shoppers
> are a dispensible commodity to MSC's. There's
> always someone who will crawl through the mud for
> them trying to get a few bucks. I know, I used
> to crawl through the mud a lot trying to impress
> companies or schedulers. No one was impressed.
>
>
>
>
> >After 10 years of mystery shopping, I
> > think that I’ve had it.
>
> I know the feeling quite well. And... when I see
> someone with your experience and years of service
> making a statement like this... I wonder why I
> continue to shop.

I work with one particular MSC, for which I do lots of favors at times. I hear you on the rotatiion part, that's why I ask them to return the favor right away in the form of a higher fee. For example, there is one store location that is only done by a couple of shoppers because it is in the boondocks. At one point I was being asked to sho it each week, so I got a higher fee for it. When I started getting repeated calls for multiple locations, I knew that the time was coming that I would be suspended from the program temporarily...which I was. However, I know that this company likes me, and I enjoy doing business with them. I have asked them that when they have new or unique clients in the area that they call on me to do these shops, and they have.

newyorkdan1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> True. I think you are right, but this was the case
> with a few of them..Some of them just worry about
> getting the shops assigned and that's about it..
>
>

Dude, that is what they get PAID to do - anything past that is just personality.

I look at a favor request in one way and one way only - how badly does the scheduler need it done, how close to end of cycle is the shop, and how much can I ask and get to reliably do it?

I am not moved at all by the promise of a good rating (I earn my 10s and dont want them handed to me) or a hero citation (whatever the heck that is) or, my favorite, a promotion to "Chief section agent in charge" or some such crap by that asinine MSC that seems to think they are the CIA with all their absurd pseudo-intelligence outfit terminolgy.

Just remember that we are in business, and business is rarely about favors, it all boils down to dollars.

Art

I think I've been pretty fortunate with the two-way street way of operating with schedulers. I've had rotations waived for me on special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays for high end restaurants, have received unasked for bonuses, been given the heads-up on cream-of-the-crop assignments before they are posted, granted latitude on deadlines, been recompensed for distance travel plus my standard mark-up of 25%, and have even been able to ignore some of the more inane assignment requirements in some cases. Some schedulers have even offered up their own cash when the client or MSC won't bonus.

Besides that, I've received the hero citations and top shopper awards referred to earlier, as well as other recognitions. No, they don't pay monetarily. But this type of positive feedback always seems to happen when I am getting burned out or am bummed from having to deal with a not-so-great situation from another MSC. It's a nice pick-me-up, and definitely better than feeling like one more faceless and unappreciated entity. So here's a shout-out to those editors and schedulers that take the time to give us an atta-gal from time to time...thanks so much!

However, I don't buy into being promised a good rating. As stated prior on this thread, I earn those anyway. And ratings should be based on how effective the shopper was in performing an assignment and sharing the information with the client constructively, not because someone took ion an emergency assignment.

I've done my best to cultivate positive relationships with my schedulers and editors that are of mutual benefit to all. The MSCs that behave likewise are the ones I don't say "no" to when they are in a crunch. They know they can count on me, and I know I can tap them later for a fave when I need it. I've never had one back out on a deal that has been agreed upon. Other MSCs that don't conduct themselves in this manner can just try calling someone else to help them out.

I just had a wonderful experience with a scheduler.

A shop about 90 miles from home expired this past Sunday [10-28]. I had emailed the scheduler to say that I would be in the area on business the day after the shop expired, and if it still needed to be done that I would do it. I received an email from the scheduler Sunday night saying the shop was still available and had been bonused. I accepted the job. What surprised and pleased me, was that the scheduler knew I'd do the job and didn't have to bonus it.

I also got a few other shops done on the same trip.

It's not a scheduler's choice when a rotation gets waived or overlooked. An MSP will go from "DO NOT BREAK ROTATION" to "Half rotation" to "I don't care, get the person from yesterday in there.

As a scheduler, I try to always be friendly, cooperative, respectful and honest. I had one owner would would tell me to lie to shoppers, beg them, talk them into it. If they don't want to do the shop, they don't. He'd tell me to tell shoppers someone flaked...not me at all...never did it. We parted ways.

I am always willing to talk to shoppers about the industry, etc. over the phone if they want to. I enjoy talking to other people who do this. I'll always share my little tips and tricks.

But with that being said, many can be rude, useless, dishonest and LIARS (cue ex-boss here). I've worked with many...I try to avoid them.

DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED WITH THE ONES WITH MULTIPLE FACES...or the ones who can do no wrong according to management.

Recently, a scheduler sent a massive e-mail offering gas money in order to turn a shop quickly and I accepted with my bid. Apparently the scheduler found someone else with a cheaper bid and days later asked me if I could perform another assignment at the same location the following week. I responded that I could for the same gasoline bonus. After waiting nearly a week for her response, the scheduler e-mailed asking why I did not get back to her re: shop #1 & #2. I sent her a copy of our correspondences showing that I had indeed done so. After waiting a few days with no response, I gave the scheduler a courtesy e-mail stating that I was no longer available since I had not heard from her.

I get that schedulers are under a great deal of pressure and that bonuses are frowned upon. I really do. I always return e-mails quickly and would appreciate the same. I am not a commodity and my time is valuable too.

I've always had a soft spot for the schedulers. They have a tough job with lots of pressure from all sides. There's no way I would want to switch positions with them. They are always up against deadlines, and deal with all kinds of flaky shopper situations that would drive me to the mad house in no time at all.

Yet an overwhelming majority of the schedulers I work with have positive helpful attitudes and know how to liaison effectively with shoppers. I'm thankful that my schedulers are appreciative and show it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2012 04:34PM by shopgal.

I will definitely help out a scheduler who works with me and helps me out when I need it. Quid pro quo.

Believe it or not, I could not recall a case of a scheduler out and out lying to me. That is until Friday. No surprise, it was the former Certified side of Market Force. She verbally told me there was only one screen required for a trailer check. My understanding was they always involved multiple screens and I asked her three times. Each time was, "No, no, you only have to check one screen." She then hung up before I could request an e-mail confirmation of the bonus. Sure enough, the instructions said every screen showing the movie. When I called back to cancel the person on the other end of the phone gave me some attitude as if I should have know better. I responded with some attitude of my own and told her I did know better and that her scheduler flat out lied to me.