Hello Everyone,

There is a severe snowstorm in our metropolitan area and the schedulers have totally lost their minds and are heartless. I have sent all my schedulers and MSC friendly emails to let them know the outcome of the storm. I even suggested they may want to contact the client to let them know the details so they can move the assignments out further date wise. I received four very curt response from the schedulers. There were other schedulers who thanked me for the information because they could not understand why so many of their shoppers had started canceling shops. I have had phone calls today from schedulers asking if I would like to do a shop today or tomorrow. When I inform them of the circumstances of the storm they then say well how about when the weather clears up. This really boils my blood because the safety of your shopper should be more important then the $$$$ that you receive from your client. I don't believe hardly any of them picked up the phone and called the client to inform them of the mass storm in this area.


I have a friend who also does mystery shops and one of her scheduler had the nerve to ask for a link to the weather channel and for her to step outside and take a picture so they could inform the client about the situation. REALLY.

Schedulers do us (Shoppers) a favor have a HEART. You need to think of us as if we may be a family member, friend or tolerant co-worker that you would not want anything to happen to us. Remember you need us just as much as we may need you.

Why did it bother you when they asked if you would like to do the shop after the weather cleared up? I have found MSCs to be incredibly accommodating this winter season. Rather than curt, maybe the email was just short and to the point. With such large areas of the country being impacted with each of theses system, I can understand if schedulers don't have time for a lot of pleasantries. I don't expect any scheduler to think of me as a friend or family member. We are business associates and part of our business relationship means I can decide the risk is too great for me to be on the road. They have the option of working with me on a reschedule or attempting to find someone braver than me.

I completely agree with Lisa and her assessment of the OP's concern.

So with in reason here and playing devils advocate. Maybe some schedulers were thinking you were trying to tell them how to do their jobs???

Just a thought, also on another thought, there are people out there who have no idea what snow is like, or ice, or mix. Some don't encounter that weather ever in their lives.

Sort of like here when the tell me they have a shop out on Martha's Vineyard... they have no idea that the $5, $10 or even $50 won't get me to the island... (FYI it's $103 with your car and it takes 45 min. the ferry's only run every hour so 45 min. there, 45 min. back plus shop time and wait time to hit the out going ferry.)

I rescheduled all I had to do for the rest of the week and some of them got extended to the middle of next week so I can catch up. I was proactive in the aspect of letting the schedulers know there was a storm and I could not complete the shops, it's up to them, and their job, to either work with me and extend the deadline or take me off the assignment completely.

If there was a time where they gave me a bad mark or inactivated my account for not doing and assignment because of bad weather, this is a company I don't need to do jobs for anyway.

Although I am very diligent and loyal when I accept a job, I can not control the weather nor will I risk crashing my car (which I will need after the storm) or getting hurt for the almighty dollar.

Good Evening All,

I agree with a lot of your points. I'm not quick to jump on the judgment or negative side of the tracks. I know that the schedulers have a responsibility to the client. What I meant by the curt manner of the scheduler attitude was she stated in her email the following "I don't need for you to give me a weather forecast." When all I was trying to do was give a friendly heads. I should have said that when I was on the telephone with the scheduler that wanted to still give me the assignment when the weather cleared up - I informed her that we have another storm hitting in our area on Saturday and I'm not sure when the weather will clears up. I didn't want to give her false hopes by accepting the assignment and may not be able to complete it on time for the MSC.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I have been fortunate when rescheduling this week. I basically said due to the current severe weather I am unable to complete the shop. I can either reschedule or if you need to release me from the assignment I understand. I then give them two dates that I can reschedule the shop. All 18 of the assignments have been rescheduled.

Schedulers have TV and internet. We know what the weather is. If a scheduler isn't aware of storms where there shops are then shame on them

That scheduler may have wanted proof of the storm for the client, but they can fink a link to the weather themselves. I'm willing to bet the people the own the companies that want the shopping done have tv's and internet also and are well aware of the weather forecasts across the country.

And we still need the shops done after the weather clears so we are going to ask if you want to go when the roads are clear.

I really think you took this all the wrong way and I hope you find it in your heart to forgive.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2014 10:28AM by Sallyctcss.

Exactly - all you have to do is turn on the TV. My thoughts are with you all in the east - it looks horrifying.

For a previous storm a few weeks ago I needed to reschedule some shops. I found the schedulers very accommodating and I think the term heartless is much too rough. There may be a few who may not be fully aware of the severity of the storms but I have never come across a scheduler that I would call heartless.

I agree with Lisa, and would like to add that by telling them they needed to contact the client and update shop due dates, etc, that perhaps they immediately read your email as you trying to tell them what to do or do their job for them. That changes the tone of how they read your email and most likely changed the tone of their reply to you.

Through the recent storms I've only had one company be less than enthusiastic about rescheduling. Most of them immediately said that safety was paramount and immediately helped me reschedule.

Good Evening,

I'm not going to beat a dead horse but one thing is for sure I'm very forgiving. I also said I agree with some of your points once it is was laid out in front of me but I felt the way I did once I receive the email from the scheduler. Being friendly doesn't hurt at all. I believe I was being helping not telling/directing them how to do their jobs. I don't believe in stepping on anyone's toes or overstepping my boundaries but I will not let anyone be down right rude to me either.

I have to agree with what seems to be the consensus that asking if one wants to do the shop when the weather improves is not heartless, but merely an attempt to gauge actual interest in the shop regardless of the current weather conditions. In fact this shows the scheduler is aware of the issue and actually cares about the shopper--which, as you may have noticed, some don't.

Everyone - Moving Forward

Sometimes you just need to let a person vent....

I do a lot of shops in the California mountains and at higher elevations. Californian's do not know how to drive in snow. Roads get closed at the fall of the first snowflake, and rightfully so because of the flatlanders who think you can take an icy curve on a mountain road at 60 mph and not kill others. Plus, the skiers head to the mountains before it is safe and it just creates one big mess for everyone.

I've had to reschedule a lot of shops simply because of road closures and accidents. Heck, I had to reschedule a couple last winter because we had a cop killer on the loose and I couldn't get past the road blocks up the back side of the mountain and wasn't driving 100 miles around it to go up the front.

I've never had a scheduler say anything but "sure and be careful." If they did, that would be my last shop with them.

I'm no attorney but perhaps these heartless scheudulers are taking on legal liability by their actions? Someone more enterprising than I could force them out on to the streets via asset loss in court if they don't have umbrella insurance protection. Certainly they must know that.

Part of being an IC means that the companies we do work for are in no way responsible for our actions. That's my understanding, at least.

Hoju Wrote:
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> Part of being an IC means that the companies we do
> work for are in no way responsible for our
> actions. That's my understanding, at least.



Maybe I'm a bit off base here as I live in a climate where I am rarely going to have weather issues, but it seems as if someone is pressuring me into a shop somewhere say like the Carolinas today - there should be some consequence to this behavior. To mark us as flaking due to our valuing our lives more than money - this is just totally unacceptable, if this is indeed happening. I guess this is where this board can come in helpful as if this is really happening, we can post here to warn others. And I hope that no one is facing such scheduler pressure.....I've never been a scheduler but if I were pressured from above to produce results with no factoring in shopper safety I'd smile and do what I needed to do to keep the job but head for the exists as quick as I could. This is one place where saving money comes in handy!

I did want to come back and say that when I have had scheduling issues in the past - not due to weather - I have had good luck with schedulers to date.

You can certainly try to sue if something happens but I think you're essentially an expense (unless a judge can classify you as an employee based on what you do for the company).

The only problem I've ever had is with northern MSCs who are used to snow, who look at OKC's weather and say, "but you only got 2" of snow!" Or better yet when we get an ice storm and it doesn't look all that bad on the news. You have to be here.

Northerners don't understand that a small amount of snow, or an ice storm, strangles places that don't have dedicated snow plows (OKC just puts blades on trucks - not as effective). And they don't plow and/or sand all the streets - just those on the emergency snow routes. So, even if you can get out of your neighborhood, then you have to hope your shop can be accessed by driving on the few streets they've serviced.

That's why I totally sympathized with Atlanta while others were calling Atlantans wimps.

I am in Vermont...I actually had 2 schedulers call me to see if I was ok, and did I need an extension. Also, not to go out if it was not safe.

Thank you Maritz and Ritter.

I don't see the point of asking for a picture. All the places I shop are in the same metro are where I live and if it snows at my house, I'm sure it is snowing everywhere.

I have never had a scheduler question me when I asked for an extension because of weather. Mostly they ask when I think I can reschedule and tell me to be careful.

I just think this winter and all of the "FUN WEATHER" it's been giving us so far is really just getting to everybody. Shoppers, schedulers and everyone else.

Jimmymc25

A bit off topic and not weather related, but what about the "heartless independent scheduler" who regularly moves from one scheduling company to another with her list of "favorite/non favorite shoppers" and leaves that imprint with every company that she works for? Of course I am not going to name the scheduler, but how do we deal with the damage?

So sorry for the bad weather. I cannot imagine what you are going through.

Here in NY we are on our seventh storm--or is it our eighth? I've lost track. My husband and son are flying out to San Diego this afternoon and guess what? The weather forecast calls for more snow! My husband is a nervous wreck, fearing his flight will be cancelled. I'm a nervous wreck because he's a nervous wreck and frankly, I need to get rid of him for a week of peace and quiet. I have a shop this evening and I'm already wondering if I'm going to be risking life and limb on the road to get there. We have so much snow piled up everywhere, there's really no room for anymore. It hasn't been warm enough to get rid of the snow we've gotten so far!

So, if I look out my window later this evening and it looks bad out there, I will contact my scheduler and request a date change. If that doesn't work, I will cancel. These things don't pay enough for me to risk my life. Most schedulers are very accommodating.

My biggest concern today is my husband's plane taking off on time from JFK Airport. When we get snow, airlines tend to cancel flights. I am praying hard today, my friends.

Robinv

KathyC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A bit off topic and not weather related, but what
> about the "heartless independent scheduler" who
> regularly moves from one scheduling company to
> another with her list of "favorite/non favorite
> shoppers" and leaves that imprint with every
> company that she works for? Of course I am not
> going to name the scheduler, but how do we deal
> with the damage?
>
> So sorry for the bad weather. I cannot imagine
> what you are going through.

I don't understand your post.

Each company has different projects. These projects are local, regional, and national.

Chances are slim that a scheduler will leave company A to work for company B and have projects with company B in the exact city and state as company A.

It does happen, but it's a slim chance.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2014 11:29AM by Sallyctcss.

I swear I posted something similar to this earlier, but can't find it.

With the winter we have been having, it has also been brutal for the schedulers. A short or curt, but not rude or threatening email is something that may not be worth getting upset over. Schedulers don't get paid unless someone does the shop. On one of the other threads a posters, just mentioned losing a $200 completion bonus for a set of shops because of two that were left unfurnished. Each time a shopper cancels, more work is created for the scheduler.

Am I advocating that we go out and complete every shop regardless of the conditions. Absolutely not! You are the best judge of how safe you feel based conditions where you are. No one should put their life or the lives of those on the road around them at risk to go out and ask a few questions or eat a burger.


It maybe that based on this all the scheduler can muster based on cancelations already received is OK. They may have already had dozens of cancels and yours is the one that makes them want to throw in the towel. By asking if you can do it, they are giving you first shot to complete the job which can protect both their pocket and yours. If a scheduler accepts your no without complaint, I would continue interacting with the in the future. If it becomes a series of insults or threats, then I have a problems.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2014 12:34AM by Shelly.

I find that a bit of light humor, directed at the weather gods, helps. Also empathy that this winter has been awful for everyone.

Since I started shopping seriously again I have had issues with earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and snow/ice. (We actually have locusts--cicadas and stink bugs but those don't impact my ability to shop!)

I can't think of a single time where I wasn't able to reschedule a shop.

Sallyctcss Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KathyC Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A bit off topic and not weather related, but
> what
> > about the "heartless independent scheduler" who
> > regularly moves from one scheduling company to
> > another with her list of "favorite/non favorite
> > shoppers" and leaves that imprint with every
> > company that she works for? Of course I am not
> > going to name the scheduler, but how do we deal
> > with the damage?
> >
> > So sorry for the bad weather. I cannot imagine
> > what you are going through.
>
> I don't understand your post.
>
> Each company has different projects. These
> projects are local, regional, and national.
>
> Chances are slim that a scheduler will leave
> company A to work for company B and have projects
> with company B in the exact city and state as
> company A.
>
> It does happen, but it's a slim chance.

Hi Sally,

Yes. It does happen more often than we would like, but it does happen.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2014 07:19AM by KathyC.