buteos Wrote:
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> I won't take part in this. It's a joke. I would
> only consider voting if I got to access the
> private schedulers' forum .
> But there's no oversight on who is voting.

Buteos, if you view the contest's sole purpose as "voting for the most popular or the best scheduler", I understand your disappointment. Actually, the intent of the contest was/is twofold: to provide a vehicle to voice appreciation for the under-recognized, over-worked and stretched-to-the-max schedulers and, secondarily, to identify a "winner".

As I stated in an earlier post, this is only the first year that this event has been held and, as with anything new, we have learned a lot, just by doing it and by reading the responses and witnessing the amazing participation.

(heart)

So this will be ongoing?

Hi all. I am a scheduler, and all I want to say is there are many shoppers who I would love to nominate. There are many shoppers who have gone above and beyond. I love the industry , and have met many wonderful schedulers and shoppers. Thank you all. I enjoy this forum. Dawn Hunt

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> So this will be ongoing?

Since I view it as a win-win situation for the schedulers, I certainly hope so and I am planning on it. In the end, however the decision is Jacob's. What are your thoughts, Lisa? How can we make it better next year?

(heart)

vlade5394 Wrote:
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> Here's a prediction.
>
> There will be no nominations for folks from
> scheduling companies. Not necessarily because
> those people can't be worthy, but because the
> position scheduling companies are in don't allow
> them to be great.


You're so wrong. Kern is a scheduling company, and most of them there are great. I happen to deal mostly with Shelley, and she's been nominated a bunch of times on page 1.

stilllearning Wrote:
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How can we make it better next year?
> (heart)

I would remove the "winner" aspect of it.

They are all winners.

I think that's a very good point, Bbird.

That would make it more of a Shout Out which is something I believe was done in the past. Does anyone remember that Shout Out? Did it drive as much traffic to this site and bring in as many new members as this contest has so far? I think that was an unexpected benefit of this contest.

I'm happy that the schedulers and scheduling companies are excited about it enough to advertise it. Who knew they'd care so much? I didn't. It makes me smile to think how happy they are to see their names mentioned and maybe a little sad that they so badly needed it.

It looks like this contest is really filling a need.

"It makes me smile to think how happy they are to see their names mentioned and maybe a little sad that they so badly needed it.

It looks like this contest is really filling a need."

Okay, LJ, you've succeeded in bringing tears to my eyes.

(heart)

I would like to nominate Shirley, from Reality Based Group.
Shirley is very dedicated woman whom I have the pleasure to work with. no matter what the need, she is always there to help me. Her dedication and devotion to this type of work makes me want to work harder and achieve a higher standard for myself and the clients.
Her immediate response to my needs is just unbelievably fast, she will always, answer the phone when I call her, e-mail me back quickly(and I'd like to know how she can do that with so many shoppers she has), never has a dull sound in her voice. I'm always happy to see her number when she calls me, because I know it's good news, or a helpful hint to get the shop done properly.

BBird had the right idea.

I have always supported shout outs for schedulers and they are well-deserved. A contest does not have the same impact when it is inundated with "votes" from people who registered for no other reason, could very well have registered multiple times and were encouraged to do so by MSCs. It did nothing to promote those truly deserving schedulers or our own forum. Adding the caveat that no discussion could take place on the thread effectively eliminated a facet of the forum which supports and protects shoppers, the ability to offer any counterpoint. In the end it created a "for us or against us" attitude when some members, myself included, pointed out the issues as they were developing.

I would have felt much more comfortable with schedulers encouraging shoppers to vote if they would have also encouraged them to join and participate in the forum. How hard would it have been to add a blurb to those signature lines or emails telling those shoppers the forum is a great resource? That could have been a win/win. It may have been an exercise in futility, but I took it upon myself to send messages to many of those new posters encouraging them to return and take advantage of all the forum has to offer.

Originally, the "rules" stated that shoppers nominate their favorite schedulers. Shortly after that, schedulers and MSCs received word of the contest, and the floodgates opened. Rules flew out the window. The winner will be who gets the most votes or likes, right? (Some of us don't use the "like" button, by the way.) We don't have an election board to determine voter registration or oversee the count, so the integrity of the vote is non-existent.

Shopper/Members' issues with the contest were posted, but not addressed. The "winner" may be elected by peers, owners or one/two or three post wonders stuffing the ballot box. Will there be runner-ups, or just losers? Regardless, the results for them will have no credibility either. A "win-win for the scheduler"? This has always been the shoppers' forum. As shoppers have forums, so do schedulers.

My favorite schedulers know I appreciate them, and that appreciation is reciprocated. I imagine that's the case for most of us.

This started out as a fun idea in theory, but in practice. . . I have no suggestions for next year.

OK. My thoughts, as if anyone gives a flying f&%#, but oh well.

1.) Some people are taking this *WAY* too seriously. No, I'm not just insinuating people on this forum. Maybe some of them. Heh. But people who register for the one and only singular purpose of voting? And, people who register multiple accounts to do the same? Really?


2.) But otherwise...
LJ Wrote:
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> I'm happy that the schedulers and scheduling companies
> are excited about it enough to advertise it. Who knew they'd
> care so much? I didn't. It makes me smile to think how happy
> they are to see their names mentioned and maybe a little sad
> that they so badly needed it.

^--- This. This 100%. Also, the point about almost no one remembering the simple 'Shout Out' thread, as well-intentioned as it was. It just didn't attract nearly as much attention. And, with a lot of attention, there's always positives and negatives.


3.) And then there's this, which doesn't have a lot to do with our contest, but is an excellent point:
BBird Wrote:
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> > (Jancyn wrote in their mass email
> > "Schedulers are often under-appreciated in this business... "
> > ======

> I dislike this part. I really do. Hate to see it coming from a company.

> They ARE under-appreciated. But the best way for a company to
> appreciate them is to pay them better, not send out an email asking
> their shoppers to cast votes in a free contest.

But I don't know if I'd go so far as to the part about "all sorts of negative feelings towards Jancyn". We don't know how Jancyn schedulers are compensated. Well, maybe some of us do if we're personal friends or family members with one of them or have been one ourselves. But there are plenty of people who are well-compensated in their work who *still* feel under-appreciated.


4.) It's absolutely essential that, in contest like this, there is a thread that is noms ONLY, and a thread that is discussions and commentary only. Otherwise, the nom thread would be entirely f&%@'d up and too difficult annoying to deal with.

However, the two threads should be on the same section of the forum, stickied to the top of the page, one right under the other. So it's *totally* obvious what's going on, right from the get-go ~ even if some people don't bother to read the introductory post explaining the whole thing and how it works and what goes where. Having the two threads in two separate sections of the forum was a little discombobulating.

But, it still just appalls me how many people can't figure out that noms *don't* go here, in the 'Comments' thread; and commentary/discussion/complaints/whatever *don't* go in the 'Nominations' thread. I mean, COME ON, people... we are professionals who are supposed to read, comprehend, and follow guidelines ALL. THE. TIME.

We seriously can't take a few moments to read the introductory post and see what the whole thing is about before jumping in? That's just being like all the new people to the forum who post "What MSC shops Fatso's Donuts?" and we wonder why the hell they join in without bothering to read the rules first.

BTW, I would *totally* check out Fatso's Donuts.


5.) And then there's this:
LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would have felt much more comfortable with
> schedulers encouraging shoppers to vote if they
> would have also encouraged them to join and
> participate in the forum. How hard would it have
> been to add a blurb to those signature lines or
> emails telling those shoppers the forum is a great
> resource? That could have been a win/win.

^--- Absolutely this, too. MSC's should have been a little more professional, and 'returned the favor' so to speak, by adding in a blurb about what a valuable resource the forum can be.

But that is on them, entirely 100% on them; and not on anyone involved with the contest or this forum.


6.) And finally, for now, this:
LisaSTL Wrote:
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> It may have been an exercise in futility, but I took
> it upon myself to send messages to many of those
> new posters encouraging them to return and take
> advantage of all the forum has to offer.

Good for you! I hope others have, too. I hope the new registrants happened to look around a little, get curious, and check out some of the threads. I hope most of them stick around.

But, much like registering for tons of MSCs who may not have work in your area can provide benefits later... some of these new people may not do much right now ~ but now they know the forum exists. They may be back.

Over-and-out, for the time being.

Wow, stormcloud, that pretty much says it "all" and says it "for all". Are you interested in working for the U.N.? You'd be great!

I think it's valid that the email rubbed me the wrong way.

An email sent by an MSC to shoppers, telling shoppers that schedulers are under appreciated, so we, shoppers, need to head on over to MysteryShopForum and nominate Jancyn schedulers in order to appreciate them.

Sure sounds to me like it means that shoppers are the ones under-appreciating schedulers.

I'm not the one who puts heavy workloads and tight deadlines on them. I'm not the one who doesn't pay them for their work when someone else screws up their job or flakes. I don't hand them a ton of jobs to assign at bargain-basement fees. I thank every scheduler for each and every job that they assign to me, even the nameless ones that run Marketforce's Samantha. I really don't think I'm the one under-appreciating them. I don't think most other shoppers are either.

BBird0701 Wrote:
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> I think it's valid that the email rubbed me the
> wrong way.


I didn't say it was wrong that you feel that way. I just said I didn't know if *I'd* go that far. But that's me.

Again, you make very valid points.

StormCloud Wrote:
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> 1.) Some people are taking this *WAY* too seriously.
^Agree to the paragraph in its entirety, I'm just trying to keep it short as I can. It's not like there's a monetary prize attached - or any prize at all. Hell, they can just close nominations, declare everyone a winner and call it a day. No harm, no foul. The schedulers STILL got to see their name mentioned and we have potentially a lot more forum members. I'm seeing them in other threads too, which is rather nice. Will they stay? I suppose they might if they're treated the way we would each want to be treated.

>
> 4.) It's absolutely essential that, in contest
> like this, there is a thread that is noms ONLY,
> and a thread that is discussions and commentary
> only...we are professionals who are supposed to
> read, comprehend, and follow guidelines ALL. THE.
> TIME.
>
Annoying, yes. I just chalk it up to some people being so excited to nominate someone or post their opinion that they didn't want to take the time to read first. Hey, at least they're excited.

As to schedulers nominating themselves... hmmm. I guess it never said you couldn't nominate yourself and how are we to know that a scheduler doesn't do some shops too? Could be some schedulers do more shops than some shoppers. Who knows? We're not exactly going to be vetting the nominators. Did some create extra user names just to vote? Perhaps. I suppose a shopper or two could have done that too. Watcha gonna do? hrug: .. again, back to the point about there not really being a prize anyway.

What was the point of this contest? To recognize schedulers. Wow. I'd say mission accomplished.

I wish there is a contest for worst MSC and worst Scheduler.

REDQUANTA based in Mumbai is my choice for worst MSC. They have very few clients and act so HI-FI that they would not offer assignments to people above 40.

Robin Baby, who mostly handles Automotive Audits for Bangalore based MSC( MSC not revealed) is worst scheduler as he is prejudiced and biased towards shoppers. He feels he is doing you a great favor for doling out assignments. He assigns shops closest to deadlines and often skips assigning and puts it back on the Job Board with a different dead line.

Forums are the only place for shoppers by shoppers. Because we often post and read more of the negative, lets here some more about the great schedulers out there.

I would like to nominate Carol @ Jancyn, when ever I need a question answered or if I need to reschedule my shop, I receive an email right away. I always feel that she has a positive attitude and enjoys what she does. I have been shopping for Jancyn for years and love doing their shops. Oh and I also like to hear from her too because she has the same name as me. LOL!! Thank you Carol for your compassion and efficiency.

I'm with dspeakes on this one. Keep it light and fun!

This goes to prove that you can't impress everyone.

StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OK. My thoughts, as if anyone gives a flying
> f&%#, but oh well.
>
> 1.) Some people are taking this *WAY* too
> seriously. No, I'm not just insinuating people on
> this forum. Maybe some of them. Heh. But people
> who register for the one and only singular purpose
> of voting? And, people who register multiple
> accounts to do the same? Really?
>
Hey all -I am one of those guilty of registering here to vote..... BUT... I never knew that this site existed. Once I registered, I got so caught up in reading some of the discussions, and getting so excited that there is a whole world out there that speaks my language, shops the same stores, and deal with the same MSC's as I do.
I spent 2 or 3 days on here reading and learning all kinds of things that I didn't know before, that I almost forgot to even do a nomination. I think I made it right before the deadline.
So for me, I am glad that I got that little hint to vote for my favorite scheduler...... because I might not have ever found this...

Shari65Gem Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> StormCloud Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > OK. My thoughts, as if anyone gives a flying
> > f&%#, but oh well.
> >
> > 1.) Some people are taking this *WAY* too
> > seriously. No, I'm not just insinuating people on
> > this forum. Maybe some of them. Heh. But people
> > who register for the one and only singular purpose
> > of voting? And, people who register multiple
> > accounts to do the same? Really?
> >
> Hey all -I am one of those guilty of registering
> here to vote..... BUT... I never knew that this
> site existed. Once I registered, I got so caught
> up in reading some of the discussions, and getting
> so excited that there is a whole world out there
> that speaks my language, shops the same stores,
> and deal with the same MSC's as I do.
> I spent 2 or 3 days on here reading and learning
> all kinds of things that I didn't know before,
> that I almost forgot to even do a nomination. I
> think I made it right before the deadline.
> So for me, I am glad that I got that little hint
> to vote for my favorite scheduler...... because I
> might not have ever found this...


Well, then I'm glad! (Really! I'm not being facetious!)

And I felt the exact same way as you, when I first stumbled onto this forum. I was almost awe-struck!

*So* glad you're not one of the one-hit-wonders, who just stopped by long enough to throw in a vote and then disappear; and that you discovered all of the informative and fun stuff that's on here! Hope to see more of you around!

Shari65Gem Wrote:

> Hey all -I am one of those guilty of registering
> here to vote..... BUT... I never knew that this
> site existed. Once I registered, I got so caught
> up in reading some of the discussions, and getting
> so excited that there is a whole world out there
> that speaks my language, shops the same stores,
> and deal with the same MSC's as I do.
> I spent 2 or 3 days on here reading and learning
> all kinds of things that I didn't know before,
> that I almost forgot to even do a nomination. I
> think I made it right before the deadline.
> So for me, I am glad that I got that little hint
> to vote for my favorite scheduler...... because I
> might not have ever found this...

Welcome to the forum Shari! I am fairly new here myself. I am sorry we have been not been as welcoming as we could have been to the new folks. I am happy you found your way here. And I agree, there is a lot to learn here.

Personally, I thought it was kind of nice that some of the MSCs considered a contest ran on this site to be important enough to promote. I know everyone doesn't agree; but I thought it was a nice gesture.

Hi! I nominate Andrea H. of Remington Evaluations. Simply put, she is phenomenal at her job. However, it's the fact that she goes above and beyond the requirements of her position that makes her so special. On-time scheduling? CHECK. Coordination between client and agency, keeping everyone happy and satisfied? CHECK.

All schedulers TRY to do those things, but Andrea is consistent and comes through time and time again. She is extremely reliable, and to me, the most important aspect of Andrea is that she genuinely cares about her shoppers. To her, it's not just about making money or having another job. She truly believes in us and what we do, which sometimes results in her being triangulated between the client, the agency, and the shopper--and she manages to keep juggling all those balls in the air at the same time.

Let's face it: Many of us have chosen this profession because it affords us the ability and opportunity to create our own schedules. We need the flexibility; perhaps all for different reasons, but we're together in the same boat. I try to never mix my personal life with my business profession, but recently, I didn't have a choice. My dad had a heart attack and threw blood clots, and I had an assignment due. Andrea never blinked or batted an eye. She was extraordinarily compassionate and helped mediate between the client and me so that I could take care of my dad.

Andrea H. is organized, efficient, compassionate, and available to her shoppers, and it is for these reasons that I am nominating her for the Scheduler of the Year Award.

PLEASE LIKE THIS POST SO THAT SHE WILL WIN THE AWARD! THANKS!!

Jennifer Stein
Baltimore, MD

Pssst... jssravens... if you want it to get 'likes', you should put your post in the Nominations thread!
This is just the thread to discuss the contest.

Welcome, though; and I hope your Dad is doing much better.

Hey, the contest is over!!

And the winner is.... ALL OF THEM!

Any scheduler who puts up with cranky sarcastic morning me is a winner in my book.

I wonder if a mod or someone could change the title of the thread to include "Contest over" or something. Not that everyone would read that. LOL

Good luck to Stilllearning and Jacob in counting up the votes. Better you than me.

That's for *damn* sure.