How does everyone feel aboust self-assigning shops? I have been mystery shopping since 2009 focusing on casual restaurant shops. I exclusivley use one company because I have been unable to find other companies that offer these type of shops. I've noticed that the company I shop for has changed a majority of the restaurant shops to self-assign with the ones that are highly sought (easy report, high reimbursement) being filled within 30 minutes of being posted.

This is a shame because I'd love to complete these shops but I am unable to access my email that quickly. It's gret that the company has such a large roster of shoppers that can fill shops easily but I wish there was some distribution in assignments. Thoughts?

If you really want these shops, my suggestion would be to check the job board often. Shops are usually posted there before the email is even sent out. The ones grabbing them quickly night not be waiting for the emails.

I like self-assign because I don't have to wait to know if I am getting the assignment. I agree that it is frustrating when you feel like you were just too late for all of the good ones. But at least we can plan our schedule/routes instead of having the uncertainty.

I think the secret might be to ask the MSC when those jobs are typically posted/released. Intouch Insight, for example, lists the approximate release dates for their shops.

(heart)

Hello, New Jersey!

My name is Daniel Price, and I work for Customer Impact. We have a lot of these same type of shops, casual dining self-assign, and the to-go shops go super fast as compared to the dine-in shops. They all go fast, but the to-go shops fly off the shelves.

We send emails out immediately as we post all of our new assignments at Customer Impact. I don't know if that's the case across all companies, but it is with us. That being said, there is sometimes a delay with the sending out of Bulk Emails, so it's impossible to tell how fast they get sent and how many people get them within 1 minutes or 10 minutes, etc.

We use SASSIE, and if the company you are speaking of uses SASSIE as well, I would recommend downloading the Shop Notifier App. That way you can get alerts right on your phone as soon as jobs get posted, and go self-assign them.

The vast majority of shoppers crave self-assign shops, but all decisions have consequences. Self-assign help efficiency greatly among schedulers, especially with a large client. It allows them more time to work with shoppers to handle re-schedules, cancels, and keep up with their shops across the month. The unfortunate aspect for the shopper is the "ease" of self-assigning also comes with the "ease" of 20 others self-assigning the same shop.

If it's a SASSIE company, and you have an iPhone or Android, download SASSIE Shop Notifier. That way as soon as they get posted, you'll get the notification, and won't be a step behind other shoppers.

Daniel Price
Customer Impact, LLC.
dprice@customerimpactinfo.com

stilllearning Wrote:
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> I think the secret might be to ask the MSC when
> those jobs are typically posted/released. Intouch
> Insight, for example, lists the approximate
> release dates for their shops.
>
> (heart)


Great post, stillearning! We always encourage communication among our shoppers and schedulers. No matter what time of the session we are in, I will almost always be able to know what day or days we plan on posting new shops for the next month/sessino. I also encourage shoppers who inquired to get back in touch with me the day before that and just let me know they are still interested, and sometimes they magically get a job here and there as soon as it gets posted, not self-assigned, but assigned by some "higher being"

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2014 09:39PM by dprice.

And who doesn't love magic?

(heart)

PS
I also love Customer Impact and all of the wonderful CI people!

PPS
No, I'm not lobbying for a shop.

dprice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello, New Jersey!
>
> My name is Daniel Price, and I work for Customer
> Impact. We have a lot of these same type of shops,
> casual dining self-assign, and the to-go shops go
> super fast as compared to the dine-in shops. They
> all go fast, but the to-go shops fly off the
> shelves.
> We use SASSIE, and if the company you are speaking
> of uses SASSIE as well, I would recommend
> downloading the Shop Notifier App. That way you
> can get alerts right on your phone as soon as jobs
> get posted, and go self-assign them.
> Daniel Price
> Customer Impact, LLC.
> dprice@customerimpactinfo.com

Daniel, it just so happens I was referring to your company and the to-go shops. I appreciate the advice on the notifier app and will look into it.

Thanks stilllearning, I'll send an email about that as well. I appreciate everyones feedback!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2014 10:48PM by NewJersey.

You hit me where I am frustrated with your original post. I prefer self assign (who doesn't?) when I manage to sign in just at the right time. I wonder though how many self assigners are over booking themselves without realizing it and/or shoppers who will flake grab these shops. Some of my favorite shops are for smallish msc that became bigger msc after picking up a big client. I did them all the time but once the company picked up the client with 2,000 stores across the country those prize shops I used to easily get are gone to all the shopers looking at the site for the bigger client. My other issue is it seems some of the releases are at 4 AM or so on the west coast. I like to sleep late so these seem to be gone before I wake up. At least it is not as bad as national online sales where the goods are gone to east coast early birds before us chickens out here in the west even wake up. And no, I will not get up at 6 AM to look for shops so don't even suggest it.
Non self assign is good when you have a scheduler who knows your work and will choose you based on a good track record. However, it is only good if they notify you of acceptance in a timely manner so you can make plans for the day it is due. Unfortunately some of the companies seem to keep the shopper hanging to well into the shop period.

I had a feeling it was us, given your username. I've received that question no less than 50 times from shoppers over the last year or so, since I'm the one who scheduules those.

Shoot me and email and I'll do my best to get you a shop that you want!

dprice@customerimpactinfo.com

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2014 11:09PM by dprice.

I'm actually having that problem now with two different companies. I hear you it's frustrating. I had to cancel 3 shops from one company because the last day of the shop came around and it wasn't accepted yet nor could I go if they accepted me for the last day.

I wish that some companies would be a little more proactive with their non self assigned shops.

I am in favor of self assigning. It gives everyone the opportunity to compete for a shop, the early bird gets the worm.

You can't plan routes without self-assign shops. Applications that have to wait on a scheduler to assign are only good for adding to routes you already made. Self assign shops - especially with two or three day windows - are the best.

To SandyF: Yes, the East Coast shoppers I guess do get the early releases - but they are doing them on the east coast....so if you are in California, for example, and I am in Maine - I may be getting shops for me at 7AM EST, but I am certainly not accepting shops in CA - I am accepting them for around here.

Anyways, I think that is the logic.

I LUV self-assign shops because I can not stand waiting around for a day or three before a scheduler gets back to me to let me know whether I have been accepted or not. It really puts a chink in my routine.

Love all the feedback since I'm still fairly new. Here is one for you: ever applied for a shop, waited two days only to see it end up BACK on the shop list? I have had this happen with two different companies. I don't have a bad rating and they are in my town so why would they end up back on the shop list and why do they not notify you that "you aren't good enough", or whatever the reason is.

Tawana, there could be a lot of reasons they put it back on the list after you applied. Just because you applied doesn't mean you meet the qualifications they need for the shop. Sometimes the client has restrictions, and sometimes the MSP is looking for a special fit to do the shop. Don't let that discourage you. Keep on applying for everything you want. If I remember correctly from a previous post you are a reasonably new shopper. Be careful to make all your commitments and submit the best reports you can. Things will get better over time if you do your part.

@MDavisnowell, Thanks! I'm trying. I'm still applying for different MSC's lol. I'm not even sure anymore how many I am signed up for. I just thought that was odd but I didn't think about qualifications etc. I've already seen that different MSC's look for a particular age etc (and most of the time their limit is 50). At any rate I'm not discouraged, MF keeps me pretty busy right now and I'm happy with that and the in between shops I get to fill in the gaps.

I don't understand why New Jersey has been working for only one mystery shopping company. There must be others what would offer the same types of shops that New Jersey likes to do.

alannajm Wrote:
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> I don't understand why New Jersey has been working
> for only one mystery shopping company. There must
> be others what would offer the same types of shops
> that New Jersey likes to do.

As I originally posted, I prefer casual dining shops and have signed up for several companies that do not offer them. My email is flooded with shop offers from companies that don't have clients I wish to shop so I held off on applying to new companies.

There are a ton of MSCs with casual dining shops all over the United States, including NJ. I know from personal experience. You need to sign up with 50+ companies. Someone who has been shopping since 2009 should know that. And clients change MSP constantly.

NewJersey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> alannajm Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't understand why New Jersey has been
> working
> > for only one mystery shopping company. There
> must
> > be others what would offer the same types of
> shops
> > that New Jersey likes to do.
>
> As I originally posted, I prefer casual dining
> shops and have signed up for several companies
> that do not offer them. My email is flooded with
> shop offers from companies that don't have clients
> I wish to shop so I held off on applying to new
> companies.

Thanks for your "advice" Sybil2 but I've been aware of that since I joined the forum over a year ago. If it wasn't clear in my prior post, I DO NOT wish to sign up for any more mystery shop companies to find what I prefer by trial and error. I already recieve 100+ emails a day at work and another 50 from MSC.

Sybil2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are a ton of MSCs with casual dining shops
> all over the United States, including NJ. I know
> from personal experience. You need to sign up
> with 50+ companies. Someone who has been shopping
> since 2009 should know that. And clients change
> MSP constantly.
>
> NewJersey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > alannajm Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I don't understand why New Jersey has been
> > working
> > > for only one mystery shopping company. There
> > must
> > > be others what would offer the same types of
> > shops
> > > that New Jersey likes to do.
> >
> > As I originally posted, I prefer casual dining
> > shops and have signed up for several companies
> > that do not offer them. My email is flooded
> with
> > shop offers from companies that don't have
> clients
> > I wish to shop so I held off on applying to new
> > companies.

I strongly prefer self-assign. I'm willing to risk someone else getting it first as long as I can have a chance to get it any time I can see it on the board. Hugely frustrating the past several days as I've not been able to self-assign with two different companies whose offices have been closed since Wednesday night. I've had to skip nine filler shops in distant areas where I've been headed, about $150, because nobody's been around to approve my applications with the holiday running into the weekend. It happens every weekend from Friday night through Monday morning with these folks as well.

As a shopper I prefer self-assign because sometimes I am picking up a last minute shop along my route and need to have time to read the instructions before I head out the door.

As a scheduler, I suggest that you contact the scheduler for the shop and let them know that you would like to complete the shop. Based on your history with the company, they might be willing to pre-assign you before the shops get posted to the general public.

I also like self assign shops. It is really nice to be able to plan if you are going to be in a certain area on a certain day. I have done some for Customer Impact and a couple of other MSC's.

One reason I prefer them is that I have also had the experience of applying and never hearing from the company one way or the other. I had one recently where I applied eight days in advance and was notified on the day the shop was due that it was assigned to me. That was after looking it up that very morning and seeing it still available. Luckily, I was still interested and able to complete it. If not, I suppose I would have gotten a flake point?

Doesn't seem quite right that as shoppers, we are expected to complete a shop on time, report on time, etc. But the company can leave us hanging.


********
Old enough to know better and willing to say it!