Hey Daniel....Just an FYI...I asked to see the guidelines for a dining shop and I was told (by another scheduler) no, Customer Impact doesn't do that. I just went back and tried to find the email but I must have deleted it. I have since done some dining shops and found they weren't as scary as I thought.

kimmiemae Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey Daniel....Just an FYI...I asked to see the
> guidelines for a dining shop and I was told (by
> another scheduler) no, Customer Impact doesn't do
> that. I just went back and tried to find the
> email but I must have deleted it. I have since
> done some dining shops and found they weren't as
> scary as I thought.


Interesting. All of our schedulers(and we don't have that many) should have access to send you a link to show them to you if we are able to. If you ever find the email shoot forward it to me, but I'll also talk with the schedulers and see. It could have been a situation where those specific guidelines were locked or something, but I know if asked that we usually will send an email with a link to see them. Thanks for the feedback!

When you're a registered shopper with us, you can see a brief assignment description. After you are scheduled, you have 48 hours (24 hours if you self-assigned) to accept or decline that shop. We give you that time to review the FULL set of assignment documents and decide whether the shop is for you or not. We are not in the habit of sending documents BEFORE assigning a shopper, as we have had people go out and do the shop without even being scheduled...which really causes problems when someone else was actually scheduled for it.

It's in my best interest to put as much info as possible into the "shop notes" that accompany postings on our shop board.

But it's against our policy to send out the survey and/or full instructions to a shopper unless they've been assigned to a shop.

That being said, I have no problem at all with shoppers that look over the survey and guidelines immediately after being assigned and then contact me ASAP to let me know this shop is just "not for them."

There's no shame in admitting to your scheduler that a particular shop scenario is out of your comfort zone.

Where I really don't need to know if a shopper flat out can't do a shop, I really appreciate it when they email me back and say that although they can't do it in the time frame I need it, they are available on such and such dates and to keep them in mind. Those emails get held on the side and I refer back to them regularly if a shop does go past the original due date.

Shoppers who flake and fall off the face of the earth are at the top of my list! I keep very detailed notes and I know who has flaked on me in the past. If a shopper changes their mind about a shop or finds they can't do it for some reason, I really appreciate it when they are honest and timely about letting me know. Sometimes we can still work something out that suits both of us and I am always willing to work with the shoppers. Emailing me at 10PM that you can't do a 9PM - 11PM shop that same night is not going to win you any points in my book, but not contacting me at all will for sure get you negative points!

What do you consider "flaked?"

If a narrative says minimum 8-10 sentences...please write 8-10 sentences. I have shoppers that write 2. -sigh- Missing descriptions is another.

Individuals that RFE-do shops that are overly restrictive assist in the difficulty. If a shop is difficult, has to long of a questionnaire to fill out and email in, etc... stay away from them. Complete the shop because you have given your word. When you state that you will complete something in a timely manner, you must, as that is what it means to give your word. We are supposedly, all adults here.

However, do not do that shop a second time. Mention it, factually, here. Inform others why you initially took the shop, and why it was a bad experience. Don't whine about "I was tired", and "why would anyone expect me to do as I said I would do". As they said on Dragnet, "Just the fact (X) mam". What was difficult about the shop. Was the report to long, was it silly, did they ask repetitive questions and require 5,000 word responses <J>

This is a great forum for factual assessment of issues and the sharing of ideas. I wish we had something like this forum in the past. I started shopping a little in the 70's when we had to mail them in. Then we all fell out in joy as we got...fax reports! hahaha

Don

dixiewhiskey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tarantado Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Obviously, whenever a scheduler states they'd
> like
> > to hear from me one way or another, I'll do my
> due
> > diligence and respond. But I usually don't
> respond
> > stating I can't, especially since I can't tell
> > when a scheduler is send out a mass message. I
> > don't want to bog down their inboxes any more
> > stating 'no,' when a 'no response' could
> basically
> > mean the same thing.
>
> It depends on their response. I have had some
> shoppers who are incredibly rude while others
> simply can't do it. I always move on and keep
> doing that until the shop is assigned.
>
> I really would prefer personally to hear back so
> that way, I don't keep calling one or two weeks
> down the road. There are shoppers who just don't
> check voicemail but end up doing a shop if you
> actually talk to them on the phone. That's why I
> like if I hear back whether it's a yes or no.
> People have lives so I keep that in mind as well
> but that is my perspective. Mass messages are
> usually my last resort but some respond better to
> email than the phone.
>


Tarantado, I've been in your camp. I guess I've felt that schedulers don't want a flurry of "no, sorry" phone calls and texts. Especially on days when I work late and don't get their message until midnight.

But Dixiewhiskey, I appreciate your feedback. In the future, I'll make a point of getting back to any scheduler who calls, texts, or e-mails me about a specific assignment, even if it's the next day.

Incidentally, schedulers, do you turn off your phones when it's too late or too early to take calls? I don't know what time zones all of you are in, and really don't want to be that person calling you at 6:00am, when it's 9:00am here on the East Coast.

This is a great thread, it helps me to be a better shopper to know what helps schedulers (and editors, too!).

LisaKwaj Wrote:

> Incidentally, schedulers, do you turn off your
> phones when it's too late or too early to take
> calls? I don't know what time zones all of you
> are in, and really don't want to be that person
> calling you at 6:00am, when it's 9:00am here on
> the East Coast.

I set my 800 number extension (which transfers to my home) to only ring me from 7am-10pm. When I used to give out my home number (and then later my Google Voice number), I would turn the ringers off at night, because I got tired of the 5am PT phone calls from my East Coast shoppers. :-)

AAJen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LisaKwaj Wrote:
>
> > Incidentally, schedulers, do you turn off your
> > phones when it's too late or too early to take
> > calls? I don't know what time zones all of you
> > are in, and really don't want to be that person
> > calling you at 6:00am, when it's 9:00am here on
> > the East Coast.
>
> I set my 800 number extension (which transfers to
> my home) to only ring me from 7am-10pm. When I
> used to give out my home number (and then later my
> Google Voice number), I would turn the ringers off
> at night, because I got tired of the 5am PT phone
> calls from my East Coast shoppers. :-)


Jen, thanks for the info. Incidentally, I love working with Shanna!!!

My ringer is off at 11pm eastern unless I am close to a deadline, then it stays on. Usually, my ringer is back on by 9am.

LisaKwaj Wrote:
>
> Jen, thanks for the info. Incidentally, I love
> working with Shanna!!!

You're welcome! I love working with her, too. She's a sweetheart. :-)

I personally work (generally) from 6am - 4pm central time. Most of my shoppers know that and if there are questions after that time, I get back to them first thing the next morning. I DO however have my work email on
Y phone and check my emails even during my "off hours" but if I sat at my co
Outer 24/7, that would make me a VERY grumpy scheduler. Hey I'm human too! Lol

geauxcj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If a narrative says minimum 8-10
> sentences...please write 8-10 sentences. I have
> shoppers that write 2. -sigh- Missing descriptions
> is another.


ACL?

If a narrative says minimum 8-10 sentences...please write 8-10 sentences. I have shoppers that write 2. -sigh- Missing descriptions is another.

If a shop fee paid for 8-10 sentences, I'd be happy to comply. Don't expect me to write the Great American Novel for a $10 shop fee! *sigh*

Good for you, Deva, for recognizing there is a life outside of MSing! You go, girl!

sharpist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What do you consider "flaked?"


A flake is when a shopper takes a shop then does not complete it.

It's also equally interesting to see schedulers (some in this very thread) not reply to emails sent about projects.

bestofbothworlds Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If a narrative says minimum 8-10
> sentences...please write 8-10 sentences. I have
> shoppers that write 2. -sigh- Missing descriptions
> is another.
>
> If a shop fee paid for 8-10 sentences, I'd be
> happy to comply. Don't expect me to write the
> Great American Novel for a $10 shop fee! *sigh*


Perhaps not taking those shops would be a better solution?

I agree, bgriffin, and I call or email and give them back to the MSC right away. Just not worth the time and effort for a nuttin' burger fee.

bestofbothworlds Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree, bgriffin, and I call or email and give
> them back to the MSC right away. Just not worth
> the time and effort for a nuttin' burger fee.


Right, Bestofbothworlds. That's why we should be given the guidelines upon request before accepting the shop. I don't want to take a shop and then back out. I want to know what I'm in for before I accept it. I've only asked for the guidelines beforehand once and they were emailed to me. I am usually reluctant to ask because I don't want to be a PITA.

Thanks, Jaymo, for asking that question here. I had the same question.

Schedulers who "pamper" a shopper get some off-the-wall bennies. I have a shopper-friend in the same state but 250 miles away. She called today and asked what the roads were like in my town. "Clear and Dry. Why?" A favorite scheduler of hers called to see if she could do the shop in my backyard. (I can't: family Christmas) What does this have to do with roads? Longtime scheduled shopper cancelled out "because the roads are bad", leaving scheduler in a tight. My friend called her scheduler-friend and ratted out the liar/flake. HehHehHeh...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Heh









heh

I do a lot of these "Can't now, Can then" with schedulers I have a long term relationship with.

This time of year, even if I don't have a real relationship with a scheduler, I'll shoot an email saying I can do this shop on this date. If that can work for you then let me know...and yeah, I do pick up shops that way.

Your friend has too much time.

Cricket2009 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Schedulers who "pamper" a shopper get some
> off-the-wall bennies. I have a shopper-friend in
> the same state but 250 miles away. She called
> today and asked what the roads were like in my
> town. "Clear and Dry. Why?" A favorite
> scheduler of hers called to see if she could do
> the shop in my backyard. (I can't: family
> Christmas) What does this have to do with roads?
> Longtime scheduled shopper cancelled out "because
> the roads are bad", leaving scheduler in a tight.
> My friend called her scheduler-friend and ratted
> out the liar/flake.
> HehHehHeh.........................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ..................................................
> ........Heh
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> heh

geauxcj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If a narrative says minimum 8-10
> sentences...please write 8-10 sentences. I have
> shoppers that write 2. -sigh- Missing descriptions
> is another.


Big time agree on this!

I mean, no one wants to waste time contacting someone if they don't have to since there is so much to be done as it is! Very important to read all guidelines and contact a scheduler if you are not comfortable or change your mind ASAP.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think he is registered with the companies. Most,
> including some you work with, just send out a very
> basic description of the shop so shoppers don't
> see the full scope of the guidelines and report
> until after being assigned.

I have absolutely no issue canceling a shop I signed up for because the amount of work they hid from us in the description finally showed up in the guidelines. it's happened so few times that I can't even remember the details of why it happened, but it's not my problem that MSC's oversell their jobs to us in order to get us to sign up for them. This is also the same reason whenever anyone ever sees "SUPER EASY!! SHORT REPORT!" we almost always hit delete.

Schedulers - I don't have a problem communicating before or after accepting an assignment. My problem is the sometimes there is no scheduler listed and access to "help" is difficult, making it hard for me to email anyone. I have been developing a list of contacts, but after a year it does not have everyone and besides, schedulers fluctuate.
The one thing that I would ask for is for schedulers to include contact information in the posting, whether it is a help desk or their email. I would find this helpful.

As for the subject of respoding to mass mail, I am like others. I don't want to contribute to filling an inbox when a scheduler really just wants to know who can do the shop. But when emails are addressed to me by name, I feel obligated to reply whereby taking my time and the schedulers. I like it better when it says "Dear Shopper". As for text messages, I feel those are personal and respond to those. And there are some schedulers who communicate using my name. I'm going to start responding to those that I don't think are personal.