I have been shopping with a MSC for years, always getting high scores for my reports. There is a restaurant shop that they have that I don't really like to do but I will do it if they call me because I really like the company and they always give me work. Well the last two times that I have done this shop for them I have gotten 7's! I called and spoke to the editor, once she gave me a 7 cause the copy of the receipt was faint, and once I received a 7 because of some questions that they wanted more detail on but they had never asked for this detail before. I can accept both 7's because it is what it is right? However they keep calling me to do this same shop and I don't want to do it. I would love to get some suggestions from you all on how to tactfully let the scheduler know that I just don't want to participate with this shop anymore. Do you think that would hurt my ability to do other shops with them. Thanks in advance for your replies.

I would just tell them I don't enjoy doing that shop and leave it at that. No reputable company will be upset about that.

Honesty is the best policy. You hate the assignment and the editing brings you down. You'd love to help, just with some other project.

As an IC you don't have to provide a reason for not wanting to do any shop. If you have developed a relationship with the scheduler it would be nice to let her know you won't be able to do the shops for an indefinite period of time to save her making the calls. Tell her what you've told us, you never really like or wanted to do the shops and were just trying to help out. Now you are burned out so you need a break.

Thank you all for your responses. I do think that I will be honest with her. Heck you don't even get to pick out the food that you want for this shop and I must not be the only one that doesn't want to do it or else they wouldn't have to call me.

Have a great day everyone!

I emphatically agree with Lisa that you as an IC are under no obligation to take any shop. When the scheduler calls you can pleasantly say "Thank you for thinking of me. I'm not available to do that shop any longer." That will certainly open the door to further conversation without rancor.

I get contacted frequently to do a K-12 shop and I always politely but firmly decline. I've read too much on this forum to know the shop and survey are a beyotch for the shop fee offered. When I communicate the pay is too little for the work, I'm told that is what is offered. Okay. I can't do this shop. Thanks for thinking of me, though!

I agree with bgriffin, and I don't think there's a chance in a Thousand it will effect your getting shop from that company.

bestofbothworlds Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I emphatically agree with Lisa that you as an IC
> are under no obligation to take any shop. When
> the scheduler calls you can pleasantly say "Thank
> you for thinking of me. I'm not available to do
> that shop any longer." That will certainly open
> the door to further conversation without rancor.
>
> I get contacted frequently to do a K-12 shop and I
> always politely but firmly decline. I've read too
> much on this forum to know the shop and survey are
> a beyotch for the shop fee offered. When I
> communicate the pay is too little for the work,
> I'm told that is what is offered. Okay. I can't
> do this shop. Thanks for thinking of me, though!



Oh my gosh the K-12 shop? I did that one once and I swore that I would never do it again! Horrible!

I started getting calls for Sonic. i tried two of them at $15 or so and just didn't like the food. One time my food was cold. Next time they called I just told the scheduler it woukd have to be a lot more because I don't like it and just throw out the food after tasting. Now they offer more when they call.

A shop grade of 7 pays the same as a shop grade of a 10. I have a good idea of who this is. If they deduct grade points for things that are out of your control, like printer ink low at the cash register, then every shopper will have the same grading curve. I don't avoid the company. My shop average for them is barely an 8. I try a little harder to double check things before submitting with them.

It all pays the same. Not shopping because the editors wont give you straight A's should not matter if B's pay the same.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2014 04:09AM by scanman1.

I think "objective opinion" is my new favorite oxymoron term in any event, I second what everybody else says about you being an IC. Free to choose whatever work you want to do.

scanman1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A shop grade of 7 pays the same as a shop grade of
> a 10. I have a good idea of who this is. If they
> deduct grade points for things that are out of
> your control, like printer ink low at the cash
> register, then every shopper will have the same
> grading curve. I don't avoid the company. My shop
> average for them is barely an 8. I try a little
> harder to double check things before submitting
> with them.
>
> It all pays the same. Not shopping because the
> editors wont give you straight A's should not
> matter if B's pay the same.


Thanks for your input you made a good point however, even though the shop pays the same, I put the same amount of effort in my work and I would like to be graded accordingly. I'm not even that fond of the shop, I usually just do it if they call me because I really like the company.

It sounds like to me (and I could definitely be wrong) that your real issue is the fact that you got 7's on the reports, that's why you don't want to do them anymore, and you'd really like to tell the scheduler that you don't want to do them because you got 7's but you're scared they'll think you're being whiny.

Hint: you will sound whiny

Perhaps the next time they call and ask if you will do that shop you could say something like "I'm not very good at doing that particular shop and would rather pass on it." That opens up the discussion about the lower shop grade without sounding whiny. Still a fine line though because if you say "I'm apparently not very good..." it completely changes the complexion of what you're saying.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Perhaps the next time they call and ask if you
> will do that shop you could say something like
> "I'm not very good at doing that particular shop
> and would rather pass on it." That opens up the
> discussion about the lower shop grade without
> sounding whiny. Still a fine line though because
> if you say "I'm apparently not very good..." it
> completely changes the complexion of what you're
> saying.


Thanks for your responses, you were right both times. I don't want to come off as whiny but I don't want to be abused either lol!

Personally, I think you're overreacting to the lower grade.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Personally, I think you're overreacting to the
> lower grade.


I respect the fact that you think that I am overreacting. I think my reactions are just fine :-)

"Oh my gosh the K-12 shop? I did that one once and I swore that I would never do it again! Horrible!"

That phone shop was worse than sucking on goats feet..... NEVER again!

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Oh my gosh the K-12 shop? I did that one once and
> I swore that I would never do it again!
> Horrible!"
>
> That phone shop was worse than sucking on goats
> feet..... NEVER again!


The man wouldn't stop talking! I was in PAIN listening to him talking and oh boy the narrative! Never again.

What am I missing? I've only done one K-12 and it was very easy money. Is the pvt school one more difficult?

If I liked the company, I would continue to shop for them. If I did not like a particular restarant client, I would not do those shops. If I liked the restaurant but was offended by the grades, I would make a personal decision and I may or may not do the shop again. If I chose to decline the shop because of my personal decision related to having earned low grades from the editor, I would not relate that to the company. IMHO, it does sound whiny. As an IC, we are free to pick our jobs for whatever reason and without giving a specific reason.

I don't see a low grade from an editor as abuse. I see it as an editor doing her job, even though I may not like how she does it, just as she may not like how I do my job. I may feel she is overly picky or too critical, but not abusive.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That phone shop was worse than sucking on goats
> feet..... NEVER again!

You know, I've always said that I'd try any shop once if the price was right. Sucking on goats' feet, though? Hmmm...
I guess it would depend on how many goats, how many feet, whether the goats were live, and whether the feet were still attached.
Oh, and whether I could accept an upsell to include dipping sauce.

Maybe I'm the only one but I don't give a damn about my grades. As long as I'm paid it's all good for me. I never even go and check to see what grades I get.

elcarev68 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SunnyDays2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That phone shop was worse than sucking on goats
> > feet..... NEVER again!
>
> You know, I've always said that I'd try any shop
> once if the price was right. Sucking on goats'
> feet, though? Hmmm...
> I guess it would depend on how many goats, how
> many feet, whether the goats were live, and
> whether the feet were still attached.
> Oh, and whether I could accept an upsell to
> include dipping sauce.


Hahahahahahahaha! Thanks for the laugh this morning! :-D

I am one who is a bit obsessive about my grades. I do shop for certain MSCs who grade quite harshly and deduct several points for even minor issues (I forgot to leave a full blank line between paragraphs in a narratives) but this was my error in forgetting their anal-retentiveness. I also would be very upset if I were penalized for something that is out of my control and would have probably contacted someone about the receipt issue, offering to mail in the original if they thought it were my poor photographing/scanning abilities. While low grades pay the same, having them may affect your ability to self-assign in the future and having to wait to be assigned by a scheduler could cause someone else to get a prime job. I always ask for clarification of low grades for the same reason and now have a cheat sheet for each company based on past experience with notes as to what style writing they prefer. This has not gotten me tagged as whiny and I have had comments specifically regarding my improvement after I have tailored my narratives to their specific preferences.

VickyS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I also
> would be very upset if I were penalized for
> something that is out of my control

A lower score still pays the same. You aren't being penalized.

Nope, just insulted.

(heart)

Pammie, you probably feel irritated when you think about those shops because you know your grade should have been better. I say (maybe) just don't do them again until and if you get over it. I also say take a good look at what happened and think about whether you want to give up that income. Editors come and go but anybody's money slips in the night slot at the bank every time. Maybe keep shopping and wait her out?

VickyS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am one who is a bit obsessive about my grades.
> I do shop for certain MSCs who grade quite harshly
> and deduct several points for even minor issues (I
> forgot to leave a full blank line between
> paragraphs in a narratives) but this was my error
> in forgetting their anal-retentiveness. I also
> would be very upset if I were penalized for
> something that is out of my control and would have
> probably contacted someone about the receipt
> issue, offering to mail in the original if they
> thought it were my poor photographing/scanning
> abilities. While low grades pay the same, having
> them may affect your ability to self-assign in the
> future and having to wait to be assigned by a
> scheduler could cause someone else to get a prime
> job. I always ask for clarification of low grades
> for the same reason and now have a cheat sheet for
> each company based on past experience with notes
> as to what style writing they prefer. This has
> not gotten me tagged as whiny and I have had
> comments specifically regarding my improvement
> after I have tailored my narratives to their
> specific preferences.


The cheat sheet is a great idea I'm going to add an editor notes column to my spreadsheet.

I would tell the Scheduler how it is - POLITELY. "You gave me a 7 on my last few reports and didn't explain why (in detail, ha-ha). I don't like the shop and I'm not interested. Don't hesitate to keep me in mind for other shops but I am unavailable for this client. Have a nice day."