If the communication was by email, it's already in writing, no?

@amberngriffinco wrote:

Colorado puts up w/some real creatures in c/S that do not belong there.

I've lived in three states, and these are features of USPS employees everywhere haha.

It depends upon what it says. "I regret to inform you that because you conducted personal business on your shop, you will not be paid for it" is different than "This shop will not be forwarded to the client because you conducted personal business during it."

Most likely USPS shop and perhaps the OP bought stamps or got cash back which is not allowed on these shops. I wish they would go back to being sub contracted to the former msp.

That wasn't allowed with the old MSC either. The OP stated that they did not do what the MSC says they did. And we have no idea if it was the USPS since the OP did not ssy what type of shop it was.

This right here is the reason I stopped hiring hookers when I do hotel shops.

Hoju it's a bit early for boozing, isn't it? LOL

Define "too early."

It's a bit late in the day to be sober, isn't it?

Does asking the cute car salesman on a date count? Lol.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2016 10:31PM by mainland.

Okay, it's been approved for pay without any explanation so I guess they figured out it wasn't me. I'd rather not say who or what only that it wasn't because I wore a pant suit or used the bathroom! Too funny! It also wasn't anything illegal or major, just that they thought I conducted personal business 3 towns away from where I live which would have been impossible. A couple of you nailed it. Thanks for the responses, I enjoyed them! And yes, SunnyDays2, there were some negatives which is curious because all the other ones I did before that one haven't even been validated yet. Things that make you go hmmmmm!

@arkndove wrote:

Okay, it's been approved for pay without any explanation so I guess they figured out it wasn't me.

Glad it was resolved without you having to jump through more hoops!

This all makes me think of a new home video shop I did once. A month after my shop, I received an email that said, "You used a paper checklist with written questions which were checked off once the Sales Agent had answered them." The email made me laugh out loud at the thought of such a beginner goof. Then, I got mad. I was a veteran shopper and would never bring paperwork into a shop like that. Plus, if I HAD brought in some checklist and written on it, my camera - right at mid-body level - would certainly have picked that up at some point and I had no paperwork with me during that shop. The questions would have been asked right on video, too.

I talked to my scheduler and told her these things. The MSC did pay me and they also asked the client for the name given by the person they pegged as the shopper; they asked several times for them to produce the registration card the shopper completed, but they never did. Obviously, the name didn't match the alias I'd given. As I never heard any more about it, I think the client just quietly let it go since they were called on their accusation and the facts didn't line up. My guess is some actual hyper-organized homebuyer brought in some kind of new homebuyer checklist. Either that or some other shopper was doing a competitor shop at the community.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2016 03:13PM by TechSavvy.

(deleted)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2016 07:49PM by maranatha.

No fun, arkndove! If you're not going to spill the T, don't throw the shade.
:-P

@sbobgal wrote:

Dance audition at theatre audit?

I am still going with this.

The only ones I remember that said not to conduct any other business are the post office ones. I always thought most of these companies wanted us to conduct other business. Isn't that why the pay rates are so low for some of these jobs? The MSCs figure we are going to the store anyway.

Also, aren't we supposed to be acting like regular customers? And, if so, why would we not be able to conduct regular business?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2016 09:29PM by alannajm.

Alannajm - there are other shops which preclude you from conducting any other business. Some explicitly say not to buy anything, but to leave the store immediately and to then take a date and time stamped photo of the exterior. There is no uniform rule at all. Others explicitly say that you are free to buy more, but at your own expense.

@Hoju wrote:

This right here is the reason I stopped hiring hookers when I do hotel shops.

And switched it to the fast food shops, right...? I did the same thing.

@alannajm wrote:

The only ones I remember that said not to conduct any other business are the post office ones. I always thought most of these companies wanted us to conduct other business. Isn't that why the pay rates are so low for some of these jobs? The MSCs figure we are going to the store anyway.

Also, aren't we supposed to be acting like regular customers? And, if so, why would we not be able to conduct regular business?

They don't necessarily figure that we're going to the store, but they might figure that we'll be in the same area. Other times, they just want to get the shops done as inexpensively as possible, and they know that new shoppers will frequently start their careers with the lower-paying jobs.

Yes, we're mainly supposed to be acting like regular customers. Some shops ask us to do very suspicious things that most customers wouldn't do, though, and some audits are revealed.

The shops take longer to review if we conduct other business (the editors have to review receipts for accuracy, and it can also make the narratives longer than necessary), Some shoppers also make mistakes about reimbursement. Others may just be dishonest and try to get more reimbursement than was promised to them. It's also possible that competitor shop clients just don't want to give other shops their own potential business, but I don't think they'd usually be that cheap. Individual client and MSC specifications can all be different, though, so we shoppers can often conduct other business or purchase additional items. If you have any questions about a shop, you can ask a scheduler.

Those who did pizza shops where "beauty was in the eye of the beholder" and would not pay because allegedly the picture of the pizza was fuzzy, out of frame, etc, I believe those shops were used.

The Sweetish furniture dealer that asks over 100 questions, some of them ambiguous because they use items you are looking for as props in other departments and if you see the item in the wrong department and report on it they invalidate the shop probably uses the shoppers work product.

Some guidelines require a shopper to get a business card. Some companies over shop their locations. Car dealers and cell phone shops have sales people that work on commission. They work in rotation if other salespeople are on the same shift. They do not want to waste a rotation attempting to sell a car or cell phone to a mystery shopper...

Some salespeople will give their business card without asking. Some will give the business card when I ask for it so I can write the information they will give me and I will know who gave me the information. Some salespeople will tell me the company does not give the salespeople business cards, some will tell me they left their business cards in their other pants. If I am not on a shop I go looking for a manager and ask for another salesperson who can give me a business card so I know who gave me what information when I am ready to make a purchase. I ask salespeople for their best and final price and how long it is good for.

If I am on a shop I perform the shop even if the salesperson does not give me a business card. Those shops that have guidelines requiring i obtain a business card or the shop is invalidated will be shopped as I am already there. I contact the scheduler BEFORE I waste time with the survey. I tell the scheduler I performed the shop. The shop is invalid as the guidelines require I get a business card or the shop is invalid. Therefore there is no reason why I would waste time sending information unless I get an e-mail saying the client or MSC will pay my fee if I report as I should not be penalized by the nonperformance of the client's employee. Unless I get an e-mail accepting my terms, there is no reason to send a report. The guidelines say I will not be paid and I do not work for free.

If the MSC threatens to penalize me because an employee failed to perform I do not work for that company again. They can find some other sucker that will send a report knowing the shop is invalid because a business card was not obtained. The client knows which employees were scheduled and knows who took my information there is no need to obtain a business card. You know which MSC's to work for and which participate in the scam.