Half the reimbursement
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I would cancel on principle. It is rather galling for them to suggest you treat it as a coupon. If they require two people, the least they can do is reimburse enough for two people. And I do mean, "the least."
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
They always show the fee and reimbursement on the available shops list. Are you saying the reimbursement that appeared on the available shops list was different than on your CPI? Or are you saying that from experience you assumed it would be the same reimbursement that was in the past? Reimbursements and requirements on shops do change from shop to shop so it may well be that it is what they are reimbursing in 2016 and the shop requirements may also have changed. I would only cancel if the fee on the shop list and CPI was different, otherwise I would bite my tongue and do it.
Yeah...I know which one you are talking about and I noticed it was less. I checked the questions to see if you had to bring someone with and you totally do. I thought it was strange!
When I use a coupon I do not have to do a detailed report. I would rather just use a regular coupon and have a relaxing meal without being responsible for timings and observations. If I am working I expect to be paid and have my meal reimbursed, but that is just me.
Seems like you were invited to cancel if you didn't like the shop as currently offered, so I would have no compunction about cancelling...
Even when the pay and reimbursement are posted before you take the shop and it is your oversight that the reimbursement had changed?
Honestly, if the $15 reimbursement was clearly listed on the shop information before you accepted it and you didn't see it or didn't look because you assumed it was still the same, I think it would be gauche of you to cancel. But if the reimbursement wasn't specified until you printed out the guidelines (i.e., they were "hiding" it), then I'd cancel, too.
OTH, it's pretty crazy to offer a dining shop at which two people are required, and only reimburse $15.
OTH, it's pretty crazy to offer a dining shop at which two people are required, and only reimburse $15.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
That is my reaction, BirdyC. Market Force very clearly states what the fee and reimbursement are. Only once have I seen discrepancies between the posted prices and the CPI prices. That was last year when I had taken freshly posted jobs and then the reimbursement for that client went UP before performance date. Two of my accepted shops in the sequence went up to the new reimbursement, one did not. When I questioned that, the response was 'if you don't like it cancel it'. I didn't because the raise on the other two was wonderful but I had agreed to do them at the price posted.
@Flash wrote:
Even when the pay and reimbursement are posted before you take the shop and it is your oversight that the reimbursement had changed?
Well...in most cases I would say that if you accept a shop with clearly posted guidelines, you have a responsibility to complete it. However, there has to be some room to consider the circumstances:
1. I often accept shops that I do regularly without checking to see if details have changed. It's part of the economy of repetition that makes shops easier over time. I'm not saying that shoppers should perform shops without looking over the requirements, but when filtering through available shops, it would be a natural instinct to grab a shop that I have done many times before with the expectation that it would not have changed SIGNIFICANTLY.
2. The change in the shop reimbursement is indeed significant. It's not just a few dollars. it's literally been cut in half while the ordering requirement has not changed. That's no longer mystery shopping as I understand it. It's bolstering sales with a coupon while still collecting important data.
3. The consideration of following through on promises to MSCs has to take the MSC into account in some cases. This is a company that would have no compunction about removing a long-time hard working shopper from their books on a whim and shows almost no loyalty to shoppers. They also invited the shopper to cancel.
You reap what you sow, so in this particular case; No compunction whatsoever about cancelling...
@SteveSoCal wrote:
Well...in most cases I would say that if you accept a shop with clearly posted guidelines, you have a responsibility to complete it. However, there has to be some room to consider the circumstances:
You reap what you sow, so in this particular case; No compunction whatsoever about cancelling...
So if I don't like a company I should feel free to cancel or drop shops if I subsequently have 'buyer's remorse'.
@Flash wrote:
So if I don't like a company I should feel free to cancel or drop shops if I subsequently have 'buyer's remorse'.
That's not what I wrote...and it has nothing to do with liking the company or not. Many shoppers like MF but it doesn't change the fact that they don't care about shoppers, or really have that much concern about the shopper cancelling. There are specific components clearly stated as to why the shopper should feel free to cancel the shop in this particular instance.
Agreeing to something based on a misunderstanding, and having the significant change confirmed with an invitation to drop the assignment is not comparable to buyers remorse.
I agree that if she's not happy with the reimbursement she should cancel the assignment instead of complaining about it. I also agree that fee paid and the reimbursement amount are both clearly visible before a shopper self-assigns the shop, so it appears to be the OP's mistake that she self-assigned a shop without looking to see what the reimbursement was.
If I had self-assigned without looking and then realized I'd screwed up and accepted a reimbursement lower than I wanted, I'd do the shop. But if the OP is so upset that she's whining on the internet, best to cancel.
If I had self-assigned without looking and then realized I'd screwed up and accepted a reimbursement lower than I wanted, I'd do the shop. But if the OP is so upset that she's whining on the internet, best to cancel.
And special caution needs to be used with first shops of the year as the terms and requirements of many of them change with the New Year. The OP does not state when she last performed the shop but does indicate 'a couple of times a year'.
And Steve, I've comfortably worked with MF for more than a decade because when you treat them professionally, they treat you professionally. So a statement that they don't care about shoppers or care if you cancel is just bogus. Yes, their shops are 'mass market' so they require little and pay little. That does not mean that you don't approach them with professional respect. They hold up their end in terms of timely payments, simple questionnaires that if you did the shop according to instructions leave little room for dispute with editors and allow self assignment of shops. All those things that shoppers indicate they want.
And Steve, I've comfortably worked with MF for more than a decade because when you treat them professionally, they treat you professionally. So a statement that they don't care about shoppers or care if you cancel is just bogus. Yes, their shops are 'mass market' so they require little and pay little. That does not mean that you don't approach them with professional respect. They hold up their end in terms of timely payments, simple questionnaires that if you did the shop according to instructions leave little room for dispute with editors and allow self assignment of shops. All those things that shoppers indicate they want.
I wouldn't cancel as that would be a strike against you...not something you want to do with marketforce....but I wouldn't do it again unless I could stay close to the reimbursment by ordering less.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2016 07:35PM by jmitw.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2016 07:35PM by jmitw.
Its hard to know what to do in a situation like this because a $15 coupon for some place you like is usually free. Its up to you, if you enjoy working for MF and don't want anything negative against your Rating your going to have to follow through unless it was changed on you. My opinion means so little when so many professionals here have excellent advice.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2016 05:33AM by Pennies4Shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2016 05:33AM by Pennies4Shops.
That's not a shop... that's a Groupon haha.
If this is the shop I think it is, (where you have to take someone with you) then the fee is too low for that particular place. If this were a fast food joint, then two people could get in there for $15 bucks.
OP, I also wonder if you "saw" $15 bucks after you accepted the shop and assumed it was $30, or if something changed paperwork-wise and $30 became $15?
OP, I also wonder if you "saw" $15 bucks after you accepted the shop and assumed it was $30, or if something changed paperwork-wise and $30 became $15?
I absolutely agree, they think they're doing us a favor by giving us a reason to eat out when most of us do this as a small (or sometimes big) part of our income. If no one picks up these shops, they'll learn. I understand that some people do it because they do like to eat out and if that's the case then let them take it, leaving you open for better shops.
As I recall, one of their reasons for cancellation is along the lines that once I accepted, I found I don't qualify. Which makes sense because often their shops don't give you full details *until* you accept them. I've worked with them for years and while I've had issues from time to time, I've canceled for that reason after considering a new type of shop and they haven't cut me yet, knock on wood, but I do cancel almost immediately once I find there will be a problem. If they are going to count that against me, so be it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 02:41AM by ShopWhisperer.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 02:41AM by ShopWhisperer.
Let's see, $15 coupon vs 50% off Groupon, like @CeciliaM states above!
$15 comes to what, maybe 10%-15%, so I read it like this:
I can go to a place and use a Groupon and get 50% off and do nothing but eat and have fun, or I can take a shop and save a whole 15% and have to watch everything that is going on and then file a 30-60 minute report and not enjoy my meal at all.
I understand some people taking reimbursement shops, but only a discount or tiny amount off? This sounds more like a marketing campaign where they are paying for people to spend money and drive business their way, because in the end that is all it is, and you give feedback as well! Sounds like great marketing to me.
$15 comes to what, maybe 10%-15%, so I read it like this:
I can go to a place and use a Groupon and get 50% off and do nothing but eat and have fun, or I can take a shop and save a whole 15% and have to watch everything that is going on and then file a 30-60 minute report and not enjoy my meal at all.
I understand some people taking reimbursement shops, but only a discount or tiny amount off? This sounds more like a marketing campaign where they are paying for people to spend money and drive business their way, because in the end that is all it is, and you give feedback as well! Sounds like great marketing to me.
This is not the first time MF has told shoppers to 'think of it as a coupon' - it's what they used to say when trying to convince shoppers to take a reimbursement-only grocery shop.
Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994
I think everyone agrees that the parameters for this shop are ridiculous! I'd never take one....
But, the point's been lost, I think. Which is (in my mind, anyway) that the OP took the shop apparently assuming the reimbursement was the same as it had been. If the reimbursement was clearly stated upfront, which apparently it is, then the failure is the OP's for not reading the new reimbursement amount.
The core issue, then, is, I think: Should the OP cancel due to a failure on his/her part to read the instructions? Or does the modified reimbursement justify the cancellation, even though the terms were known to, or should have been known to, the OP when the shop was accepted?
Yes, it's undignified and unprofessional for the MSC to tell the OP to think of it as a coupon. But, does that make it OK for the shopper to renege on the obligation? It's one thing to cancel a shop due to hidden requirements that you can't know until you accept it. I've done that myself. But when you know ahead of time (or the info is there and you just don't bother reading it) and then you cancel? Not kosher, in my mind.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 06:04PM by BirdyC.
But, the point's been lost, I think. Which is (in my mind, anyway) that the OP took the shop apparently assuming the reimbursement was the same as it had been. If the reimbursement was clearly stated upfront, which apparently it is, then the failure is the OP's for not reading the new reimbursement amount.
The core issue, then, is, I think: Should the OP cancel due to a failure on his/her part to read the instructions? Or does the modified reimbursement justify the cancellation, even though the terms were known to, or should have been known to, the OP when the shop was accepted?
Yes, it's undignified and unprofessional for the MSC to tell the OP to think of it as a coupon. But, does that make it OK for the shopper to renege on the obligation? It's one thing to cancel a shop due to hidden requirements that you can't know until you accept it. I've done that myself. But when you know ahead of time (or the info is there and you just don't bother reading it) and then you cancel? Not kosher, in my mind.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 06:04PM by BirdyC.
@BirdyC wrote:
But, the point's been lost, I think. Which is (in my mind, anyway) that the OP took the shop apparently assuming the reimbursement was the same as it had been. If the reimbursement was clearly stated upfront, which apparently it is, then the failure is the OP's for not reading the new reimbursement amount.
I don't think that point has been lost. I think the OP has been scolded plenty for that. But, it's the internet and you are anonymous, so, by all means, continue beating her/him up for rushing through the assignment process.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 06:27PM by TeriW.
Considering the point of the thread was to say the reimbursement had been cut in half AND the MSC invited the OP to cancel, what is the big freaking deal. Is your mechanic going to do $200 worth of work because they missed something when giving you a quote of $100?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@TeriW wrote:
I don't think that point has been lost. I think the OP has been scolded plenty for that. But, it's the internet and you are anonymous, so, by all means, continue beating her/him up for rushing through the assignment process.
I'm not beating anybody up. Many, not all, people who posted on this thread were focusing on the issue of the reduced reimbursement and how ridiculous it is (and I agree), with no or little regard to the issue of fulfilling an obligation even when the terms are stated upfront. My own point was not to bash the OP, but to look at the professionalism of backing out of an obligation.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I think the larger point is about the professional responsibility due to this MSC, or any MSC, and if you feel a greater sense of responsibility to one MSC over another.
It's easy to generalize and say that as a contractor it's your responsibility to follow through with any assignment you agree to, provided that the details were disclosed. It's my opinion that there are varying degrees of responsibility. Others may choose to apply their ethics globally.
I also don't think it's unprofessional to cancel, in general. It may be inadvisable if you are trying to keep a relationship with an MSC, but a professional note at the beginning of a month, well in advance of the assignment, explaining that you may have changed your mind or that circumstances may have changed, is still handling the situation professionally IMHO. If their circumstances changed, they would do the same.
You just have to ask yourself if you are willing to take the risk of burning the business relationship by cancelling. If you rely on income from MF to keep your business running, then it might not be worth the risk, as you will probably make more that $15 from them in the future. It's my opinion that they don't really care if you cancel the assignment or not, however, due to the invitation to cancel and their attitude toward shoppers in general. Repeatedly cancelling will most likely get you disabled from being able to take assignments, but then doing the assignment as scheduled could also end up in you being disabled from being able to take assignments at any point in time from what I understand.
And that is ultimately why I stated I would have no compunction about cancelling. I don't make MF income part of my business model specifically because I don't feel like it's income that can count on. It has little to do with me liking the company or not.
It's easy to generalize and say that as a contractor it's your responsibility to follow through with any assignment you agree to, provided that the details were disclosed. It's my opinion that there are varying degrees of responsibility. Others may choose to apply their ethics globally.
I also don't think it's unprofessional to cancel, in general. It may be inadvisable if you are trying to keep a relationship with an MSC, but a professional note at the beginning of a month, well in advance of the assignment, explaining that you may have changed your mind or that circumstances may have changed, is still handling the situation professionally IMHO. If their circumstances changed, they would do the same.
You just have to ask yourself if you are willing to take the risk of burning the business relationship by cancelling. If you rely on income from MF to keep your business running, then it might not be worth the risk, as you will probably make more that $15 from them in the future. It's my opinion that they don't really care if you cancel the assignment or not, however, due to the invitation to cancel and their attitude toward shoppers in general. Repeatedly cancelling will most likely get you disabled from being able to take assignments, but then doing the assignment as scheduled could also end up in you being disabled from being able to take assignments at any point in time from what I understand.
And that is ultimately why I stated I would have no compunction about cancelling. I don't make MF income part of my business model specifically because I don't feel like it's income that can count on. It has little to do with me liking the company or not.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
It may be inadvisable if you are trying to keep a relationship with an MSC, but a professional note at the beginning of a month, well in advance of the assignment, explaining that you may have changed your mind or that circumstances may have changed, is still handling the situation professionally IMHO. If their circumstances changed, they would do the same.
I don't disagree with you. Circumstances are important, of course. And also how much one wants to maintain a relationship with the MSC. Although invited by the MSC to cancel the shop, I'm guessing it would negatively impact the OP's standing with that company. And if the OP doesn't care, well, then....
But I feel that if I make a mistake, it's on me, not the other party, and I, personally, wouldn't feel right cancelling. I wouldn't feel that it was professional of me, in this specific situation. Even if I didn't care what the MSC thought of or did with me.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2016 07:36PM by BirdyC.
@LisaSTL wrote:
....what is the big freaking deal. Is your mechanic going to do $200 worth of work because they missed something when giving you a quote of $100?
Who said it was a big freaking deal? And, no, I wouldn't expect my mechanic to do $200 worth of work for $100. But diagnosing and working on a car is entirely different from this situation.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
MF is notorious for deactivating shoppers for no apparent reason, so I try to not give them any reasons. I have been shopping with them for about 8 or 9 years now. Some months I do no shops for them, and there are other times I might do 2, others I might do 10...I don't want to burn my bridges with them even though they are not my bread and butter. Even if they invited me to cancel, I would more likely call a scheduler with whom I have a good relationship to cancel rather than do it manually or through helpdesk. If I decided to cancel, that is. Depending on how many shopping days are left for that particular shop I might just go ahead and do it...if there are only a few days left it might be hard for them to get it assigned in a timely manner.
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