So IntelliShops had these spotter shops for a big gas station. I signed up for a few of them in my area because I'm new and they looked simple enough. Hand out some gift cards. Make some people's day. I signed up for them last Tuesday. The scheduler told me they shipped them last week. The Job mentioned a hat and a vest were being sent with the gift cards. Well afterbot receiving them I ask for an update and the scheduler gives me a tracking number on Thursday. I didn't bother to check it... But she insists they were sent last week. They don't arrive Thursday or Friday so I message her again. She tells me the tried to deliver them and I didn't have a mail receptacle for them...and I needed to try and procure the package on my end. Well the mail gets delivered today. The package is an envelope. Easily fit in my mail box. Inside is a letter typed up telling me that there was 30 cards for the gas station, and 0 for the Store I was also signed up for. The 30 was crossed out and it was hand written in as 12...for 6 locations ( I also took a seventh two days ago but assume these aren't for them.)
There was also no hat, and no vest.
So multiple mistakes with the package...and now I'm scared I'm going to be on the hook for the vest and other cards...also on the note there is a different payment arrangement than noted anywhere else on the assignment. :/
I emailed the scheduler but to no response so far.

Did the tracking number match the envelope you received? I think you need to actually speak with the scheduler because there are too many pieces of this that don't match up.

I don't know the whole story but when you agree to accept a shop with 30 gift cards (valued at $300) assuming, if they were worth $10 each, it is your responsibility to check the tracking number like a hawk! You said you didn't bother..... The tracking is to ensure you received them. If you don't put forth that effort, they could reasonably assume something happened to the cards and in the end, you could liable if you did not take great care to find out where they were.

The gift cards are just like the cell phone shops. (the one where you try to trade in XX amount of phones and see if the employee follows the guidelines/ethics) You are responsible for those cards.

You do realize that any fees you have earned will be blocked until you locate all the cards? Just like my fees are on hold until I have returned all the cell phones.

You said the numbers were crossed out but in the end, it was 30 cards they sent for x amount of shops. Do you have all 30 cards? I did this assignment and I made sure I kept an eye from beginning to end because ultimately I could be held responsible for whatever happened to those cards.

The vest is another matter. That is not the most valuable thing in this story.

I've tried repeatedly to get ahold of the scheduler. I was never told how many cards there were for the shop. I didn't get the tracking until Wednesday Night....they day they shipped them. They told me they shipped them last week but the online tracking and envelope say differently. Each of the spots I took had an envelope inside with the number of cards inside of it marked on the outside of the envelope. As well as the job number. The hand writing matches up so I don't think anyone messed with them before they were delivered today, but I'm worried about some processing error on their end.

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I don't know the whole story but when you agree to accept a shop with 30 gift cards (valued at $300) assuming, if they were worth $10 each, it is your responsibility to check the tracking number like a hawk! You said you didn't bother..... The tracking is to ensure you received them. If you don't put forth that effort, they could reasonably assume something happened to the cards and in the end, you could liable if you did not take great care to find out where they were.

The gift cards are just like the cell phone shops. (the one where you try to trade in XX amount of phones and see if the employee follows the guidelines/ethics) You are responsible for those cards.

You do realize that any fees you have earned will be blocked until you locate all the cards? Just like my fees are on hold until I have returned all the cell phones.

You said the numbers were crossed out but in the end, it was 30 cards they sent for x amount of shops. Do you have all 30 cards? I did this assignment and I made sure I kept an eye from beginning to end because ultimately I could be held responsible for whatever happened to those cards.

The vest is another matter. That is not the most valuable thing in this story.

They didn't send me 30. They sent me 12. The 30 was marked out and their was an envelope for each inside with the job number and number of cards in it written on it in the same hand writing as what was used to mark the number of cards out.

So you have 12 cards total for 7 locations? That isn't even 2 cards for each location. Your on-site visit time sure won't be long!

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I don't know the whole story but when you agree to accept a shop with 30 gift cards (valued at $300) assuming, if they were worth $10 each, it is your responsibility to check the tracking number like a hawk! You said you didn't bother..... The tracking is to ensure you received them. If you don't put forth that effort, they could reasonably assume something happened to the cards and in the end, you could liable if you did not take great care to find out where they were.

The gift cards are just like the cell phone shops. (the one where you try to trade in XX amount of phones and see if the employee follows the guidelines/ethics) You are responsible for those cards.

You do realize that any fees you have earned will be blocked until you locate all the cards? Just like my fees are on hold until I have returned all the cell phones.

You said the numbers were crossed out but in the end, it was 30 cards they sent for x amount of shops. Do you have all 30 cards? I did this assignment and I made sure I kept an eye from beginning to end because ultimately I could be held responsible for whatever happened to those cards.

The vest is another matter. That is not the most valuable thing in this story.

They didn't send me 30. They sent me 12. The 30 was marked out and their was an envelope for each inside with the job number and number of cards in it written on it in the same hand writing as what was used to mark the number of cards out.

If they marked it out from 30 to 12, then I can assume they know they only sent 12 cards? Either way, photograph all the invoices, cards, emails, corrections and notations. Also once again let them know (again) you did not get the hat and vest.

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

I've tried repeatedly to get ahold of the scheduler. I was never told how many cards there were for the shop. I didn't get the tracking until Wednesday Night....they day they shipped them. They told me they shipped them last week but the online tracking and envelope say differently. Each of the spots I took had an envelope inside with the number of cards inside of it marked on the outside of the envelope. As well as the job number. The hand writing matches up so I don't think anyone messed with them before they were delivered today, but I'm worried about some processing error on their end.

When it comes to something like this, they usually send a formal letter saying they have sent x amount of cards and you are liable to protect the cards, as they are like cash. The fact that nobody told you how many cards you would be receiving, I would refuse the assignment and refuse the shipment, since it was either tampered with or internally changed. Either way, you might take the fall the for this. Keep ALL correspondences for this shop. It seems like a big mess. Not sure how it will be resolved. Let us know what you find out.

I knew there was a reason why this project was on my 10-foot pole list. I read past threads from past years and this project always seems to be a cluster-*uck.

@Flash wrote:

So you have 12 cards total for 7 locations? That isn't even 2 cards for each location. Your on-site visit time sure won't be long!

In past years, you had to stay onsite for an hour whether or not you have a winner. Did they change that hour requirement for this year?

I didn't get a hat or vest. They assumed i had these from a much earlier shop. I mailed those back with tracking... -_- and the second set I didn't get return envelop so I was out $6 for shipping. Eh. You gotta be careful. They also specify in my shops that you must wear tan or khaki pants with a white t-shirt...

New Shopper, it won't take long for you to figure out what shops 'are worth it.' Good luck and don't give up because this one did not work out.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@Flash wrote:

So you have 12 cards total for 7 locations? That isn't even 2 cards for each location. Your on-site visit time sure won't be long!

In past years, you had to stay onsite for an hour whether or not you have a winner. Did they change that hour requirement for this year?

Looking back on it, I think they sent me 20 cards and hoped I would spot 20 stickers! (wishful thinking) I did maybe 7 of these shops and some stations, nobody had the sticker and one station 3 customers had the sticker. I remember the faces of those who won and I had to snap their picture, not sure if you take their pics or not? I liked it except the dang heat, so I would do them in the morning.

They added the 7th shop for me after the fact. It wasn't included in this envelope

I emailed the scheduler twice and the Project Email once. Here's hoping I get a response.

@clinen11 wrote:

I didn't get a hat or vest. They assumed i had these from a much earlier shop. I mailed those back with tracking... -_- and the second set I didn't get return envelop so I was out $6 for shipping. Eh. You gotta be careful. They also specify in my shops that you must wear tan or khaki pants with a white t-shirt...

You shouldn't be out for shipping. Did you contact your scheduler? They should reimburse you if you scan and email them the shipping receipt. It would be completely wrong of them not to do so.

I just recieved a response that looks like it was automated from my scheduler. Telling me that I need to respond by 4 pm because my shops are over due, and if I dont they will be canceled. No response to my emails regarding an extension because I only received the items yesterday, the discrepancy in the number of items, and the fact that she told me they tried to deliver my item days ago.... Do the schedulers for intelli-shop have automated messages for late shops?

It's probably automated. That stinks, though. I guess reply to the automated message as well yet again explaining your issues? Do you change the subject line to URGENT!!!! when you respond and email your scheduler?

I do not... I actually just got another message from her for the same project, but with different stores.
Im going to try and call her in a few. She didnt respond to my last voice mail.

I would also try emailing with URGENT or similar in the subject line. I have had good results with that in the past.

So, I sent her a bunch of questions....

This is the response

"Hi Michael,

I just checked tracking and it shows that the materials were delivered to you yesterday. I have extended the due dates to the 31st, the last shopping day of the program, so please make sure the shops and evaluations are completed by then.

Thanks,"

I sent one back with detailed questions
How many was I supposed to receive?
Why was the time table for payment different on the letter in the package than what was on the site?
Is there really only 2 Cards per shop? If so what should I do when I run out?
What about the hat and vest? Will I be responsible for those?
Why did she tell me they tried to deliver it on the 24th when they didnt even send it out until the 24th?
I also told her if I dont receive some honest answers on these questions and quickly, I will just send the stuff back and cancel my shops... its not worth the hassle.

Intellishop does not answer questions. End of story. Not sure why your case would be any different? Now you know.

Thanks for the positive contribution... I definitely appreciate the snark. Ive some people say the got answers to the questions and others say they didnt...maybe next time respond with less rudeness?

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

Thanks for the positive contribution... I definitely appreciate the snark. Ive some people say the got answers to the questions and others say they didnt...maybe next time respond with less rudeness?

Clearly, you were not aware that Intellishop does not answer questions or you would not have posted all of this.
Try reading the old threads.

Clearly you have an attitude problem, step off. Try not being rude.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2016 05:55PM by mikehoughton2010.

It can be difficult to get answers out of some of their staff, but not all. Shannon has always been really helpful and responsive, for one.

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

Clearly you have an attitude problem, step off. Try not being rude C

OK. Good to know. I have an attitude problem.
You have a common sense problem. Why would you take cheap work like that from a company that is unresponsive? I was trying to give you information that you clearly don't have. I'm not new.

I appreciate that and all the positive responses. I want to do this as a hobby, I dont need to do it. I have a great job. Im going to wait to see if she responds again. If I dont hear anything before the date of the shop (now the 31st) I will just cancel and send back and write it off as a learning experience.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

Clearly you have an attitude problem, step off. Try not being rude C

OK. Good to know. I have an attitude problem.
You have a common sense problem. Why would you take cheap work like that from a company that is unresponsive? I was trying to give you information that you clearly don't have. I'm not new.

Cheap work? It pays 40 dollars for an hour. Explain the common sense problem. I read multiple threads about this company with mixed reviews. I sought advice on what to do, not an attitude from some troll. I dont care if you are new or not, I dont care that I have only done this a week, I know enough about life to know when someone can word a response with something useful and without rudeness.

@mikehoughton2010 wrote:

I also told her if I dont receive some honest answers on these questions and quickly, I will just send the stuff back and cancel my shops... its not worth the hassle.

I know you are new to MS'ing and I know you are frustrated with this project but "threatening" a scheduler is not professional and it could definitely affect your future with this MSC. And if this scheduler is an independent contractor, she could work for other MSCs which could affect future jobs with other companies. Something to think about.