USPS Shops, difficult to get assigned?
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I have experienced something similar. I used to do a ton of the shops, now I do very few. I believe it has a lot to do with the stricter client requirements about spreading the shops out. Instead of assigning a ton of shops as soon as the new quarter begins, the schedulers have to ration them out on a weekly basis. I hardly ever plan more than a week in advance, so the quota is usually filled before I apply. It probably doesn't help the shops and reports are easier and pay more, making them more attractive to the competition.
My best advice would be to try to develop a relationship with the schedulers. Watch for when the shops come out, and apply for them right away, but also send an email directly to the schedulers. List the shops in which you are interested, and give a full range of dates on which you can commit to completing them, even if those dates fall outside the listed range. This will make it easier for the scheduler spread out the shops, and make you a more valuable shopper to them. Keep in mind different scenarios have different schedulers.
No guarantee this will work. In my area there was a huge area where the old MSC had trouble filling shops, now they fly off the board. No idea why.
My best advice would be to try to develop a relationship with the schedulers. Watch for when the shops come out, and apply for them right away, but also send an email directly to the schedulers. List the shops in which you are interested, and give a full range of dates on which you can commit to completing them, even if those dates fall outside the listed range. This will make it easier for the scheduler spread out the shops, and make you a more valuable shopper to them. Keep in mind different scenarios have different schedulers.
No guarantee this will work. In my area there was a huge area where the old MSC had trouble filling shops, now they fly off the board. No idea why.
Same here. Used to do the shops all the time with the old MSC but I think I have done only 2 since they switched.
I think that they are using the same shoppers who have proved themselves reliable. It's a Catch 22. You'll just have to keep applying until they recognize your name.
Frustrating, because I've probably applied for 20 USPS jobs with them and only got one assigned. I quickly and correctly submitted my report, and there were no complaints on my report. I'm not gonna stress about it. Plenty of other jobs out there.
I shop in two areas. The schedulers have different approaches to assigning shops. One stays in weekly contact to advise to apply for shops during the following week. The other only when the quota needs to be filled for that week and at the end of the month. They seem stricter on the rotation than before. I went to bonused locations with the previous MSC in which I performed 4 shops at two PO locations. The fee was $30 each. I tried to get two at the same locations and could not repeat the same sequence. In the previous time, I did shop different clerks. Indeed there were new clerks at both locations for the second round. They waived the 4 shop limit and I did two additional shops on the way home for the same bonus amounts. $180 day! And Christmas gifts mailed for free.
I know that I do not get all of my requests. I focus on the Haz Mat shops, which in one city I get self-assign privileges.
I know that I do not get all of my requests. I focus on the Haz Mat shops, which in one city I get self-assign privileges.
Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
I used to do many for the new MSC and think I have a pretty good relationship with the scheduler for my area but the last few months I've gotten far fewer of the jobs I've applied for and can't count on a route being scheduled. All my previous jobs have been done on time, never rescheduled etc.. I assume there is a lot more competition and the scheduler is filling the individual jobs based on who applies first. Even if I leave a note that I am applying for a route the schedulers don't seem to see the info.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2016 03:40PM by wwin.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2016 03:40PM by wwin.
How often do the shops get posted? Is it a monthly cycle?
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
I was having similar issues and then started replying directly back to the scheduler. Often, a kind word or two will go a long way.
"Samantha,
I would love to pick up the shop you have in Hampton, VA. I will be in the area today, tomorrow, and Saturday if any of these dates would work for your client. I have applied through the website in hopes that I can help out with your shop. Please do let me know.
Thank you for your email,
Megan"
eh. maybe not like that, but if you email them it can let them know there's a willing shopper already in the area ready to rock n roll
"Samantha,
I would love to pick up the shop you have in Hampton, VA. I will be in the area today, tomorrow, and Saturday if any of these dates would work for your client. I have applied through the website in hopes that I can help out with your shop. Please do let me know.
Thank you for your email,
Megan"
eh. maybe not like that, but if you email them it can let them know there's a willing shopper already in the area ready to rock n roll
MegglesKat
I used to do a lot of PO shops with the former company, too. Would somebody PM me the name of the company that has the contract now? I haven't been able to figure out who it is and I want to continue doing them. TY!
Working in S. Arkansas and N. Louisiana!
I suggest for those of you who have not developed a relationship with the scheduler for your area, to write directly to Judith at Summit Scheduling and ask her to forward your e-mail to the appropriate scheduler. Just say in the e-mail what area you're willing to shop, and the type of shops you're willing to do (I don't do dim wt shops). I think I'm lucky -- I got a scheduler who responds to my e-mails quickly, whether the answer is yes or no. I ALWAYS put USPS shops in XXXXXX city, XXXXXXX state,
in the subject line. That does seem to help.
(Since this is a scheduling company, not the MSC, I hope I'm not violating any rules here. If I am, please have the mod delete. I'll be gone all day. Doing USPS shops! I e-mailed my scheduler at 8:16 AM, and by 8:36 had the shops assigned to me and my packages prepped, photographed, and ready to hit the road!)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2016 03:42PM by ceasesmith.
in the subject line. That does seem to help.
(Since this is a scheduling company, not the MSC, I hope I'm not violating any rules here. If I am, please have the mod delete. I'll be gone all day. Doing USPS shops! I e-mailed my scheduler at 8:16 AM, and by 8:36 had the shops assigned to me and my packages prepped, photographed, and ready to hit the road!)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2016 03:42PM by ceasesmith.
If you used to shop then you know the contracts do NOT allow even in PM to ask that.
@Kathy in AR wrote:
I used to do a lot of PO shops with the former company, too. Would somebody PM me the name of the company that has the contract now? I haven't been able to figure out who it is and I want to continue doing them. TY!
Kathy, we can't tell you because of our ICAs but if you email Judith@summitscheduling.com she can tell you.
Apply for five- send the scheduler a note advising you are looking for these 5 to build a trip. Build rapport. Be kind and don't not do them
That only works if the scheduler actually gets back to you. She sent me a note asking to build a route. I did; she didn't respond so I took another job. She was unhappy when I wrote to tell her nevermind, but I can't give up a sure thing for a possibility.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2016 02:28AM by PasswordNotFound.
Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2016 02:28AM by PasswordNotFound.
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