Shopper or Stalker...
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That sounds rather stalkish.
When I can ask for the target by name, I tell them that I spoke with them previously but go distracted for a few months. It doesn't always work, but it sounds good.
When I can ask for the target by name, I tell them that I spoke with them previously but go distracted for a few months. It doesn't always work, but it sounds good.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I've thought about that, but it seems that several of the clients for whom I do shops like to sic shoppers on their brand new employees... They also are very good about tracking customers. I tend to go with the story that I was out with a colleague and his girl friend and the girl friend recommended I give the target a call.... I just didn't get that much out.
Maybe my fourth alias is a creeper...
Maybe my fourth alias is a creeper...
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I had a target who was a maintenance man. I called, as instructed, 3-5 times a day, and finally got permission to ask for "her." When he answered the phone, he was upset: "Who ARE you?! I don't know you!"
I told him he was the leasing agent I spoke with a few weeks ago. Nope. He was maintenance.
Needless to say, I was blindsided.
I told him he was the leasing agent I spoke with a few weeks ago. Nope. He was maintenance.
Needless to say, I was blindsided.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
As someone who's been stalked in real life these stories are just as cringeworthy as they are funny.
I can see how your actions may have made you come off as a creeper.
Maybe the MSC can try developing a less...intimidating approach? Or is there just no way around this? I've never done apartment shops so I really don't know.
I can see how your actions may have made you come off as a creeper.
Maybe the MSC can try developing a less...intimidating approach? Or is there just no way around this? I've never done apartment shops so I really don't know.
@N-TownShopper wrote:
As someone who's been stalked in real life these stories are just as cringeworthy as they are funny.
I can see how your actions may have made you come off as a creeper.
Maybe the MSC can try developing a less...intimidating approach? Or is there just no way around this? I've never done apartment shops so I really don't know.
I really felt bad after my last call to the target. The difficulty is that apartment management companies really so use our shopping reports as a part of their training. Sometimes they want to get a report on an employee so that they can improve his/her craft. However, sometimes there are dynamics that prevent the target from answering the phone (aggressive colleagues, laziness, who knows what) and the target simply never answers the phone. When this happens, the MSC's (and shopper's) job is the get in touch with the target which, at some level, means asking for him or her. Coming up with a plausible story is easy. However, if we don't get a chance to explain why we know to ask for a complete stranger.....
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I've shied away from apartment shops for reasons such as this. The pay looks tempting, but I'm not comfortable with borderline stalking someone to get the job done. Maybe one of these days I'll give one a try...
Good luck to all you shoppers that stick with these shops to completion.
Good luck to all you shoppers that stick with these shops to completion.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
I hate targeted shops for this exact reason. I haven't had a problem so far, but every time I do one (I usually avoid, but I don't have enough work to be turning my nose up at them every time) I think that *this* will be the time I have an issue.
My favorite targeted shop was one where I was instructed to ask for William. He clued me at the end of the shop, that he knew I was a shopper because he went by Bill, never William.
The targeted shops usually go a lot smoother. MF's shop was on the bad side of the spectrum. If the MSC does their job right (ie, giving me the correct information), I can reach the target in one or two days with no problem.
@msimon-2000 wrote:
I've shied away from apartment shops for reasons such as this. The pay looks tempting, but I'm not comfortable with borderline stalking someone to get the job done. Maybe one of these days I'll give one a try...
Good luck to all you shoppers that stick with these shops to completion.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I had two shops with the same MSC and the name of the Leasing Agent was slightly off: Jane Jones was the target, but the name was Jane J. Doe. I reported it to the MSC.
@medowynd wrote:
My favorite targeted shop was one where I was instructed to ask for William. He clued me at the end of the shop, that he knew I was a shopper because he went by Bill, never William.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
When I have had "wrong" information about a target, it seems to be on the client far more frequently than the MSC...
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
@medowynd wrote:
My favorite targeted shop was one where I was instructed to ask for William. He clued me at the end of the shop, that he knew I was a shopper because he went by Bill, never William.
This is a point of contention for me. I've called and called trying to reach a target who has been answering the entire time using a nickname. That's a tough one to explain away, especially since she even had her nickname on her business card. I'm pretty sure she knew I was a shopper, but she was smart enough not to give it away.
I despise targeted shops. All the phone calls you have to make, never seem to be figured into the price. I would only take BIG bonused targeted shops. 
I attempted to do a targeted fitness facility shop. I was supposed to reach a targeted membership representative. I never reached the target because my call was transferred to an available membership associate. The guidelines instructed me not to ask for the target by name or to leave a message. After I made the appointment to visit their facility with the non target, I emailed the scheduler. Scheduler instructed me to cancel appointment with the non-target, try to get phone call to be transferred to target, if non target answers call, hang up or mention that I dialed wrong number. Was told to do that until I reach target. I can ask for target by name after so many attempts. I emailed scheduler and replied that I was not comfortable doing that.
I was assigned a Medicare shop and when I spoke with the target, he said, he doesn't do Medicare, he lectures business's on Ins....whoops, someone's fault, not mine.
Live consciously....
I agree--they are generally not worth it. I've developed a system though. Every morning I order the shops most desirable to least desirable. Then I call the first number directly, dialing *67 to block the call. After the person says their name I hang up. If it's the target, I sign up for the shop and just call back via MSC's number 15 or 30 minutes later. If it's not my target, I don't sign up for the shop--I move down the list until I hit one.
Four of these per day at $50 isn't half bad for an eight hour day.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2016 08:29PM by mysterygurl.
Four of these per day at $50 isn't half bad for an eight hour day.
@SunnyDays2 wrote:
I despise targeted shops. All the phone calls you have to make, never seem to be figured into the price. I would only take BIG bonused targeted shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2016 08:29PM by mysterygurl.
I'm new to these forums and I'm a little surprised to see people have this nearly god-like adoration of--or blind loyalty to--their schedulers. Thus I thought your last sentence was pretty key.
OP's scheduler sounds completely over-zealous. And yes, that sounds absolutely creepy/stalkerish. If I were that woman, I would be pretty creeped out and on my toes.
I understand we have a desire to please the boss but when you find yourself asking "Am I being creepy?" then you probably are. As the shopper, I personally would have (politely) quit a long time ago or else found a way around the project manager's bizarre and unorthodox instructions.
Ultimately, people need to remember it's OK to say you're not comfortable with doing something. And remember that it's easy for the scheduler to ask you to be creepy when they're not the one that has to do it.
OP's scheduler sounds completely over-zealous. And yes, that sounds absolutely creepy/stalkerish. If I were that woman, I would be pretty creeped out and on my toes.
I understand we have a desire to please the boss but when you find yourself asking "Am I being creepy?" then you probably are. As the shopper, I personally would have (politely) quit a long time ago or else found a way around the project manager's bizarre and unorthodox instructions.
Ultimately, people need to remember it's OK to say you're not comfortable with doing something. And remember that it's easy for the scheduler to ask you to be creepy when they're not the one that has to do it.
@catgrannyof5 wrote:
I attempted to do a targeted fitness facility shop. I was supposed to reach a targeted membership representative. I never reached the target because my call was transferred to an available membership associate. The guidelines instructed me not to ask for the target by name or to leave a message. After I made the appointment to visit their facility with the non target, I emailed the scheduler. Scheduler instructed me to cancel appointment with the non-target, try to get phone call to be transferred to target, if non target answers call, hang up or mention that I dialed wrong number. Was told to do that until I reach target. I can ask for target by name after so many attempts. I emailed scheduler and replied that I was not comfortable doing that.
When I have a targeted shop that they want me to "Just keep Trying" but won't provide me with a schedule, I go ahead and cancel. The 4 letter MSC is good for having their schedulers hound and harass for the "Status of this shop" without looking at the call log or even listening to the call.
Waste of time. Did you get paid for your effort?
I did three targeted apartment shops recently and didn't have any trouble....might not be so lucky the next time.
Ahh... I hate target apartment shops and had some terrible experiences with Ellis (the only company I know who does apartments). They have no sympathy and it's not always under your control to who you get for a target and if they say they will be there and then aren't, and so many other instances where you drive there and they tell you that they arent here, blah blah,..tryin for hours on end to get them on the phone. Way too much stress. My friend just got turned down from a payment because the target person was a temp and she asked him several times what his name was, he said he was not allowed, and she also called and spoke to the manager and they told her the same thing. How is this the shopper's fault? She spent all that time and will not get paid.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2017 03:09AM by SHeath.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2017 03:09AM by SHeath.
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