ICCDS Filters

July 19, 2010 02:46PM

I've finally gotten annoyed about this, particularly concerning ICCDS. I was told that the computer "gets smarter" as time goes on, that if you keep declining shops on the basis of it being too far away from home (one of the options provided), it will eventually stop those offers from coming. I've been shopping with ICCDS for almost a year, and I haven't seen any sign that the computer "getting smarter".

Was this just a load of hooey, or is it that my scheduler is "staying stupid"?

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July 19, 2010 05:01PM

I used to decline one with "other" as the reason. I filled in the "other" narrative box with the reason I declined was that I knew someone who worked at the store. The system kept offering these shops to me.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
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July 19, 2010 05:16PM

I don't even bother with "other" anymore, not even to state that rotation time isn't up. The thing that bugs me about it at this point is distance. I really don't know if it's that the computer doesn't get smarter, or if it's my scheduler.

July 20, 2010 04:36PM

Is there an issue if you simply ignore the shops that you don't want to complete? Usually, I accept shops that I want and don't even open the others. Does anyone know if that will decrease my shop offers since I don't respond to the ones I don't want?

July 20, 2010 04:53PM

Does ICCDS have a lot of shops available? I haven't been contacted by them and there are non available to me on their site.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2010 04:53PM by trrisner.

July 20, 2010 04:53PM

That's supposedly the preferable thing to do, if you might want to do one of those shops in the future.

July 20, 2010 04:57PM

trrisner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does ICCDS have a lot of shops available? I
> haven't been contacted by them and there are non
> available to me on their site.

The offers first come by email, then you can see it on your home page when you sign in. They have shops available, but not everything is offered to everyone. I don't know what their criteria is -- this is a hard company to figure out on a few different levels.

July 20, 2010 04:58PM

Thanks ncelytwicely. You guys are very helpful!

July 20, 2010 05:00PM

I am fairly certain that I get offered what they have here. I think they have a difficult time filling some of the shops they have here at the rates they pay. Except for smoothies, I don't do anything until I see at least $25 and a few shops in the same mall or area of Waikiki.

July 20, 2010 05:31PM

Oh, so different here. I have NEVER seen a shop from ICCDS that pays higher than $15 (base pay). There's one shop that's sometimes bonused up to $25, but rarely. I am 100% certain shoppers are not offered every shop, I just don't know their criteria.

July 20, 2010 05:36PM

I C more shops offered on ICCDS twitter sight than I do on their website page. Some of the shops are tobacco shops but one needs 2 B N their early 20's.

L did C one time they were into threatres but I don't see any in my area.

July 20, 2010 05:52PM

They still do the theatre. I've done one shop only, and it's been offered to me in other areas from time to time, but not regularly. I am 100% certain that even when it's not being offered to me, it's being offered to another shopper.

In areas where there are a lot of shoppers, there's some sort of categoric formula. I do a regular shop for them that I know is not offered to all shoppers. And sometimes, I'll find out that they shop a certain business only because I get an emergency email (not even necessarily bonused).

July 20, 2010 05:54PM

Also, whatever criteria they use does not seem to be location based, like other MSCs. I often get emails for shops which I don't qualify for, on the basis of not enough time having passed. I used to decline these shops by citing "other", and writing that in, but now I don't even bother.

July 27, 2010 12:31AM

ICCDS does not post most of their shops on the website. I get shop emails offered to me every day Most need a quick turn around. I sometimes email back and get the shops, othertimes, I am told they are already taken.

When I am first offered shops that are too far away, I ignore it. When I have to go the site to report a shop, I then decline the shops that are too far away.

July 27, 2010 12:38AM

As far as I know, ICCDS only posts available shops on the site (on a shopper's assignment page) in tandem with the email offer. My query was what criteria they use to determine who is offered what. All shoppers are not offered the same shops, and although it seems pretty random, I suspect it's not.

July 27, 2010 12:45AM

Actually, just to clarify, my initial query was concerning the computer filters! I still can't figure out if I get shops offers very far away because of the computer system, or if it's my scheduler.

Guess both these things will remain a mystery.

July 20, 2011 12:51AM

I got the skinny on this from my scheduler. They have filters...however the only time you got penalized is when you accept a shop and then cancel or worse "flake" (which apparently really hurts you). The other options (shop too far from home etc) are just used for informational purposes. The good news is that you get "credit" from all the stuff you do correctly. So for most of us professional shoppers this helps weed out those less serious ones. I like that! I have worked with them for years. I get a few shops here and there. Between them and the 20 plus other companies I work with I make enough to pay the bills.

July 20, 2011 02:59AM

If I'm not interested, I don't "decline", I just log out. Wonder how the filter likes that?

July 20, 2011 11:41PM

I don't decline solely because even while the shop doesn't fit me when I first look at it, there might be circumstances that I pop up that suddenly make the shop worthwhile. I might not be willing to because of money or distance, but suddenly get called to do another shop or have to travel unexpectedly and now it makes sense to pick up the shop. Even if my best friend works there, it is possible she could quit tomorrow, so don't want to get filtered out.

I worry that declining might limit my options in the future.

July 21, 2011 12:15AM

Ouch! I just lost my response. Oh well, suffice to say, yes, a year after I started this thread, it's clear they don't utilize the filtering system, at least not for the demographic benefit of the shopper. I get a lot of offers from ICCDS, and although I'm thankful for that, I no longer bother declining when I'm not interested, or when the shop is too far away.

July 26, 2011 07:30PM

Hello Everyone,
Thank you so much for your interest in mystery shopping with our company and your inquiries on to decline or not to decline a shop. Hopefully I can help you out with that….
We offer shops to our Field Representatives both through our system (which will show up as offers on your Field Rep page) and through e-mails sent by our team of Field Coordinators. We will of course try to offer shops close to you but sometime you will receive offers that may be too far away. You can decline the offer on your page if you would like. Ignoring the offer is okay too. If you have any questions though, please let me know as I am happy to assist.
Marti

Marti McGoldrick
Director of Quality Assurance
mmcgoldrick@iccds.com

July 27, 2011 02:40AM

Hello Marti. In May, Ryan posted as a rep of ICCDS, offering assistance to shoppers. Not sure if shopper feedback went anywhere or not. I have seen nothing different. Ryan posted "I'm going to address the job board situation right away as well as get everyone's questions and comments addressed. Thanks everyone for your kind words about ICCDS, we will get back to you shortly!" Still waiting for that.

Your offer of assistance is appreciated.

July 29, 2011 02:53AM

ICCDSA seems to be sending out more emails out of area in July than usual. It really would be nice if they would send jobs that are at least in the same state.

August 28, 2011 02:43PM

Has anyone tried calling them lately? I have tried 1-800-444-1717 that my scheduler gave me and 1-800-631-1617 that was posted on a current thread.
Then was told to use the 888 instead of the 800. Comes up disconnected or out of service. Then one of the numbers is for a adult talk line. Please try all the numbers as this is driving me crazy.

August 28, 2011 03:16PM

I too found that 1-888-444-1717 is a chat line and 1-888-631-1617 is not a working number.

August 28, 2011 05:00PM

An email today from ICCDS has the number listed as 800-631-1617. It is not a working number. Their home page lists 800-444-1717, which is also not working.

Could it have to do with the hurricane? Their corporate offices are in NYC.

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