How Do You Want To Be "Talked To"?

I have my cell phone turned on nearly all the time, except when I have a shop that expects it to be off because of the interactions. I usually recognize the names of the schedulers who call. Some call me based on where I am when there was not a message left from the last scheduler that I can't take those kinds of assignments. I am also patient with the ones who are new. Unless I am driving through a rural area, a school zone, or the stupid service provider has another problem, I like getting the phone calls. That way I don't miss something in my area that I might do because it was given to someone else. I've gotten at least one call when I was in the town where I could do it in just a few minutes.

I work long, long hours, do not have a smart phone, and really don't have time to stop and check emails. My email times are before I leave in the morning and when I get home at night. If I happen to have come home for lunch, I will check them.

All of this saves me time from checking multiple websites to see if there is anything I can do. Even if I don't accept an assignment the first time I hear about it, I might be more receptive later.

What I don't like are recorded calls that I happened to answer in a noisy area or in an area where the reception is bad but I don't know what was said and the phone number it came from is not answered. I don't know if it is a change to what I am doing--I also merchandise--or if it is something I don't need.

I do like it if the scheduler has her/his own cell phone because it's most likely that their name is already in my phone and shows up when they call. If it is a call I can't take at that instant, I can hurry off to a better place and call them back because I already know I usually take their assignments.

On the spot, I can get a deadline extension because I know I won't be there until next Tuesday, or a bonus because of the distance. I can also ask about other areas I frequent so the human interaction is best. My geographic area is not a circle. I go more in one direction than another and to certain towns more than others. A spot on the map does not tell the scheduler whether it is a town of 1,000 or one of 3,000, or if that area of the major city is mostly residential or has malls, or a street that I hate driving on.

There are many times that I find when I get home that someone has already taken an assignment that was blanketed on email several hours before. That being said, I do like to get emails, especially if I can apply and know that my interest is being considered even if I am late getting to the table.

I sure wish the gas stations had "frequent driver miles". lol Right now, the local grocery store and Walmart are in a price war for customers who have their gas cards. My husband and I have been switching off, depending upon which one is cheaper at the moment.

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I prefer it when I get an email that gives a general listing of the types of shops and locations available. I also prefer it when payment is listed.

I do not want to discuss available jobs on the phone with schedulers. If it is a job I'm not interested in, I feel bad for the scheduler when I say no. At the same time, I won't appreciate it if they tried to push too hard to get me to accept a job I care nothing about. If they did that, it would make me less likely to work for the company.

Going to a job board would be my second choice but the truth is that I don't have time to check 30 boards constantly in hope of seeing what jobs are available. I won't even stalk a board for a job I REALLY want. It's too inconvenient for me.

While I know other shoppers will gladly take jobs I miss, I am an EXCELLENT shopper with a solid history of following through and getting high marks. As I'm also an editor, I know how much a terrific shopper is appreciated. If a company wants to entice shoppers, especially terrific ones, to go to their website and see what's available, an email teaser is the best way to do it.

Edited to say: I agree with Ahmaynard below. Phone calls for heavily bonused shops are always welcome but rarely received. LOL

Second edit was for a typo.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2011 08:18PM by AlwaysAngie.
I prefer e-mail but repeat emails over and over again, like the age compliance shops that I CAN'T do and one particular Chinese food shop that sends multiple e-mails within minutes of each other. Phone calls for highly bonused shops are welcome, but I rarely get those. I sometimes get a call from Trendsource with site inspections that come up and I don't mind those...but last week I had one call me with an onsite inspection that I accepted then the same guy/scheduler called a few hours later and got my voicemail only to leave no message other than an exasperated sigh. Didn't appreciate that.
Wow! I wish I could get an email for my area. The emails are usually for places 50 -1200 miles (one-way) away. If it's urgent/important, call me. I do not answer the phone when I'm in the shower. Period. If I'm in traffic I say, "I'm in traffic.
either make it quick or let me call you back."
Otherwise, I like email.
I hate most job boards. They always want me to do something else first then don't let me get back to the board or they can not be connected or something equally frustrating.
I live in a pretty rural area. There's only 17,000 people in the entire COUNTY. So I don't expect to work much. Now that I'm a widow I expect my shops to drop off more (movies especially).
What really 'gets' me is when a report is sent back to me because of bad grammar and the client sends an authorization letter that says "you're" instead of "your".
Thanks for letting me vent.
dannedan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you for the comments thus far. -- Does it
> matter to you if a MS company is trying to build
> personal rapport through phone interaction? Is
> that something that might "tie you closer" to that
> organization or is it more of a bother?
I like the personal communication. I figure they must be offering a Bonus so it's worth my time to discuss the options. Some do beg and pressure and I have been known to succumb. I want to build loyalty too.
The duplicate emails do get tiresome but I'm proficient with "delete".

Shopping far East West Texas since 2005
I like emails listing general shops available WITH THE PAY STATED. I don't want to have to open up your website and log in just to find out that the pay is still $7.

I like calls from schedulers only at the end of the month / when they have added bonuses.
Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is not the method of communication but the
> quality that makes a difference. A professional
> and courteous interaction can be achieved by phone
> or email, but it even can be achieved by the
> quality of a job posting. None of us like threats
> and warnings, whether they are that we will be
> photographed by security cameras that the tapes
> are reviewed or such as one charming instruction
> that yelled in all caps DON"T LIE!! It is never
> my intention to 'make friends' out of schedulers,
> though friendships naturally develop where there
> is a collegial atmosphere and mutual respect.
>
> There are companies and schedulers for whom I have
> developed enough respect over the year that if
> they asked, "Are you available next Tuesday" they
> would get a 'yes' or 'no' based on my schedule and
> only THEN would we talk about job specifics and
> pay. These companies value my time and effort at
> least as much as I do and they don't waste it or
> nickel and dime me for it.
------OoooooooooooooooooOooooooOo
I AGREE!
Star Scheduiling sends me their remaining jobs and tells me to write back with what I want to do, if they do not hear from me, I am de-activated. I have never worked for them, as I did try once, and couldn't reach target for their storage shops, target floats around to different areas, making it almost impossible to pin down. I am really really upset by this bullying. Nasty email from me to them, stating I am scheduling my own routes, do not tell me I must accept your jobs, you get the jest.....Kyle is really rude to the point of me wanting to mention their name...feathers ruffled, who do they think they are? I am boycotting them and the rest that continue in this manner. Maybe I should join the marchers boycotting Wall street, I'm from the 60's and can show them a thing or two.

Live consciously....
The purple port hole sends e-mails and also posts to a message board. This is redundant. I go to search find out what is active and delete their e-mails and stale messages that no one will take unless they are desperate. I also call them when they can not get the facts straight but it looks interesting if only they would give the day,date and it matches the calendar that we all use.

I talk to Iccds and check their job board. Some time they want an e-mail some time they want a call. I am flexible.

When I am called I do not care how desperate they are. I tell them I can do it for (give them the price), wait for the attempt to have you work for free and tell them to call me with a price that will allow the job to me MUTUALLY beneficial.
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