The guidelines actually state that they would PREFER you to use cash. I would imagine that the reason might be to see if you are given a receipt without asking, since with a debit card you always get a receipt.

I did two shops today and had no cash, so I used my debit. Both shops were awful in terms of customer service. I need some down time before I do my report so I am not too critical. I always give myself some space after a bad customer experience.

I have easily had more than 10 shops were they just say a total. I always look at the LED to confirm it is being sent Priority. You can also listen for the total and in Zone 1 priority is 5.20 and parcel is 5.15. If you are still not sure you are allowed to ask them and have it corrected to Priority.

If they do not offer insurance or tracking you are permitted to ask for it but you do not have to.

I have done so many of these that I guess what will happen at what post office before I enter. Usually though, I am only right about 30 percent of the time. I even one time found the "banned" non-internet movers guide. I actually thought I won a prize.

The best way to approach these is do not say a word unless it is to answer yes to priority, delivery confirm, and insurance. Maybe a polite no to express, but rarely do they wait. If you speak more than that either you or the clerk has made a mistake.

vptrav Wrote:
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> I have easily had more than 10 shops were they
> just say a total. I always look at the LED to
> confirm it is being sent Priority. You can also
> listen for the total and in Zone 1 priority is
> 5.20 and parcel is 5.15. If you are still not
> sure you are allowed to ask them and have it
> corrected to Priority.
>

Ditto here, I have a staring contest with the LED to make sure I get everything I'm supposed to get (and do/do)

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

MsJudi Wrote:
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> The guidelines actually state that they would
> PREFER you to use cash. I would imagine that the
> reason might be to see if you are given a receipt
> without asking, since with a debit card you always
> get a receipt.

I look at it, too, but in my case, he/she (ha ha) was flying through the screens so fast that I couldn't tell what was what. But now that I've had this happen, I will be more aware of what they're doing and ask at the end if they didn't give me a choice. It's just that it never even occurred to me that a clerk WOULDN'T offer me a choice! And I'm so glad I got paid anyway, even if the guidelines say you MUST purchase priority!



vptrav Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I always look at the LED to
> confirm it is being sent Priority. You can also
> listen for the total and in Zone 1 priority is
> 5.20 and parcel is 5.15. If you are still not
> sure you are allowed to ask them and have it
> corrected to Priority.
>
>

I started a new discussion. One of the shops I did yesterday is being rejected because the receipt says Customer Pick Up or Pick Up (not exactly sure which). I asked the scheduler what that meant (cuz I had NO idea). She told me it was when a customer asks the _____ to hold something rather than having it delivered. And, that it is personal business so I will not get paid. I replied, nicely, I did not do any personal business and WHY would I ask a PO more than 75 miles away from my home to hold something for me. They are not budging. Has anyone run into anything like this before?

Your reasoning makes sense. I'd keep pushing. I don't remember the details but I noticed some strange wording on a receipt and mentioned it in the report. I got paid.

I'd push back hard. If they're saying you're responsible for every bit of verbiage on the receipt that would make for a funny looking shop as you get the receipt and spend the next 3 minutes comparing it to a known "good" receipt. Throw that logic at them, see if it sticks.

anakin Wrote:
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> My favorite: 1 lb or 2 lb bags of rice $0.69 or
> $1.20 from Walmart.

, I have had people send me ~next day air~, forms and letters. We are in the same city even!! Reg Post Office would get it here the same. Why not scan them and send them as a PDF. I just smile and enjoy a polite laugh.

When you scan them you have a copy to send to the next guy.

Don

the last email from the scheduler says they have seen this same thing on several receipts, so maybe they are relenting. I asked again but have not heard back. I mentioned in my email to her that, since I wasn't charged for anything extra, even if I did notice and question it (whatever it is) I wouldn't have any cause, need to ask for a new receipt. If I had made a big deal, I would have given myself away as a shopper...or a nut job (and sometimes I don't know the difference! LOL)

Just got an email from the scheduler. I WILL get paid. Still...I asked her what I should do if/when this comes up again (although, seriously, I am thinking of bagging this MSC) but haven't gotten a response.

I open up the guidelines and do a Search for "cash" to quickly locate the sentence.

When I last did a Dim Weight shop, I noticed that the guidelines stated that cash was preferred. I e-mailed my scheduler and asked before I shopped ... yup, cash was preferred, not required. Always check your guidelines!

Funny addendum: on my last shop, the editor specifically mentioned that I did a great job and to remember that cash was preferred

paying cash does present some tax problems IMHO. The MSC sends you a check (or pays via Pay Pal or direct deposit or what have you). You might receive a payment for $18. $10 of that is the fee for the shop and $8 is for the reimbursement. If you don't have records of your expenses, it looks like you are getting paid a heck of a lot more than you really are. I am not good at keeping track of receipts and then remembering that some of what I was paid was actually a reimbursement. I pay by debit card. If the MSC insists on cash, I don't do the shop.Since we are ICs, the MSC cannot tell us how to spend out money. But I do not argue with them. Like I said, if they insist, I don't bother.

mamab Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I open up the guidelines and do a Search for
> "cash" to quickly locate the sentence.
>
> When I last did a Dim Weight shop, I noticed that
> the guidelines stated that cash was preferred. I
> e-mailed my scheduler and asked before I shopped
> ... yup, cash was preferred, not required. Always
> check your guidelines!
>
> Funny addendum: on my last shop, the editor
> specifically mentioned that I did a great job and
> to remember that cash was preferred

I would answer that I prefer double the pay :-)

If you keep the receipts, which you need for the shop anyway, how does paying cash create more of a tax problem than paying with a debit card. It is all about having the records.

Shelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you keep the receipts, which you need for the
> shop anyway, how does paying cash create more of a
> tax problem than paying with a debit card. It is
> all about having the records.

That's just the way it is for me. I am too ADD to keep meticulous records. I have all my expenses recorded in one place (my bank checks and debits, on-line banking. I don't have to worry about double counting something or not counting it. And. Receipts are too fallible. They often fade and become illegible--something about the ink and light; I am not sure. I try to keep my life as simple as possible. Paying cash just complicates things FOR ME. I am not trying to tell anyone else how they should handle this issue. I am just not willing to pay cash. I am happy for and jealous of everyone who can keep records without effort. I am also happy to be an IC. I don't HAVE to do anything. I take jobs that suit my needs and preferences, not the MSCs. I do as I am required if/when I accept a job. But if I don't think that a request is reasonable (I don't think asking someone to pay cash is reasonable, unless the shop is to assess the clerk's/associate's cash-register honesty, so I don't pay cash. :-) I also don't take jobs that require the shopper to use a credit card rather than a debit card. I don't use my credit card for shops because, as I said, I want all my records in one place.

Happy shopping!.

Sure hope you're never audited, as I think the IRS would like to see those receipts if asked. Hubby & I are being audited by the IRS for 2009 and the letter said to be sure to bring receipts...not credit card/debit card receipts. We'll see.

Good luck!

I have scans of all necessary receipts, but Heaven help me if I have to track down all the originals. I started the year very organized, but it's kinda gone to pot!

It still doesn't do much good for those receipts with the disappearing ink.

Score one for scanning, I guess! Does the IRS accept scanned receipts?

I hope so, because I am in deep you know what if they don't. Actually, my CPA told me not to worry, so I am not worrying. We live in a paperless world, so a lot of things that were once standard are falling by the wayside.

TechSavvy Wrote:
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> Score one for scanning, I guess! Does the IRS
> accept scanned receipts?

My first PO is a funny story. I sent a pound of spaghetti to my sister. Priority Mail with confirmation...got my 10.

Three days later I receive an Email from my sister. "Would you tell me why you just spent $10.90 to send a pound of noodles Priority Mail and request confirmation?" HAHAHAHAHA! I am sorry. But she probably thought I was absolutely whacked!

Did she ask why you had a pound of spaghetti insured???? !!! I sent a friend of mine a bunch of circulars from the store because I didn't have time to get anything. I told her I was sending her the package and THOUGHT I had mentioned it would be junk, but I guess I forgot. She thought I was insane.

Talked to a friend about the receipts (not anything to do with shopping.) Her husband sells antiques. He said he doesn't keep receipts anymore because they fade and they are useless.

kristicantrell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My first PO is a funny story. I sent a pound of
> spaghetti to my sister. Priority Mail with
> confirmation...got my 10.
>
> Three days later I receive an Email from my
> sister. "Would you tell me why you just spent
> $10.90 to send a pound of noodles Priority Mail
> and request confirmation?" HAHAHAHAHA! I am
> sorry. But she probably thought I was absolutely
> whacked!

My friends and family never will stop talking about rocks getting mailed to them. Adding two or three decorative rocks made up the two extra ounces with a 1 pound bag of something. "Rocks! Now she's sending rocks!".