I speak to schedulers quite casually to the point where they tell me that with some of their shoppers, they just want to yell at due to them doing all sorts of things that don't seem right during the shopping and reporting process. Well, my fellow schedulers, while it is understandable to think so, there are moments where I have to reciprocate such feelings.

The latest with a scheduler: I accepted a bank assignment last week that from all appearances, seemed very easy. The address was posted in the guidelines, to which I programmed in my GPS as well as did a brief Mapquest as backup. Turns out, the address that was on file for the shop didn't exist. I drove to the address posted in both the GPS and Mapquest, which lead me to a field. I also changed the "drive" portion of the address to both "street" and "boulevard", and again, same result in leading me to a field. Further, I called the bank and received an automated system that did not give me the address.

So I contacted my scheduler about this. Turns out that both the address and the city were incorrect. 3 days go by and then I finally here back from my scheduler, "Can you do the shop today? Our client really needs to have this shop done ASAP."

First of all, I think to myself, well if your client needs it done asap, you would give the correct address, right? Second, I proposed that I could possibly get it done today (Tuesday) if you can confirm the address. As it was, the original address, for example, said 1234 Smith Ave, Bartsburg when in fact it was really 8473 Oakhill Drive, Palm Harbor. Third, if it was so important to your client, why did it take you 3 days to respond to me as well as your wanting me to do the shop today?

I inform the scheduler that I cannot do today, yet if he can confirm another way (since I've tried) that I could have availability on Tuesday. I would drop everything to get done today. Keep in mind that this was on Monday morning. Within 20 minutes later, the scheduler emails me back and lectures me on getting the shop done ASAP for the client and that he would have to find another shopper. From here, the scheduler cancelled my shop and took it out of my shop log.

At this point, I'm a little baffled, considering that I had every intention on getting this shop done yet the scheduler had me spinning my wheels due to giving me the WRONG ADDRESS IN THE WRONG CITY. I was mad for about 2 minutes, until I chalked it up to "whatever scheduler." There will be more bank shops. I'm not going to get all bent out of shape for this one.

And all the while, I'm just thinking that its schedulers like this one that complain about shoppers. I really just wanted to slap this scheduler across the face with rubber gloves (both forehand and backhand) to wake him up that there are real reasons as to shoppers experiencing problems in the field. Not all of the time is it the fault of the shopper.

It was like they didn't want to admit fault in writing. I had a scheduler be unsympathetic with me once on an extension and then I became unsympathetic on picking up his shops. It goes both ways!

SPAM

LOL! That same spammer all the time!

Yeah, I saw that spammer has 27 posts. I was thinking, how can a spammer have that many posts? wouldn't they be removed from the board?

Eric, I have had the same problem a number of times over the years with addresses. It is why I love Google Maps. When I plug in an address it tells me what is at that location and for most locations around me, allows me to use the 'street view' to verify that there is signage for the place. I'm not going to spin my wheels for something that is not there. Then I go to the client's website and look for locations. If the street address I am given is 12345 Something St., my town zip 54321. I query zip code 54321 and look for a 12345. If there is nothing there or in my town that looks reasonable, then it is time to contact the scheduler before hitting the road. Doing this long enough tells me that I need to contact the scheduler the same day I got the job, so it is one of the things I do ASAP when accepting or considering self assigning a job at a location I've not shopped before.

But I do understand your frustration and would suggest putting a few lead fishing weights in the fingers of those rubber gloves before doing the smacking around.

I'm non-violent, so, no, not even close to smacking a scheduler, de-activating, yes, slapping, no....

@Flash LMAO! Nice! I actually bought MS Streets and Trips this weekend as a fail safe. Awesome program. I supplement that with my new Garmin that included updated maps for the area. It just kinda bothered me that out of all the shops I've done this year, particularly out of the area, I would encounter a problem like this. Even more so, the reaction and non-problem solving of the scheduler.

@Irene No way could I slap anyone yet just thinking about it actually brings a smile to my face, even during rough circumstances. That, and lifting extra weights on lunch or running a brisk 4 miles calms me somewhat.

Dark chocolate works....

Eric,
Sending love and hugs.
Wales

Oh yes there was one scheduler, whom the company said was an expert on the shop - NOT. I know the area of the shop, so that's why I took it, a lot of similar product stores in the same area, but not mine. I called and told her, all she said was no it's there, go back. I did, it was not. I again told her the place did not exist, even giving her the shops in the strip mall and refused to go back.

Come Monday I got an Email telling me the store did not exist. They seem to have lost the company and now their website is even down.

I had that happen with Ritter once - wrong address, but there was a site 5 miles away that was the same site I was supposed to shop. I didn't want to spend my money and have the wrong address on the receipt, so I reported it to my scheduler that it was the wrong address and that I thought the right one was 5 miles away, and should I do it at that one or not? He said he'd get back to me. I waited a week or 2 and asked if he'd found out anything. No response. The shop turned up on the shop log again, with the same incorrect address, and I emailed him AGAIN, saying I'd like to do the shop, but it was listed with the wrong address. Heard nothing back. I'm sick of Ritter, for that and a couple other reasons that have really irritated me. I'm waiting to get my check from them and deactivate!