I've been meaning to post my experience with the Papa Pizza shops.
I'd done several of these shops ~ not as many as some of you, but quite a few ~ and never had my photos questioned, and was always paid quickly.
Then, suddenly, earlier this year, my photos were questioned on one of these shops. I was told they were "out of focus", and asked if I had any other photos to submit. I told them I had already submitted the best photos of the bunch (I always take three of each angle). They said they would submit to the client, but warned the client may not accept. I never heard anything further until I was paid. So I presumed the client had accepted.
Like the rest of you, I took the photos for this shop with the exact same camera, camera settings, and in the exact same room in the exact same place as I always had, when they had never been challenged.
So, I accepted another of these shops. My Dad & I actually do like the pizzas, so we look forward to these.
Again, I got notice there was a problem with my photos. This time, they said they were "too grainy", and asked if I had other photos that were "clearer and sharper". I didn't see the email until their short time frame for a reply had passed, due to being gone on a couple of all-day routes. So I got an email that my shop had been rejected.
I emailed back to complain about this, telling them basically what I've said here: I'd done many of these shops in the past, all were acceptable, I was taking the photos the exact same way with the exact same camera & camera settings, etc. etc. and that until the shop immediately previous, all of my shops and photos had been perfectly acceptable. I told them that when I reviewed the uploaded photos, as I always did, they looked perfectly clear and sharp to me. I continued that I could not afford to not at least be reimbursed for this shop, and that I would never order that expensive of a pizza, and certainly not delivered, as I can't afford such luxuries.
I got an email back, this time with an actual name attached to it, saying: "Thanks for the message. I can see that you have done several {of these shops} in the past. We need good agents like you to complete these projects. Our client is extremely picky regarding these photos and I will send you 2 side by side photos so you can see the difference. A reshop was created for this shop. I have decided to make an exception and pay you for this unreported project this time. Would you be able to complete the reshop for this location? I can be flexible with the due date. Please let me know if you have any questions."
I replied expressing gratitude for the exception, but hesitation at doing another shop without further advice on the photo situation, wanting to know what I should do to ensure acceptable photos, adding that I was baffled since my photography habits were the same as they always had been but had only recently been called into question. I assured them again that my camera was already set on the highest megapixel (8) and the sharpest setting, just as it always had been.
I got a reply that she would be emailing me the comparison/example photos on Monday (the email was sent on Friday). I thanked her and said I'd look forward to seeing them, and getting any other advice.
On the following Tuesday, I got this email, again with an actual name attached: "Thanks for the message. I have spoken with someone on the review team. We are going through a transition of training new reviewers and moving them in-house. After further review of your photos they are acceptable and I apologize for the issues created. You have always done a great job and we really depend on great agents like yourself. I would continue to do what you have been doing. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me directly. You will be paid for the project. Thanks again for your patience while we looked into this for you."
I thanked her for the compliments and explanation, and said I would look forward to resuming these shops. I have one coming up next week, so we'll see how it goes. I have, of course, saved all of this correspondence!
So... just wanted to add my experience. Have any of the rest of you challenged the situation to the extent I did? What reply did you receive?
Oh ~ and I was paid for the shop, but there was a $1 deduction for "photo issues", according to the website. I decided not to make an issue of the $1.
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.