Do you always call ahead for the hours that a location is open?

May 11, 2013 03:15AM

I usually only call when it is required or when I need better directions.

I always check the website for the hours that the location is open when I am scheduling the date and time that I will do the shop. I usually organize my calendar later in the evening, so if I called, the location would likely be closed, although I might get a recording. (I also believe that it is an important part of a company's professional appearance that it have the correct hours and contact information on it's website.)

However, tonight was the second time that I have gone to a location only to find that the posted hours on the door were different from those on the website, and that they were already closed.

I'm trying to decide whether to try to redo tonight's shop tomorrow. The report doesn't have an option for the location being closed or otherwise not being able to do the shop, but the shop only had the one-day window. I've already emailed the scheduler to ask, but it's the weekend, so I don't know when I'll get a response.

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May 11, 2013 03:18AM

i can't remember the last time I actually called ahead.

However, if it is after normal business hours as posted
on the door and I get there after hours, I wouldn't expect
to be paid.

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May 11, 2013 04:12AM

I don't shop after normal business hours. I only call if I have to, or if I'm doing a route and am concerned about getting to the last shop of the day and need to know if they close at 5 or 6. Otherwise I just go. Anywhere I am going is on the way to somewhere else usually so if I go by and they're closed I'm out the same as if I had called and not gone by at all. Either way = no shop. If they've closed up in the meantime, not much I can do about it.

All my local shops I never call because I pretty much know their hours already.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

May 11, 2013 04:29AM

Actually, I got paid the last time because I was able to show what the time on the website said, and I also had a receipt showing that I was at the location on time even if they weren't open. I found out later that they had been trying to get the website updated for months. It wasn't updated after my shop, but it still wasn't correct.

I'm going after my dayjob, and sometimes, like today, I stay late to review the directions and/or shop guidelines before I leave, so whether a location closes at 6pm or 7pm or 8pm makes a *big* difference. I knew this shop was only going to take 15 minutes, and I would have had an hour. Normally, I would have expected the store to be open until 9pm - normal retail hours - but had noted what the website said ... but then it's on the edge of the "posh" suburb where they roll the streets up at dark!

May 11, 2013 04:45AM

I rarely phone. I usually know the hours or it is during normal business hour. After 11 am and before 6 pm are most of my shops. Only a few are later.

expect the unexpected

May 11, 2013 07:57PM

I do only because if they ask for the greeting given and the associate's name and I called after the fact, the person who answered may not have even been working during my visit. I would hate to waste all that time and miss the easiest part just to have the shop rejected.

May 11, 2013 10:35PM

I do especially if I know the question will be asked on the report. If it's busy or no one answers, I just look online and put that down in the report.

May 11, 2013 11:19PM

I love the questions on the "ALDI"s" shops. It is a trick question..

You would think they would have a phone like a normal business, but they do not! But yet they keep the question in there trying to catch a shopper that does not know any better. If it is new I always call just to make sure they have a phone.

May 12, 2013 12:01AM

I once did a shop that did not require a phone call to the location to verify hours. I went to the location, and saw a bright orange sticker on the front door. As I get closer I see that the place is completely vacant other than permanent counters. Seems that the place was shut down by the county health department. I called the scheduler, told them about it, and got paid for the shop a few weeks later.

May 12, 2013 01:53AM

I call when it's required. If it's a place in my neighborhood, I usually know the hours already.

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I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

May 12, 2013 01:53AM

Most of the shops I do are in areas I am familiar with, so I only call if I can't picture the location and want to make sure it is actually there (or if it is required). I also am sure to always call if I'm doing a Sonic shop - I've had too many closed shop scenarios at those locations.

May 12, 2013 09:06AM

I no longer call if the shop is a chain of stores because they are usually a recording. I will call if the shop is new to me or if I know the survey considers it a requirement.

I called a ice cream shop and received a recording and the web site also told of the hours. I visited the shop and found it closed based on the times of the allotted shop times (6-9 pm). I submitted the report and informed the MSC the shop was closed. I was told by the MSC that it was my responsibility to check the website to substantiate the open hours of the shop and my shop would be rejected. I contested the rejection based-------> on sending the retailer's the website hours and the hours, the MSC wanted the shop done. I sent in place of the receipt a copy of the store hours the store actually had posted in the store.----" the summer hours, we will be open 12p to 5p." I did get paid.

Most of the times I call ahead and other times I call after (and a few times, when I am outside, ready to go into the store.)

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Do you always call ahead for the hours that a location is open?

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