What is the craziest excuse you have heard from a shopper for cancelling a shop?

A scheduler told me when my parent died and I canceled, in all seriousness, "Why did not you not call before they died to cancel?" Hmmm Absolutely positively true story.

Oh, the book schedulers could write.....this one is close to the top of my list...
I once had a shopper cancel because there had been a meth raid at a house she owned and was renting out. She was having to deal with the police and hazmat team about it.

Of course I proceeded to scour the local news sources and it turned out to be true.

I hope the scheduler believed *me* today when I asked for an extension. I couple days ago, I had emergency dental surgery. The penicillin and pain meds have been making me nauseous and other things not discussed in polite company, and when I was on the pain meds (I've stopped them now) I wasn't supposed to drive. Believe me, I'd much, MUCH, *MUCH* rather have been shopping.

The only time I've canceled, one of my beloved dogs had died. In fact, I don't think I cancelled, I think I just asked for a re-schedule and was granted it. It was a couple of years ago so I don't remember exactly. You know, that may have actually happened twice for that reason over two and a half years. My memory is hazy about that. I've lost five of my dogs in that time, (I still have eight!) but it only happened to have affected a shop once or twice. Everything turned out OK and a big deal wasn't made ~ in fact, I was extended condolences. If a big deal had been made, I probably would remember it more.

There have been a few times over those two and a half years that I've asked for a re-schedule. A couple of times because an unexpected traffic tie-up made me miss getting to the shop on time. A couple of times it was because the hours I'd found on the store's website or been told over the phone were incorrect, and they were closed (or closing) when I got there. A couple of times I asked if I could re-schedule to better fit in with a route ~ with the caveat that I would still do the shop on the originally agreed-upon date if they wanted me to. Each time the schedulers worked with me and no one made a big deal out of it. I was apologetic, and they were understanding.

There was only one time when I asked for a re-schedule that a big deal was made. I've been wanting to post about that and see if I was really in the wrong or if the scheduler was being a turd. I haven't taken the time yet. And I've already written enough for this post. And really, it's a story unto itself. So... maybe I'll do a post about it later tonight and see what you all think.

Firstly, Canada. =( I'm so sorry, that sounds like it must have been a really hard time and I can't imagine anyone saying anything to you other than how sorry they were!

Secondly, Storm!! Ouchie. I'm with you when it comes to pain medicine. Pain medicine makes me so sick, I'd almost rather the pain... then you get the pain and you forget how sick the meds make you, until you're back on the meds and would rather the pain, again. -laugh- It's about the worst merri-go-round in the world!! So sorry. And sorry about your puppy, too. I've lost a few of my kitties and I know how hard it is to lose a pet. They're like family.

Finally, poor schedulers! I'm sure it's just as hard for them to hear the excuses (and I've had to make a few, myself), as it is on us to have to make them... life always loves to get in the way, doesn't it?

Glad I'm not the only one with the meds! Although, I think it's the penicillin more than the pain meds, because it's still happening and I've quit the pain meds finally, a day or so ago by now. And it says on the drug info sheet that it can cause nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. I've been on it before for dental stuff, and remember some mild stomach issues that quit after a day or two, but this time it's worse and not ending!

It is *very* difficult to lose a pet, alright. Sorry about your kitties. {hug}
Over the years I've lost dozens of doggies. I used to show dogs & bred a few litters, and have always had multiple dogs. The first couple of doggies were really difficult, partly because of the shock, I think. They were the first pets I'd ever lost. But, I think it's actually gotten *more* difficult, the more doggies I've lost; even though one might reasonably figure the opposite would be true ~ you'd think you'd kind of 'get used to it'. But I've been taking it harder & harder... especially lately... maybe the accumulation of heart-break.

And yes, CanadaMommy... I'm sorry about your parent. I've lost my Mom, so I know what that's like. Whoever said that to you was/is a Grade-A TURD. {hug}

I'm not a scheduler, and this does not have to do with MysteryShopping, but my favorite excuse for a former employee to call in to his regular job was "I can't come in today because someone borrowed my coat."

Here's a great excuse from a former employee of mine: "I fell off my skateboard and hit my head and forgot I had to work."

I got very ill, went to the doc and they thought it was just an Upper Respiratory Infection. A week later, I was even worse, gasping for breath, very ill. I went back to the doctor and she said I had Pneumonia and needed a breathing nebulizer, medicines and bed rest.

My doc said, "If you don't STOP working and go home to rest, this is going to put you in the hospital. This is serious." (She knew that I was going to go to try and do the assignment, so she emphasized the word SERIOUS.)

I called my scheduler and said I could not do the assignment, as I have been put on a doctors no-work note, because I have Pneumonia. She said, "Are you SURE you can't do the assignment?" I said I am VERY sure (while I am talking to her, I could not catch any air and sounded horrible with this lung infection. She was either oblivious or deaf not to hear how awful I sounded. She seemed very disappointed and said she would try to get someone else.)

About 20 minutes later, it was her calling me back. She said, "I am really in a bind. Can't you please do the assignment???" I said, "Do you understand, I have Pneumonia?" She finally understood when I had my 5th coughing spasm with her on the phone and I could no longer talk.

I've only been mystery shopping for almost 4 months... Are there really schedulers out there that are that out of touch with reality? I have yet to encounter it.

No kidding. Some people are absolute boobs ~ and Sunny found one.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
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> I got very ill, went to the doc and they thought
> it was just an Upper Respiratory Infection. A week
> later, I was even worse, gasping for breath, very
> ill. I went back to the doctor and she said I had
> Pneumonia and needed a breathing nebulizer,
> medicines and bed rest.
>
> My doc said, "If you don't STOP working and go
> home to rest, this is going to put you in the
> hospital. This is serious." (She knew that I was
> going to go to try and do the assignment, so she
> emphasized the word SERIOUS.)
>
> I called my scheduler and said I could not do the
> assignment, as I have been put on a doctors
> no-work note, because I have Pneumonia. She said,
> "Are you SURE you can't do the assignment?" I said
> I am VERY sure (while I am talking to her, I could
> not catch any air and sounded horrible with this
> lung infection. She was either oblivious or deaf
> not to hear how awful I sounded. She seemed very
> disappointed and said she would try to get someone
> else.)
>
> About 20 minutes later, it was her calling me
> back. She said, "I am really in a bind. Can't you
> please do the assignment???" I said, "Do you
> understand, I have Pneumonia?" She finally
> understood when I had my 5th coughing spasm with
> her on the phone and I could no longer talk.


I can see schedulers getting upset with people flaking especially when it looks like a pattern is developing. But on this story above - seriously, human life is worth more than doing a shop. Sometimes things just interceded and the best laid plans go awry. I probably personally would cut back on shops from the MSC when I recovered were it me....or drop them altogether. If the MSC is treating shoppers this way, how must they be treating their schedulers, and do I want to be part of that? Those are the thoughts that would flash through my mind.

I have been mystery shopping for almost 2 years. It is my only gainfully employed job and I take it seriously. I hit the panic switch when life happens and I would have otherwise called in to my employer with no questions asked and no reprecussions for not working that day. For example, my son complained yesterday that he was achy. I chalked it up to all day camps and tournament ball in the evenings. Today, he woke up complaining with a sore throat. He is not a complainer, so I knew we needed a doctor visit. Turns out he has strep throat. Basically, I have to keep him away from everyone that I possibly can for at least 24 hours as strep is highly contagious. That means no babysitters, no grand momma....nothing. There is nothing wrong with me that would prevent me from shopping, but my #1 responsibility dictates that I am on lockdown. Now, how do you explain that in a situation when I am one of many shoppers who would now be likely viewed as a flake?

amie068 Wrote:
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> I have been mystery shopping for almost 2 years.
> It is my only gainfully employed job and I take it
> seriously. I hit the panic switch when life
> happens and I would have otherwise called in to my
> employer with no questions asked and no
> reprecussions for not working that day. For
> example, my son complained yesterday that he was
> achy. I chalked it up to all day camps and
> tournament ball in the evenings. Today, he woke up
> complaining with a sore throat. He is not a
> complainer, so I knew we needed a doctor visit.
> Turns out he has strep throat. Basically, I have
> to keep him away from everyone that I possibly can
> for at least 24 hours as strep is highly
> contagious. That means no babysitters, no grand
> momma....nothing. There is nothing wrong with me
> that would prevent me from shopping, but my #1
> responsibility dictates that I am on lockdown.
> Now, how do you explain that in a situation when I
> am one of many shoppers who would now be likely
> viewed as a flake?


You're definitely not a flake... you're human. If schedulers can't look at your track record and realize that then maybe it's best that you find other companies who realize we're not "shopping robots", but humans who for whatever reason (people have varying reasons about why they shop), choose to do mystery shopping and sometimes our actual lives have situations that arise that demand our immediate attention.

I did not have any shops today only because I have had to curtail my shopping schedule since school is out. Had it been August - May, I would have been in a mess as I typically load my shops Monday through Thursday. Just makes me wonder......

amie068 Wrote:
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> I did not have any shops today only because I have
> had to curtail my shopping schedule since school
> is out. Had it been August - May, I would have
> been in a mess as I typically load my shops Monday
> through Thursday. Just makes me wonder......

At the same time, sometimes you have to look at it from a schedulers P-o-V (Point-Of-View). They here tons of excuses from the "flakes" daily (I heard of one scheduler receiving an email from a shopper with 182 excuses why they couldn't do a shop, but that might just be an urban legend) that they don't know when someone has a legitimate issue they need to take care of.

I hope your son is feeling better soon though.