I've been on this site for a while now, and I realize that shoppers reach out to other shoppers to have their questions answered. Many times, these questions are about scheduling shops, things that schedulers need to do to help you complete a shop, or just about the schedulers in general.

I'm not an expert, and sometimes peer advice is best, but do you have any questions that I may be able to answer for you?

I'm a firm believer that communication is crucial. I want to build good relationships with every person who helps me, and I think the only way to do that is to keep the lines of communication open. So have it, good, bad, or funny; I'm willing to answer them all.

Actually, Sarah, I've been lucky enough to have some outstanding schedulers for my shops. Occasionally everyone gets a stinker, but they don't usually last long.

I'm so glad. Schedulers, as a whole, really do try to make sure shops are done successfully. I basically want everyone to know we really are here to help. We're all on the same team and we do all (shoppers and schedulers) have the same end goal in mind. A finalized and paid shop.

It's my understanding schedulers have little to do with the initial shop fee. Is that true?

We don't set the shop fees. That is up to the MSC.

We also in many instances, with my company for example, don't control the bonus money. That is also up to the MSC.

Typically, in order for a bonus to be offered, a substantial amount of shops must be completed.

This is why as a scheduler we try to get creative in our incentives. We try to offer the shopper that took a hard to fill shop without a bonus, a HERO citation, or first dibs on a bonus shop in their area, or even first crack at popular shops that they wouldn't typically see as they are very competitive.

Hi. I am new to mystery shopping. I applied to do a valet park job through KSS. It seemed like a simple enough assignment that I could actually get it. I was not assigned it, and it is still available, along with a lot of other parking shops which no one seems to want to do. Do you know why I was not accepted? What do I need to do to get a shop. I am MSPA silver certified, ICO rated on Sassie, and I've now actually completed two shops with About Face, which were rated 5 and required no edits. Any light you could shed on this is much appreciated.

This is why as a scheduler we try to get creative in our incentives. We try to offer the shopper that took a hard to fill shop without a bonus, a HERO citation,

Too bad the MSC's don't understand the phrase "Money talks. Bullshit walks".

KSS is a the scheduling company. It could be that it is a location with a high flake rate. In that case, the scheduler will sometimes(read: I will do this) keep it open on the job boards so we don't miss our deadline to the client. It's not meant to confuse you, just meant to keep us on track to meet our deadline.

If I were the scheduler, I would love an email from you. Our contact information should be on the shop, and if not you can get it on our web site. Just write the scheduler, and say that you noticed that he or she had a shop available in a certain town and you would love to do it on a certain date if it is still available.

Those kinds of emails are my favorite and make my job so much easier. If it's not open for that time frame, chances are I have 10 other shops nearby that I need help with, or will have that shop open in a week. This starts a great relationship and those shoppers quickly become my go to people.

You sound very qualified, and I would love to have your help with some of my shops.

I personally like Kern and I've been assigned some nice shops through your agency. If I see a KSS e-mail, it always gets read!

Now that's what I LOVE to hear!

How much negotiating power does the shopper have with the MSC? You probably have a different perspective not working directly for the companies that you represent.

As far as bonus money goes?

It depends on the shopper and their track record, the shop itself, the deadline to the client, and the bonus money pool.

If there is $75 for a bonus pool and there are 40 shops open, even a $2 bonus is going to be difficult to grant. And that is if there is bonus money available at all. Bonus money is simply not available for a lot of projects.

For instance (and this relates directly to you)-
Instead of taking 2 or 3 convenience store shops, I take 20 or 30, what's in it for me for helping to clear a huge chunk off your plate? Those are low-paying jobs and to make a route of them would not be cost effective without a reasonable bonus.

I can't bonus a shop. However, I will and have seeked out other, higher paying shops to help with the route. Or searched for shops that I know the shopper will like and ask if he wants them. And of course, I issue a HERO citation when someone goes above or beyond for me.

I once had a shopper take an entire state of lower paying shops for me off the board for me. I went to every scheduler in my arsenal and asked for their open shops in the towns from his home throughout the loop. I then sent him the list and asked what he wanted to pick up in addition to my easier shops. He didn't ask for this but how could I not? I did not want him to lose money by helping me. I also gave him a little more time to get the reports in for obvious reason. When a scheduler asks if I have any shoppers in his particular area, he is the first name I give. I also gave him a HERO citation detailing the HUGE favor he did for me so that other schedulers know what an asset he is even if they don't ask me.
I have gotten friendly with this shopper and know what shops he prefers, when I see something he may like, I shoot him an email.

That shopper made a huge impression on me and I will never forget the huge undertaking he did. When he needs something, I will do my best to help him. As I know he will be there for me.

So that's what in it for you, a great reputation, better shops, and more opportunities to make more money.

Sarah, I saw this one from another poster, on another thread and wondered what you thought about this: (I thought the shopper was not being treated fairly,... your thoughts?)

Jpgilham writes: "I've worked on and off with this company for a very long time and while the scheduler has never been the warm and fuzzy type we hadn't really had any issues. I know now, that's because the shops had always gone as planned.

However a few months ago I did a USPS shop and the clerk did not ask me all the HAZMAT questions. I put it in my report and uploaded it. A month later I get an email from the scheduler who in quite an accusatory manner told me that I was not to shop that location again, that I had been identified, that I had sent a package from one town to the exact same town, that I had told the clerk what was in the package and that I had interrupted the clerk during the HAZMAT questioning. So I send the scheduler the receipt to show that I did not in fact send the package from one town to the exact same town, and then I sent her the audio recording to show that I did not tell the clerk what was in the package and that I did not interrupt during the HAZMAT questions. I never received any form of apology from the scheduler and certainly no defense for me. She said I was still getting paid (yay!) but that I was done with that location. She went on to say that I had been identified in the video as having long black hair, tied in a ponytail and wearing a black top. Well I have long hair, but it is blonde. I don't wear ponytails and I have no black top. Didn't make an ounce of difference to this scheduler.

So I moved on and then did another USPS shop. Well what do you know, I wasn't asked all the HAZMAT questions again. The second time this has happened in all my many PO shops. Now I'm thinking that I may not report that because of what happened last time but I decide that integrity is the most important thing here so I go ahead and report that I wasn't asked all the questions.

And what do you know... a month later I get an email saying that I had been identified at that location as the mystery shopper and I cannot shop that location again. No pay. This time they didn't say how I was identified.

Is it a co-incident that after doing many shops at both these locations I am identified because they don't ask me the HAZMAT questions? Possibly, but I think it's unlikely. It seems to me if you are a Post Office employee and you forget to ask the questions you simply say you knew it was the mystery shopper and the company and the MSC seem to have no problem with that. No pay for me and I'm out the cost of the postage. I also wonder why I am identified a month after the shop and if I was identified at the time why the PO employee didn't contact their supervisor immediately and say "Oh I knew she was the mystery shopper so I didn't bother asking all the HAZMAT questions." I remember both shops very clearly and they did not know I was the shopper. The second shopper prattled on to me for ages about her weight and her appearance... pretty sure she wouldn't have done that if she knew I was the shopper."

What are you thoughts, and please be gentle! I get my feelings hurt very easily!" >>>

KSSSarahC Wrote:
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> I can't bonus a shop.

In your experience, does the same go for schedulers that work directly for the MSC?
While we're at it, is there much of a difference between schedulers that work directly and schedulers that work for scheduling companies?

I always envision independent schedulers as tightrope walkers. They have to keep the MSC happy and keep the shoppers happy and onboard as well. I think it's a thankless job.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
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> Sarah, I saw this one from another poster, on
> another thread and wondered what you thought about
> this: (I thought the shopper was not being treated
> fairly,... your thoughts?)
>
> Jpgilham writes: "I've worked on and off with
> this company for a very long time and while the
> scheduler has never been the warm and fuzzy type
> we hadn't really had any issues. I know now,
> that's because the shops had always gone as
> planned.
>
> However a few months ago I did a shop and the
> clerk did not ask me all the questions. I
> put it in my report and uploaded it. A month later
> I get an email from the scheduler who in quite an
> accusatory manner told me that I was not to shop
> that location again, that I had been identified,
>
> And what do you know... a month later I get an
> email saying that I had been identified at that
> location as the mystery shopper and I cannot shop
> that location again. No pay. This time they didn't
> say how I was identified.
>
>

This can happen. In my experience, the shopper is paid and asked to not shop the location again. I don't know the other side of the story, so I can't say exactly what happened.

If you are discovered as a shopper, you are typically paid, and the location then needs to be reshopped ASAP. It definitely made a difference to the scheduler. She now has to reschedule the shop.

Unfortunately, being discovered as a shopper usually stops you from being able to shop the project at all. It is very unusual to simply shop a diffrent location. (What if the company is lending the associate to the shopped location that day? Now 2 shops are invalid.)

Hoju Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KSSSarahC Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I can't bonus a shop.
>
> In your experience, does the same go for
> schedulers that work directly for the MSC?
> While we're at it, is there much of a difference
> between schedulers that work directly and
> schedulers that work for scheduling companies?

Bonus money is a finite pool. Sometimes the MSC doesn't have the bonus money to give.

As for scheduling companies, the company I work for works very closely with the MSC's we schedule for. We work very hard to meet our deadlines and to keep the shoppers, MSC, and ultimately the company shopped happy.

bestofbothworlds Wrote:
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> I always envision independent schedulers as
> tightrope walkers. They have to keep the MSC
> happy and keep the shoppers happy and onboard as
> well. I think it's a thankless job.

I don't consider myself very independent as I work for KSS and not on my own. I am very proud to say that and to have the bosses and co-workers that I do. They are a bunch of awesome people that I am lucky to know.

And I honestly love my job. This isn't something you could do if you didn't have a passion for it.

I view myself as the captain of the team. Motivating and making sure the shoppers get their job done and just generally being available to help where I can. I want everyone happy but that's just my personality. Every job has it's pros and cons, my cons can't compare to the pros.

The bottom line is, even with all the headaches, I get paid to get people to shop. It doesn't get any cooler than that.

Thanks for doing this, by the way.

You're Welcome!

Would it be appropriate to ask what your regular work day is like and the average pay of a scheduler?

I'm not comfprtable speaking about my pay but I can answer the typical day. (Keep in mind, I work far more than I should and this is definitely an abridged version.)

My work day goes something like this:

-check and respond to emails
-flake shoppers and work with shoppers with incomplete shops
-call,call,call on locations to help me fill them. This can take hours. Answer your phones! I need help!
-answer more emails, flake more shoppers

Do it all again the next day.

It's pretty basic. I search for shoppers to shop and schedule shops to be done, essentially.

<<<Sarah: "-check and respond to emails
-flake shoppers and work with shoppers with incomplete shops
-call,call,call on locations to help me fill them. I-need help!
-answer more emails, flake more shoppers." <<<<



** Sarah: You forgot to say: "I read the Mystery Shopping Forum daily!

I told you it was an abridged forum! I seriously <3 this place!

"-call,call,call on locations to help me fill them. This can take hours. Answer your phones!"

I wish I could! I feel like I miss out on a lot of work because I can't immediately answer my phone.

I work full time and have to have my ringer off at work. I also have my ringer off while I'm doing a shop. I get calls from MSC's and schedulers, but can't answer at my desk. If they would leave a message, I could step away from my desk to listen to it and return the call. If I'm in the middle of a shop, I can listen to the voice mail and return the call when I'm done with the shop. It's very frustrating to have calls coming in and no message left.

I appreciate the MSCs and schedulers who text me. I can almost always text an answer back within a couple of minutes.

I know others hate to receive texts, but due to my profession, I can always answer texts - and email - but can't answer always phone calls.

If I call you, chances are I'm also sending you an email. Honestly, most of my shoppers don't answer the phone but will answer the email after I call them. I don't have a preference.

KSSSarahC Wrote:
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> If I call you, chances are I'm also sending you an
> email. Honestly, most of my shoppers don't answer
> the phone but will answer the email after I call
> them. I don't have a preference.


I call and people don't answer the phone because they don't recognize the number. Or they are a new shopper and forget they left their number on their profile. I identify myself and people say to the person next to them, 'I don't know who this is' and they hang up.

I text people the they respond.

There are a handful of shoppers who do answer their phone.

Do you work from home, or do you work in an office setting? I'm always interested in how people become schedulers and what their work environment is.