Editor's job
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Been there/done that!
It entails all of the low pay and unreasonable deadlines you currently experience as a shopper, but with an added convenience of staying at home. This also means you get to read many poorly written accounts of other shopper's free meals while eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich that you made yourself.
Seriously though, it's not very exiting. If you are MSing strictly for the money and get great scores on all your reports, it may be something to consider. Just keep writing perfects reports and the job offers will probably come your way on their own.
It entails all of the low pay and unreasonable deadlines you currently experience as a shopper, but with an added convenience of staying at home. This also means you get to read many poorly written accounts of other shopper's free meals while eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich that you made yourself.
Seriously though, it's not very exiting. If you are MSing strictly for the money and get great scores on all your reports, it may be something to consider. Just keep writing perfects reports and the job offers will probably come your way on their own.
In my limited experience, some seem to be a bit on a ego/power trip.
My pet peeve with some of the reports is that you have to explain something that needs no explanation. For example, did order taker offer to super size your meal?
Answer-no. Please explain.
Then the editor wants detail!
My pet peeve with some of the reports is that you have to explain something that needs no explanation. For example, did order taker offer to super size your meal?
Answer-no. Please explain.
Then the editor wants detail!
But of course the explanation is part of the chase, here. It seems silly that an explanation is needed and yes, the reaction is that "I am not a psychic . . . I have no idea why he didn't upsize!" But a quick and dirty 'explanation' is, "Once my order was taken, the cashier announced my total and accepted my credit card for payment. He mentioned no additional items or larger sizes, though as he returned my card he did say, 'Thanks.'" It is just sooo much easier to take the additional 15 seconds to address the issue than answer an email the following day that requests a response to the 'no'.
Flash Wrote:
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> But of course the explanation is part of the
> chase, here. It seems silly that an explanation
> is needed and yes, the reaction is that "I am not
> a psychic . . . I have no idea why he didn't
> upsize!" But a quick and dirty 'explanation' is,
> "Once my order was taken, the cashier announced my
> total and accepted my credit card for payment. He
> mentioned no additional items or larger sizes,
> though as he returned my card he did say,
> 'Thanks.'" It is just sooo much easier to take
> the additional 15 seconds to address the issue
> than answer an email the following day that
> requests a response to the 'no'.
Very true. :-)
-------------------------------------------------------
> But of course the explanation is part of the
> chase, here. It seems silly that an explanation
> is needed and yes, the reaction is that "I am not
> a psychic . . . I have no idea why he didn't
> upsize!" But a quick and dirty 'explanation' is,
> "Once my order was taken, the cashier announced my
> total and accepted my credit card for payment. He
> mentioned no additional items or larger sizes,
> though as he returned my card he did say,
> 'Thanks.'" It is just sooo much easier to take
> the additional 15 seconds to address the issue
> than answer an email the following day that
> requests a response to the 'no'.
Very true. :-)
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Through trial and error, you get a feel for each company and how much narrative they require for seemingly simple answers.
IMHO, most editors are not trying drag the process out any more than they have to. Incomplete reports and open emails waiting for answers are problematic and time consuming for them as well. They have a client/boss with expectation of their output, and most likely have a greater understanding of what the MS client wants in the final report.
That being said, there can be big variances in feedback and opinions on what is enough narrative between different editors at the same company.
IMHO, most editors are not trying drag the process out any more than they have to. Incomplete reports and open emails waiting for answers are problematic and time consuming for them as well. They have a client/boss with expectation of their output, and most likely have a greater understanding of what the MS client wants in the final report.
That being said, there can be big variances in feedback and opinions on what is enough narrative between different editors at the same company.
I guess this redundancy and repetition is part of the game. Why spell out all the choces and then make the evaluator repeat it.
I know I am not going to win this argument. It is what it is. I guess the practice satisfies someone's needs.
I know I am not going to win this argument. It is what it is. I guess the practice satisfies someone's needs.
Try not to think of win/loss in the pre-game, popgreg. This is out of our hands. Our win/loss is determined by following the guidelines and reporting accordingly.
I disagree, you have to challenge things that do not make sense or in this case redundant. How are you going to progress an industry if you just accept things.
Perhaps it would be worth waiting on the challenge aspect until you have done this a couple of years?
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Redundancy in evaluations can be mind-numbing. I've reached the screaming point more than once. How many times can I say the same thing, differently, in 650 characters? Step away or sleep on it, if time allows. If that's the requirements that I accepted, that's my obligation.
Sometimes a fresh perspective is needed. So if you see something that does not make sense, you remain quiet and don't ask questions?
Not what I signed up for when I accepted the shop. So, very rarely. If I have a 'relationship' with the scheduler, or more infrequently, the editor, but it would be completely off-the-cuff and I would not hold my breath waiting for a change.
I agree. I am coming to this group/industry with a different perspective since I have only been doing this for 2 months. However, I have developed policies and procedures in a corporate environment and sometimes you have to step back and ask does this make sense. This is where "thinking outside the box" comes to mind.
Thanks for letting me vent and I will say that this is my last word on this topic.
Look forward to more discussions soon.
Thanks for letting me vent and I will say that this is my last word on this topic.
Look forward to more discussions soon.
In January you will see clients move from MSP A to MSP B. With certain clients you will note that the 'meat' of the questionnaire remains virtually unchanged, though you may have the added signature twists of the new MSP. I see this as an indicator that the client is often in control of the questionnaire rather than the MSP. Certainly the training materials and instructions for jobs all too often remain unchanged when they change from MSP A to MSP B. Certainly the MSPs are just all too happy to have the client and whatever the client wants they will promise to provide. So we end up seeing surveys that border on the absurd. But no amount of raging against the dying of the light is gonna change it.
I've recently seen a shop go to a different MSP, not sure yet if it's an audition, or if they've been awarded the client. The report is similar between the two MSPs. It's a reimbursement shop, was $17 and with the new MSP is now $16.74. Are you kidding me? Is the economy such that .26 is the determinant for change?
Perhaps they are just offering the client a 'price break' on the back of shoppers.
Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
But a quick and dirty 'explanation' is,
> "Once my order was taken, the cashier announced my
> total and accepted my credit card for payment. He
> mentioned no additional items or larger sizes,
> though as he returned my card he did say,
> 'Thanks.'"
Wow, That's more than I ever do.
When an answer is self explanatory, I just rephrase the questions as an answer.
Ex: Did the employee offer you a free car?
No
Please explain your "No" answer?
The employee did not offer me a free car.
I guess That's why Flash gets the "good" jobs... :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2009 06:04AM by JayTee.
-------------------------------------------------------
But a quick and dirty 'explanation' is,
> "Once my order was taken, the cashier announced my
> total and accepted my credit card for payment. He
> mentioned no additional items or larger sizes,
> though as he returned my card he did say,
> 'Thanks.'"
Wow, That's more than I ever do.
When an answer is self explanatory, I just rephrase the questions as an answer.
Ex: Did the employee offer you a free car?
No
Please explain your "No" answer?
The employee did not offer me a free car.
I guess That's why Flash gets the "good" jobs... :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2009 06:04AM by JayTee.
And perhaps it is why Flash is not particularly fond of working for idiots. Once I have hit the "submmit" button I want to be able to clear the receipts and notes off my desk, forget about the job and have the next interaction being the payment. If a scheduler wants to send me feedback, fine. I find it almost irrelevant unless it is the first job I have done for a company. But I certainly don't want to get into an extended discussion or revisit of the shop as that is just wasting my time. Give them more than they need and if they choose to edit it out, be my guest.
You mean I'm supposed to clear receipts and notes off my desk?
Not mandatory. I just find it occasionally helpful 
popgreg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess this redundancy and repetition is part of
> the game. Why spell out all the choces and then
> make the evaluator repeat it.
>
> I know I am not going to win this argument. It is
> what it is. I guess the practice satisfies
> someone's needs.
It was once explained to me in one of the shop's guidelines that the comment required to complement a seemingly straight forward "No" asnwer is to make sure you didn't accidentally check the wrong box. So by repeating "The cashier did not give me a receipt" in your comments, you are reinforcing the fact that they in fact did not. This way the client knows you didn't deduct from their score by accident. It made sense to me.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess this redundancy and repetition is part of
> the game. Why spell out all the choces and then
> make the evaluator repeat it.
>
> I know I am not going to win this argument. It is
> what it is. I guess the practice satisfies
> someone's needs.
It was once explained to me in one of the shop's guidelines that the comment required to complement a seemingly straight forward "No" asnwer is to make sure you didn't accidentally check the wrong box. So by repeating "The cashier did not give me a receipt" in your comments, you are reinforcing the fact that they in fact did not. This way the client knows you didn't deduct from their score by accident. It made sense to me.
shop-a-holic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> popgreg Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I guess this redundancy and repetition is part
> of
> > the game. Why spell out all the choces and
> then
> > make the evaluator repeat it.
> >
> > I know I am not going to win this argument. It
> is
> > what it is. I guess the practice satisfies
> > someone's needs.
>
>
> It was once explained to me in one of the shop's
> guidelines that the comment required to complement
> a seemingly straight forward "No" asnwer is to
> make sure you didn't accidentally check the wrong
> box. So by repeating "The cashier did not give me
> a receipt" in your comments, you are reinforcing
> the fact that they in fact did not. This way the
> client knows you didn't deduct from their score by
> accident. It made sense to me.
THANK YOU! Finally, I received an answer that makes sense.
-------------------------------------------------------
> popgreg Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I guess this redundancy and repetition is part
> of
> > the game. Why spell out all the choces and
> then
> > make the evaluator repeat it.
> >
> > I know I am not going to win this argument. It
> is
> > what it is. I guess the practice satisfies
> > someone's needs.
>
>
> It was once explained to me in one of the shop's
> guidelines that the comment required to complement
> a seemingly straight forward "No" asnwer is to
> make sure you didn't accidentally check the wrong
> box. So by repeating "The cashier did not give me
> a receipt" in your comments, you are reinforcing
> the fact that they in fact did not. This way the
> client knows you didn't deduct from their score by
> accident. It made sense to me.
THANK YOU! Finally, I received an answer that makes sense.
I also agree there, that *is* the reason some MSC's seek you to comment on every question. Not fun, bu it does make sense.
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
popgreg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my limited experience, some seem to be a bit on
> a ego/power trip.
>
> My pet peeve with some of the reports is that you
> have to explain something that needs no
> explanation. For example, did order taker offer
> to super size your meal?
> Answer-no. Please explain.
>
> Then the editor wants detail!
Popgreg!
In defense of the editors - A lot of times they want a re-hash of a 'no' answer to make certain that 'no' was the choice that was intended. The narrative rehash of that 'no' is a bit of a fail-safe for the editor.
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my limited experience, some seem to be a bit on
> a ego/power trip.
>
> My pet peeve with some of the reports is that you
> have to explain something that needs no
> explanation. For example, did order taker offer
> to super size your meal?
> Answer-no. Please explain.
>
> Then the editor wants detail!
Popgreg!
In defense of the editors - A lot of times they want a re-hash of a 'no' answer to make certain that 'no' was the choice that was intended. The narrative rehash of that 'no' is a bit of a fail-safe for the editor.
And of course it also goes further than that. I marked 'no' on a question about whether a server suggested upsells. The server had not tried to encourage me to buy additional items or larger sizes. In my narrative I mentioned the server asked what I wanted on my burger and she listed things that were pictured--lettuce, tomato, mayo, onion and no extra charge--but she also asked about grilled mushrooms. I did not accept the grilled mushrooms and so did not realize that they were an extra cost item and therefore constituted an 'upsell'. So based on the narrative, the editor could change what I was sure was a 'no' to a 'yes' and give full credit.
Actually, the upsell thing is a sore point with me. I have no problem with servers asking if you want to order an additional item at an additional charge OR upgrade your order at additional cost or ADD another item. But a new thing -I'm saying new because I've just noticed it happening multiple places, almost like a planned sales program - is the upsell that sounds like a clarification of your order and a choice of 2 things that are included...but they really cost extra. For example, recently we ate at a restaurant where my son ordered a sandwich that did NOT come with any sides. He didn't really want anything else. When he ordered the sandwich, the server said "Which do you prefer with that, chips or fries?" Thinking it came with it, he said fries, and she wrote it down. Then I said "I didn't think it came with chips or fries." She responded "If you order them." I asked "so, is that at an extra charge for an order of fries or is it included with the sandwich?" She said "well, yes, of course, it's extra" and my son promptly UNordered them. But had she served the fries, we would have seen a totally unexpected charge on our bill.
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