Questions for schedulers regarding etiquette

I haven't been shopping long, and until recently, I mainly shopped for two companies where you self schedule online and they never contact you, unless they have a question about something you submitted.

Recently, I've added a few new companies and now I sometimes get emails from scheduler saying things like "I have a shop that I need done ASAP. Are you available?" Some are address to me by name and some just say "Hi Shopper". If I get an email like this and cannot do the shop, should I respond and tell the scheduler, or am I just wasting the scheduler's time by responding at all? I want to be professional, polite and remain on good terms with all of the companies that give me work.

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My general rule is that if the email was sent to me specifically (and you can usually tell if it is) then I reply. If it was an email blast the scheduler had probably rather you NOT reply.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I replied to one that addressed me by name and was told not to reply unless I wanted the shop.

So unless i want to negotiate price, or clarify some aspect of it, or can't do it within the stated dates but could at a later time, I just delete them.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

Oh, I should mention if the scheduler personalizes it beyond just putting my name on it, such as saying, "I know you've done this shop for us before" (and I have) or "I know this isn't really near you but would you be able to pick it up for us?" then I will reply even if I can't do it. Because those aren't just a personalized shotgun message, they really are talking to me and me only.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

It really depends on the scheduler and also if it's a mass email, like others stated.

Some schedulers do like shopper interaction, even if it's a simple 'no, I'm not available.' Again, this depends on the scheduler you're dealing with. A rule of thumb is that mass emails most likely doesn't require a reply.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

Simply having your name appear is a feature of a good mass mailing program. It means nothing. Unless there is something which truly personalizes it, my advice is not to respond at all. I have been told that by schedulers.

When I do respond, I do something to change the title of the email at the beginning of the line to include something like "Offer to Complete" so that they have an incentive to open the email sooner rather than later.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Good idea, I never thought about that.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

Generally, no, I don't reply. Unless as previously mentioned the email is personal (addresses me by name, refers to other shops I've done for them).

Many schedulers have a mail merge program where they can send out a blast email and a form email and use terms in the mail like:

<Firstname>, I would really take it as a personal favor if you could do this shop for me. You have done this same shop for <Customer> in the past with excellent reporting.

It may appear personalized to you, but it's still a form letter. I never reply to a form letter, unless I'm attempting to take the assignment.

Save the schedulers inbox from being cluttered.

Unless they mention something in the email that is 100% personal to you, assume it's a form letter that has some personalization data fields added to it.

Your not doing anyone a favor by sending a rejection reply unless you really know the scheduler and they are asking you to shop immediately and offering a big bonus.

@myst4au wrote:

Simply having your name appear is a feature of a good mass mailing program. It means nothing. Unless there is something which truly personalizes it, my advice is not to respond at all. I have been told that by schedulers.

When I do respond, I do something to change the title of the email at the beginning of the line to include something like "Offer to Complete" so that they have an incentive to open the email sooner rather than later.

Yes, I agree. Personalize the response through the heading.

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Questions for schedulers regarding etiquette

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