Schedulers get emails for a variety of reasons. Shoppers have questions about shops, need to cancel shops, change dates on shops, have a closed location, wrong address, or want to know why their score was so low, etc. They you get the emails regarding the client with blackout dates and special requests, changes to the shops, emails from editors about particular shoppers, bonuses or exceptions that were granted. An email from MSF that that shoppers have sent you dozens of PMs, asking about an assignment you posted or replying to a thread you created. Most schedulers also get emails when assignment have not been turned in on time and then have to follow up with delinquent shoppers.

I kept track of my outgoing emails when I was a scheduler and under 500 was a light day. Most days were in the 600-800 range. Even if I just spent 30 seconds on a reply and worked constantly, without breaks, replying to 500 emails would take over 4 hours of time composing and sending the emails. You up the response time to 1 minute per email and it's over 8 hours, so next time you get a short response from a scheduler that seemed to take less than a minute of consideration, keep that in mind.

That simply means you are taking assignments at the posted rate and only on the posted dates. For any of us in this for the money, we have to communicate with schedulers to negotiate bonus and/or change dates to accommodate routes and get extensions on report deadlines. I try not to miss too many calls either. There is one MSC in particular (Strategic Reflections) that has a horrible habit of calling with a recorded message only stating a shop is available. I've tried to block them. Otherwise if the phone is ringing it usually means they are offering more money than what you are getting by self-assigning.

@slgmail wrote:

99.9% of my shops are self scheduled, never involving communication with a scheduler. I will say that I do get a ton of calls each day, that I usually do not answer. They are from numbers that I do not recognize.

Oh thank you! You are so sweet dreamweaver!

@dreamweaver wrote:

Love you Deva. You are awesome!

Oh thank you (((HUGS))) back to you Travisli!

@Travisli wrote:

You're one of the best schedulers Deva -- Hugs and love to you!!

Hi Dara!

Oh goodness I'm not sure... I've had some changes with the clients I schedule so I'm not sure where all I have assignments.... sad but the truth. :/ Do check both on Sassie and Shopmetrics for shops!

@degmp7 wrote:

Deva, I used to do several shops for you, but I have not seen any lately. Is it because you don't have any in my area lately? I agree with the others above that you are a great scheduler and would like to work with you again. Dara in Bloomington

HAHAHA Thanks for the laugh Jeffshopping! That would be awesome! :p

@jeffshopping wrote:

Well... there are a couple things that might help you Deva. You might try convincing your company to get you a secretary. Also, you might setup your email to automatically put all emails from the people that send you the most into specific folders with their names on them. That might make it easier.

Good luck Deva and thanks for being a great scheduler!

These have been for a special RUSH project I'm on. It is NOT usually typical for me to have so many in the middle of the night but I have 300 shops that I've been having to schedule and get completed ASAP.

@ishoparound wrote:

If your getting that many emails I wonder what could be missing. The only times I have had to email a scheduler is when the shop details were vague ,incorrect, or left out specific details. it might serve you well to clear an hour or so of your time and see what the "theme" of these emails are and ffrom there create a "help" or "faqs" page that shoppers can rely on when you are unavailable. If you don't have the extra time maybe enlist a friend or relative to do this task for you.

That is the Truth SteveSoCal! At the beginning of the special project I'm scheduling, I shot myself in the foot and manually notified about 10,000 shoppers (bulked per location) for 62 locations. It took me (no lie) HALF A DAY to simply go through the email replies with people interested, having trouble logging in, wanting more information (without reading the email explaining everything or logging in to "check it out"), etc.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Schedulers get emails for a variety of reasons. Shoppers have questions about shops, need to cancel shops, change dates on shops, have a closed location, wrong address, or want to know why their score was so low, etc. They you get the emails regarding the client with blackout dates and special requests, changes to the shops, emails from editors about particular shoppers, bonuses or exceptions that were granted. An email from MSF that that shoppers have sent you dozens of PMs, asking about an assignment you posted or replying to a thread you created. Most schedulers also get emails when assignment have not been turned in on time and then have to follow up with delinquent shoppers.

I kept track of my outgoing emails when I was a scheduler and under 500 was a light day. Most days were in the 600-800 range. Even if I just spent 30 seconds on a reply and worked constantly, without breaks, replying to 500 emails would take over 4 hours of time composing and sending the emails. You up the response time to 1 minute per email and it's over 8 hours, so next time you get a short response from a scheduler that seemed to take less than a minute of consideration, keep that in mind.

I agree with others that needing to email the scheduler is sometimes the fault of the scheduler, shopper, both or neither. It just depends. I also agree that it's frustrating that schedulers can take their time replying while shoppers can not. BUT, I get the feeling this is a rule imposed by the MSC, not necessarily the scheduler. I could be wrong. Though, I'm sure by instituting deadlines for responses, it saves everyone from sending and receiving even more emails.

When I get frustrated with something being a unclear or a report being returned asking the same question I already spelled out or crappy pay, I just remind myself that as a shopper, I can choose not to sign up, not to continue getting emails and just take a break, or do less. If it sucks, I can stop at any time. The schedulers don't have that option.

Of course, shoppers have their own rants and issues.

I have the utmost respect for MSCs or scheduling companies who have someone "on call". In a perfect world, when shoppers are in the field, after hours or weekends, and run into roadblocks, there should be someone available who is knowledgeable and capable of making decisions on the other end of the line to assist and pave the way to an accepted shop.

Not long ago, my shop required a pre-visit phone call. Guidelines were specific and stated that the shop would not be accepted without the call. I called the restaurant, the number was not in service. It was a dinner shop and I was not going to proceed without permission, against guidelines. I risked wasting my time, a rejected shop, and being out of pocket the reimbursement amount. The MSC had an on call scheduler, who answered my call. I could hear children in the background, yet he worked with me. He called the restaurant himself, got the same not in service message, and gave me the go ahead. He advised that if the location was closed, I would receive $$. If open, there would be no problem accepting my shop without the phone call. He also advised me how to answer the questions to get through the report.

Treat others how you want to be treated was well said! Everything else is a mute point. From time to time we all drive each other nuts. Lets not do that anymore, problem solved!

Shortest response out of my mouth u will ever see!

Wow SteveSoCal. I had no idea the volume or variety of emails that a scheduler can receive daily. If those numbers are typical it sounds like an assistant that fields them first is in order. Not sure how a scheduler could keep scheduling a priority while keeping shoppers happy with this sort of workload.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2015 01:46AM by ishoparound.

Thats a big workload SchedulerDeva. Trying to envision keeping the schedule flowing and shoppers happy at the same time. YIKES. That would be very frustrating.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2015 01:47AM by ishoparound.

I'd bet real money that the demanding shopper from the OP is around age 25...

We as shoppers do forget that schedulers are human. I used to get frustrated but as a scheduler expressed to me that they get several emails a day and they are not ignoring me. So now I do understand :-).

Gotta Love this from a Scheduler.........."Happy shopping, and may all
your locations be open, and all your scenarios be believable." awwwwwwwwwwww!

This is a great topic and as a Realtor as well as Mystery Shopper I understand the need people feel for immediate communication. The issue here is that one side of the transaction might expect an immediate response but are not willing to do the same in Return. Case in point is my doing business with a ms company and they say if you have a problem with completing the shop contact them right away and it is a Thursday evening when assigned. Friday AM there was a critical issue that prevented me from doing the shop. I tried several time by several methods, email, text and phone as well to contact the scheduler. I never did reach the company or scheduler until I got a nasty email on Monday afternoon from the scheduler saying I was given a flake citation for the shop. Finally got email returned to her that fully explained the situation but never to her satisfaction.
She would not budge so I was awarded the FLAKE citation. All of my previous shops had been 9-10 so I never accepted another offer from that scheduler and since have resumed with that company but through another scheduler with again consistent 10/10 ratings.
It sometimes appears to come down to personality conflicts. Some people just want it their way or the highway lol
But I like the freedom that both of the business models provide. I came to the realization that in both situations I have to make a strong effort to build strong relationships with individual schedulers with different companies. But it is sometimes a one sided effort as we all have different people skills. In the end it is what we make it and we must realize both the contractor and the schedulers have many other things on their plates and different stress levels. Sometimes maybe we all need to take a deep breath and relax I know that I do! Happy scheduling and Happy Holiday shopping!!!