Happy that so far my favorite shops are STILL with SAME MSC in 2017! How about you?
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So far, so good, except auto shops. Trying to chase those down but food, pizza, groceries, banks, and the like are looking good and I'm booked up to about 50 shops for the month. Feeling good 
I noticed another shopper undercutting in the area but I'm hoping they will burn out on $5 shops so I can go back to $15 fees.
I noticed another shopper undercutting in the area but I'm hoping they will burn out on $5 shops so I can go back to $15 fees.MegglesKat
It looks like one of my banks shops has disappeared altogether. Another bank shop has lowered the shopper fee. The apartments are still plentiful with both MSCs.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Not so happy here. Three of my mainstays have yet to appear for the year. All indications point to the MSC losing the accounts. These are shops from three different MSC. I've found enough to sustain me for January, but I'm really disappointed. I was getting into stocking my shelves with products purchased via conv store shops. Plus my pups loved going for the ride when I did these shops. Crying into my tea.
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
One of my fav companies has lost a few clients. I feel bad for them and really hope they pick up some new ones. They lost one of my favorite shops too. Rough morning here for me.
What do you do when you have confirmed that a MSC has lost a client. Just wait and hope those shops appear some day under another MSC? Is there any other recourse?
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
That's sad when that happens. But sometimes, if you Google the client, once in a while you can see who mystery shops it...ex: type in: "who mystery shops XYZ?" and sometimes that will help. Otherwise, yup, just have to wait and see it if shows up...if you're signed up with Jobslinger, that might help, as it may show up sometime, since that's the platform for a lot of Sassie shops. Same with the Shopmetrics job board....that will show most of the companies that shop through the metrics platform. I don't believe Prophet has a platform. But if your company switches to either a Sassie or Shop metrics company, you may see it if you're signed up with Jobslinger or Shop metrics. Or try the Google thing. I hope you find your client!@COMystery wrote:
What do you do when you have confirmed that a MSC has lost a client. Just wait and hope those shops appear some day under another MSC? Is there any other recourse?
@COMystery wrote:
Not so happy here. Three of my mainstays have yet to appear for the year. All indications point to the MSC losing the accounts. These are shops from three different MSC. I've found enough to sustain me for January, but I'm really disappointed. I was getting into stocking my shelves with products purchased via conv store shops. Plus my pups loved going for the ride when I did these shops. Crying into my tea.
I was getting nervous because I hadn't seen one of the convenience stores that I shop for through a metrics company, so I emailed the scheduler. For some reason, even though they were scheduled at the beginning of December last month, she said they won't be coming out till the end of January this month! Go figure! So if your convenience shop isn't showing, maybe you could email the regular scheduler about it. Good luck!
ETA: Don't know what I did so that the quote didn't end up in my reply box! They're showing up in separate boxes....this is in reply to COM's post about convenience shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2017 04:02PM by guysmom.
ETA: Don't know what I did so that the quote didn't end up in my reply box! They're showing up in separate boxes....this is in reply to COM's post about convenience shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2017 04:02PM by guysmom.
January is often a time when the clients are redesigning their MS program, or surveys or guidelines, even if they have not changed MSCs. For that reason, shops that you are accustomed to see early in the month may be delayed and even not happen at all in January. So, it may be too early to tell if a client has moved to a new MSC. We always play the waiting game in January. It is part of the yearly cycle, just as surely as are the peculiarities of shopping near Thanksgiving and Christmas are.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Recourse? Well, when my scheduler told me her company doesn't have Arby's any more, I asked her if she knew who got the new contract. Then I googled it. Still haven't found the right company. Been signing up with new companies every week. I did find the companies who have shopped Arby's in the past, but not the current one. Part of the problem with this specific company is they actually want shoppers who will take the $4.50 and free sandwich.
Besides, this is just plain SILLY. Companies are much, much more likely to review/renew/cancel contracts at the end of their FISCAL year, which in many cases doesn't match the calendar year at all. However, if your favorite shops are still with the company today, they are possibly well into a new fiscal year, so you are right in that you are good to go for at least several months.
I have heard other shoppers say they have found companies by Googling. That has never worked for me.
But if any schedulers for Taco John's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, Arby's, or any other fast food, fast casual, etc., and needs shoppers in Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, southern South Dakota, northern Colorado, and northern/western Kansas is looking for a "seasoned shopper", and is reading this, feel free to PM me through this forum!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
Besides, this is just plain SILLY. Companies are much, much more likely to review/renew/cancel contracts at the end of their FISCAL year, which in many cases doesn't match the calendar year at all. However, if your favorite shops are still with the company today, they are possibly well into a new fiscal year, so you are right in that you are good to go for at least several months.
I have heard other shoppers say they have found companies by Googling. That has never worked for me.
But if any schedulers for Taco John's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, Arby's, or any other fast food, fast casual, etc., and needs shoppers in Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, southern South Dakota, northern Colorado, and northern/western Kansas is looking for a "seasoned shopper", and is reading this, feel free to PM me through this forum!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
@ceasesmith wrote:
Companies are much, much more likely to review/renew/cancel contracts at the end of their FISCAL year, which in many cases doesn't match the calendar year at all. However, if your favorite shops are still with the company today, they are possibly well into a new fiscal year, so you are right in that you are good to go for at least several months.
That's a really good point, Ceasemith. Probably the fiscal year might be July 1st or even Oct 1st for several companies out there! Guess we always have to be on our toes as shoppers!
For two years, I was exclusively working with 2 companies and started a third. I branched out the last few months of last year and ended up with over 80 companies. So far, this year, I've been getting some private offers! So exciting to be part of the "in" group that gets offers before they go on boards. I hadn't had much of this experience yet and now I've snagged up half a dozen or more shops via this method. Woohoo! I haven't noticed anything except my fav service shops disappearing, but two of my companies appear to have snagged up several new clients this year. Yay!
MegglesKat
One of my bank shops is done quarterly. The MSC releases the new shops at the beginning of the quarter with staggered due dates. The shops have been released with February due dates (as in do the shop on this date, not by this date).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2017 01:56AM by HonnyBrown.
@guysmom wrote:
I was getting nervous because I hadn't seen one of the convenience stores that I shop for through a metrics company, so I emailed the scheduler. For some reason, even though they were scheduled at the beginning of December last month, she said they won't be coming out till the end of January this month! Go figure! So if your convenience shop isn't showing, maybe you could email the regular scheduler about it. Good luck!
ETA: Don't know what I did so that the quote didn't end up in my reply box! They're showing up in separate boxes....this is in reply to COM's post about convenience shops.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2017 01:56AM by HonnyBrown.
I have confirmed with the scheduler. They did lose my favorite client. She did not know if or who they may have signed with. Oh well, if they've used a MSC before, they will likely return to it at some point. Maybe the pay will even be better!
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
Happy about most, but bummed that my favorite grocery store (Winco) has gone to another company...instead of $20 in groceries + a few bucks payment it's now a flat $15. 
Kona Kathie
One of my favorite car wash shops had been with the same MSC for years. A scheduler wrote and gave us a heads up that it was going with another company. She said the company would send out a formal statement but she wanted the long time shoppers to know ahead of time. She said she was trying to find out who they went with so we could sign up with the new company. Never had that happen! Is that even ok? Not sure if we'll hear so will start checking out other companies.
I'm upset about Winco. And the new company had only one location listed..I don't know what's up with that.
I just found out [deleted] moved to [deleted] and [deleted] moved to [deleted]
On a serious note, I was getting nervous waiting for my oil change shop to show up. The release was delayed a couple days im guessing due to the new year.
@quiettime wrote:
On a serious note, I was getting nervous waiting for my oil change shop to show up. The release was delayed a couple days im guessing due to the new year.
And I snatched another one that's already bonused to $40
I think the easy storage inquiry shops are gone.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The bigger problem for me is more and more shoppers appeared in my town...jobs are snapped up. My restaurants remain, but I'm not seeing many other jobs, hoping it is Jan which is usually a slow month. Three companies I worked for are desperately pushing newer accounts that no ones wants including me. Having dental work done, so a good time for me to take a break. Outside of restaurants and grocery's,
have a focus group Thursday.which I enjoy, good $ and no report (1/2 hour).
have a focus group Thursday.which I enjoy, good $ and no report (1/2 hour).
Live consciously....
Only one of mine has switched companies, and they now pay $3 less. I had shopped them so many times, that I needed to take a break from them anyway to keep from being recognized.
Wow!! I was so damn excited. The convenience stores that I loved to shop were just posted by the new MSC. OMG who the hell are they kidding. The new MSC is paying $5.00 total with a required purchase of your choice (no mention of reimbursement). The old MSC paid $6.00 fee and $2.00 purchase reimbursement. Sadly, these just went on my 10 foot pole. It's not worth getting out of my car, even if I'm passing by, to purchase some crap that I don't need to earn $2.50? Is anyone jumping on these?
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
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