Things do change. It's been a few years since I was an editor for them. It was likely because her reports were poor quality when she did more than one. Now that the reports have trimmed down they may have changed it.

@gotshops wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Your editors haven't caught on that you were doing more than one location per meal shift? That one's against the rules. When I was editing for them I had this one shopper who was warned repeatedly not to do that and my editing supervisor deactivated her the third time she ignored the warnings.

Are you sure that's against the rules? I know I have done more than one location per meal shift and I never got a warning. I also know other shoppers who have been doing more than one location per shift for years.

There was also a discussion about this recently in the MSC's Facebook group and no one from the MSC claimed multiple shops per shift was a violation.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

@Misanthrope wrote:

@kenasch wrote:

Misanthrope - you need to edit your post as you have mentioned the MSC and the client (the client is also in the thread title). One of the things I like about this shop is that I have practically all month to do it. I am therefore always able to finish it while I am out doing other shops in the same area. So your calculations of what makes economic sense does not apply for me. Many shops do not make sense to do alone but if you can make it part of a route that's another story.

Didn't catch that, thanks.

I do have all months to do the shop, and I appreciated that about the MSC, but with travel times, the shrunken visiting hours and the time I'm forced to spend doing the shop it's almost impossible to do more than one per night (and I'd still have to pay for a subway ride from location to location). I acknowledge I'm in a unique position when it comes to these shops (no car, but live in a dense city that's densely peppered with Chipotles)

Your editors haven't caught on that you were doing more than one location per meal shift? That one's against the rules. When I was editing for them I had this one shopper who was warned repeatedly not to do that and my editing supervisor deactivated her the third time she ignored the warnings.

I do it with my scheduler's blessing. They have two clients, one's a burger chain that's mostly restricted to the NY metro area, and the other is Chipotle. There're maybe 10-15 burger joints in NYC and hundreds of Chipotles, so chances are there's always gonna be a Chipotle within walking distance of the burger joint. Our agreement is I'll do multiple burger joints per month for her but only if I'm assigned a nearby chipotle, and that's never been a problem. Usually I just take a bite of my burrito and bring it home to save for future meals, as the burger joints usually require a full order of a burger, fries and a shake that's quite filling (and fattening)

Mod note: Welcome to the Forum. Please take a few moments to read the posting guidelines, particularly the part where it says 'do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies'. By asking members to reveal the MSC for particular clients you are asking them to also break their ICAs.

I'm pretty sure you can do two shops in the same period, especially when the times were expanded: one at 11am and walk into the next at 2:45pm.

In defense of this company I will relate my experience this month. I contacted my scheduler due to the tight time frames and an even tighter time frame for me personally. I asked if I could order my meal at the very beginning of the time frame which necessitated me entering the place a few minutes prior to the time frame for the job. To my pleasant surprise my scheduler agreed. One point for the msc. After getting permission I forgot there was a specific number of minutes we were to use for the beginning of our job. So I got there later than the amt of time specified but still in plenty of time before the start of the job. My mistake. I am trying to explain the situation without giving away the KQ question to those who do not do this job so please excuse my attempt at vagueness. The bottom line was that my order was quickly assembled and it was incorrect. Had I entered a few minutes earlier I do not think the client would have had the same good infor i provided by being 2 minutes late. (I was not late for getting my order but late for entering the front door). I got an email from the editor reminding me of the rule I missed but I am still in good graces with the company...One more point for this msc and how flexible they still are even if some things have changed. I still like them and plan to give them a chance with the new rules.

bgriffin is correct. I didn't ask to be deleted. I said I was "bowing out of these shops starting in February," actually. She said she would *deactivate* me. I originally stated "delete," but it was actually "deactivate." To me, that means the same, but it is a distinction, and I wanted to clarify.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

You never know if the rate next month will go up. Or if they will get another client. Asking to be deleted is ending all future possibilities.

@LGRM wrote:

I notified my scheduler that I'm giving up these shops. She said it was disappointing, but that she would delete my shopper account.

Also, for the reasons I stated, it really doesn't bother me. Everyone has their OWN, equally sensible reasons for their OWN business decisions. I'm an adult with a good sense of what I want, and dont, thankyouverymuch.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2017 12:24AM by LGRM.

ICA violation cannot disclose.... Do your homework.

@McMadre wrote:

Which company does Chipotle?

I love Chipotle and would do it for much less $$. What MSC shops Chipotle? Im a newbie and there's a Chipotle right by my house!

Mod note: Welcome to the Forum.
Please take a moment to read the Forum guidelines and note where it states that revealing the clients of mystery shopping companies is not permitted. Your question asks Forum members to break their ICAs

I'm totally down with this, a kid's meal is enough for me.

That's a rude reply. I thought we were here to support and encourage each other?

Which company does the Chipotle shops? I have not heard of these before. Thanks.

Mod note: Welcome to the Forum.
Please take a moment to read the Forum guidelines and note where it states that revealing the clients of mystery shopping companies is not permitted. Your question probably also asks Forum members to break their ICAs

Me too cali. I always get a bowl because I can spread it over a few days.

Now, I can get my taco! I can't wait for February.

@calicakes wrote:

I'm totally down with this, a kid's meal is enough for me.

@RobinMarie wrote:

I was a little surprised at the lack of criticism on the FB page. I've expressed dismay there before, never thought twice about it if it was warranted.

I will not drive out of my way to do any of these shops now. I have no interest in a taco. I will likely be more picky about the scenarios as well. The narrow paramters will likely get a pass from me from now on. Between the phone call and prep work/narrow times, the amount of time spent on a visit was pretty high, especially this month. Couple that with a few cold meals and I find myself questioning the worth. I cut the soda purchase out a long time ago to boost the profit and health.

I've shopped for them since 2011 and have seen a lot of changes. I've learned to roll with the newbie editors, they make mistakes too. The schedulers are fantatic and all communication with the company are pretty cordial. I appreciate their attempts at properly training shoppers but I think it's time to take things to the next level. We know this company has a pretty good shoppers and schedulers from a longevity perspective, so why not create a mentor/training process to boost the amount of shoppers in needed areas? This could save travel costs. I mention this because I noticed half of my state has declined shops and it feels like I've accepted the other half.

This is a company that will deactivate you if you do not do any shops for a few months. I'd imagine good communication with your scheduler could prevent that.

They don't have the good schedulers or long-term shoppers anymore. They got rid of all of us/them over the fall.

What website

Weatherman, you seem to have no idea what you are talking about in any posts you make. I am a long time shopper with a great scheduler. Sounds like you are a disgruntled shopper who was fired. Get over it.

I can't say this post surprises me. Maybe it was a blessing for them to 'fire' me from Chipotle. Good Riddance!

@peteyshop wrote:

Weatherman, you seem to have no idea what you are talking about in any posts you make. I am a long time shopper with a great scheduler. Sounds like you are a disgruntled shopper who was fired. Get over it.

They fired my great scheduler first, then came at me with a bunch of BS about my reports. Yeah I'm "disgruntled" because they thought it was good business to dump their long term shoppers and try to get more travel money because "Well, we have to train more shoppers". They've gone down the drain and I wouldn't be surprised if they're gone in a year.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2017 05:46AM by weatherman2111.

Weatherman, as a person who had a job in the past where I had to travel I can tell you for most people it is not worth the stay in a hotel and meals paid for to take a business trip. You end up working all day and have little to no time to visit whatever city you are in as a tourist. You go to sleep in a hotel without your friends and family around, wake up and maybe have a few decent meals paid for and go back to work. Your paycheck is for 8 hours but you are away from your home for 24. I really do not think they are firing people so the trainers can have the luxury of being away from their friends and family and homes for days, get paid for their 8 hour days and get a few freebie meals to often eat alone as they know no one in the area they are visiting.

Then I guess they're just really awful at their jobs because I can't think of any other reason for what they do. Maybe they're all just really bored when everything actually works right so they need to keep breaking it.

Lizzeees, I know that reply sounds rude and maybe the last few words could have been left out but, it is important that shoppers do not mention the name of a MSC in relation to a particular client on this forum or in passing. You should read the forum rules and the agreements you sign when you register with an MSC, just to cover yourself. Hope this makes you feel better about continuing to be a part of the forum.

For the record: I've had the same scheduler since I started in 2011. Sometimes I do more, sometimes I do less. I do like the food but with the reduction I will not go out of my way and use gas to get any shops done. The ones I accept will be en route to home or work.

Do you realize what an idiot you sound like Weatherman? MS companies do not fire people so they can train more shoppers. They fire shoppers due to poor work. Based on your writing quality in these posts and your horrible attitude, I can't possibly imagine why they would not want to continue to use you as an IC.

@lizzeees wrote:

That's a rude reply. I thought we were here to support and encourage each other?

lizeees, welcome to the forum. We are here to support and encourage each other. Part of that support and encouragement is being sure we do things right. Mystery shoppers are required to sign Independent Contractor Agreements (ICA) when they go to work for a mystery shopping company. Most of those ICAs contain a confidentiality clause prohibiting shoppers from revealing clients or details of shop requirements. Because of that confidentiality, our forum prohibits revealing the names of clients.

Many here believe that all shoppers, and new forum members, are responsible for knowing what the ICAs require and reading the forum's posting guidelines before beginning to post, so many forum members believe it is a rude post to ask other forum members to break their ICAs and/or forum rules. I'm sorry you were offended by what you believed was rudeness. The poster who posted the "rude reply" was responding what many of us consider rude. Perhaps a better response would have been to simply ignore the rude request and report it to the moderator. Moderators here often edit the posts of those who ask for the names of clients.

Hi, although the situation stinks, you have to be careful not to reveal the client name due to the agreement you signed with whichever mystery shopling company runs that project. You can talk in general terms and still get the comments you are looking for.

I just want to say that the scheduler I worked with was great. There is no animosity with my not shopping this restaurant anymore. And, the reason I let her know I wouldn't be doing them is that I was being courteous. She plans during the last week of the month for the first of the next month, and I didn't want her to include me to have me decline. She was courteous to me, some months clarifying in advance when and where I would be available. It's a win-win when we work WITH each other. If a client assignment doesn't float your boat, just move on. If an MSC doesn't float your boat, just move on.

I was thinking about this change over the course of the last couple of days and was trying to decide who will be more impacted by this change: casual shoppers who do the shop primarily because they like the food, or more professional shoppers who do the shop primarily for the profit that will come from the fee after expenses.

The lower purchase requirements mean that shoppers can make about the same amount in profit if they order the smaller entree and chips. Some casual shoppers may like the smaller portions better, but I'm guessing that most shoppers who like the food enjoyed having a large entree that could be split or could provide leftovers.

I guess if you don't care much about the food then there is little change for you as a Chipotle shopper. You'll get the same profit if you order the smaller order requirements as you do currently.

If you like the food but wish the portions were smaller then you'll like this change because you'll be able to order smaller portions and will make the same profit.

If you like the food and liked the portion size, then this change is bad news for you. I think this is where I fall in. I don't mind smaller portions, but I don't particularly care for the tacos. If there were a smaller bowl I could order, that would be fine, but my profit is going to go down on these because I'll likely order the same entree I had previously ordered, but will make less in gross. Thus, less profit. It's not a catastrophe, but I'll probably accept a few less of these.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

I don't mind smaller portions, but I don't particularly care for the tacos. If there were a smaller bowl I could order, that would be fine, but my profit is going to go down on these because I'll likely order the same entree I had previously ordered, but will make less in gross.

When I order a single taco, I actually order exactly the same ingredients I order in a bowl. The only difference between my taco and my bowl is that the taco is served in a soft flour tortilla, which I usually discard. When ordering the single taco, the server asks if I want flour or corn and then asks what I want in it. In my flour tortilla, I get rice, beans, one meat, green salsa, corn salsa, cheese, and lettuce. I ask for sour cream on the side. My taco is usually so so large they put it into a basket but it still has the single-taco price. Servers seem to have a problem gauging portion control on a build-your-own taco, so my taco usually ends up half, or sometimes more, the size of a bowl.

rofl, that is kind of brilliant.

@roflwofl wrote:

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

I don't mind smaller portions, but I don't particularly care for the tacos. If there were a smaller bowl I could order, that would be fine, but my profit is going to go down on these because I'll likely order the same entree I had previously ordered, but will make less in gross.

When I order a single taco, I actually order exactly the same ingredients I order in a bowl. The only difference between my taco and my bowl is that the taco is served in a soft flour tortilla, which I usually discard. When ordering the single taco, the server asks if I want flour or corn and then asks what I want in it. In my flour tortilla, I get rice, beans, one meat, green salsa, corn salsa, cheese, and lettuce. I ask for sour cream on the side. My taco is usually so so large they put it into a basket but it still has the single-taco price. Servers seem to have a problem gauging portion control on a build-your-own taco, so my taco usually ends up half, or sometimes more, the size of a bowl.

Interesting. I assume they leave the single flour soft taco flat on the bottom and layer the ingredients on top. So you could get almost as much as a regular bowl but at the price of a single taco which is about $2.50. I've got o try this on next month's shop.

Someone at the MSC apparently did not like this idea and removed posts about it from the MSC's FB group.