I've been doing grocery store shops for a well known MSC for a couple of years now. At first you had to purchase something and put it on the bottom of the cart. Fine. Then the MSC/client required shoppers to purchase one of several things off of a list and put it on the bottom of the cart. Fine. Now they've changed it so that each month you must purchase a certain specific item for the bottom. Problem I don't drink milk, I don't use bottled water, and the store brand paper towels do NOT compare with Bounty. This shop DOES reimburse shoppers upto $10 for purchases (You must spend at least $10, but personally I rarely if ever spend less than $20.) The MSC says returning the item is 'not fair' because I'm being reimbursed for the item (each item costs less than $10) but I feel this eats into my fee (a shop that pays $13 plus $10 reimbursement makes me $23.00 if I buy groceries that I want. If I have to buy bottled water that's $23 less $4.78. My scheduler did mention a work around (not use my shopper card and return at a different store) but I really wonder how others feel about this? If the client wants to know if the cashiers look at BOB, surely any large item the shopper uses would be fine. I feel by asking me to purchase a store brand product, they are in effect trying to reduce the costs of paying shoppers.

They are paying to follow specific guidelines, not to pay your grocery bill. It is what it is. Donate the things you dont use or just dont do the shops.

there are natural disassters all the time so donate the bottled water & it will go to good use.

If you don't like the requirements of the shop, don't do the shop. It's really quite simple. If the MSC can't fill the shops because of the requirements then the client would have to change the rules. However, probably most people are happy with free stuff to either use or give away.

Good grief. I just tell my neighbors, hey, I gotta buy bottled water and paper towels. How many you want?

They just absolutely INSIST on paying me for the items! After all, I'm saving them a trip to the store!

Same thing with the idiotic scenarios at hardware stores....I have supplied neighbors with plungers, calking,
screwdrivers, specific-sized screws, hooks for the bathroom doors, etc., etc., etc. Since the MSC reimburses my expense on these purchases, my neighbors just give me the difference between the reimbursement and what I actually spent.

But I'm with OP -- your effective pay per shop is drastically cut if you cannot use the items you must purchase.

That's why I won't do this shop anymore. I used to like it

There USED to be a certain grocery chain that did this.. inhouse, but they folded, OVERNIGHT about 3 yrs ago..

I haven't done this shop, but what is the issue on returning the items you can't use, and buying items that you will use? You aren't getting cash, but you are still spending money in the store.

I'm not referring to the guidelines.

if u arent referring to guidelines then why bring it up. for ms u have to follow guidelines.

Why don't you donate the stuff to a food pantry or something like red cross? They can always use bottled water for disaster relief areas. You can ask a neighbor if they would like some milk. If you find it an inconvenience for you to do the shop, why are you accepting them? Just saying.

I do not drink bottled water, but several neighbors do, they are always happy to get some and even offer to pay me for it. And also there are local teachers who appreciate the water for their classrooms.

I was raised with the thought that you should always have water stored in the event of an emergency. I survived the 94' Northridge quake, where we were without electricity and water for over a week. I happily accept shops in which I can purchase bottled water and be reimbursed for it. My emergency closet is stocked full, thanks to shopping.

Maybe the OP isn't in the position to donate to others or maybe they just don't want to.

I do not do grocery shops but see this like any other shop a shopper decides to take or not based on the value to the individual shopper. For instance I would not do a fast food shop because I don't want to eat that food...no bonuses here in lalaland so for me it would be a few dollars pay and no reimbursement. I do not like it when my fave shops go away and I would put this in that category.. a fave shop that is no more. I have a long list of them.

I normally can find someone who wants stuff that is required and it isn't my cup of tea. If they don't I donate the stuff.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Good grief. I just tell my neighbors, hey, I gotta buy bottled water and paper towels. How many you want?

They just absolutely INSIST on paying me for the items! After all, I'm saving them a trip to the store!

Same thing with the idiotic scenarios at hardware stores....I have supplied neighbors with plungers, calking,
screwdrivers, specific-sized screws, hooks for the bathroom doors, etc., etc., etc. Since the MSC reimburses my expense on these purchases, my neighbors just give me the difference between the reimbursement and what I actually spent.

But I'm with OP -- your effective pay per shop is drastically cut if you cannot use the items you must purchase.

The same with Y2K. New Years' Eve, there was no bottled water in sight.

@COMystery wrote:

I was raised with the thought that you should always have water stored in the event of an emergency. I survived the 94' Northridge quake, where we were without electricity and water for over a week. I happily accept shops in which I can purchase bottled water and be reimbursed for it. My emergency closet is stocked full, thanks to shopping.

Because I'm asking in general for the shop. I know what the guidelines say.

@MSNinja wrote:

if u arent referring to guidelines then why bring it up. for ms u have to follow guidelines.

@COMystery wrote:

I was raised with the thought that you should always have water stored in the event of an emergency. I survived the 94' Northridge quake, where we were without electricity and water for over a week. I happily accept shops in which I can purchase bottled water and be reimbursed for it. My emergency closet is stocked full, thanks to shopping.

Since my stepson moved in with us four years ago because he could no longer be trusted to live by himself, He is now 40 years old; we can't keep anything like that around. He will tell all of his friend and people that he meets that we keep a stockpile and if there is any disaster that they are more than welcome. So if there is ever an SHTF situation I guess me and the spousal unit will have to give it up.

@kryswyn916 wrote:

My scheduler did mention a work around (not use my shopper card and return at a different store)

Oh my. Did everyone else miss this or am I the only one that's a bit appalled by this. I'm really shocked that a reputable scheduler would make such a suggestion.

Also I agree with you that it cuts down on the shop's worth for you. You have two choices. Stop doing the shop and find another shop that gives you $23 in profit for the same or less time or take a pay cut.

I've seen this written in the shop guidelines - they strongly urge you not to use your shopper card so as not to be identified as a shopper. How is keeping our identity a secret appalling?

I'm sure griff is referring to returning the items, not about not using the shopper card. Where I live, grocery stores cannot accept any food or drink items to resell, though they may refund a shopper, so it's a loss for the store.

Yes, I was referring to the suggestion by the scheduler that a shopper return something to another store to get around the guidelines that you can't return the items.

Oh, that makes sense. Sorry! Yeah - I personally wouldn't return at a different store either. I would find a use for the item I had to purchase. I can understand that it "cuts" into the fee but if the client wants a certain thing purchased then we must comply. That's the nature of the business. Are you going to a picnic soon that you could bring the bottled water to or buy the paper towels for cleanup? I know they are not the best but they are not the worst either.

Yes, I've bought so many lightbulbs, I just keep giving them to my boyfriend for his house.

The MSC I was shopping those grocery stores for has lost the contract for the client so no more required purchases for me.