To me, it has never seemed worth misrepresenting one's age to get work. There are something like 300 MSCs out there, so to find work one does not have to become dishonest. Having started this lively thread, I think this may be my last post onto it. But in thinking over the situation, I camed to a few ideas and conclusions.
One of the things I considered is that the MSC in question really bungled the situation. I have owned and operated several large companies, and I know what decent personnel management is. True, none of us are "employees." We are "contractors." But --
When you have worked with someone over a number of years and they have done over 100 jobs of a particular sort (in this case, coffeehouse evaluations) and almost always received 9 and 10 ratings for your work, then suddenly find that for reasons beyond control the other client has put an age limit on the shops, how do you treat your mystery shopper ?
Do you just tell them, "You are too old for this shop according to the client," or do you find some way to reassure the shopper that you have valued their work, know that they have always done well, and that you would like them to continue shopping for you ? Were I in the MSC's place, I would add something like, "Let me see if I can look around and find a nice juicy shop for you," and I would have found just such a thing and offered it to the shopper.
One does often get the feeling that the MSC personnel we deal with often think we are just so much dirt -- except when they are in a jam and absolutely have to get something done. They -- and we -- forget that we are each other's reason we have jobs. I say this not to criticize many MSC people, because the callous ones are not very common. But mutual respect for each other's feelings helps a lot in this underpaid business.
We all have choices. The companies can offer or not offer individuals jobs. The shoppers can reject or not reject specific jobs. And when they make a list of what companies a newcomer might like working for, they can leave certain companies off the list of recommendations.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2017 04:00AM by Richard94611.