Text from scheduler: Hey Meghan, I saw where you've completed the following locations in the past for us. *lists 4 locations* I currently have incentives and they are at $18 each. I need them done by Tuesday. How much would it take to get you to these locations?

Me: Hi, unfortunately my regular schedule is a bit busy right now and I don't feel that I could rework things around for the $18 currently on each assignment. I understand they are difficult in this area. I will keep my eye on them and let you know in the future if I can help. Next week may not be as busy. I have taken them in the past at $75-$100 but right now, it would be out of the way for the travel.

Scheduler: Great! am I hearing you right, you can help out for $75-$100 per location? I can do $75 on three of them. I will give you the fourth at $100. Would that work for you? I'll set it up.

Me: Oh... errr... yeah, I could do that.

Scheduler: Great, you're all set. You have $75 on three and $100 on the fourth. Thanks so much! You have until the 26th.

BTW: Here's two more I have nearby where you're working if you'd like them at $50 each.

Well crap. Guess I'm working a route of banks



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2017 03:02PM by MountainCacher88.

Happy accidents!

Poor baby. I can sympathize because that is how I got a whole bunch of high bonuses on bank shops earlier this year and late 2016. I named a huge bonus and then added, "Of course, parking in that area is all garages with very high fees." The scheduler said, "We cannot reimburse parking, so how about I add $25 to each of these 2 and $50 each to the others?" I about fainted dead away, gulped and said, "Deal." I suspect that my voice squeaked!

This is awesome.

I was almost being a smart arse when I threw the offers out because I had planned on being kinda lazy. Bwahah. Then I get three grocery offers for $50 each but I couldn't take off those hour of the evening/night. The truck died so I have to go chauffeur



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2017 06:51PM by MountainCacher88.

A good example of knowing your worth, valuing your time, and not settling for the low-ball offers.Good for you!

That payment will be nice when it comes in. I need new waterproof boots. Preferably something with a hard (not steel) toe.

Hey Walesmaven, when's the best time to try to sneak into DC for a visit to check out the Smithsonian and some other historic things and museums? Last time we were there, it was so crowded everywhere we couldn't breathe but the Vikings were playing the Redskins the next day, too.

We were thinking the closer to winter the area would be a bit more dead and we're not afraid of the snow How do things look at the end of October to early November? Or maybe mid January?

Well done MountainCatcher, love to hear successful negotiations like this.

Great read. That's awesome! I recall one time last year a company asking me to drive about 150 miles total to switch out a couple of signs. It was a holiday weekend and I didn't really want to work altogether, so I high-bid the work for $350. I got the call back the next day for the work. I ended up making the trip more of a mini sightseeing road trip for an area in the state I've never been in ☺



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2017 04:19PM by Tarantado.

UPDATE **** So, I started performing my shops and I didn't realize this scheduler gave me those amounts ON TOP OF the original $10 payment! SCORE! I can get a pair of boots and maybe a half dozen sweaters

MountainCatcher,
Just avoid DC when things like Spring Break, Cherry Blossom Festival and high school class visits may be happening. Also, when huge demonstrations will close the National Mall (The green park surrounded by the museums you will want to see.) Then there is the issue of weather vs easy travel In July and August the weather is brutal hazy, hot, humid and hellish. BUT, typically Congress rises for summer recess from about mid-July through Labor Day. So, traffic in the city is light then. (Tens of thousands of daily commuters into DC cannot leave town except when Congress is not in session.)

IFF you insist on driving in DC, that would be the time to visit. BUT, there is no good reason to bring a vehicle into DC. The MetroRail system, used "off rush" saves time and $$$. You can book a suburban hotel walk-able to a Metro stop, hop on and go straight to the malls. There is a great app to use where ithey will tell you exactly how to combine rail, bus and walking most efficiently for get from A to B and back. In addition there are bike share systems (yes, more than 1 as of today), "Circulator Buses" that cost $1 or so and run huge circle routes that fill in places where Metro Rail does not (Georegetown), and tons of Uber and Lyft options.

When you plan your trip, PM me and we will meet up for coffee or a snack.

Congratulations on your...whatever that was, to both you and wales!

As for the Smithsonian museums, I work in the area, very close to the Air and Space Museum.

The Smithsonian museums are free. You will need to pay for parking or take the metro. Parking is available at surrounding garages where the office buildings are, or at the Verizon Center.

Have a plan! The museums are spread out all over DC and in other states. Start with the Smithsonian's Visitors' Center.

There is always a healthy crowd in DC. Where I work is by the National Mall, between the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. In that area alone are the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and more. And the Museum of the Bible is opening in the next few months.

The crowds aren't elbow to elbow across he board, bu they are at venues where something is going on. For instance, today is the 100th Anniversary of the NHL, so the streets were blocked off at the Verizon Center for their activities. I took a selfie in front of the Stanley Cup.

@MountainCacher88 wrote:

Hey Walesmaven, when's the best time to try to sneak into DC for a visit to check out the Smithsonian and some other historic things and museums? Last time we were there, it was so crowded everywhere we couldn't breathe but the Vikings were playing the Redskins the next day, too.

We were thinking the closer to winter the area would be a bit more dead and we're not afraid of the snow How do things look at the end of October to early November? Or maybe mid January?

Thank you both so much! We've been wanting to make a weekend or holiday of it for a while. I'm more of the planner who sets out costs, hotels, food budgets, pre-orders tickets to save money, and so forth. Dre is more of a... Hey, lets head to DC. If you drive from Hazard to Roanoke (he knows I hate driving in Roanoke) I'll see if I can find us a hotel or something to stay at once we get there.... -_- And then the chaos ensues for the vacation week which is only made better by beer.

Just a note: The Museum of African-American History just celebrated its first birthday yesterday. It is so popular that you need to book timed entry tickets in advance. Right now they are taking bookings for January 2018. Free, but you must plan ahead. And for all museums, the weekends are the busiest.

I'm not in DC but I'm near it and I spent hours last night coming up with a game plan because a friend and her teen daughter are coming to visit (the teen is so excited she *begged* her mom to let her come with her, lol). Google Maps became my best friend as I tried to figure out which museums were near each other so that we don't have to walk quite so much.

We kept being told by others to do the Monuments by Moonlight tour - I found a trolley one that looks like a blast. Its about $40 a person, which is a bit pricey, but looks like it'll be worth it (says the one who actually managed to walk the entire mall on her visit to DC before she moved and I don't want to do that again).

Great pictures from the tower at the Old Post Office.

I snagged a $50 last minute, no purchase Coach shop at a mall about 13 miles from my house today that was on my way to another shop. I didn't think she would say yes since the shop only paid $15 originally. I think I probably could have gotten $60, but I was only in the store for 20 minutes and the report took less than an hour to input, so I'm happy!

You can get in without tickets or preregistration after 1pm.

@walesmaven wrote:

Just a note: The Museum of African-American History just celebrated its first birthday yesterday. It is so popular that you need to book timed entry tickets in advance. Right now they are taking bookings for January 2018. Free, but you must plan ahead. And for all museums, the weekends are the busiest.

Which museums are you going to see?

I've been working in that area since January, 2017. I go for an hour walk daily at lunch. I've been to the National Botanical Garden, the Capitol Visitor Center, the Smithsonian Visitor Center and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

And the food trucks at L'Enfant Plaza. Those are a MUST!

@leaiso wrote:

I'm not in DC but I'm near it and I spent hours last night coming up with a game plan because a friend and her teen daughter are coming to visit (the teen is so excited she *begged* her mom to let her come with her, lol). Google Maps became my best friend as I tried to figure out which museums were near each other so that we don't have to walk quite so much.

We kept being told by others to do the Monuments by Moonlight tour - I found a trolley one that looks like a blast. Its about $40 a person, which is a bit pricey, but looks like it'll be worth it (says the one who actually managed to walk the entire mall on her visit to DC before she moved and I don't want to do that again).

Spy Museum, the zoo, Natural History, the Air and Space one in DC (wish we had time to go to Udvar Hazy) for sure. I left a bit of wiggle room to go to another museum, and I think we are thinking National Archives. We also get a tour of Capital Hill but were denied the White House tour

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Which museums are you going to see?

I've been working in that area since January, 2017. I go for an hour walk daily at lunch. I've been to the National Botanical Garden, the Capitol Visitor Center, the Smithsonian Visitor Center and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

And the food trucks at L'Enfant Plaza. Those are a MUST!

@leaiso wrote:

I'm not in DC but I'm near it and I spent hours last night coming up with a game plan because a friend and her teen daughter are coming to visit (the teen is so excited she *begged* her mom to let her come with her, lol). Google Maps became my best friend as I tried to figure out which museums were near each other so that we don't have to walk quite so much.

We kept being told by others to do the Monuments by Moonlight tour - I found a trolley one that looks like a blast. Its about $40 a person, which is a bit pricey, but looks like it'll be worth it (says the one who actually managed to walk the entire mall on her visit to DC before she moved and I don't want to do that again).

Pentagon tour was the best, but I don't think they do them any more. The 911 Pentagon memorial was interesting and a good place for photobugs. Arlington Cemetery, of course. If you have elementary aged kids, the Mint was fun. We had the most fun renting a paddleboat for maybe $10/hr and paddling in the basin. If it's your first time, there's a very funny guy who gives tours starting from the WA Monument. He's smart and witty, and works on tips only. Don't miss the Library of Congress. Gorgeous. National Zoo was a letdown compared to local ones, but at least it was free.

(Didn't realize that I missed DC until typing this ;-))

iShop, which Library of Congress did you go to? There's one next to the Supreme Court and another one on Independence Avenue. I think the one on Independence Avenue is the Madison. The one next to the Supreme Court is a beautiful building.

Apparently I need to get a good foot map and plot some things out.

The Spy Museum is fun. It's shopped, too. If you're interested in touring the WH, you need to submit your request through your Congressperson. Allow lots of lead time for that one.

Prepare for a ton of walking. The museums are immense. Pick your favorites, because it's hard to visit more than 2 or 3 in a day. And don't snack or sip anything while you're in the Metro or on a bus.

Yes, they still do Pentagon tours. You have to request them pretty early. We did not because I didn't know her daughter wanted to go to the Pentagon.

With the White House, my congressperson's staff is on top of it. She submitted the request the day we could submit. My friend should have also resubmitted but we didn't think about it. Mine got denied. I'm guessing since I'm actually in Maryland I can technically go anytime. I think since she's coming from another state we would have stood a better chance of getting in.

I do know of one MSC that has had regular shops for various museums in the area. I'd forgotten I was going to see if any were available I had hoped for some restaurant shops and need to sign up for an MSC that I was told usually has shops in DC.

I got a call the other day to do a shop for the HedgeHog it's only 28 miles away and is paying $40.00 So I asked them what city she told me and I said that is way more than 28 miles more like 65 one way 130 round trip. Had her look it up on Google maps just from city to city and she said that she would get it corrected.