So far, I am the only shopper to share of self in this thread. I can be Exhibit A in the swirly, misty, dubiously polite inquiry into who is who and what is up and how far can we go before someone finally stops us.
*takes witness stand & oath; considers snarky implied questions; addresses judge and jury*
It is not a secret that I have improved over time and have found jobs which suit me more than others. Thus, I am not the same person or worker that I was when I began in this industry years ago. I feel great about this improvement and I appreciate my work more and more as time passes and I find new/interesting things to do. I hope that I have not boasted. I meant to encourage myself for making needed changes. I have made light of my general self in this thread because imho we should tread lightly when talking about others here. What harm could we knowingly or unwittingly do to another shopper if we did not think about our actions? There will be more about this at the end of the testimony. Truly, I neither know nor care how I am perceived, ranked, rated, labeled, or branded by tptb within or outside of this industry. I continue to receive more offers than I can fulfill. I have decided to work little in this industry next year because I want and need more personal time in 2018. But if it is true that there is a gossip chain, or shall we call it a heads up communications system, I need to stop and think about the potential outcomes for other shoppers. Have any shoppers been limited by a single or few less-than-ideal experiences? Has everyone involved come clean about their roles in the labeling and/or the events leading up to that? Really??? Does anyone even know who each person is in each contested situation? How many other shoppers may now be branded as better or worse than they actually are based upon old, wrong, incomplete, distorted, biased, protected, or otherwise inappropriate information? There is at least a trifecta of error and/or distortion. First, there is 100% shopper error. When a shopper is wrong, they are wrong. This is the stuff of a bad rep or at least some concern about a shopper. Error is also the stuff of humanity. When can a shopper be forgiven and when can a shopper be branded? Ever? Second, there is effective shopper PR campaigning in which shoppers play up successes and downplay failures; eventually, these shoppers may get a good and likely better than deserved reputation. These shoppers are sufficiently savvy to market themselves in this way and may succeed in perpetuating rosy images of mere humans who mystery shop. Third, there may be errors, inconsistencies, or misunderstandings within the shop production line in the MSC's realm. This category may include factors of client, culture, editing, and other non-shopper issues. Since virtually all experienced posters have mentioned that they have made errors, I no longer believe that there are any mystery shoppers who have been perfect since the beginnings of their shopping careers. *notices that judge and jurors have dozed off and concludes quickly* In conclusion, I wish only to apologize to any/all for errors of omission or commission that I may have made regarding other shoppers' personal and working selves. In case it is applicable, I forgive any/all for errors that they have made regarding my personal and working self. I understand that as independent contractors we are party only to our own contracted work. Our contracts limit us with regards to what we can or should say and do when attempting to assist other shoppers. Our base natures may have goaded us to be curious, to gossip, or otherwise to wander beyond the bounds of decency. If this has happened, we can stop ourselves here and now.
*leaves court room and goes out for breakfast*
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu