I’m seeing BP with a new company...
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Did three so far. One cleared. One still is pending, and the third is now listed as "HOLD PAY." I also received an email saying that the one that's held is available to assign again. Never got an email or anything about the hold. I emailed the scheduler. That seems crappy.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
@Hoju wrote:
Did three so far. One cleared. One still is pending, and the third is now listed as "HOLD PAY." I also received an email saying that the one that's held is available to assign again. Never got an email or anything about the hold. I emailed the scheduler. That seems crappy.
I am not seeing them, do they pay enough to really search for them? They sound like a lot of work
I don't like the short window of time to do them. I prefer to schedule them out with other shops to plan my month, but with a 2-3 window, it makes it hard to plan. I know the dates will be extended if they aren't done, but still makes it hard to plan. I spoke to a scheduler at old company yesterday.They still have some they are trying to schedule and I'm actually doing a heavily bonused shop for them today. He did not seem to know anything about them not having the contract any longer. I asked. He said they still have them as a client, but seems doubtful to me.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Their schedulers are the most in-the-dark of any company anywhere. If the info isn't right in front of their face, they don't know anything.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
The editor just came back to me with silly questions on my report. Is this MSC new to gas audits? She asked if the location was full service and where my C-Store receipt was. I clearly indicated that this was a full service location, as that is a selection. I also specified in the comments that there was no C-Store.
Hopefully this kind of thing is just part of the learning curve for the editors and not a sign of things to come. These won't be worth anywhere near their base rate if we have to deal with this silliness long term.
Hopefully this kind of thing is just part of the learning curve for the editors and not a sign of things to come. These won't be worth anywhere near their base rate if we have to deal with this silliness long term.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
All of mine are still pending, more than 10, and while they are on the board, no more can be taken, at least in my area, and I was told to look again after the new year. I really am not so sure that it's a done deal yet for the switch and this may be just a test. New BPs should not come around until Feb if it goes according to how it's been in the past.
i think this msc might be new to gas shops. I think that first msc tried to take a BIG client from this msc a while back, and this msc is retaliating by trying to take theirs. This is only my opinion, though and I could be way off base. One other big client of 1st MSC seems to be contested as well. Both had shops up till Dec, now neither has any when client has had Dec shops in the past, so...dunno. I am a rabid, RABID conspiracy theorist though, so I see all sorts of things that aren't really there....or are they...?? 
I don't know what bp can be thinking. They have a huge cadre of well trained auditors and editors with a company who specializes in gas stations. Do they really want to start from scratch? Why would they?
I've seen some really bad locations make huge improvements in the 3 years I've been auditing them. I would say the program is working.
I've seen some really bad locations make huge improvements in the 3 years I've been auditing them. I would say the program is working.
@CoffeeQueen wrote:
I don't know what bp can be thinking. They have a huge cadre of well trained auditors and editors with a company who specializes in gas stations. Do they really want to start from scratch? Why would they?
Money. Is there any other reason?
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
CQ, the client only knows what the MSC tells them about their ICs. Considering how many of us are signed up with 100 or more MSCs, the pool of shopper/auditors is going to be virtually the same. Personally, I have never done one single shop for the company "specializing" in gas stations. For me it would be a welcome turn of events to see some of these brands go to other companies.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Oh I doubt this MSC has anywhere near the shopper pool that the other one has. Though you're right. It's all in how the MSC sells themselves. And money... This MSC is very likely willing to take a lot less money than the monolith that is the last one.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I don't know why you would think the first company has a larger shopper pool. I am registered with both as are many people here. The second also has another large nationwide client which is popular.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
We aren’t exactly representative of the hundreds of thousands of registered shoppers around the country. This group is a tiny percentage of the actual number of people doing this work.
The first company has a bunch of huge clients. The second one has one. The difference is clear.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2018 06:58PM by Hoju.
The first company has a bunch of huge clients. The second one has one. The difference is clear.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2018 06:58PM by Hoju.
I'm not sure that is relevant in this case. The things to consider are whether mystery shoppers outside this forum generally only sign with one company and how they find companies.
When I Google mystery shopping in my area, neither company is on the first page. A couple of older articles about mystery shopping do not mention either one. I actually signed up for the "second" company in 2007, a year before deciding to make a go at doing this for a living and a year before joining any online MS forums. I only signed up for the "first" company in February of 2009, a full ten months after joining the forum whose name must not be spoken. For whatever reason, the second company was on my radar.
When I Google mystery shopping in my area, neither company is on the first page. A couple of older articles about mystery shopping do not mention either one. I actually signed up for the "second" company in 2007, a year before deciding to make a go at doing this for a living and a year before joining any online MS forums. I only signed up for the "first" company in February of 2009, a full ten months after joining the forum whose name must not be spoken. For whatever reason, the second company was on my radar.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
First MSC is still fulfilling their 2018 contractual obligation, that is why they will still have some.
The new MSC is just going to have to learn that they can't treat gas station audits the same way they handle shops for their biggest client. I'm willing to be patient and allow them to get acclimated to it, such as understanding that the situation Hoju explained (full service, no c-store) will exist, and is probably, from what I have seen, most common with this brand then other brands.
The new MSC is just going to have to learn that they can't treat gas station audits the same way they handle shops for their biggest client. I'm willing to be patient and allow them to get acclimated to it, such as understanding that the situation Hoju explained (full service, no c-store) will exist, and is probably, from what I have seen, most common with this brand then other brands.
Well, if the 2nd MSC has the contract, you can be sure they are working hard to learn the ropes and will get it together fairly quickly. I do not anticipate any problem with that aspect of it, just really hoping that they are not expecting to be paying the base pay for all the shops.
This month is supposed to be a training period for these shops but I think it is a training period for the MSC, not the shoppers. I completed 3, one of which was the second brand, not BP. With the original MSC the instructions were to audit it the same as BP, therefore I treated this shops the same way for the new company. I received an email saying that this was not a BP and I should have taken an overall picture and indicated that the station was not a BP and a closed location. I responded to the email explaining why I did a full audit and received a reply that they will double check with the client regarding the procedure they want.
Another curious thing is that there are hundreds of shops available but the due date is 12/5, yesterday.
I hope they get past the training period and can work the flaws out.
I did a little fishing with the old MSC and either the schedulers have no clue that they lost the contract (probably the case) or they have been told to not say anything.
Another curious thing is that there are hundreds of shops available but the due date is 12/5, yesterday.
I hope they get past the training period and can work the flaws out.
I did a little fishing with the old MSC and either the schedulers have no clue that they lost the contract (probably the case) or they have been told to not say anything.
The one I did today for the "old" company was the 2nd brand, not BP. Funny, the same location is posted with the "new" company. I was tempted....,no, I did not take it. Funny that they are not aware of the 2nd brand thing.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
@LIJake wrote:
I received an email saying that this was not a BP and I should have taken an overall picture and indicated that the station was not a BP and a closed location. I responded to the email explaining why I did a full audit and received a reply that they will double check with the client regarding the procedure they want.
Another curious thing is that there are hundreds of shops available but the due date is 12/5, yesterday.
Oh now that is funny regarding the 2nd company and it's little things like that which makes me think that it's not a done deal yet, and BP is testing. Time will tell. I was told that they didn't need any more shops and yah, in my area some are due by 12/4, others 12/5, but CT has some due 12/9, so I think they are doing samplings of geographic areas and when they get what the quota is, they don't extend the deadline.
@LIJake wrote:
Another curious thing is that there are hundreds of shops available but the due date is 12/5, yesterday.
And two of them were shops I applied for at the beginning of the month, waited over 24 hours for no response, and ended up cancelling the applications because a better opportunity came.
I noticed the schedulers are different for NY and CT. (I live just over the CT side of this border) That probably explains the due date differences.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2018 02:24AM by KA047.
@onepotatotwo wrote:
Well, if the 2nd MSC has the contract, you can be sure they are working hard to learn the ropes and will get it together fairly quickly. I do not anticipate any problem with that aspect of it, just really hoping that they are not expecting to be paying the base pay for all the shops.
I agree. If things weren't so dead this month for me otherwise, I wouldn't be bothering with them as much, but I figure if they do fully have this contract its good to get my name out there for them as someone who does this type of shop a lot, and can do more then just shops for their big client.
I am now seeing these shops. The strange thing for me is that I'm seeing many of the same shops that I did a little over 2 weeks ago. Those shops were substantially bonused.
I'll be checking them between Christmas and New Years, but with the snow and cold upon us (me anyway), I wish them good luck getting them done without an incentive!
I'll be checking them between Christmas and New Years, but with the snow and cold upon us (me anyway), I wish them good luck getting them done without an incentive!
So I'm not the only who charges a "it's too freaking cold for this" fee, LOL.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Hell no. Winter fees are quite a bit higher, but for me they're organically higher because fewer people are working in January.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
BTW, even though the base pay is a little bit higher, when I did these shops for the other MSC, every one of them was bonused, making them a much higher paying shop than the new one is offering at base.
That was why I did do them.
That was why I did do them.
It's early. Give them a chance to realize they're just going to sit there at that rate.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
they all disappeared off the board here and there were lots, all of the locations I did in the last month as a part of my routes. I highly doubt anyone took them all. I got paid almost double the rate they were on the board at. And like the rest of you, my winter pay has to go up substantially or I will just do something else. Winter is a great time for retail and apartments! LOL!
Also in the news here BP has bought Thorntons although they say that there won't be any branding changes.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2018 04:30AM by CoffeeQueen.
Also in the news here BP has bought Thorntons although they say that there won't be any branding changes.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2018 04:30AM by CoffeeQueen.
Not the case in FL - more "snowbird" shoppers here; they come down in Nov. and shops are always taken faster until they return in spring : - )!!
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