I was assigned a movie theater alcohol compliance shop. The shop dates were a two week range. The shop requirements are to attempt to purchase alcohol from the bar without showing your ID.

The general shop instructions states if the bar is closed when you arrived, ask to speak with a manager to see if they'll open the bar for you.

This particular location had a sticky note that the bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays.

I'm going out of town next weekend, so opted to do it this past weekend. Saturday escaped me so I emailed the scheduler to see if it were okay to shop on Sunday, given the instructions if the bar is closed asked for a manager.

I specifically wrote to the scheduler, this location only has bar hours on Fri & Sat. Would it be okay if I shopped on Sunday to see if the manager would open the bar. The scheduler replied back yes. I responded okay thanks,will complete shop today. (Sunday)

This morning, I received an email from the editor stating that the location had a sticky note that the bar is only open Fri & Sat so they will not pay me because the client will not accept the shop. I emailed the editor and stated that I received permission from the scheduler to perform the shop on Sunday and the shop instructions in asking for a manager were rather vague. The editor replied that the sticky note CLEARLY states the bar is closed and the instructions to ask for a manager are only for days the bar should be open. The scheduler continued, that sometimes the bar may be closed due to staffing. *The shop instructions state if the bar is closed to ask for a manager. It does not state only on days the bar is open*

I feel like the shop instructions were not definite and were written ambiguously. The sticky note did not state to ONLY ATTEMPT shop on Fri & Sat.

If the scheduler was that clear and gave you the go-ahead, you should be paid.

At the same time, the scheduler really should not have given you the green light as the instructions are clear.

*Edited for clarity



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2018 06:06AM by MFJohnston.

Did you get the okay from the scheduler in writing? If so, that should decide it in your favor. So, it would then be time to go over the editor's head. If you do not have it in writing, that could be a problem.

Yes,
I have it in writing. I emailed the scheduler.

The shop has since been reposted.

Sounds like the scheduler screwed up and doesn't want to take responsibility for it. You should definitely get paid if she put it in writing.

Who do i contact?

The editor also seems to be the account manager. I sent a follow up email and left a voicemail and have not received a reply.

The report you did is of no value to the client. I don’t know why you’d go on Sunday after forgetting to go on the correct day and expect to be able to perform a compliance shop?

Personally, I think you’re wasting your time.

But what if the OP didn't know in advance that the bar was closed and went on Monday for example?
The insructions provide for the bar being closed. I think the OP should be paid if they asked the manager to open the bar upon discovering it was closed.

I agree with SoCalMama. I think they are trying to see if the bar is open when it is supposed to be.

Based on the information you provided about the instructions and the information on the sticky, no, you should not be paid. For any alcohol compliance shop, you are expected to visit during the hours of operation ( in this case, when the bar is open) . Any instructions regarding what to do if the bar is closed are obviously intended for times when it is supposed to be open. I realize “obviously” may be too general, but it doesn’t really take a lot of thought to figure this out. Regardless of what the scheduler said, the shop instructions were clear. Sorry if you or anyone else is offended by this post, but way too many people come on here asking for validation of their mistakes for me to care.

I tend to agree with SoCalMama and TroyHawkins on this one. The only wrinkle is the scheduler approving the deviation.

How far I would be willing to fight this issue would depend entirely on what relationship I have with the MSC and more importantly, what relationship I want with the MSC AFTER this issue is resolved.

Good luck on reaching a successful outcome...

I completely agree that the report is of limited use to the client and likely something for which the client will not pay the MSC. Had the scheduler not given the "go ahead," the shopper would have been very much out-of-line to do the shop on the wrong day and the shop rejection would have been clear.

However, we all rely on schedulers to tell us when we can and cannot do shops. Shop guidelines do have errors. Sometimes the days listed are "preferred" days, but not the "only" days. This is information that we do not have, but that schedulers do have. There is a shop I periodically do for which the guidelines are super clear (pop-up reminders, bold-faced instructions, etc.) that the shop can only be done on weekends. However, the scheduler has told me on the side that other days are fine. I have been paid and never questioned about doing it on weekdays. (Yes, I put a note in my survey stating that I was given go-ahead for the deviation.) So, if the scheduler gives the go-ahead to the shopper, it's on the MSC to pay the shopper for the effort - and deal with the scheduler on the side.

I do believe that this issue can be pursued without jeopardizing the relationship with the MSC - if it is done right. I'd email the project manager, owner, etc. (one at a time, going up the ladder), asking politely for an explanation - and making very clear that you have the scheduler's permission in writing. As long as you are polite, professional and simply asking for an explanation, you should be okay.

@SoCalMama wrote:

The report you did is of no value to the client. I don’t know why you’d go on Sunday after forgetting to go on the correct day and expect to be able to perform a compliance shop?

Personally, I think you’re wasting your time.

I did't forget to go on the other two days. I wasn't able to go during the time frame of the on Saturday so I asked if it were okay to do the shop on Sunday, since there is a closed bar section. Had the scheduler told me no, I would have done it the following Friday, going to an earlier show then leave town. However, I was told yes then I wrote confirming I would go on Sunday.
The shop guidelines are written ambiguously, regarding the closed bar which is why I asked in the first place, had it been definitive I would not have even considered going outside of those days.

I do appreciate everyone's feedback. I have since emailed and called the editor who is also the account manager but have not received a response. I will follow up on Monday, trying to escalate this.

Good for you. Anyone who is willing to take on the annoying issue of unclear guidelines is a hero/heroine for many shoppers who have experienced difficulties, wee wonderments, head smacking moments, head scratching moments, head-banging moments, and near rage due to unclear instructions and guidelines.

A scheduler called me about a last-minute-bonused shop with a time frame of 5-9pm. I told the scheduler that I couldn't do the shop during that window. He asked what time I could do it and I answered that I could do it at 1pm. I knew this shop was never offered at that time frame. But, the scheduler said "Done" and thanked me. Subsequently, I looked at the assignment and the guidelines were for 5-9. I emailed the scheduler and the account manager. I recalled the phone conversation with the scheduler, stating that if the time frame was changed to what we agreed to, I would complete the shop. Otherwise, I could not. I received two apologies, and the shop was removed from my account.

Just a reminder to check guidelines and make sure the scheduler has made the changes they've agreed to, before completing the shop.