Reading recent posts, I am thinking that it is time to bring this up again...

This is an anonymous forum, but when we post details about a situation, it is not difficult for somebody familiar with the situation to identify us. There are many shoppers, schedulers, and other types of MSC representatives that follow the dialogues here. In other words, though we are more-or-less anonymous here (unless we use our names in our usernames - like yours truly), we can be identified. When we post we should all post with care and remember that what we post about others is far more indicative of who we are than what the other person is like. (If I call @bgriffin a #@?!, I come across as a lot more of a #@?! than he does - even if there is truth to my accusation.)

We, as shoppers, often want MSC's to treat us like the professionals that we are. However, if we do not act professionally here (the biggest shopper discussion group there is - at least to my knowledge), we give the MSC's - the ones who pay us - a very unprofessional picture of ourselves. Why would they give us that extra bonus we request if we berate others online? How could the defend us to a client if the client says we were rude during a shop if badmouth others in public?

It is perfectly reasonable to to ask questions such as, "I can't seem to get a scheduler to respond to me, what do I do?" "My payment from XYZ MSC is three weeks late. Is anybody else struggling with this?" Etc. However, keep in mind that most of the time, the shopper posting these questions has made an error (i.e. not submitting a required invoice). It's okay to have blundered and learning from it. However, if in the process of of finding your blunder, you disparage the MSC or misrepresent the truth, you might lose out on potentially good relationship with an MSC - or even several MSC's. You could be throwing away good money.

Perhaps you don't care for XYZ MSC. That's your prerogative. However, if you lambaste that MSC on here, you risk turning off other MSC's to your services. Just as we talk frankly here, so do schedulers and MSC owners on other sites. When I get angry or frustrated and consider posting something negative, I ask myself: Is this how I want to portray myself to the folks upon whom I rely for my income? I then usually think better of it. (Usually.... I've screwed up a few billion times in my life...) Of course, this would apply to schedulers and other MSC reps who post on a public forum. I am far less likely to pick up a difficult shop or answer a desperate plea for somebody who disparages others online.

Food for thought....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2019 12:38AM by MFJohnston.

I heartily and sincerely apologize if I am an offending party.

I need no apologies and I have zero intention of pointing fingers. We've just had several course threads and I thought it would be wise for us all to step back and rethink our posting habits.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I heartily and sincerely apologize if I am an offending party.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2019 12:37AM by MFJohnston.

I absolutely love that you used bgriff in an example.

OP I agree with your point. But frankly, it allows those unprofessional MSers to weed themselves out. Unfortunately, it makes a bad mark on the entire industry. Those of us who handle ourselves correctly while completing shops have a good reputation already.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I heartily and sincerely apologize if I am an offending party.

You've gotta be joking! Cease, you are the sweetest one here!

I respect your opinion and agree, however (here comes) the fun of the forum is the freedom it gives us,to rant, rave or air our differences out. Having to think before we write anything makes and takes the spontaneous air away, and do the MSC's really take this so seriously, I don't know. When the MSC needs us, will they remember a post, I think not. Years ago, we had some real crazies, things have gotten much tamer, and for me, there is freedom of speech, except for religion or politic's. Where else do we go to rant about a job gone wrong, or give Kiduo's....nowhere.

There's a difference between accusing, say, Sentry of doing something disingenuous without the evidence to back it up, and saying that bgriffin is a nice #@?!

Probably not the smartest thing to do the first (especially when it's so easy to know who is posting). I confess to enjoying the second much of the time

I fully agree that this forum serves those purposes - and is better for it. I'm more considering situations where false accusations are made or things said out of anger as opposed to jest. If a scheduler has two folks who are asking for a specific job, the one who recently insulted the scheduler has a distinct disadvantage.... There is a difference between ranting about a job gone wrong and disparaging an MSC or a scheduler with false information.

I am merely suggesting that, before posting something negative about another person or an MSC, pause and think about it. Maybe even wait until you are less angry.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I respect your opinion and agree, however (here comes) the fun of the forum is the freedom it gives us,to rant, rave or air our differences out. Having to think before we write anything makes and takes the spontaneous air away, and do the MSC's really take this so seriously, I don't know. When the MSC needs us, will they remember a post, I think not. Years ago, we had some real crazies, things have gotten much tamer, and for me, there is freedom of speech, except for religion or politic's. Where else do we go to rant about a job gone wrong, or give Kiduo's....nowhere.

I’m kinda surprised that @bgriffin hasn’t replied to this yet. Stand up for yourself, ya dork!

I am always surprised by those forum members who immediately jump in and say, because they've never had a bad experience with an MSC or particular scheduler, that the OP must be lying or misrepresenting the facts. I can tell from personal experience, that that is not always the case. When I first started mystery shopping, back in 2007, I shopped almost exclusively for one company. 99% of the time, I had a great working relationship with my scheduler, but not always. Case in point: I had scheduled a gas shop two states away and was unable to purchase gas because the directions (before I had GPS, I used MapQuest) for the street address took me to the employee parking lot on the backside of the station that was located on the payway (an interstate that you pay to use) with no access to the pumps. I walked in and did all the required evaluations, but did not purchase gas (I later bought a gas can so I could do these shops without having to pay the toll and still make the required gas purchase). Nowhere on the MSC's website did it say the station was on the payway. My scheduler jumped all over me and INSISTED that the instructions did say the shop was on the payway. I sent a screenshot of the page showing I was correct. Evidently, the page the scheduler sees is not the same page we see, as her page clearly showed the correct information, but mine did not. Fortunately, the MSC changed their ways and included that important piece of information on the page that the shoppers saw. This same scheduler would always lie (yes, it was a LIE) to me about how much I had received for a particularly distant gas station when I would ask for a bonus. She would say they NEVER paid over $25 for this location, yet I had received $50 for it the last two times I shopped it. This MSC shows all payments with the corresponding addresses for all shops since I started, so I could easily prove how much I received for the shop and on which dates using their own records. Now, maybe the scheduler didn't have access to my pay statement, but I find it extremely hard to believe that the records she had access to were not accurate. I've done nearly 3000 shops for this company and had issues maybe a dozen times in nearly 12 years. Anytime someone claims that this company in particular has done something shady, I believe it! Just because a shopper has done 100, or 500, or 1000 shops for a company and hasn't had a problem, doesn't mean that they won't have one in the future and it certainly does not mean that someone else has not had a problem. Let's stop being so hasty about jumping on the new shopper and accusing them of lying or being disingenuous when they describe a situation. Just because a scheduler gets on and gives "their" side of the story doesn't mean they are telling the truth, either. Obviously, they've got a reputation to protect, so they've got as much reason to lie as the OP that wants to get paid.

@Bec2117 wrote:

I am always surprised by those forum members who immediately jump in and say, because they've never had a bad experience with an MSC or particular scheduler, that the OP must be lying or misrepresenting the facts. I can tell from personal experience, that that is not always the case. When I first started mystery shopping, back in 2007, I shopped almost exclusively for one company. 99% of the time, I had a great working relationship with my scheduler, but not always. Case in point: I had scheduled a gas shop two states away and was unable to purchase gas because the directions (before I had GPS, I used MapQuest) for the street address took me to the employee parking lot on the backside of the station that was located on the payway (an interstate that you pay to use) with no access to the pumps. I walked in and did all the required evaluations, but did not purchase gas (I later bought a gas can so I could do these shops without having to pay the toll and still make the required gas purchase). Nowhere on the MSC's website did it say the station was on the payway. My scheduler jumped all over me and INSISTED that the instructions did say the shop was on the payway. I sent a screenshot of the page showing I was correct. Evidently, the page the scheduler sees is not the same page we see, as her page clearly showed the correct information, but mine did not. Fortunately, the MSC changed their ways and included that important piece of information on the page that the shoppers saw. This same scheduler would always lie (yes, it was a LIE) to me about how much I had received for a particularly distant gas station when I would ask for a bonus. She would say they NEVER paid over $25 for this location, yet I had received $50 for it the last two times I shopped it. This MSC shows all payments with the corresponding addresses for all shops since I started, so I could easily prove how much I received for the shop and on which dates using their own records. Now, maybe the scheduler didn't have access to my pay statement, but I find it extremely hard to believe that the records she had access to were not accurate. I've done nearly 3000 shops for this company and had issues maybe a dozen times in nearly 12 years. Anytime someone claims that this company in particular has done something shady, I believe it! Just because a shopper has done 100, or 500, or 1000 shops for a company and hasn't had a problem, doesn't mean that they won't have one in the future and it certainly does not mean that someone else has not had a problem. Let's stop being so hasty about jumping on the new shopper and accusing them of lying or being disingenuous when they describe a situation. Just because a scheduler gets on and gives "their" side of the story doesn't mean they are telling the truth, either. Obviously, they've got a reputation to protect, so they've got as much reason to lie as the OP that wants to get paid.

Yes, but you are not naming the company or the scheduler. What would be the point? To each their own, though, as we are all adults here.

@Bec2117
Yes: Schedulers, Shoppers, and MSC owners are all human and make mistakes. Yes, there are instances where schedulers have been dishonest. (It comes with being human.)

However, sometimes, after both parties have posted, the truth is extremely clear. When somebody new to the forum and shopping makes (clearly) false accusations against somebody who is established and has a good reputation, the new shopper needs to be corrected. I, for instance, am happy to spend time to type responses to questions and help new shoppers get themselves going and/or handle difficult situations. However, I do not like learning, after I have provided a thoughtful response, that the OP fabricated parts of the scenario described. It invalidates my advice and wastes my time.

My understanding about a public forum owned by Jacob Jans who is liberal regarding his forum, and certainly gives everyone more than one chance before denying access would differ with forum member and OP of this thread. My words and feelings will be mine and if an MSC reads and doesn't like, so be it. I have badmouthed Cirrus and won't work for them, yet, I remain on their list of shoppers, and they would happily give me work.
I recently had a difficult job and couldn't get the information from the Banker, I did not write about it as I like the company, this is my choice. MSC's that are unfair should be exposed.

Please, let's not be controlling, telling others how to post....no hard feelings, just different opinions. however, once I feel I am being controlled by another member, I leave.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2019 04:12PM by Irene_L.A..

Yes, let those who want to hang themselves do it. lol

@Irene_L.A.
I think we are talking past each other. I'm not really disagreeing with you and I'm not trying to set rules.
I am SUGGESTING that as individuals we think twice before posting false accusations.
I am SUGGESTING that as individuals we not tear folks down for the sake of tearing them down.
I am SUGGESTING that doing the above could affect your status as a shopper with some MSC's.

If somebody wants to get onto this board and accuse scheduler "Bob" or MSC "Checking it Out" of nefarious intentions, I'm not trying to stop them from doing so. However, I am suggesting that doing so (especially falsely) could be a really bad idea. Question: If we were to falsely accuse "Checking it Out" of never paying most folks, and shoppers here stopped doing work for them because of our "warnings," we could do significant damage to that business. Is that okay? I would suggest that we, as shoppers benefit, from having lots of healthy MSC's.

Of course, if an MSC is truly not paying folks, we should be communicating it. I am certain that a lot of folks were saved a whole lot of headache and frustration when NSS went under as jobs were still being assigned, but payments were not being made. The communication here was important.

You are correct: Jacob is very liberal with what he allows on this site. However, just because something is permitted by site rules, does not mean it's a good idea to do it.

My last response is to leave if your not happy with posts that seem to offend you due to the way they're written, we're not your students......

I'm not offended. You are not my students.

I am an advocate for professionalism.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

My last response is to leave if your not happy with posts that seem to offend you due to the way they're written, we're not your students......

I as well love and do not mix my professional life with a forum that is not always professional and doesn't need to be. I never mix being a professional when going to work, or having run (when married) a successful business for 50 years. My ex ran it, but I did learn a lot and was involved. The forum needs an element of fun and nonsense.

@Irene_L.A.
I agree.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

My understanding about a public forum owned by Jacob Jans who is liberal regarding his forum, and certainly gives everyone more than one chance before denying access would differ with forum member and OP of this thread. My words and feelings will be mine and if an MSC reads and doesn't like, so be it. I have badmouthed Cirrus and won't work for them, yet, I remain on their list of shoppers, and they would happily give me work.
I recently had a difficult job and couldn't get the information from the Banker, I did not write about it as I like the company, this is my choice. MSC's that are unfair should be exposed.

Please, let's not be controlling, telling others how to post....no hard feelings, just different opinions. however, once I feel I am being controlled by another member, I leave.

Irene - you are correct in your feelings. I guess I feel the the OP was trying to say 1) don't lie in your posts, use facts 2) Be aware of the potential consequences of your post. We all make choices and some people choose to accept the potential consequences. That's OK. 3) Bullying, regardless of who it is directed towards, should not be posted on the forum and 4) You get more flies with Honey

We're good.

Oh, Crap here we go again!

No, I meant here we went again.

I, for one, do not like that MSC, Schedulers, Supervisors etc. come to this forum. I would like the freedom to post and get feedback from my fellow shoppers if there is a problem with a particular MSC without fear of retaliation.

@KaliAri wrote:

I, for one, do not like that MSC, Schedulers, Supervisors etc. come to this forum. I would like the freedom to post and get feedback from my fellow shoppers if there is a problem with a particular MSC without fear of retaliation.

I think it's a bit of a "catch 22"

I think that them coming to this forum is how some things get changed. I've been shopping since 2006, off and on. I do know that some schedulers and probably the MSCs as a whole, were bullies at times. That seems to have abated considerably. I think that maybe knowing that we have a forum to share that sort of information has made MSCs have a little more responsibility toward the shoppers' individuality and needs.

However, I also like to be able to speak freely, without worrying about being identified and cast as a "bad shopper" in some way

NOTE: NOT implying that the MSCs and schedulers should give leeway to consistently flaky shoppers or those who turn in bad reports....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2019 07:38PM by Jill_L.

I think what it comes down to, and many of you are alluding to that, is that there's a huge difference between getting on here and venting, ranting, and raving about a scheduler or MSC -- doing it without naming names, of course, and which could be just @#$%& out loud or asking what one can do in a particularly frustrating situation; accusing a scheduler or MSC of shady practices, broken promises, failure to respond, etc., without cold, hard facts; and presenting a specific situation and substantiating it with unemotional facts. Each scenario is different. While it might be tempting to jump on here and accuse or badmouth a scheduler or MSC out of anger, frustration, or vindictiveness, it's not wise, as MFJohnston says. But if a shopper comes on here and presents a fact-based situation that puts a scheduler or MSC in a bad light, that shouldn't reflect badly on the shopper. And hopefully that shopper won't be considered a "problem." But fear of being labeled as one shouldn't make shoppers hesitant to post about legitimate issues.

MJF...it's a good thing you weren't here years ago when someone named Sybil2 (major bully) was on...it was bad. the forum is cleaned up 100%, I don't notice the stalkers or bullies, that's good enough for me. Exposing really unfair practices by shoppers on a shoppers forum should be for shoppers, and we do have a Kudo's thread giving praise to the good ones...always two sides to a coin.

@BirdyC wrote:

But if a shopper comes on here and presents a fact-based situation that puts a scheduler or MSC in a bad light, that shouldn't reflect badly on the shopper. And hopefully that shopper won't be considered a "problem." But fear of being labeled as one shouldn't make shoppers hesitant to post about legitimate issues.

I agree with what you are saying, but MFJ's post does not discourage presenting a fact-based situation in professional language. My opinion is that writing about what a shopper thinks as a problem with a MSC should be done in the same way we write a report about a "bad" shop. Would any of us dream of writing a report calling the employees of a business we shopped names? Or cussing and telling things that might easily be proven false by viewing the video? Of course not. But some posters seem to feel that is appropriate when they are posting anonymously on the internet. MJF does not appear to be talking about fact-based posts. His thread appears to have been prompted by a thread started by a poster who cried out for help while lying to us. The truth was pretty obvious when the scheduler named in the thread came in and posted the real story.

Also in my opinion, we are posting anonymously here, and to call someone out by name and present the facts dishonestly, does make a poster a problem. In fact, it makes him worse than a problem.

Just IMO, I think what MFJ is saying is

1. Think about the consequences before you post.
2. TELL THE TRUTH or don't bother to post. Fact-based posts are welcome. Slanted posts designed to make the poster look like the victim of an unscrupulous or inattentive MSC are not. (And frequently, MSCs who read here will recognize the details of the situation and post the truth, making the liar look like exactly what she is.)
3. Remember that this is a professional forum. We have fun here, but this is not a forum where unacceptable language and unprofessional behavior is welcomed.
4. If you want to throw a tantrum, go in your closet and kick, scream, cuss, and throw things. Or vent to your family and/or roommates. Nobody here wants to hear a poster have an online tantrum.. If you have a story to tell, tell it honestly and professionally. Unprofessional, tantruming behavior only makes other forum members doubt the legitimacy of the story.
5. Jacob has few rules here. The posting guidelines are very short. My favorite part is "Add a positive contribution to the community."