With all the talk of low rates, I've sometimes been fine to work for LESS than the posted rate IF I can guarantee a route.

Example: Suppose I schedule 3 grocery shops and a Sonic.

I'd be HAPPY to do a Panda for FREE (just reimbursement) IF they gave it to me on that exact route day. The report is easy enough. Yet, there are times when I see Panda with base rate and don't take it, b/c it's not convenient and you'd have to pay me more.

Can we underbid? Should MSCs have that option in the software?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2019 01:13AM by shoptastic.

Of COURSE you may underbid. Just contact the scheduler or the helpdesk. They should be all over your offer like white on rice, LOL!

That only hurts us all to do that. Personally I think it’s a bit of a jerk move. But what do I know

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2019 11:06PM by middleclassmom.

Underbid all you like. The $5 (or whatever) you forfeit for those convenient shops will then be available to add to my bonus for all those shops I want in Timbuktu.

Or you could just tell them you could do the shop on such and such a day and see if they agree.

I KNEW who started this thread by reading the title of the post. Geesh!

Why not offer to do it free..bet you get it and all the rest for free.....Geesh!

What is the logic here? The Panda is self assign, no need to bid. Since the same MSC limits us too two of their grocery shops per client, and the grocery shops are snapped up quickly, there is no route available here.

You do know that you can edit the subject line when you edit the original post???

Good job though thinking of obscure topics or rehashing existing over discussed topics.

Is there a goal in place to start a specific number of threads per week?

Yes!!! Exactly what Irene said. And don't forget to start a thread about it when you do. You haven't started enough lately.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Why not offer to do it free..bet you get it and all the rest for free.....Geesh!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2019 12:30PM by kimmiemae.

@isaiah58 wrote:

What is the logic here? The Panda is self assign, no need to bid. Since the same MSC limits us too two of their grocery shops per client, and the grocery shops are snapped up quickly, there is no route available here.

I am referring to grocery shops by several other MSCs that I do. I can easily string together five or six a day if I wanted to, including a Sonic, cell phone shop (which I never take), or [insert filler route shop].

I know that Panda is self-assign when the are posted. My point was, if stated unclearly, was that I'd be willing to do that Panda shop on a grocery/filler route for "free" if they gave it to me for sure at a future date. In other words, I would want that shop locked up before it ever hit the boards and would be willing to do it for cheaper, because it could be one of the fillers on my route that make it more profitable.

Pandas in my area disappear the day or two after they are posted usually. It wasn't so much about Panda, itself, but just any shop that could be like that. Basically a desirable (to me) filler that I'd be willing to do for less, but it has to be given to me at an exact date and before others can take it.

I do feel the "getting it before others" part could be unfair and I'm not sure what others think about that...??? If it's known that we can underbid or ask for shops in advance (i.e., everyone knows), then that would seem fair. Some schedulers send emails asking us to schedule in advance. I always take advantage of that.

But, I've never done that when there hasn't been that invitation. And I've never underbid.

@isaiah58 wrote:

You do know that you can edit the subject line when you edit the original post???

Now I do.

So just e-mail you-know-who and explain your offer.
\
You never know. The worst they can do is tell you "your offer was declined" (LOL), and you're not one bit worse off that you are right now.

It has always miffed me that the shopping window they offer is so short; other companies are scheduling weeks and weeks ahead. Maybe other companies with similar shops would be a better idea for you? Like SeeLevel.....

@middleclassmom wrote:

That only hurts us all to do that. Personally I think it’s a bit of a jerk move. But what do I know

Don't have the time to write more detailed thoughts atm, mcm, but I do hear ya!

I just pitching the thought here and appreciate the feedback and will reply to these feelings when I have more time later. I guess two quickie thoughts were that:

a.) as MFJ said, me taking shops for less could open up bonuses for other shops that are harder to fill for others
b.) anyone could presumably do this too (including yourself)

For me, I just find it very time-consuming to try to build a route in my area (shops I'm capable of doing - I do have certain physical limitations) and often see all those efforts amount to nothing (or come up much shorter than I wanted for that route). I can spend tons of time trying to memorize job posting dates (I have a list that I've printed out and hang up to remind me) and try to hop on to grab up stuff as soon as possible, but there is no guarantee. Sometimes competiors will snap up convenient shops before I have the chance to get to them and my routes won't work - or, they are much less profitable.

It's that lost time that I"m finding less and less okay in my life. I can simply not shop or only do it once in a blue moon when the scheduling stars align. Or maybe try to find better strategies.

I guess I was thinking that "underbidding" might be something that could help others too in my shoes. If you're in a highly populated area and it's hard to string together stuff, maybe having a way to lock in a route can be a good idea if it benefits all sides. I dunno. Just putting it out there for feedback and will re: more some time in the future.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Like SeeLevel.....

See Level's QSRs are the only ones near me that would provide regular routing, I think.

But, I refuse to do them, after some bad experiences in the past. They were too frustrating for me.

I mostly do grocery routes using Trend Source, Second to None, Confero, and MFI. And I'll filler them up with a FG, Panda, or Sonic oftentimes.

I probably should branch out. I'm going to look into those property assessment shops or something some called "Presto Map." I saw it mentioned in another thread.

Still thinking of underbidding idea and will get back to this later.

It's PrestoInstaMaps.

I keep it open 24/7 on my desktop. If I want to go to a certain area, I'll check that FIRST to see what SASSIE shops are available. So very easy to use, too.

I have. Coyle often has bid your travel reimbursement for some of their shops. Sometimes I've understated my travel or said no travel to get assigned a shop.

More work and less money. Yeah that's brilliant. *eyeroll*

No. I do the jobs I commit to well, but do not try to do as many as I can.

I would contact a company and tell them I'd complete say 10 of their gas station shops for $× and if they give me those I'll also take the convenience store for base..
When you are negotiating a package deal you can do whatever works for you. Don't think of it as doing one shop for 'free' but think of it as the entire route/ package of shops for $x.
Run your business however you like. I've bid zero travel expenses for Coyle so that I had a higher chance of being assigned the hotel, even though I did have expenses to reach the location. I just got creative with other shops.