I used to get a lot back in 2017 when I first started shopping. But, I never get called anymore. I never returned schedluers calls, though, back then. I assumed it was unnecessary if we couldn't do the job.

Haven't gotten a call in six months from any scheduler....so just wondering. Albeit, I did more or less take all of 2018 off. I think I did maybe 20 shops total that year. So, maybe they saw how inactive I was? Not sure?

But, I'm back now and wouldn't mind the calls!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2019 12:27PM by shoptastic.

I not only return calls (hey, it's rude not to!), I make a note on the MSCs page in my binder of who called and what they offered. So when I'm going that way, or interested in that type of shop, I'll know who to call.

Besides, if you don't return calls, you'll never develop a relationship with a scheduler, which is of ultimate importance if you wish to get the bonus bucks.

After you get out there and do more shops, you'll start getting the calls again.

Depends. If random scheduler calls from random basic company that has a million shops no, I'm wasting their time. If favorite scheduler calls from small MSC, yeah for sure!

I always return calls...last night I was out and had my phone off. Upon returning home I had a message from a #1
scheduler high up and the message asked a question about a report I had done four days ago so she could submit the report...bet your life I returned call, answered question. I guess it depends on the scheduler, but unless it is for a job done, I have told them not to call, I prefer emails and they listen. OP, yet another question to get attention, go do five five dollar jobs and make 25.00 instead of wasting your time writing these mindless posts.....trying to help in any small way, and thinking shopping isn't for you!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2019 03:24PM by Irene_L.A..

I wouldn't say I get offended, mainly because it's nearly impossible to offend me, but like ceasesmith said, your goal should be to develop relationships with schedulers. It's harder to do that if you don't answer the phone or return calls.

Also, if you were working with said scheduler, you would expect them to answer your calls or call back, so why not give the same courtesy?

This is another reason why I use text a lot. People are busy, and it takes much less time to respond with a quick "yes" or "no", and go about their business in between texts.

I feel like I’m wasting their time to call back and say no. If I can take the shop, then I’ll call back.

Same here. I'm surprised to hear others see it differently. I will give a quick reply via text or email that is sent to me specifically (not mass automated ones, of course). Do schedulers really want to take my call just to hear me say no thanks?

@LindaM wrote:

I feel like I’m wasting their time to call back and say no. If I can take the shop, then I’ll call back.

KSSPete is right about everyone being busy. I had much rather communicate with a scheduler via text or email, and do so with several. But that's just my preference.

How do you know you won't accept the job without speaking to the scheduler? I can't tell you how many times I've worked it out with a scheduler -- oh, yes, I could do it next Thursday. Can you extend it that long? And what's the incentive?



Or -- I'm sorry, I can't work it in this time. But keep me in mind next time, OK? I really would like to do this shop.

I return calls from schedulers that leave a detailed message, which is about 10 seconds..shop location, date, pay. I don't return the voicemails from Market Force because they almost never tell me any details about the shop and they only leave a voicemail after calling umpteen times. If they leave info, I call back. A lot of times, though, the message via voicemail or text from schedulers say to respond if available and as far as I'm concerned, there's no need to respond if it won't work. I get texts from one scheduler at least twice a day, almost every day with the same message with not much info. I'm not going to respond to that either.

@KSSPete wrote:

I wouldn't say I get offended, mainly because it's nearly impossible to offend me, but like ceasesmith said, your goal should be to develop relationships with schedulers. It's harder to do that if you don't answer the phone or return calls.

Yeah, I think there's value in trying to build a relationship and calling back just to say thanks...sorry, I can't do the shop this time, but maybe next time. In my mind, I always worried about wasting that scheduler's time. I figured they made 10's of calls a day and it might bog them down to have everyone call back. But, I think the building a relationship part makes sense.

I just think a lot of shoppers (esp. new ones) don't understand the etiquette around this as much. I'm always reminded by people that we're actually small business owners as shoppers. It makes sense from a business perspective to return calls. I'd say, for me, my sister, and another shopper, who is a friend in my local area, that we don't have that business mindset so much. We see mystery shopping just as a nice quick way to make some convenient extra cash and don't think about developing a long-term business presence (those things take time and commitment).

I definitely am impressed by those who do. I feel like there are different levels of seriousness and commitment to ms-ing and that may affect how some choose to handle these situations. It's definitely good to know from a scheduler's perspective how things are perceived!

I'm going to consider call backs in the future. I typically don't re: emails, unless it's very targeted, but do for some reason re: texts usually.

I can understand why not everyone would call back. I guess that if the answer is a hard no, regardless of incentive or deadline, then a call back isn't really necessary. And to really answer your question, no, I don't hold it against anyone for not returning my calls or texts. But, when there's shops that several shoppers want, I'm definitely going to reward those who do answer me and have helped before if at all possible.

What could be in your best interest though, is let's say that you are available to shop, but you don't want the shop offered, it could still be worth a call to say something like "Hey, I'm not interested in this one, but do you have anything in Y or Z area that you need filled?" Even if they don't, they will/should remember you offered.

If it's a call from a specific scheduler I work with, I will absolutely call him or her back. If it's a random call from a call-center type person, I generally do not, because with them, I have found that when I used to call them back, they would say something to the effect "I couldn't wait to hear back from you, so I called 20 other shoppers." I don't quite understand why they leave a call back number. But at this point in my 16+ years of MS I am kind of selective, so I call those schedulers whom I know and they know me!

@Threemom wrote:

Same here. I'm surprised to hear others see it differently. I will give a quick reply via text or email that is sent to me specifically (not mass automated ones, of course). Do schedulers really want to take my call just to hear me say no thanks?

@LindaM wrote:

I feel like I’m wasting their time to call back and say no. If I can take the shop, then I’ll call back.

Exactly this^^^^

I don't really have a lot of time to shop. I do it to pad costs when I'm going somewhere and maybe once in a while for a dinner out with the husb, or a fun night with the family at an amusement place.

But I manage our rental properties, and in the last several months, I've had to replace an a/c, two roofs and 2 hot water heaters ….( so maybe I should pick up some shops for $$$ lol) I also have 4 kids who I homeschool; 2 kids with medical problems; have a room mate; babysit; tutor; teach online. I'm also thinking about going back to school. In addition to all of that, we've taken a girl into our home, so we really have 5 kids now. Add to that the fact that (because of homeschool) I try to take my kids to the Art Museum; Museum of Nature and Science; Children's Museum; Aquarium; city sponsored events; Zoo...etc at least once a month. My husband and I alternate months where we do a "special day" with our kids...he gets evens, I get odds. We don't do December and we don't do March. But each month, one of us spends 2+ hours with one child one on one. And my kids are in "everything." My daughter has been in tap, jazz, ballet for 8 years. She started pointe a little over a year ago. She's taken piano lessons for 2 years; guitar lessons for 7. She takes ASL and Arabic lessons. She's been in soccer, basketball and swimming frequently, but not regularly. My two oldest sons have been in ballet for 7 years. Both have taken piano lessons for 2 years. One also takes trumpet lessons. One takes ASL. Both are in club soccer AND school soccer. Both are in club basketball. One is in baseball. My youngest, who is 7, just started ballet this fall and has been in city league soccer for a year now. My 3 older kids and husb and I take turns (various of the 5 oldest fam members) work 2-3 Fri nights at a Bingo hall because working there pays for the club soccer.

Honest truth here: There have actually been days (usually during soccer season) where I have to draw a little map and plot out my times to drop off, pick up, drop off, pick up...using as many short cuts through town as possible lol

So, my life is too busy to pee sometimes, let alone return a call IF THERE IS NO WAY I would be able to do the shop....

I'm very picky about my shops

I only respond if it's a shop I want to do, or if it's from my favorite MSC. I used to try and return all/most calls from MSC's but it got to be ridiculous, playing phone tag, not getting ANY details of the shop, then finding out it was filled.

I don't return calls for shops I'm not interested in, or available to do. Unless, the scheduler's message asks me to let them know, either way. When I get that request, I realize the urgency, and want to let the scheduler know, so they can mark me off their list of possible shoppers. I thank them for thinking of me, and add that I look forward to working together soon.

No call needed...I received a return email from an owner/scheduler for a job I want after my trip and gave her my dates, she said this job will be heavily bonused, and thanks for the heads up...job is yours. This will be in September when I return from Vegas, yes first Chicago, then Vegas......had she texted, that would have worked, phone calls, when driving I don't answer and a text is much easier.

If the message stated called if interested and I am not interested. I do not call.

@Mert wrote:

I don't return calls for shops I'm not interested in, or available to do. Unless, the scheduler's message asks me to let them know, either way. When I get that request, I realize the urgency, and want to let the scheduler know, so they can mark me off their list of possible shoppers. I thank them for thinking of me, and add that I look forward to working together soon.

Cosign