I have been doing a series of shops for one of the major MSCs. There are dozens of locations, lots of details and variables at each stop. The pay per stop is quite modest, but in aggregate there's some meat on the bone (if all goes well) but the shoppers aren't getting rich by any means. The shops require some supplies that have to be shipped out ahead, without which the shops don't fly.
I don't care to name either the MSC or the client. The general details I'm presenting should suffice.
I've recently been informed that there is a problem with the supplies and they have to be replaced. All work on the shops is to cease until the replacements arrive. There are three days left before the deadline for the whole project. The particular issue hasn't been shared with me, but it seems to be a problem that originates with the client possibly the MSC. They have said that the supplies were apparently wrong from the start and all shops done to date are tainted because of it. The project has been going on for weeks, with thousands of shops nationwide. The problem is entirely beyond the control or oversight of the shoppers.
I had a final push planned to finish off my committed locations before the deadline, leaving a day or two to resolve any issues that come up. The remaining locations are about 120 miles round trip from me. As these shops are fairly lean, I have work for other MSCs built into the route. Crop diversity, if you will. As I cannot expect those other MSCs to extend their deadlines I will have to proceed with those stops anyway, even though the route is no longer profitable with the primary shops postponed. When the replacement supplies arrive, I'll need to make another trip to the area to complete those alone: another light day that I likely won't be able to fill out. Between the redundant travel and the two light route, I'll loose a fair bit of money. The whole project will end up to be well into in the red for me, all over an issue that I did not control or contribute to in any way.
I very gently and politely explained all this to the MSC, suggesting that they should share in that financial loss to me. I invited them into a discussion wherein we could together find an equitable way to do that.. In reply, they suggested that they could cancel the remaining shops to reduce my load instead. No compromise possible, in fact no discussion possible.
I have read multiple times on this forum that the company in question operates with high integrity and fairness, and is favored among shoppers for this. I've been happy to work for them in the past but my experience in this matter stands in stark contrast to the reports others have given for them.
So here's' the question. Is it unreasonable to think the MSC should at least share in the verifiable losses due to their error, or the error of their client? And engage meaningfully with me to find an equitable way to do that?