I've actually got 5 shops scheduled for May: 2 grocery shops, 2 convenience store quick audits and 1 NetSpend changeout shop.

Since you did not name the client, which companies did you find shops for?

I'm going to guess Kroger, Circle K, and gotta keep the Netspend one quiet since it's maybe multiple clients (like Walmart or Speedway).

The well is still dry in my area. Reading this is encouraging.

@guysmom wrote:

I've actually got 5 shops scheduled for May: 2 grocery shops, 2 convenience store quick audits and 1 NetSpend changeout shop.

Oh well, I don't care cuz I am not going to do any unless they come out with curbside shops, mask or no mask.

@Insight wrote:

Since you did not name the client, which companies did you find shops for?

Strategic Reflections has grocery clients in my area, RBG has some convenience clients, and I can't name the MSC for the NetSpend, since NetSpend IS the client. Hope that helps. But you must also remember that each area of the country is opening up at various rates. My area of SC is doing very well, yet Mass, where my sister lives, is going through a more difficult time. So restrictions and requirement will be different in all areas. What is going on in my area may not be going on in other areas. And we must all be careful still. Yes, it is encouraging.

Either the NetSpends near me were scooped by someone else or they are not happening here. (I checked at a few of 'my' stores and noticed that no additional cards are needed there.)

The company who handles/-ed the NetSpend assignments for me offers both mystery shopping assignments and merchandising assignments.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

The company who handles/-ed the NetSpend assignments for me offers both mystery shopping assignments and merchandising assignments.

Yes, they do! Once in a great while I will grab one of their other jobs if the Client interests me, and the fee is within my acceptable range.

I do NetSpend jobs in Texas approximately every month. In April, I was sent to stores to do a major advertising change-out right in the middle of a pandemic shut down - except for the "essential businesses." The stores' were packed like it was Thanksgiving or Christmas. Whole families were treating it as an outing because grocery stores were about all that was open then. Only about 50-60% of people wore masks, and there was very little social distancing because of the large numbers of people. Forget the Chinese approach where one person goes out every three days for food. I felt so stressed out the entire time, but I needed the money. The governor has since relaxed the rules and opened even more of Texas for business. I did the same stores this week, for May. The stores were not quite as busy (since people no longer fear toilet paper shortages), but only about 30% wore masks. It was as if nothing was wrong! It made me sad and angry! Those "entitled" people have no respect for anyone else and they are very quickly becoming pariahs. How is COVID-19 going to stop if people won't even TRY to do the right thing when in public? COVID-19 is not going to burn out. More and more people are going to get sick and suffer permanent lung and blood vessel damage. Lots more people suffocate and/or choke to death in a slow, painful way. Why do people have such a "screw you" attitude about this?

@Dandydew wrote:

Those "entitled" people have no respect for anyone else and they are very quickly becoming pariahs. Why do people have such a "screw you" attitude about this?

You're right to feel angry. Some people have no consideration for others, and their sense of entitlement is a danger to anyone with whom they come in contact.
I can sympathize with those who have to leave the safety of their homes to go to work or to buy groceries, but I have precious little tolerance for those who flaunt the advice of medical experts "just because."
The reason that they have the "screw you" attitude is because they were raised in an environment that catered to their every whim, regardless of others' feelings.

What makes you think those people are entitled? What if they do not have masks or cannot get them? There might be other explanations.

What I think is absurd is that some people seem to believe that they are entitled to issue a command to stay home or wear masks and actually expect that absolutely everyone will hop to and comply immediately without question and regardless of ability to do so and join the ranks of reporters on the 'entitled' non-compliant! Some people really need more time and money to organize themselves around al the commands. It is especially difficult for people who lack money, are in places where supplies are limited, or who do not have someone who can make online or in-store purchases for them. Somehow, these factors have been overlooked in the frenzy to shoehorn all persons into the one newly normal mandated and gestapo-enforced way of life.

I feel for the poster above and others who are working because they need the money and are finding people without masks, gloves, and bubbles. But I do not think that 'entitled' has been used correctly in the situation.

It's rude, selfish, and inconsiderate of others to go bare faced inside of stores during a dangerous pandemic. I agree with Dandydew completely.

Or, it might be the only way for some people to access goods and services. btw, what happened when you and Dandydew offered wrapped, new masks to people who were not wearing masks in your presence? Did any of those people seem grateful? Did they thank you for caring about their situations?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

It's rude, selfish, and inconsiderate of others to go bare faced inside of stores during a dangerous pandemic. I agree with Dandydew completely.

Yes, my husband and my sister both thanked me. They are the only beings I have come into personal contact with since March 27th. SMH at your nonsense, as usual.

So for you, it was just a matter of being snarky and agreeing with the misused 'entitlement' instead of giving a D*mn about strangers who might not have money or other methods for obtaining masks, gloves, food, and other items. Moving on now...

@Dandydew: what happened when you offered wrapped, new masks to the people who were maskless in the stores where you were working?

So I am supposed to go into stores that I have no intention on entering otherwise and go inside just to hand out masks? That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I am self-quarantined and have been ever since March 27th. And you have no idea about my charitable contributions, I am not one who goes around bragging about how much that check was that they wrote to the food bank (so far I haven't heard of anyone contracting COVID-19 by sending checks in the mail so I guess I am safe).

But, since you insist on continuing to go into stores, I am guessing that is what you are doing, handing out masks to strangers? Please, don't be such a hypocrite.

Unfortunately Shop-et-al, but I did not see anyone who looked too old, too poor, or too infirm to put something over their face while inside any of the 13 grocery stores I visited. I might be willing to give each of the HUNDREDS of unmasked people I crossed paths with over multiple days with the benefit of the doubt ONE time. Each store had displays of packaged masks and bandanas for sale immediately inside the entry doors next to the hand sanitizer machine that all customers were expected to use. I believe many, many of those unmasked people felt they were "entitled" to NOT be inconvenienced. Just screw everyone else. I looked at them and thought to myself, "Those are the people spreading this disease." One community I visited was called League City. I came home and told my family about how few people wore masks at the two stores I visited in that community. I kid you not, the VERY NEXT DAY, there was a report about how League City had suddenly spiked in the number of positive cases. Wow! I'll bet all those unmasked people consider themselves REAL patriots.

FYI, my husband made a very serviceable mask from an old bandana ... and my son used a t-shirt. So if you think it's important to wear a mask, you'll find a way to wear one. (And the corrollary is, if you don't think it's important, you won't wear one, whether it's free or not.)

Over and out, done responding to your inane, argumentative, nonsensical, ignorant, junvenile comments just hoping to start an argument. Get another life away from the forum, why dontcha?

If you do not like what I post, you may choose to toggle me and.or leave.

Before you go, you might consider that some people do not have as much as a spare shirt or a bandana to use for a makeshift mask.

Oh BS. The majority of people shopping in stores have a spare shirt or could find something to cover their faces. Why do you enjoy trolling the forum so much??

Warning: The tone of this thread is deteriorating. Should the lack of positive contribution and/or personal insults continue, posts will be removed and/or the thread will be closed.

I will try to get it back on track if no one tries to bait me into an argument.

I have 3 phone shops next week that pay $8 each, not horrible but that's all I have coming up. I did an online shop last week that paid $30. That's pretty slim pickings but it is what it is. I do see that there are some shops available on Presto but I am not interested in doing in-person shops right now. Maybe not for a year or more. I would love it if they develop some curbside service evaluation shops. Guess we shall see.

Today I did one of the IPSOS Presto IShopSafely jobs, since I was in that grocery store anyway. It was OK, and I'd do another one, now that I know what to expect.

Does the mention of additional information constitute trolling? That is a question for the owner and moderators. It is not for me. Apparently, additional information sends some posters into a tizzy. That is their issue, and they are responsible for their responses to additional information which [I surmise] makes some of them uncomfortable.

Some people really do not have extra clothing, enough food, and monetary or logistical access to those helpful items. I feel for them because on top of these basic problems, they are stymied by attitudes that deny the existence of the problems and fail to offer potential or actual assistance.

And then there is the issue of effectiveness. In order to be effective, cloth masks should have at least two materials/layers. How do people who lack one layer produce two layers of an effective mask?!

So these are a few of my concerns as I see people with and without masks. How many of the masks are effective and how many are useless? Are the useless masks no better than not wearing a mask at all?

And..... how many people who have only minimal cloth also have an effective means of sanitizing and disinfecting their reusable masks? (And, how many private citizens have no access to hazardous waste disposal for their approved, disposable masks?) But that is enough for one afternoon. To much cyber-discomfort is at least as bad as unclean and otherwise useless masks...

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Oh BS. The majority of people shopping in stores have a spare shirt or could find something to cover their faces. Why do you enjoy trolling the forum so much??

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2020 10:43PM by Shop-et-al.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I will try to get it back on track if no one tries to bait me into an argument.

I have 3 phone shops next week that pay $8 each, not horrible but that's all I have coming up. I did an online shop last week that paid $30. That's pretty slim pickings but it is what it is. I do see that there are some shops available on Presto but I am not interested in doing in-person shops right now. Maybe not for a year or more. I would love it if they develop some curbside service evaluation shops. Guess we shall see.

@pegc wrote:

Get another life away from the forum, why dontcha?

If only it were that easy!

I am not at all uncomfortable with the ideas that float, and sometimes fly, around this forum. I love ideas! I do dislike some attitudes, so I offer an alternative. But you seem to be hostile regarding me. Are you the one who needs to be away from a forum where the ideas are not easily or necessarily appropriately limited and where some members are not intimidated by you?

It is not my responsibility to leave simply because you want me to do that. It is my choice to stay and participate in the ways that I choose for myself. Anyone can toggle me as an alternative to spewing hostility at me, and they all are free to choose for themselves while considering the forum guidelines.

btw, are you able to find a non-hostile response style regarding me? If so or if not, I will not mind much. I will be me and do what I do, even if that is to present ideas that meet forum guidelines and also serve to raise necessary questions.

So now what I do is tap into the title this thread: someone had work! They worked! Woot! If I were willing to post a selfie, I could do the Presto shops in a few places near me..... Hmmmm.....

@pegc wrote:

Get another life away from the forum, why dontcha?

I too am irritated with the lack of masks worn by customers. I am in a low incident state that has reopened for business. I did a merchandising visit at a big box store today and probably 50 percent of the customers who were buying somewhat discretionary items were not wearing masks. It did not appear to be from a lack of funds given the items they were buying and the vehicles they were driving. If we are to come out of this disaster, it will only happen with adherence to CDC guidelines, effective vaccines, proven treatments and adequate testing. Otherwise, a second wave will swallow us up this Fall and we will be back to square one. I do not buy the argument that people cannot afford a mask. Paper towels bunched up and secured with rubber bands for the ears would do the trick. I have seen instructions on making one with a T shirt. Americans fought the seat belt mandate as well but at least they only killed themselves, not me or my loved ones with their stupidity if they chose to not wear a seat belt.

Rubber bands around the ears are not good for all people. I cannot use them at all. I learned this the hard way after purchasing a hand-made mask that had elastic pony tail holders for ear straps. The elastic was strong enough to hold the mask in place but too strong in that it dislodged the earpiece of my eyeglasses. Then, the glasses were askew and I could not see properly. This is a safety issue! I can only use disposable masks now.

Paper towels have been sold out or in low supply in some places. I think these paper products are returning to typical levels of availability here (small town America). But in other places in the world? I do not know about that. I only know that anything with rubber bands for ear straps is not for me.

I love the designer who showed online how to make the mask pattern based upon the armpits of the t-shirt. That was fabulous! Cleaning the cloth masks is not so fabulous. Every time I see a mask, I wonder if it has been reused too many times or has been properly cleaned. Ew!

NetSpend jobs pay $8 here. I would need 10 x that to even consider it. On a normal day, I don't do them for less than $20, and I'd have to be in the store anyway to pick it up.
People working for 1/2 of minimum wage. SMH. No wonder nobody has any savings.