This makes me sad....

I received this email in response to a bonus request for a faraway IPSOS shop........ cannot even make money on faraway locations anymore!

There has been an increase of shopper in this area, so lately we have been able to get this one filled with little to no bonus. Can I use you as a back-up?

Booooooooooooooooooo!

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You just have to know the quality and value of your work,turfman. The newbies will flake or wash out soon enough...

That is what I am hoping for! They are going to get cold doing gas shops in the mountains this time of year!

Sure, be backup -- at your stated price!!!

One scheduler has a nick name for me: Back-up Bob. This, due to my lack of interest in accepting work for a pittance. Last year, she only used me on two occasions. I neither need nor desire to work for what is being offered in today's shopping market, but I do understand some folks are in a difficult financial situation and must accept less for their labors than what they are equitably valued.

@ceasesmith yep that is the plan....it's still on the board too!

@shopperbob I 100% agree with you. I have other projects to keep me busy and understand that others have to start somewhere to get their name out there.

Fun thread! )

Wait as long as you can and maybe longer than that. There is just one caution about the mountain towns. As an example, up to 44" of snow are expected in mountains south of me. Heavy snow is anticipated in my state. Multiple towns in my state and my neighbor state will receive heavy snowfall. If you are shopping near here, check the road and weather conditions constantly. From experience, I know that your access to shops might be thwarted or delayed due to local or road conditions.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

I think my schedulers are in central America or overseas somewhere. They do not "get" the concept of snow and ice preventing me from traveling. I send them pictures of my car buried in snow, and they say "can you go tomorrow?" No, I cannot go tomorrow -- it's -22 out there, and that snow is going to stay right there for another week or so.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I think my schedulers are in central America or overseas somewhere. They do not "get" the concept of snow and ice preventing me from traveling. I send them pictures of my car buried in snow, and they say "can you go tomorrow?" No, I cannot go tomorrow -- it's -22 out there, and that snow is going to stay right there for another week or so.

Don't you have snow shoes? Or a jet pack?

Skis. Snowmobile. Wings!!!!!

@Rousseau wrote:

@ceasesmith wrote:

I think my schedulers are in central America or overseas somewhere. They do not "get" the concept of snow and ice preventing me from traveling. I send them pictures of my car buried in snow, and they say "can you go tomorrow?" No, I cannot go tomorrow -- it's -22 out there, and that snow is going to stay right there for another week or so.

Don't you have snow shoes? Or a jet pack?

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

none

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2021 03:39AM by Informascheduler.

@Informascheduler wrote:

And then you have the schedulers in the US that get 119 emails and no I am not lying to reschedule and out of those I have 76 that have a weather forecast attached that I do not need to tell me what the weather is like and it is so irritating especially when I am sitting here freezing as well..... And i am in South Texas.

People attach the weather forecast because schedulers don't believe them.
I attached a photo of my car in a ditch this summer.
Just keep track of how many times people say that their mom died.
Heading out to shop now. Wearing a t-shirt, jeans and flip flops.

It is a scheduler's job to get the shops filled at the lowest rates possible while still getting a quality evaluation. It is our job to try to get the most we can out of our locations. Its a back and forth game. I always qualify my bonus offers with something like this.

"I know this is a business, and if you can find someone to do it for less, I completely understand. However, if you want me to do it, I need to know soon because I am planning my route in that area."

Mama replies to Virginia--People attach the weather forecast because schedulers don't believe them.

Bob agrees--Concise and candid. Over my years in this business, I have had a few MSC employees share their flake numbers; it seems to run 40 to 50%. The one I never understood was with a company that disbanded their shopping division. For a couple's dinner, they paid me a fee of $15, in the beginning did not require a receipt, had a wide window to shop and merely asked me not to go overboard with the total. The gal in charge shared the flake rate and mentioned it was the prime reason corporate decided to leave shopping to other folks.

Well I got the shop at the price I wanted so all in all a good day!

Good thing you are a scheduler and not an editor. YEESH!!!

Is there more than one Virginia with KSS? Just curious.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2021 06:27PM by sestrahelena.

Her posts certainly made a poor impression as far as professionalism of Kern schedulers.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Is there more than one Virginia with KSS? Just curious.

C'mon now.

Well, that's kind of why I wondered. Her communications with me have always been perfectly professional. Maybe she's off today and got into the breakfast wine. It's happened to me occasionally!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2021 09:36PM by sestrahelena.

So here we are. We have to watch what we say about religion and politics. Will we now have to banish discussions of the weather?

I see some (most?) sides of the weather issue. I began life as a desert rat, spent a mild season in California, loved my summers in the mountains, and now live where it frequently dumps snow during eight to nine months of each year and for hundreds of miles in all directions.

I had my once in a lifetime issue with weather and mystery shopping when I dared to attempt a long but bonused day. The two target cities are only a half hour apart-- usually. Due to road closures, I had to take two days, two separate routes to the cities, and eat the profits.

I will never, ever plan that type of work day again. I will take the time to warn shoppers about the risks and pitfalls of snow days.
';

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

Oh I have that spreadsheet and there's a lot of them.

sestrahelena: no power and frozen pipes all day. Even the poor dogs are cold and sleeping under the blankets

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2021 03:44AM by Informascheduler.

OMG! Be safe, V!

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