Scheduling

How far out do you typically schedule? Are most of you planners or fly be the seat of your pant-ers?

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

It depends. For out-of-state, multi-day trips, I'm generally up to a month out, but adding filler shops once I've arrived....... Otherwise, I'm usually taking it week-by-week, unless there is something offered earlier that's worth penciling in for the future....

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I am on hiatus because I am far behind on my house tasks. (I cannot do everything! I had to stop for awhile!) When I return, I will do whatever method suits at the time. Ironically, I just had a few days off of work, which are enough time for a decently paid road trip. However, i was free because of a blizzard. I was snowed in, with no possibility of going anywhere. So much for plans...

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I typically plan a week in advance. On my calendar I will put placeholders for shops I know will be bonused later in the month.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I usually plan by the week as well. Sometimes I will go two weeks out, but not often. I'm not a full time shopper like many others on the Forum. So I can usually decide even a day or two ahead or even the day of the shop.
I am a substitute teacher in 2 rural school divisions. When I get booked at a school, I look for a suitable mystery shop in that particular small town.
Overall, not interested in shopping on days off. No extra travelling due to Covid, these days

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2021 05:48PM by prince.
Because I know that certain MSCs are fine with moving my shop dates, I will eagerly grab those shops as far in advance as they are available. Of course, frequent rescheduling/switching dates only works if you have a reputation for getting the job done well and reliably. So, build your rep first and be very pleasant in your interactions with schedulers.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I try to and prefer to plan weeks in advance, however that is getting harder as the companies are offering smaller windows. That's my problem with presto shops, and I use them as fillers only, but often don't have time for them.
I go day by day, usually not planning more than a week in advance. This is mainly because, due to my location away from metro areas, I need to wait for good bonuses to offset the travel. Plus, I hate to commit myself to a few shops far in the future only to have a ton of good bonuses pop up in the opposite direction for that same time period.
I make out my schedule for the entire followiing month when the new shops come out. I add shops during the month as they appear until there is no more room on my schedule. I leave a few days open at EOM so I can grab the bonused shops. I schedule intensive out-of-state shops as far in advance as possible and then add to the routes until there is no room for more shops. I have scheduled some intensive shops, such as hotel/casino resorts, as much as 3 months in advance.
I grab shops I want when I see them as bonuses are generally not available in my market. During covid we have actually had some types of shops with bonuses so for those I will wait. As more and more shoppers get vaccinated I think those nice bonuses will be gone.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login