Kroger program

Has anyone heard about the ending of the Kroger program? I received an email that said that the last day for the program would be August 13th.

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I do them regularly (Ralphs) and did not receive an email about the program ending. What else did it say?

I was asking about a particular location and the reply said that the last day to shop would be August 13th since the program would be ending on that day. So I don’t know… I have been doing them regularly for the past 3-4 years too

Hopefully they just meant the current program as I expect the requirements may change with different Covid mandates.

Are you talking about shops, merchandising gigs, or something else?

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

Shops

I hope they stick around. They're incredibly easy now and the report on the app takes five minutes in the parking lot. Plus, my scheduler is really generous with PAD. I have eight scheduled through the end of this month.

@Gabydiaz wrote:

Has anyone heard about the ending of the Kroger program? I received an email that said that the last day for the program would be August 13th.

I dont think they will get rid of the program since they advertise that they use us.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2021 03:37AM by pegleg2000.

Moderator Note:

Your post was deleted as it violates a Forum rule which states not to name MSC in a thread where Client has been named. You are free to re-post, without the violation.

Can someone tell me the first letter of the shop company that does Kroger shops?

@OldmanJames wrote:

Can someone tell me the first letter of the shop company that does Kroger shops?

No I can’t, but simply click on the official list of companies at the bottom of this page and then look at the list of the 15 most discussed. It’s one of them. I believe most experienced shoppers are registered with all 15 of them although there may be a few to avoid because of reported problems.

Thanks

I have not.

Kroger has regularly ended their “program” with the current MSC when they make a large update to the form. I wouldn’t panic. I’ve wondered when they would remove certain Covid related questions.

If they go back to asking the dumb questions I will no longer complete any. Sometimes there is a long wait at the Deli or Meat Departments. Also those questions identified me as a mystery shopper. I remember going into into my favorite store once and over the PA system they announced “It’s showtime”. I would also often get winks from associates as they answered my stupid question

@kenasch wrote:

If they go back to asking the dumb questions I will no longer complete any. Sometimes there is a long wait at the Deli or Meat Departments. Also those questions identified me as a mystery shopper. I remember going into into my favorite store once and over the PA system they announced “It’s showtime”. I would also often get winks from associates as they answered my stupid question

I have more issue with the time requirement. I really like the 11 am - 8 pm time slot. The 2 hour reporting requirement is also unreal, especially when their app screws up and will not accept receipt upload.

You're probably the only group to appreciate this---today I did my weekly shopping at my neighborhood Kroger. Every employee who walked near me either said "Hello" or asked if I was finding everything O.K. An associate just about dragged me to a self serve register and did all the scanning for me. On the way out I asked another customer if she had been greeted by employees too. Nope. Good luck to the real shopper this weekend.

@Rho* wrote:

You're probably the only group to appreciate this---today I did my weekly shopping at my neighborhood Kroger. Every employee who walked near me either said "Hello" or asked if I was finding everything O.K. An associate just about dragged me to a self serve register and did all the scanning for me. On the way out I asked another customer if she had been greeted by employees too. Nope. Good luck to the real shopper this weekend.

Just curious, was that a self service or traditional shop? Did you attempt to turndown self service if it was traditional? I know there is a question to allow for this but wondering if there were any problems if you needed to switch scenarios.

@ Kenasch... I had that situation before. I was standing in a traditional line with my 3 or 4 items when an employee came and invited me to self-checkout. At first I said, "That's OK," and felt stupid saying it, but the nice employee said, "Are you sure because you only have a couple of items and I can get you outta here in a couple of minutes." At that juncture, I had to yield and accept the most sensible option. She actually scanned all the items and put them in a bag for me. No, I did not have any problems with the MSC.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2021 06:56AM by 1forum1.

@AZwolfman wrote:

I have more issue with the time requirement. I really like the 11 am - 8 pm time slot. The 2 hour reporting requirement is also unreal, especially when their app screws up and will not accept receipt upload.

I figured out that I need to make sure my wifi is on and using the Kroeger store network to get the receipts to upload when the app is being stubborn. If I can't get a signal out front, I found that driving around to the rear side of the building always gives me a great signal and the upload problem is solved!

@JW wrote:

@AZwolfman wrote:

I have more issue with the time requirement. I really like the 11 am - 8 pm time slot. The 2 hour reporting requirement is also unreal, especially when their app screws up and will not accept receipt upload.

I figured out that I need to make sure my wifi is on and using the Kroeger store network to get the receipts to upload when the app is being stubborn. If I can't get a signal out front, I found that driving around to the rear side of the building always gives me a great signal and the upload problem is solved!

When I can't get the receipt to upload I restart my phone. Works every time.

kenasch wrote
Just curious, was that a self service or traditional shop? Did you attempt to turndown self service if it was traditional? I know there is a question to allow for this but wondering if there were any problems if you needed to switch scenarios.
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Late response because I've been out of town and had no access to this site.

I was grocery shopping for my household--not a mystery shop! Thats what's so ironic.

They are back. I grabbed some today.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

They are back. I grabbed some today.

Me too. They did say there would be a few different questions but didn't show what they were. The hours are still the same so hopefully they will continue to be similar to what we have been doing for the past 18 months during Covid.

I have 3 to do on the 20th

Before you jump on Kroger's, give two thoughts a consideration. One, the $5 + $9 is exactly what they were paying in the summer of 2006. Two, Kroger's is definitely not a discount grocer.

@shopperbob wrote:

Before you jump on Kroger's, give two thoughts a consideration. One, the $5 + $9 is exactly what they were paying in the summer of 2006. Two, Kroger's is definitely not a discount grocer.

True, but if I need to go there anyway, it's a win-win for me. Info gathering and report itself are simple. I use their app for some good digital coupons.

Three: they consistently pay me good PAD for my distant location, travel to which is now complicated and lengthened by a months-long road improvement project. This is a good thing.

Does anyone know this? If your Kroger location also has a fuel station and convenience store, can you shop the grocery, fuel station, and/or convenience store in the same double or triple dip without running afoul of rotation requirements?

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

The convenience store division was sold off a couple of years ago. The familiar logo is still in use at the convenience stores as well as most Kroger gas stations. All of the Kroger gas stations I'm aware of have one employee staffing an enclosed kiosk. If these are shopped seperately, I was not aware of this.

kenasch responds to Shopper Bob--True, but if I need to go there anyway, it's a win-win for me

Bob comments--As Aldi's is my go-to grocer, but I shop Kroger's approx. once a month for a few items Aldi's does not stock, I decided to see if it would be a winner for me.

According to the CPI calculator. the buying power of $9 in July of 2006, is now $5.93. Next, I considered the price differential between Aldi's and Kroger's. As I have shopped Aldi's for 30 years and Kroger's since 1958, I guesstimate Aldi's savings at 30%, with the $5 fee at 3.29 in 2021 dollars. Factoring in 30% off the reimbursement, the true buying power for me would be $4.15. My reward for completing such a shop totals $7.44. My score for such a job would be a lose-lose. Obviously, though, I am in a minority as many shoppers flock to the MSC to accept such work. That, of course, is exactly why the fees have remained, and probably will remain, stagnant.

If the above is faulty thinking on my end, please correct me.

The new guidelines for Krogers shops are not yet published, but I was able to sneek a peek via the certification quiz for the shops I have scheduled down the road.
We'll need to observe three Kroger branded meats for freshness, open the dairy case containing Kroger branded milks and sniff for sour smells and evaluate four particular types. In addition, we must decline any invitations to switch to a self checkout when the shop specifies traditional lane, and vice versa.
A little more work, but no indication there will be a return to asking associates dumb questions.
This is all subject to the actual revised guidelines, when they're finally published.

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