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New Kroger MSC

December 01, 2021 08:03AM
Got an email today for what seems to be Kroger testing a new MSC. I am not sure on 100 percent how long these shops will take and how much different they are from the current MSC but the fee and reimbursement are ok if these can be done in 15 min or less. I am personally happy because I do not get any response what so ever with the current MSC. Here is to hoping they completely switch. What are your thoughts?
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December 01, 2021 02:05PM
I reviewed the guidelines and the shop is identical.

The plus is that they are paying $4 more for the report with the same reimbursement.

The only downside I see for the new MSC is they pay much slower. The current MSC pays in just a few days. The new MSC could be up to 5 weeks depending on when during the month you complete a shop for them.
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December 01, 2021 07:39PM
That is a shame but at least they pay a little higher. I would guess that these will never get to any bonus but I guess time would tell. At least they will not if this is just a trial.
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December 02, 2021 06:29AM
Oh boy, the current MSC gives me very generous PAD to do the Krogers in remote locations in my state. I'm talking REMOTE. I've been doing 4-6 of these a week for months. I wonder how the PAD will shake down with the new MSC?
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December 02, 2021 06:33AM
I saw the "coming soon" for these a few days ago, now it's gone. Are they rolling these out gradually?
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December 02, 2021 12:49PM
Idea girl: The Kroger coming soon button is gone for me as well as all the delivery shops in my area.
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December 02, 2021 02:34PM
I looked at the instructions/questionnaire and the questionnaire requires no commentary. I don't think I've ever seen a grocery store shop with no commentary. Looking forward to trying some shops next week.
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December 02, 2021 05:49PM
@Ideagirl wrote:

I saw the "coming soon" for these a few days ago, now it's gone. Are they rolling these out gradually?
I saw it, too, and now it's gone on the MSCs page on my website, too!
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December 02, 2021 06:37PM
@davidweemz wrote:

I looked at the instructions/questionnaire and the questionnaire requires no commentary. I don't think I've ever seen a grocery store shop with no commentary. Looking forward to trying some shops next week.

The current MSC that does Kroger (Ralphs here in California) does not have any commentary.
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December 02, 2021 10:17PM
With the exception that if you do mark down in certain areas, like trash in the parking lot, you have to provide details.

@kenasch wrote:

@davidweemz wrote:

I looked at the instructions/questionnaire and the questionnaire requires no commentary. I don't think I've ever seen a grocery store shop with no commentary. Looking forward to trying some shops next week.

The current MSC that does Kroger (Ralphs here in California) does not have any commentary.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2021 02:07AM by grille.
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December 03, 2021 01:33AM
I haven't seen these, or I haven't been paying attention, or possibly both. I would love to do grocery shops again as long as the former MSC isn't involved. Can someone give me a hint which MSC it is?
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December 03, 2021 09:02PM
I sent the new company an email asking them about that. I also do remote locations and get fairly good PAD,
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December 03, 2021 09:06PM
I spoke to my scheduler that I am working with and she said that as of the end of January the current MSC will no longer be doing Kroger. I wonder if Kroger got tired of all the positive only responses. The current MSC did not like it if you marked anything off. Last night I marked the restroom as dirty and smelled terrible. They wrote me and ask if there was trash in more than 3 areas of the restroom. I said it was a single toilet restroom and paper towels were scattered on the floor and it smelled terrible. I bet you they change it. In the past, I have marked that there was no open register to do a traditional shop and they made me change it to I was asked to move to a self-checkout.
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December 03, 2021 09:35PM
THat company is famous for changing responses.....I called them out on it and they denied it. I had proof seen my a report in eye distance in a store... MY report changed.. I know it was mine by certain words I used that would not be common.
Never shopped them again.

@cindycribbs wrote:

I spoke to my scheduler that I am working with and she said that as of the end of January the current MSC will no longer be doing Kroger. I wonder if Kroger got tired of all the positive only responses. The current MSC did not like it if you marked anything off. Last night I marked the restroom as dirty and smelled terrible. They wrote me and ask if there was trash in more than 3 areas of the restroom. I said it was a single toilet restroom and paper towels were scattered on the floor and it smelled terrible. I bet you they change it. In the past, I have marked that there was no open register to do a traditional shop and they made me change it to I was asked to move to a self-checkout.
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December 03, 2021 09:48PM
I just got another email from the new MSC and I asked them if they wanted accurate information. Such as if there was a negative item did they want me to note it or just mark it as okay. I then explained what the current MSC does and how I do not feel comfortable changing my answers because they did not actually reflect my true experience.
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December 03, 2021 10:07PM
Morledzep inquires--I haven't seen these, or I haven't been paying attention, or possibly both. I would love to do grocery shops again as long as the former MSC isn't involved. Can someone give me a hint which MSC it is?

Bob comments--ME TOO!
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December 03, 2021 11:11PM
I wonder if this new MSC is covering all areas. I also haven’t got the email and I’m in California.
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December 03, 2021 11:17PM
I shop Harris Teeter grocery stores, and have since I started shopping. A few years ago, Kroger acquired them. I wondered at the time if Kroger would put all their mystery shops under one umbrella. I've had nothing but positive experiences with the 'new' MSC. Wish they would get Mod Pizza back on their board!
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December 04, 2021 12:42AM
GO on the old shop board and they announce the new company. They also annouce who else they have shops for and its a fair amount. Go to the new company and expand your search area and krogers pops up.
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December 04, 2021 01:13AM
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

GO on the old shop board and they announce the new company. They also annouce who else they have shops for and its a fair amount. Go to the new company and expand your search area and krogers pops up.

That was so helpful. The old company announcement was right under my nose but I didn't read it until now. In my 20 years of mystery shopping I don't ever recall a company informing me of the name of another company taking over a client. The new company says on their website that it has projects for Kroger in select states so far with more to come in subsequent months. So that's probably why I don't see any and didn't get the email.
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December 04, 2021 01:45AM
@kenasch wrote:

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

GO on the old shop board and they announce the new company. They also annouce who else they have shops for and its a fair amount. Go to the new company and expand your search area and krogers pops up.

That was so helpful. The old company announcement was right under my nose but I didn't read it until now. In my 20 years of mystery shopping I don't ever recall a company informing me of the name of another company taking over a client. The new company says on their website that it has projects for Kroger in select states so far with more to come in subsequent months. So that's probably why I don't see any and didn't get the email.

Agree super helpful! I really like the bargain store shops for this MSC and I've never had any problems with them. Looking forward to transitioning to Kroger.
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December 04, 2021 04:39AM
wow, i appreciate this thread so much - i do these every week for my groceries, it would have been such a shock to lose them. finally found the msc and announcement after an hour of going thru my bookmarks. i’m not sure about the old/new board comment - unless i only know of the new board? either way, thank you!
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December 04, 2021 12:01PM
Shop board… shopping company listing of shops
Both the old and new company have the available listings of open shops…

The old company has other stores listed they still shop and it’s large…if you like that company.

@charleybuddy wrote:

wow, i appreciate this thread so much - i do these every week for my groceries, it would have been such a shock to lose them. finally found the msc and announcement after an hour of going thru my bookmarks. i’m not sure about the old/new board comment - unless i only know of the new board? either way, thank you!
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December 05, 2021 12:02AM
thanks canadamommy - i did not see that message on the old company’s site until today, i only still had the covid notice up until last night. it’s nice they let the shoppers know, i would have been so disappointed to lose them. i was thinking by the “old company board / new company board” hint that the new shops were on a board of a msc that had some sort of merger like a few msc’s had this year.
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December 06, 2021 11:07PM
I'm glad Kroger is getting shopped by another company. I am fed up with being forced to use an app (2 hr reporting time) that works only about 60% of the time. I could not submit any of my 3 shops today on their website. I had to use the website, but it took me a lot of time to search for and find the login information for the website.
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December 06, 2021 11:28PM
Warning with new company YOU are resposible for checking web site for missing issues.... not the other way around.....

@AZwolfman wrote:

I'm glad Kroger is getting shopped by another company. I am fed up with being forced to use an app (2 hr reporting time) that works only about 60% of the time. I could not submit any of my 3 shops today on their website. I had to use the website, but it took me a lot of time to search for and find the login information for the website.
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December 06, 2021 11:30PM
who is the other company shopping kroger?
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December 06, 2021 11:34PM
I did my first shop with the new MSC today. The app did not work at all, the website was spotty and ended up crashing while I was entering the report. Luckily there does not seem to be the 2 hour time frame so I can finish it at home later. I think I will have to go back to the days of taking notes of the names and details of those I interact with.
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December 06, 2021 11:38PM
We cannot say
you need to research anyway that says so is violating ICA

@jluvs2shopgmail.com wrote:

who is the other company shopping kroger?
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December 06, 2021 11:38PM
jluvs2shop - The answer was already in this thread. We cannot be more specific though.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

GO on the old shop board and they announce the new company. They also annouce who else they have shops for and its a fair amount. Go to the new company and expand your search area and krogers pops up.
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