Industry's worst Scheduler?
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Nikki A. - rude, condescending, unhelpful, ethically challenged. Oh, and she bragged about how her desk was made from wood salvaged from slave quarters- so tone-deaf, just gross.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2022 11:38PM by ColoKate63.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2022 11:38PM by ColoKate63.
If there are bad schedulers, I probably already don't look at their emails or shops any more.
I hate to call anybody out, but there are a couple that I really try to avoid and that I realize any assignment with them is at my own risk. Yep, I've been burned, and it stings. That said, I just started back shopping more regular last summer. I have been back long enough and am active enough to realize that there are some schedulers that should likely be avoided. However, I am also not quite so established that I can always avoid them completely. I am working on it though, and I really try to fill my calendar with assignments with schedulers that I know honestly work with and deal with shoppers professionally and with integrity, like they hopefully would any other colleague or professional. There is surely a difference. Wouldn't it be cool if we had some kind of Shoppers' Favorite Award, or some such, to recognize those schedulers who really do exemplify integrity and professionalism in the field?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2022 11:47AM by GinnyLynn.
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2022 11:47AM by GinnyLynn.
I'm not going to call anyone out, but poor communication is at the top of my list, for example:
I sent scheduler email... Scheduler responds 5 minutes later (ok, great).... I respond 2 minutes later.... Scheduler then responds to that three days later. (This, in my opinion, demonstrates a lack of interest on the scheduler's interest to follow on the topic of the email, and thus poor communication).
Second example, I send email, and they respond, like they saw only two words of my message and not what I ws actually talking about.
There is one, who I am not going to mention, who I don't like mailing because it never goes smoothly. Others will respond but let's just say if they responded to you in that manner in a retail setting, they wouldn't good customer service scores. Most schedulers are not like this, and are great, so I am not going to mention those I don't like.
I will say this: I don't see "I have too many clients" as a reason to not communicate efficiently. I can't use "I have too many shops" to not end up doing one or two of them. I'm expected to take what I can handle and the workload that they present and I have the same expectations that schedulers do the same thing.
I sent scheduler email... Scheduler responds 5 minutes later (ok, great).... I respond 2 minutes later.... Scheduler then responds to that three days later. (This, in my opinion, demonstrates a lack of interest on the scheduler's interest to follow on the topic of the email, and thus poor communication).
Second example, I send email, and they respond, like they saw only two words of my message and not what I ws actually talking about.
There is one, who I am not going to mention, who I don't like mailing because it never goes smoothly. Others will respond but let's just say if they responded to you in that manner in a retail setting, they wouldn't good customer service scores. Most schedulers are not like this, and are great, so I am not going to mention those I don't like.
I will say this: I don't see "I have too many clients" as a reason to not communicate efficiently. I can't use "I have too many shops" to not end up doing one or two of them. I'm expected to take what I can handle and the workload that they present and I have the same expectations that schedulers do the same thing.
The funniest part of this industry is that they provide information to companies about customer experience. However they are not interested in their own customer's experience. We are "customers" in that we provide the data that they massage and forward to the clients. You would think they would want to be aware of how their schedulers are working/communicating with their shopper base.
However, maybe there is not a real "objective" way to measure this as most people will complain/downgrade due to the crappy pay.
However, maybe there is not a real "objective" way to measure this as most people will complain/downgrade due to the crappy pay.
@Daisy Mae wrote:
What a cruel thread.
Wait until you have been around a little longer and seen some incredibly unprofessional behavior by schedulers, Daisy Mae.
Yes, I have often thought in these terms, too. I hop to it if I am asked a question. To leave work colleagues hanging is unprofessional, whichever side it originates from.
@Daisy Mae wrote:
What a cruel thread.
Do you really think it is a service by not telling someone who is doing a really bad job that it's a really bad job? From my view, the schedulers doing a really bad job don't know it or don't care. If they don't know, they can reevaluate their behavior and do better. Some people just need a wakeup call.
The ones who know and don't care are a lost cause and not worth our time.
Do you really think if we were doing a really bad job, MSCs would hesitate giving us feedback?
@Daisy Mae: That was gutsy! I happen to agree with you. Elsewhere, there is a "kudos" and shout outs board. We can talk about schedulers in the most glowing terms there. Additionally, not all shoppers will have the same experiences with each scheduler. Schedulers are only human. Shoppers are only human. Just today, one apologized in the most professional way for a late response. It was not that late-- my work day is next week. But they are the bomb because they responded professionally, addressed my question, and made everything just right. 
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I have been a mystery shopper since 1999, and most of that was 20-30 shops a week. I have yet to see unkind comments improve the industry.
I was surprised to see a moderator had moved this from Mystery Shopping Company Discussion to Mystery Shopping Discussion. I thought, given this forum's rules, that a moderator would close the thread instead.
@ewalsh wrote:
Must be the Moderator's day off.
Wow! Joe of Intelliishop? Just the other day I was thinking about putting him in the kudos section. I work with him a lot, and he has always been great to me. He even responds to me on weekends within seconds. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
@salisburync wrote:
Time for some venting out here is shopper-land. Who, or what company, is it that regularly, absolutely, fails to rise to any minimum level of appropriate communication, ethical conduct, or courtesy? Soapbox time!!!
My nomination: Joe Sidders of Intellishop!
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
ArkLaMissshopping opines concerning Joe Sidders-- I work with him a lot, and he has always been great to me. He even responds to me on weekends within seconds. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Bob agrees--DITTO!
Bob agrees--DITTO!
If a scheduler is causing this much of a headache, it's time to deactivate. That is all.
@audrialyn30 wrote:
If a scheduler is causing this much of a headache, it's time to deactivate. That is all.
Schedulers change, especially with the all the merging of MSCs that's been going on lately.
I can only imagine the mayhem that would result from a thread that was titled, "Industry's Worst Shopper."
I have a shopper in mind for that thread, but nevertheless it would be a terrible mean thread. When I can I just do not accept work from certain schedulers.
@Candy Kane wrote:
I can only imagine the mayhem that would result from a thread that was titled, "Industry's Worst Shopper."
Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
Canadian Mystery Shopper
@Candy Kane wrote:
I can only imagine the mayhem that would result from a thread that was titled, "Industry's Worst Shopper."
If I remember correctly, YEARSSSSS ago, the now defunct "Volition" forum actually had a LOCKED THREAD that WAS available ONLY to schedulers, that DID INDEED provide a venting place for them to mention shoppers who were less than reliable to each other, so they could avoid using them for shops. Anyone else remember that locked thread besides me????
I not only remember the scheduler's private area on Volition, but was accidentally permitted entrance on one occasion. If anyone is of the opinion this thread is degrading, you would surely have been aghast at what I read. It was not vulgar, but demeaning and definitely not professional.
It's not far fetched to think schedulers have their lists of favorites and not so favorite shoppers. I remember Volition as well. I never got to view what Shopperbob did, but if shoppers are going to vent about particular schedulers, it goes BOTH ways. They have plenty of shoppers to complain about.
@shopperbob wrote:
I not only remember the scheduler's private area on Volition, but was accidentally permitted entrance on one occasion. If anyone is of the opinion this thread is degrading, you would surely have been aghast at what I read. It was not vulgar, but demeaning and definitely not professional.
Yup. Same here. Saw that nastiness on Volition, years ago. Everything from body-shaming shoppers to their personal hygiene to their wardrobes and vehicles they drive. It was NASTY.
There’s a couple of “secret” Facebook Groups doing the same damn thing now, in 2022. It’s one of many reasons that I cannot wait until 90% of schedulers are gone like dinosaurs and replaced with smartphone apps.
Two things pop into memory Thing 1: "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." (Eleanor Roosevelt) 2. "Sit still! They'll get their comeuppance." (one of my favorite "Mom-isms; My Mom zapped some situations)
I gossip too much. It would serve me right if someone gossiped about me. Hmm.
I gossip too much. It would serve me right if someone gossiped about me. Hmm.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Maybe he just has a problem with women. Its not the first time the good ol' boys club is the problem
@Candy Kane wrote:
I can only imagine the mayhem that would result from a thread that was titled, "Industry's Worst Shopper."
I'm guessing it would change month to month as new shoppers signed up and went away.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:
It's not far fetched to think schedulers have their lists of favorites and not so favorite shoppers. I remember Volition as well. I never got to view what Shopperbob did, but if shoppers are going to vent about particular schedulers, it goes BOTH ways. They have plenty of shoppers to complain about.
Yes I agree with you that it goes both ways. However the schedulers I seem to have problems with, which I liked above, don't want to work with you if you experience difficulties in completing a shop. I asked Monday to reschedule a Monday shop until Wednesday and I've gotten no response. Well within the monthly "complete the shop window".
I believe the best schedulers are those that realize that life happens and shoppers might have to reschedule, cancel or otherwise work a shop into their schedule/route to make it work. The best schedulers are those who will work hand in hand with the shoppers to make it work for both of them.
Yes I've flaked on shops due to personal issues, but I've also tried to communicate to the schedulers what the problem was and try to reset to make it work for everyone.. Some are receptive, some are just @#$%&. This post will be deleted because of me actually spelling out a$$holes?
In my opinion this industry is no different from any other. There are some bad apples in every cart.
I figure out what I need to do so that individual isn't getting under my skin all the time. Otherwise, it can effect your own performance and sometimes even behavior.
Life is just too short and precious to have your feathers ruffled all the time.
I figure out what I need to do so that individual isn't getting under my skin all the time. Otherwise, it can effect your own performance and sometimes even behavior.
Life is just too short and precious to have your feathers ruffled all the time.
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