Where did HT Grocery go?

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Please edit your post as it names the MSC and client.

I emailed the scheduler in my state (SC) this very question. She said the Client wants to make some changes to the instructions, and that they should be out sometime near the end of February. Here's the actual reply I got:
"Probably not until the end of February. HT took this period off to make some instruction changes"

So we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2023 02:57AM by guysmom.

Similarly, this happened last year when HT’s annual contract ended. There were a few weeks with no shops after the new contract went into effect. Maybe there’s going to be changes in guidelines or requirements. The MSC needs time to put them in place.

^^^Oh, that's interesting and helpful.^^^ This MSC is a GOOD one, so it'll be worth the wait.

I’ve heard that the MSC hopes the new period will begin Feb 22. They were uncertain when the shops will be posted, but are hoping no later than the 20th. Will be interesting to see what the changes are for this next year.

I heard second hand that the scheduler said the person who the MSC deals with at HT is on vacation making everything take a little bit longer.

My scheduler just told me they will be planned on the 22nd.

Planned? Will we be able to actually begin doing the shops on the 22nd? 2/22 is 28 days, or one round, from when the January round ended. The planner came back from vacation on 2/1, my scheduler told me. They've been working on it for 3 weeks now, I guess. Hopefully the shop results won't have to be entered less than 2 hours after completion. Not all of us have a device or phone that can enter the results immediately after doing the shop. We had to have the results entered less than 2 hours of completion when these shops were with the former MSC.I hate to be only able to complete 2 shops, and then have to race home to enter the results on my computer- especially in traffic. Too much gas used for just 2 shops. I made up a chart to manually record my results immediately after doing the shop, and then enter the results at home.

I'm hoping they bring back the order ahead deli shops! Didn't pay much, but they were super easy and I liked their sandwiches.

If they're going to change the HT guidelines, one thing I wish, wish, wish they would change is having to find SOME CRAZY REASON to go to the CS desk each time and try to ask a question without sounding so obvious!! If I MS in a particular HT store 3-4x/month, they all know me by now, and it's been hard to act casual about asking some dumb question. At least they let you make up the question! The ones I've found that I can get away with so that I'm not THAT obvious about being the shopper are when I request a rain check and can ask how they work, or ask how a "buy 2 get 3 free works"...stuff like that. But I sure hope they get rid of that question!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

HT must be someplace back East, because I've never heard of it.

For some time reading here, I thought that HT was the actual name. Then I realized that it is probably the initials of the two men who founded a grocery chain (named after them) that I used to shop at decades ago in NC. If I am right, they are now in portions of MD, NC, SC, and VA and are now owned by Kroger.

@AZwolfman wrote:

HT must be someplace back East, because I've never heard of it.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

HT... HT.. HT???

Harris Teeter?

You're thinking if Publix, not Harris Teeter.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

Harris Teeter?

Correct! (No MSC has been named).

I liked shopping at HT when we lived in North Carolina. Food Lion was a bit sketchy.... do they still have triple coupon days?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2023 07:46PM by luckygirl0100.

Now only double up to $.99.

I want to know if there's still mystery shopping at Publix.

@author.jbjones wrote:

I want to know if there's still mystery shopping at Publix.

I haven’t seen any for a year or more. But the MSC sent out a surveyabout grocery shopping not long ago, so I'm watching and hoping.

They're back.

Make sure you read the updated guidelines carefully as the purchase requirements have changed significantly.

Doing assignments since the days when reports were handwritten and faxed to the MSC.

No more innane conversations on how to cook things.

@Sagacious wrote:

They're back.

Make sure you read the updated guidelines carefully as the purchase requirements have changed significantly.

Yes, and from what I can see, at least in ONE of the scenarios, you no longer have to stop at Customer Service...although the other one still requires it....unless I'm reading it incorrectly, which is possible!

Customer service is in one scenario. The other scenario is much quicker (no customer service), but there's a seafood and deli purchase required. A meat purchase seems to have taken the place of an organic produce. Actually, the instructions and the actual survey don't jive in all areas.

I was initially excited when I saw that the reimbursements had gone up, until I realized that they now include fish/meat counter purchases. I wonder how many people go to the meat counter to buy ~$3 worth of something. Won't that be a giveaway?

@marnette wrote:

I was initially excited when I saw that the reimbursements had gone up, until I realized that they now include fish/meat counter purchases. I wonder how many people go to the meat counter to buy ~$3 worth of something. Won't that be a giveaway?

I don't think so. I was doing the Meat/Produce shop a couple of months ago, and actually needed just one fresh chicken breast for a recipe. So I decided that would be one of my 5 purchases. Well, the customer ahead of me ALSO ORDERED just ONE fresh chicken breast! We lall aughed about it, and the Meat associate said customers buy one of something a lot. So I don't think they'll give it a second thought!

I usually just buy 1/2 lb. hamburger from the display and say I need it to make spaghetti sauce, or a couple of thick strips of bacon because I make soup. Both keep well in the freezer. The fish part is a lot harder. It's all very expensive. The directions say- "UP TO" $3.

@author.jbjones wrote:

I usually just buy 1/2 lb. hamburger from the display and say I need it to make spaghetti sauce, or a couple of thick strips of bacon because I make soup. Both keep well in the freezer. The fish part is a lot harder. It's all very expensive. The directions say- "UP TO" $3.

You might get by with buying one tilapia or perch fillet.

I've done each of the new reports. They're shorter, with fewer timings. That's a good thing!

marnette, No, I don't think buying a small portion of meat or seafood will make us stand out. I've done it for years, on and off shops. My husband doesn't like seafood, I do. It's nice to be able to get a few shrimp or just one fillet.

author.jbjones, I hear what you're saying about the seafood. Most has already been frozen, so we can't take it home and freeze it again, unless it's cooked first. I'm going to have to do some planning there.

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