I know when schedulers sends out mass e-mails, it has the guidelines/requirements for that shop.

However, sometimes there are additional requirements/guidelines in the report that are not mentioned in the mass email

How come when you ask a scheduler for the additional guidelines they refuse?

Then you decide to self assign the shop and you see the additional guidelines, it is more trouble than what it is worth and you decide to cancel the shop?

IIs there a reason why some don't send them out if you ask for them?

Your fourth paragraph is exactly why. Most likely they know that some shoppers will feel obligated to go through with the shop rather than cancel. In that way, they run a higher success rate than if we all knew up front that the shop sucks for the pay.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2023 10:54AM by sestrahelena.

Yes if the easy fun shop they describe is actually a miserable horrible shop no one would apply then they would be stuck with all the fun themselves without anyone to share the joy! And as stated they feel that shoppers will be afraid to cancel once they have committed.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2023 11:34AM by OldmanJames.

There was one time, I self assign the shop... I read the additional guidelines and there were a couple of things that were not mention in the email guidelines but were mention in the additional guidelines.

I email the scheduler asking which one do I do need to do?

They email me back saying go with the additional guidelines.. I email the scheduler to please cancel the shop.

They canceled the shop with no problems at all.

I am experiencing a similar problem. I got assigned a measly five dollar phone shop and now there is an absolute barrage of documents to read. A lot of the information is redundant; either completely redundant or they’ve said the same thing only in a slightly different way so I am still having to read and study everything. Plus there is a specific scenario I am supposed to be following however I don’t see where the specific scenario is. I’ve emailed the scheduler and they have not gotten back to me. This is really causing me kind of a lot of stress. I feel like just canceling because the shop reads like a nightmare. The instructions are very poorly organized. I’ve never canceled a shop yet. Is it really a big deal? This is supposed to be happening on Friday. It’s also a recorded phone call and it says in the email acceptance not to use the app because the recording won’t work in the app. Then why is it an option in the app? I’ve done lots of recorded calls through the app with no issues at all. It says I have to go to the website to do it. I just feel I’m going to be putting in a lot of work for nothing lol. It’s for a physician referral.

Its always frustrating that they want us to be detailed and accurate, but the shop descriptions aren't.

I did a gas station shop yesterday that had no additional guidelines besides what was in the original shop description. As I was filling out the report, additional mandatory pictures popped up. The location is close to me so I was able to go back and take pictures, but I most definitely entered a comment that they should have noted the required pics in the description. What was noted in the shop description was 2 overview pics. As you filled out the report, it required pics of the pumps and canopy.

Some companies don't penalize if you cancel a shop. I would see if you hear back from the scheduler and get clarification but otherwise, if something strikes you as just not being worth it, its ok to cancel.

@MS007 wrote:

I am experiencing a similar problem. I got assigned a measly five dollar phone shop and now there is an absolute barrage of documents to read. A lot of the information is redundant; either completely redundant or they’ve said the same thing only in a slightly different way so I am still having to read and study everything. Plus there is a specific scenario I am supposed to be following however I don’t see where the specific scenario is. I’ve emailed the scheduler and they have not gotten back to me. This is really causing me kind of a lot of stress. I feel like just canceling because the shop reads like a nightmare. The instructions are very poorly organized. I’ve never canceled a shop yet. Is it really a big deal? This is supposed to be happening on Friday. It’s also a recorded phone call and it says in the email acceptance not to use the app because the recording won’t work in the app. Then why is it an option in the app? I’ve done lots of recorded calls through the app with no issues at all. It says I have to go to the website to do it. I just feel I’m going to be putting in a lot of work for nothing lol. It’s for a physician referral.

I often find that mystery shop companies have poorly written, redundant and incomplete directions. Often the instructions contradict each other. When I write for clarification I also get the reply to read the instructions. DUH! I am in the process of doing a recorded phone shop using a certain app where you hit call me and enter your number and it supposedly works. I used this system for another company and it never worked. The one I did this week also did not work- it was the same system and the same message that indicated the call had been recorded when no call went through appeared. The scheduler asked me to use a land line- well I was using a landline. She then told me to use a cell, which I also did. The system did not work with either phone! She then told me that it was my phone and to contact the provider to have the problem resolved. Which provider? Both the landline and cell failed to connect the call. What do I say to my provider, geez, this mystery shopping company thinks my phone which works on 99% of calls made somehow is broken when I use this recorded shop system- so can you fix it??? Totally laughable! I had completed 2 recorded phone shops for other companies that very same day with no problems- so it was not my phone- it was their cheap system that they think works when it does not. I wrote back to remove the shop and let someone else work on the shop that perhaps they have a miracle phone that will work. What annoys me is that companies can have very sloppy directions often full of errors yet and systems that do not work when I submit a report if some editor decides there is some error, I am downgraded for it. I often wonder who works for these companies- as I am not impressed with their reading, writing and communication skills.

I also did a shop recently where after I had submitted the report a section requiring photos appeared! Very frustrating! Apparently the company had posted the shop form without carefully editing the requirements.

I am not sure what is meant by additional guidelines, but companies that I partner with do not want me to send out guidelines to a project before a shopper is assigned to the shop, so I really don't have anything to do with it.

What they are stating about "additional guidelines" is when they read the shop description on the email or website or APP, and it may say something like: "Quick and easy, four required photographs and a small purchase that will be reimbursed up to $2.00." Then the shopper accepts that shop and opens up the guidelines attached to the shop, the OP called them the "additional guidelines". They read through them and find all these other requirements and additional photographs needed, etc.

They are saying they wished they knew those other details before accepting the shop, because it was more than was presented on the initial email enticement.

This is kind of a moot discussion where I live. Any shop worth the pay would be snatched up by another shopper while I wait for the guidelines to be emailed to me. And I do believe it seems to be policy of the msc in many cases rather than scheduler by scheduler. Many of the msc I shop for do not even provide a thumbnail sketch in the email or on the website. I have seen many emails that do not mention the pay so I have to go to the website and open a location even to see that little piece of information. I really feel for the shoppers who are doing this to make a living or make ends meet and do not have the luxury to just move on to the next shop.

Yes I totally can understand that. I do get emails from shoppers who didn't realize exactly what the shop was until accepted and I remove it. Some platforms they are available before hand and some not and yes it depends on the MSC as well. I also prefer to know in advance more info.

The mystery about it with IPSOS, is that they do let you see the guidelines on the SMX side, beforehand. Then one can study them and take the test, if any. By the time they are done with all that they have a pretty good idea of what is expected of them for that shop and decide whether or not to self-assign. But on the SASSIE side, you cannot do that. You take the shop, then get the guidelines, then take the test and well, you already got the shop, so you do not want to cancel and look like a flake if you see it was not up your alley.

There is one shop on the Sassie side of IPSOS that mentions no pictures in the mass email guidelines but when you read the additional guidelines (That are not mention in the mass email) it requires that you take three pictures..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2023 03:05AM by Isaiah4031a.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

There is one shop on the Sassie side of IPSOS that mentions no pictures in the mass email guidelines but when you read the additional guidelines (That are not mention in the mass email) it requires that you take three pictures..

The description of the shops in the mass emails is NOT the guidelines. It is nothing but a description of the job designed to entice you to take the job for the least amount of pay possible. Nothing more nothing less. Nothing in that description is binding in any way shape or form to the performance of the job.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I know when schedulers sends out mass e-mails, it has the guidelines/requirements for that shop.

These aren't meant to be the shop guidelines and and requirements. I'm not sure why anyone would assume that they are. The information in the emails is meant to be an overview only. Sometimes you can view the complete guides and survey once you log in and access the job--before you accept it. But, as others have pointed out, there are MSCs that don't want you to see the requirements first because they know nobody would take them if they let you see them ahead of time!

I remember that I once asked a scheduler for the shop guidelines before accepting it. She kindly provided them, and I tactfully replied that I could not do the job.

@Morledzep wrote:

The description of the shops in the mass emails is NOT the guidelines. It is nothing but a description of the job designed to entice you to take the job for the least amount of pay possible. Nothing more nothing less. Nothing in that description is binding in any way shape or form to the performance of the job.

Exactly! (I commented before reading your reply, which is spot on.)

@sestrahelena wrote:

Your fourth paragraph is exactly why. Most likely they know that some shoppers will feel obligated to go through with the shop rather than cancel. In that way, they run a higher success rate than if we all knew up front that the shop sucks for the pay.

It’s a good thing I respond immediately with no regrets to cancel if I feel baited into something ultimately misleading to me.

The descriptions and emails give the general idea of the shop. There isn't room to put all of the guidelines in that space. I understand it can be frustrating but it doesn't do the company any good to somehow fool you into taking a shop that you then cannot/will not complete after reading the full guidelines. I have never worked with a company that would do that - it doesn't benefit anyone. I agree it would be very beneficial for the shopper to have access to the full guidelines before deciding on a shop, but unfortunately some just aren't set up that way. When I receive feedback like this I pass it along to the various project managers, so that they are aware. It may not seem like it, but where the MSC can make changes to be clearer or a shop easier to complete/submit - they do try!

I do not have any recollection of ever being or feeling baited into accepting a shop, but by the time I completed my first assignment, I had been self-employed 40 yrs.