This is going to be a rant.
They start at $9, then increase to $11 then $15 and I hold out, hold out until it gets to $25.
why do we have to pay this game with the schedulers?

Bottom feeders take the shops at low fees. When they flake or screw up, the fees increase.

Thats great that they get to 25 for you but they never get past 15 here. Someone always takes them. Actually, the last batch, most of them went at 11. So somebody will do them for a lesser price. Now, a few months ago, I took some at 11 because I didn't know what the job was and wanted to try it out. But now I wait.

The way to exit that game is to have 40-50 MSPs in your pocket. That way you can get a $50 gas station that someone flaked on, or a $65 apartment. Don’t limit yourself to a single MSP that rarely bonuses.

I don't like the practice, but if you do the math, you understand the "why".

Let's say they have 1000 shops to schedule and they need to be done in a month.

Week 1: $9 pay. 600 shops get scheduled at $9 each = $5400
Week 2: 400 shops remain. They bump to $11 and another 100 get picked up = $1100

Later in Week 2, the fee goes to $15 and 200 shops get picked up = $3000

Week 3: We are close to deadline! Go to $25. The last remaining 100 at $25 each = $2500.

Grand total for this method is $12,000.

If they start the shops at a middleground number let's say $17, all 1000 shops get picked up at $17 for a cost of $17,000.

If you were a MSC, wwyd?

joanna81 makes a great point. I am sure the MSCs get some sort of bonus for not using up all of the money. Has to be something in it for them.

As with many aspects of life, there is more than one side to the coin.

Side one--From strictly a business standpoint, I would follow Joanna's plan.

Side two--If the aggravation of side one were considerable AND my reputation mattered, I would opt to strike a middle ground that would reward both my contractors and myself. Curinos AKA Inforna, as an example,has a name valued at far more than a few bucks.

There is definitely the flip side.
If you go with a higher price and require less scheduling effort, you may not need to continue scheduling a project for 3 weeks and scramble to get shoppers to do it in week 4. You could very well get it done in 1 week by simply posting it once at a fair price.
The rates also determine the quality of work you'll get as well. A bare minimum fee will usually get you bare minimum work.

@shopperbob wrote:

As with many aspects of life, there is more than one side to the coin.

Side one--From strictly a business standpoint, I would follow Joanna's plan.

Side two--If the aggravation of side one were considerable AND my reputation mattered, I would opt to strike a middle ground that would reward both my contractors and myself. Curinos AKA Inforna, as an example,has a name valued at far more than a few bucks.

@joanna81 wrote:

A bare minimum fee will usually get you bare minimum work.

Absolutely. Well said.

As someone who owned my own small marketing/marketing communications firm (what now would be called a "boutique" firm--LOL; how I hate that term), I found out the hard way that it DOES NOT pay to try to get the job done at the lowest possible price! I had two ICs working for me for when I had overflow, both of whom I paid decently, but not at the top of the wage scale for writers. One of them bailed on a job, which I then had to finish, and the other one almost lost me a client because she did a lousy job. I had to re-do the job at no charge to keep my client.

I then found a fabulous writer and paid her very well. I had to do almost nothing to her work before turning it into my clients, and, because I didn't have to spend much time other than review, I could make money on my standard mark-up as well as take on more work. I made *more* money by paying *more* to my IC.

If you want something done right the first time, and you (MSC editors and schedulers, in this case) don't have to spend a lot of time fixing mistakes or bouncing shops back to shoppers for questions or having to have a re-shop, then pay better. It sounds as if it would be more profitable to pay less, but ultimately, it's usually not. Obviously, some shops are simple and require less effort than others, so high pay isn't needed, but I'd argue that "higher" pay is. And the heads of the MSCs probably don't view it this way, but taking the long view instead of the short is wise business. But everybody looks at the short term these days. I understand that schedulers aren't "in charge" of fees, but if they have bonus money to use, it's wise to use it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2023 08:36PM by BirdyC.

[


Not at all true in my market. I do most of my shops at bare minimum pay and my favorite ones are usually gone before I even get to the website the day they offer them. And I consider my reports to be way above bare minimum. I feel fortunate to be able to even snag some of them at base pay.
quote=guysmom]

@joanna81 wrote:

A bare minimum fee will usually get you bare minimum work.

Absolutely. Well said.[/quote]

@sandyf wrote:

Not at all true in my market. I do most of my shops at bare minimum pay and my favorite ones are usually gone before I even get to the website the day they offer them. And I consider my reports to be way above bare minimum. I feel fortunate to be able to even snag some of them at base pay.

Oh, dear! Do you live in a very populous area with a lot of shoppers? I'm sure your reports are well above average, and how frustrating it must be to have shops snapped up before you get a chance at them! I think that in my area, there are fewer shoppers now than before the pandemic, and that works in my favor. But I live in a pretty small city, anyway, so I don't think there's an over-abundance of shoppers to begin with.

schedulers often have absolutely nothing to do with that unfortunately.

@KarenSchedulesForIpsos wrote:

schedulers often have absolutely nothing to do with that unfortunately.

I think many of us understand that. My particular point is aimed at the powers that be (not that they'll ever see my post!).

But people here have said (and I'm not enough of an insider to know how true, or not, this is) that schedulers get "bonus pots" and *can* give out bonuses but choose not to, or choose to offer $2 or $3 ones--because they get to keep whatever they don't give out. Again, I have no clue as to whether this is correct, but I do think it adds to the perception that schedulers have more flexibility with bonuses than what we might know. Therefore, unfortunately, schedulers often are the targets of dissatisfaction when a bonus is requested and not given, or one is offered at less than asked for. Although one MSC I work for never pays at base; their jobs go on the board with bonuses already attached. That's always nice to see, and I don't know if this is coming out of some "discretionary scheduler fund" or from the MSC bosses.

And maybe this varies by MSC.

I understand that shoppers think those things happen or are up to the schedulers, but it really usually isn't. It was the comment about playing games with the schedulers that made me go hmmm

It was really perfectly explained by another poster earlier - joanna81. If the budget to do a project is a certain amount and you KNOW that there are some really remote locations that are not going to be filled at the base pay -- you have to fill as many as you can at the base, so that when you have to pay more for the harder ones - you have money in the budget to help cover it.

As a scheduler if the shops aren't completed I don't get paid - so the MSC isn't going to let me decide what the bonus should be right? Shopper says I can go right now for $100 - and wow I want the shop filled, so I pay it! So typically schedulers aren't given much leeway at all over what bonuses are.

Schedulers (in my experience) aren't playing games at all - we are on your side - we want you to do the shop, we want you to be successful and do many many more shops!

I have worked for 6 MSC's and never found a discretionary scheduler fund yet. It doesn't mean they aren't out there of course - and there is a company I worked for who would say ok for this client - we have $X to spend on bonus. They already had it decided. So in that case I knew what I could spend and that worked - but if I spent less than that, I didn't get any of it at all they kept it for the next round until it was needed. And it wasn't a large amount at all, and I usually did have to use all of it and sometimes go ask for more.

If anyone out there has one of those MSCs with a fund schedulers get to keep if they don't use it - are you looking for schedulers? Let me know

And of course you are right there are many companies out there and i am sure they all do them quite differently.

Certain video mystery shop companies absolutely had “bonus pots,” pre-pandemic, for their schedulers. And their schedulers absolutely collected leftover money and did very well financially.

Video shopping luxury car brands and clothing is a whole different ballgame than gas stations and storage facilities. There’s a tiny pool of people who can convincingly pull off a 90 minute Porsche sales shop on video, or fit into the clientele in Loro Piana location. The schedulers for those shops had big bonus pools at hand and were careful about dispensing the bonuses.

As a shopper for these types of projects, I was paid a week in advance for my work. I had to pass a background check, have multiple references, interviews, and have a high credit score.

I will be very glad when these type of video shops return.

wow i need to job hunt And yes the video shopping is really a whole different thing.

Karen,
If I may ask, as a scheduler who has worked for multiple companies - is there ever any thought of the shoppers history with that company?
I.E, shopper asked for a bonus of $5 on a remote $15 shop. If they had history as being a reliable, consistent shopper, from your experience, does that factor in to giving a bonus? Or is it strictly deadline based when you're allowed to give bonuses?
And if you did look back at a shoppers history and they are the best person for the shop (maybe its rural and not many others in that area), would you ask your higher ups to allow the bonus for that shopper since they are consistent and reliable? I don't expect you to speak for all schedulers or companies, but just curious of your perspective and experience since you contribute here.

@KarenSchedulesForIpsos wrote:

I understand that shoppers think those things happen or are up to the schedulers, but it really usually isn't. It was the comment about playing games with the schedulers that made me go hmmm

It was really perfectly explained by another poster earlier - joanna81. If the budget to do a project is a certain amount and you KNOW that there are some really remote locations that are not going to be filled at the base pay -- you have to fill as many as you can at the base, so that when you have to pay more for the harder ones - you have money in the budget to help cover it.

As a scheduler if the shops aren't completed I don't get paid - so the MSC isn't going to let me decide what the bonus should be right? Shopper says I can go right now for $100 - and wow I want the shop filled, so I pay it! So typically schedulers aren't given much leeway at all over what bonuses are.

Schedulers (in my experience) aren't playing games at all - we are on your side - we want you to do the shop, we want you to be successful and do many many more shops!

I have worked for 6 MSC's and never found a discretionary scheduler fund yet. It doesn't mean they aren't out there of course - and there is a company I worked for who would say ok for this client - we have $X to spend on bonus. They already had it decided. So in that case I knew what I could spend and that worked - but if I spent less than that, I didn't get any of it at all they kept it for the next round until it was needed. And it wasn't a large amount at all, and I usually did have to use all of it and sometimes go ask for more.

If anyone out there has one of those MSCs with a fund schedulers get to keep if they don't use it - are you looking for schedulers? Let me know

And of course you are right there are many companies out there and i am sure they all do them quite differently.

My full time job involves large companies using our software for contracting out temp workers and large projects through staffing agencies and contracting companies. We don't do payroll (gratefully), but we handle invoicing and see all sorts of payment arrangements.

In some cases, a worker might get hourly + mileage + daily per diem. Some might just get an hourly rate, or be able to expense certain equipment.

Other projects are more "flat fee" based and some have bonus and penalty arrangements. If the project is delivered on time and at the required standards, the staffing company would get their full payment. If it is delivered late, there could be a penalty of 5%. If it is delivered early, there could be a bonus of 5%. That profit generally goes to the staffing agency and not the specific workers. The penalty would be paid by the staffing agency (or they'd be short paid) but if they had an agreement with their contractors for certain rates, they are the ones absorbing the loss, not the contractor. Things get really nasty if you start taking money out of people's pockets but I'll get off my tangent now

@ColoKate63 wrote:

Certain video mystery shop companies absolutely had “bonus pots,” pre-pandemic, for their schedulers. And their schedulers absolutely collected leftover money and did very well financially.

Video shopping luxury car brands and clothing is a whole different ballgame than gas stations and storage facilities. There’s a tiny pool of people who can convincingly pull off a 90 minute Porsche sales shop on video, or fit into the clientele in Loro Piana location. The schedulers for those shops had big bonus pools at hand and were careful about dispensing the bonuses.

As a shopper for these types of projects, I was paid a week in advance for my work. I had to pass a background check, have multiple references, interviews, and have a high credit score.

I will be very glad when these type of video shops return.

Perhaps no topic has been rehashed more than this one. The only way to stop companies from underpaying us is to stop doing shops that offer low pay.

Let me ask you this - when getting a quote for WHATEVER - do you always choose the most expensive one at the highest rate? Just asking.

I suspect they COULD increase the fee overall and not put a bonus on each shop, but this method is not a long term commitment to the higher fee. The bonus is a one and done, they're not committed to that price forever. This is similar to a company who has a large hiring budget to woo people in, but annual raises are a smaller budget.

@BirdyC wrote:

@KarenSchedulesForIpsos wrote:

schedulers often have absolutely nothing to do with that unfortunately.

I think many of us understand that. My particular point is aimed at the powers that be (not that they'll ever see my post!).

But people here have said (and I'm not enough of an insider to know how true, or not, this is) that schedulers get "bonus pots" and *can* give out bonuses but choose not to, or choose to offer $2 or $3 ones--because they get to keep whatever they don't give out. Again, I have no clue as to whether this is correct, but I do think it adds to the perception that schedulers have more flexibility with bonuses than what we might know. Therefore, unfortunately, schedulers often are the targets of dissatisfaction when a bonus is requested and not given, or one is offered at less than asked for. Although one MSC I work for never pays at base; their jobs go on the board with bonuses already attached. That's always nice to see, and I don't know if this is coming out of some "discretionary scheduler fund" or from the MSC bosses.

And maybe this varies by MSC.

No, but I probably wouldn't choose the lowest bidder either, tbh. If I'm getting work done on my house and someone comes in with a super low rate, I'd be curious what they were going to shortcut. I'd also be willing to pay the max for quality work.

@Chix wrote:

Let me ask you this - when getting a quote for WHATEVER - do you always choose the most expensive one at the highest rate? Just asking.

Joanna81 - as a scheduler - yes i would prefer an experienced, reliable shopper. I am not sure if it makes any difference when I ask for a bonus, but if I have a shopper with very few flakes, who does a good job I do always mention that when I ask. My feeling is that at the end of a round for a project it probably makes a difference - but I am not sure that they would pay more for shops based on that. Of course as a scheduler that is probably what I would most base it on so that the shop gets completed. And honestly if it is a shop that a shopper has to apply for - if I have a list of several shoppers interested, I am inclined to go with a shopper with the better track record.

I absolutely feel that shoppers should all look at shops and the requirements and the pay and then decide if they can do the shop. There are some shoppers who would never do a $10 or $15 gas station audit, and then we have shoppers who do 100s of them a month. And both shoppers are right - you need to decide for you what works - the time, gas, all those things and then do the ones that make sense for you. Same for scheduling - I am presented a project and told the fees, requirements, etc., and I can say yes if it works for me and no if it doesn't.

@joanna81 wrote:

I don't like the practice, but if you do the math, you understand the "why".

Let's say they have 1000 shops to schedule and they need to be done in a month.

Week 1: $9 pay. 600 shops get scheduled at $9 each = $5400
Week 2: 400 shops remain. They bump to $11 and another 100 get picked up = $1100

Later in Week 2, the fee goes to $15 and 200 shops get picked up = $3000

Week 3: We are close to deadline! Go to $25. The last remaining 100 at $25 each = $2500.

Grand total for this method is $12,000.

If they start the shops at a middleground number let's say $17, all 1000 shops get picked up at $17 for a cost of $17,000.


If you were a MSC, wwyd?

I find if you take the lower, you get locked into a recurring month after month. If you hold out, there's a good chance you are one and done. In the long run taking lower is better. Plus more are offered before posting.

That's what I did with prepaid cards. I started with 3 shops, now my route is 20. Plus they kick up a few bucks on the ones they have to get done

A quick comment to Karen: You schedule for Ipsos, an MSC that is known to be favored by shoppers who are narrative averse. I completed a job a few yrs. back that required a visit recap with a minimum of 4000 characters; the pay was $90 That is why I agree with your comment concerning individuals must decide for themselves what works.

I have scheduled elsewhere also - and for all shops i absolutely feel that everyone needs to decide their worth and what they need to do! I find that shoppers who are happier with the fee tend to complete the shops ta a higher rate than the ones that they don't feel they will make enough - which makes sense.

I would proceed with caution to do this every cycle at base pay, or slightly higher than base.

If you like the consistency of the monthly gigs, you might be better off going to work for a merchandising company that pays hourly and may include mileage or drive time. I personally do not want to undercut other merchandisers in my area either (if they are doing it for $14/hr, why should we do it for $9?), but I understand everyone's perspective and situation is different.

It can also cause you to be in a cycle of filling your schedule in place of other companies all together - I have several gas stations near me that I can go in and take a few pics, answer 5 questions and make as much, if not more, than some of the prepaid card shops. Continue keeping your eyes and ears open for other opportunities in your area.

I have a handful of longstanding projects that I have had issues with but I'll spare the details on this thread.

@Koyote1 wrote:

I find if you take the lower, you get locked into a recurring month after month. If you hold out, there's a good chance you are one and done. In the long run taking lower is better. Plus more are offered before posting.

That's what I did with prepaid cards. I started with 3 shops, now my route is 20. Plus they kick up a few bucks on the ones they have to get done