In Kansas it's going to be 0 degrees. I live in S. Calif. What is it like to do shops where it's almost 0 degrees. Do they pay extra? How do you handle shops when it's that cold?

@johnb974 wrote:

In Kansas it's going to be 0 degrees. I live in S. Calif. What is it like to do shops where it's almost 0 degrees. Do they pay extra? How do you handle shops when it's that cold?

I handle them by not doing them. Pay extra? You jest.

That's why I'm on a mission to get some done tomorrow. I try not to do shops on the weekends, but it is not only going to get very cold here next week, we have about 3 chances for snow over the next 10 days. As much as I do not want to go out tomorrow, I am probably going to do it. I'm not sure what happens if you don't do shops on the Shopmetrics platform. Do they pop back up so you can reclaim them or do they drop off until a period of time passes (like Presto?)

It's -40°C in Alberta. I'm glad I didn't have any shops scheduled and I could come straight home after work. Doing shops is the same as doing any other errands.

No. Never.

As long as the roads were safe to drive and the locations were open, I would bundle up and do them if I couldn't reschedule. I've done them in the low 20s. Not pleasant, but doable.

I am doing 4 today. Currently 17 degrees.

I don't.. if it's freezing outside, I am at home. I'm a wimp and I'm proud of it.. And the MSC's don't give a damn, what they are offering is what they are offering. Our welfare is our business, not theirs.

Yes. You kind of have to in my area.

I've done remote gas station routes into Wyoming when it was around zero first thing in the mornings.

No biggie.

Thermal underwear, hiking boots with thick socks, and gloves that work with smartphones are all that are required.

I do carry a face gaiter with me in case the winds are nasty.

No do not need money that badly perhaps if I did I would but as a senior who avoids driving in icy and snowy conditions I stay home

No I don't. Here in Boise Id. it is currently 8 degrees with a snowstorm coming in this afternoon. They are saying it could leave 8-12 inches of snow and winds of 35 miles a hour.
We just got 6 inches of snow on Friday. I did all my jobs the first of the week when it was 30-32 degrees. I'm staying inside until the middle of next week.

We've had 19 inches of snow and it's currently -11 where I am. I rescheduled today's shop.

I'm in So. Callif and I hate going out if it's below 60 degrees. LOL

It depends upon the money, road condition and if BFE is involved. Enough money, though, will trump both the road and Egypt.

It’s kind of a moot point here in south-ish Texas. When it gets cold, everything shuts down. I reworked my schedule to be home the next three days. I have a red button drive-in for tomorrow that I couldn’t reschedule, but I refuse to be “that person” and expect somebody to bring food out to my car when there is ice on the ground. I’ll let it go and hope to snatch it back (with a bonus) for later next week.

-40°C = -40°F

I would do the shop. Life goes on. It's cold when you walk from your car to the building. Not a big deal.

4 degrees here outside Chicago. If my car runs, and it is reliable, there is no reason to lock myself in the house.
It's not the cold but the snow and ice that keep me home. Knowing there will be artic temps in the next few days I'm not looking for any new assignments.

They don't pay more unless someone flaked or cancelled the job and it's the deadline. I had a scheduler call me with a $50 bonus when we had some bitter cold and snow. I explained that most places were closed. She seemed desperate. I went. There was a piece of notebook paper with a hand printed note that the store was closed due to the cold. I got the full pay. It took longer to bundle up and get the car out of the driveway than it did for the shop.

I did five shops today. We have strong winds and it's going to be colder tomorrow. I've got one pick-up food order shop tomorrow and I'll do that. If you are used to cold weather and snow and have the proper winter wear, it's just part of living up north. :-)

I did not decide to live in the warm country just so I could work in the cold country.,

As long as I can get to the location, I will do it.

I was assuming the OP meant doing an outdoor shop like a gas station inspection. Sure I'll do one if I just have to walk through a cold parking lot to a heated building.

Only when it's cold out.

I live in the tropics so these responses are making me smile. Anything under 62 F feels FREEZING to me. But I will do shops when it's 97 degrees out.

I live in the tropics so these responses are making me smile. Anything under 62 F feels FREEZING to me. But I will do shops when it's 97 degrees out.

You live in the tropics? What is the shopping scene like in the tropics?

Edit: I have done some shops in Hawaii, so I have done some in the tropics.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2024 09:22PM by JimmyP.

I have enjoyed reading the responses to the OP. For perspective, I looked up the average January high and low temperatures for some northern cities in the US. So here they are: Boston, MA (37/22), Philadelphia, PA (41/28), Buffalo, NY (31/20), Chicago (32/22), Green Bay, WI (26/9), and Jackson Hole, WY (28/5). I then compared San Diego, CA (66/50) and Los Angeles, CA (66/49). What struck me is that the average LOW temperatures in January in Southern California are between 12 and 24 higher than the HIGH temperatures in the North. I went to college in northern New York State where we generally had snow on the ground from Halloween until after Easter. Public schools rarely closed. Streets got plowed and sidewalks got shoveled. I would regularly walk 2 miles to classes on campus with temperatures in the single digits.

But to respond to the OP, no, MSCs do not offer more pay when the temperatures are well below freezing. That is just life in this area of the country. Tomorrow (Tuesday, January 16th) the forecast high is 34 and the forecast low is 15. There will be snow on the ground and coming down from the sky when I go to Wawa for the same fee that I get when it is 90 and sunny. Franky, I prefer 34 and dry to 90 and humid. Should there be a blizzard (rare in this area, but it happens), some states forbid travel on the roads (most often in Delaware, rare in Pennsylvania) and I will not do mystery shops.

I am glad that I do not live in Winnipeg where the average high is 14 F and the average low is 0 F. That is of course the average. The forecast high for Tuesday in Winnipeg is -5 F.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2024 04:09AM by myst4au.

Why not? 10F isn't that cold. Business doesn't stop.

@Rousseau wrote:

Why not? 10F isn't that cold. Business doesn't stop.

depending on where you live.. In Northern AL the entire town close to me shut down at 15:00 because the temps dropped and the streets started icing over. It's 23:00 and 19 degrees F. Nothing is happening here, my son got his shops for today rescheduled and tomorrow is going to be more of the same.