i'm curious what others who are doing the Ty projects are seeing. The Guidelines are missing quite a bit, namely the context that we are "are the Ty" reps. We are not. Not sure if CI is confused, or if Ty has just completely failed to communicate the change to their retailers, or what.

1. How are you handling questions about ordering? Its clear there were Ty reps before who personally took orders, brought inventory to the store and had relationships with the managers.

2. Store Managers had the Ty rep's phone number and called them to inventory needs. I've had a bunch of managers ask for mine. Um...nope.

2. Did you get a list of locations for October to pre-staff? If so, is the pricing wonky? They sent me a list of 140 locations and some are $10 and some are $15. Huh? I don't do $10, so I'm just going to wait and see them bonus these throughout the month.

3. Am I the only one who thinks the payment schedule is off? They want people to sign up to do 50 locations a week, but pay you 6-7 weeks later. Thats completely out of step with the industry for full/near full time merchandisers.

I am sure nothing was communicated to the retailers. But I bet they are used to many many changes going on with merchandising reps.

One store asked me what I suggested for an order. I handed her the sheet with their number and pointed out what she needed but I made no suggestions as to what to order. Nope, my number is not on anything. Do not call me for the measly pay I am getting.

I got a list, I tried to keep the same stores but asked for an increase on the stores that had 2 or more displays. I was told no so I dropped those stores and will just cherry pick the easier stores once they go up. Currently at $27 in my area because there are hundreds of them that did not get done. What is my incentive to take stores at a lower fee if you are going to bonus them later? I don't think they understand the model they are trying to achieve. If you want someone to take responsibility for a store and form a relationship with them as a rep would do, you need to pay for that service. Otherwise, I am doing the bare minimum. Why would I take stores at base pay when you are giving people that don't have routes more money? Makes no sense to me. I can be fully committed but I feel as if I am being punished for being loyal so back to cherry picking the locations.

Their pay schedule has always been this way, the same with a few other MSCs. I wish they would switch to at least twice per month as others have. Because of this, I need cash flow so I have to leave room to take other jobs that will pay me sooner. If they did twice per month, I could potentially do more for them.

I don't mind these jobs but when I can grab a bonused Lowes job at $45 and just walk around the store and chat with associates and be paid the following week, I am going to choose that over these.

My other question that I did not get an answer to yet was.. some of the stores had a broken or missing guard on the bottom of the display. Are they shipping that to the store? Are we supposed to put it on? Do they stores even know what it is? Is anyone going to tell us? This is where they fail with communication.
A few of my stores had no displays and when I told the scheduler, she told me that they were being called and many were being shipped displays and that we have to keep visiting the store until the client says otherwise. Again... is anyone going to tell someone because I am not going to show up at a store expecting no display and they are like SURPRISE.. put this together. Nope, not gonna be me.

Hi - I agree 100% with everything you wrote. And I told CI that - I'm waiting to see what my October looks like before I can consider any of their locations. They didn't motivate me to "lock in" anything which helps them a whole heck of a lot more than it helps me.

Most locations are at $25 here. My thinking is exactly the same - I'm going to wait until they are at $20/25 and schedule them out a week, prioritizing faster paying projects ahead of these. They do seem to have this all backwards. Like they aren't doing me a favor "locking in" 140 locations at $10 when I can wait and do 70 locations at $20 and end up in the same place. I did some 2nd visit stores this week and its true they were a "bit" faster than round 1, but that was likely because I've got a routine down for how I do these. I don't think they will get any easier/faster from here, and if anything most will likely get longer as most of my stores had no backstock. I assume at some point they will get more inventory. But like the store managers, I have no clue as to when/how/what.

I also had 3 locations with no display and for $15, I'm not going to stand there and talk the store into adding a Ty display. I sell software for a living, so i certainly could convince someone to add some stuffed animals to a convenience store. But not for $15. Thats a whole job that requires details, pricing workups, etc. etc. I like CI on the whole, but they are really flat footed on this one. I hope they find their way to more clear expectations and directions.

The once a month payment itself is not terribly unusual for an MSC with MS projects, but this is Merchandising. Those companies pay weekly or bi-weekly. And CI pays at the end of the month, so the timeframe is exaggerated (7 weeks between your time/gas and payment if you do locations the first week of the month). Maybe they'll make a change now that they have such a big client. Who knows!

@Datagirl wrote:

I am sure nothing was communicated to the retailers. But I bet they are used to many many changes going on with merchandising reps.

One store asked me what I suggested for an order. I handed her the sheet with their number and pointed out what she needed but I made no suggestions as to what to order. Nope, my number is not on anything. Do not call me for the measly pay I am getting.

I got a list, I tried to keep the same stores but asked for an increase on the stores that had 2 or more displays. I was told no so I dropped those stores and will just cherry pick the easier stores once they go up. Currently at $27 in my area because there are hundreds of them that did not get done. What is my incentive to take stores at a lower fee if you are going to bonus them later? I don't think they understand the model they are trying to achieve. If you want someone to take responsibility for a store and form a relationship with them as a rep would do, you need to pay for that service. Otherwise, I am doing the bare minimum. Why would I take stores at base pay when you are giving people that don't have routes more money? Makes no sense to me. I can be fully committed but I feel as if I am being punished for being loyal so back to cherry picking the locations.

Their pay schedule has always been this way, the same with a few other MSCs. I wish they would switch to at least twice per month as others have. Because of this, I need cash flow so I have to leave room to take other jobs that will pay me sooner. If they did twice per month, I could potentially do more for them.

I don't mind these jobs but when I can grab a bonused Lowes job at $45 and just walk around the store and chat with associates and be paid the following week, I am going to choose that over these.

My other question that I did not get an answer to yet was.. some of the stores had a broken or missing guard on the bottom of the display. Are they shipping that to the store? Are we supposed to put it on? Do they stores even know what it is? Is anyone going to tell us? This is where they fail with communication.
A few of my stores had no displays and when I told the scheduler, she told me that they were being called and many were being shipped displays and that we have to keep visiting the store until the client says otherwise. Again... is anyone going to tell someone because I am not going to show up at a store expecting no display and they are like SURPRISE.. put this together. Nope, not gonna be me.

There aren't any of the stuffed animal locations near Podunk, so I can't comment on that part of it.

This MSC does not place a monetary value on loyalty. They're doing us "a favor" by giving us first shot at shops, so we're expected to do them "a favor" by accepting at a lower amount. It's definitely a one-sided arrangement.

The only time I've seen them modify the pay schedule was for a large Red Bull project a couple of years ago. They announced in the job notice that payment would be every two weeks. I'm assuming they did that because the jobs were time-consuming and high-paying.

I don't like the ones where they don't have any. We are expected to ask them if they want one, and why not. And we don't have a clue about what it entails for them.

I get offered routes, and wonder to myslef how many actually have displays, and if I would end up committing myself to a route with only half the original jobs.

I've never done one of those Ty things, but someone just sent me a thing to do every store in this state for $10 each as a bundle. I deleted the email.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/2024 05:28AM by Morledzep.

I took 6 shops because they are literally down the street from me, all within 3 miles, and I go to these places often. They were each at $27. I got the "route" email to take them again for Oct and they wanted me to lock them in at $10? Absolutely not.

One of the locations has a display that is absolutely filthy. A pillow was so dirty it should be thrown out.

Not one manager was ok with marking old holiday down to 50 percent off. They didn't even know how it would work because they cannot override the barcode price.

Lots of info missing from the guidelines. hopefully this gets better. I am happy to build relationships with the staff, as most I know anyway from being a "regular" but not for the minimum when they get bonused quickly. Make it worth my while it or I'll just wait until the last day of the month.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2024 01:32AM by Momtreal.

I've mentioned the past holiday/clearance issue at least 20 times now and instead of anyone at CI paying attention, they send me "Coaching Notes" that I didn't remove past holiday. Um...for $10, coach this. The worst part is I diligently keep explaining that a C-Store doesn't have a Clearance Rack and a way to change prices in their POS...but CI wants to spend the time to "Coach".

They truly don't seem to know what they are doing on this project, which generally isn't like them. But here they are.

Well, look on the bright side..."coaching notes" don't require a return trip.

@Nikki21 wrote:

Well, look on the bright side..."coaching notes" don't require a return trip.

I responded to my coaching note with a clarification question and didn't hear back. Hopefully with all the questions the guidelines will be updated with FAQ.

Yesterday I did a C Store that actually had stock--A brand new box chock full of Snowmen and Gingerbread. Definitely last holiday based on my coaching notes but shipped this week. Hmmmmm

I got a coaching note as well about the holiday stuff. But hey, Christmas is coming! And I agree, these small stores have no way of discounting, nor do they know what to do with it.
I actually asked for a LARGER pic of all the holiday stuff they consider last season. They send guidelines with tiny little thumbnails like I can actually see it. With the guidelines sent out the other day, they sent a page that showed the size differences. Now that was helpful and would have been useful last month. I had one of the stores actually show me the difference because he had all of the sizes.

I think CI has a lot to learn about this project as well. Re-starting the jobs at $10 is crazy. It didn't work last month, why would it work this month? You might get more locations serviced if you increased the fee from the start. No way I am doing these for less than $15. I have dealt with dirty displays, sticky crap, dead bugs, live bugs. Had to buy gloves!

Same Same Same!

And for a kicker, I was in a C-Store yesterday as a regular customer. And I noticed the Ty display by the checkout counter. And it was COVERED in what appeared to be spilled coffee. At least 50% of the items on the front side were covered in brown coffee splatter. I pity the person who shows up to do that location. They'll probably get a Coaching Note that they should have hand washed each item and rebuilt a new spinner from straws and coffee cup lids.

@Datagirl wrote:

I got a coaching note as well about the holiday stuff. But hey, Christmas is coming! And I agree, these small stores have no way of discounting, nor do they know what to do with it.
I actually asked for a LARGER pic of all the holiday stuff they consider last season. They send guidelines with tiny little thumbnails like I can actually see it. With the guidelines sent out the other day, they sent a page that showed the size differences. Now that was helpful and would have been useful last month. I had one of the stores actually show me the difference because he had all of the sizes.

I think CI has a lot to learn about this project as well. Re-starting the jobs at $10 is crazy. It didn't work last month, why would it work this month? You might get more locations serviced if you increased the fee from the start. No way I am doing these for less than $15. I have dealt with dirty displays, sticky crap, dead bugs, live bugs. Had to buy gloves!

@Cassiespark wrote:

Same Same Same!

And for a kicker, I was in a C-Store yesterday as a regular customer. And I noticed the Ty display by the checkout counter. And it was COVERED in what appeared to be spilled coffee. At least 50% of the items on the front side were covered in brown coffee splatter. I pity the person who shows up to do that location. They'll probably get a Coaching Note that they should have hand washed each item and rebuilt a new spinner from straws and coffee cup lids.


Which brings up another question.. what do we do when the stuff is soiled or gross? I know one store told me I could throw out the one pillow that was stained but in a case like that, do you just throw them out? Doesn't the store pay for their inventory? Wouldn't they lose money like that? UGH. So many questions. We need to collaborate a list of questions and send them off to CI. I am taking this week off from the project. I need a break.

@Cassiespark wrote:

They'll probably get a Coaching Note that they should have hand washed each item and rebuilt a new spinner from straws and coffee cup lids.

-howls with laughter-

I did 6 locations for the $27 fee. None had back stock, and I didn't really run into problems, but it still took quite a while at each store to do a good job. I was meticulous with the displays. Every single ball was placed next to the other identical items which meant extensive rearrangement to get it to work out. Every face was perfectly positioned. I sorted and pulled every clip forward and got them to hang nicely. The regular beanie display was completely sorted with each animal facing neatly forward. I thought that was what was required.

But now I'm not so sure. Last night I went into a drug store with a TY display completed by another shopper, so I decided to take a look. What a mess! I know it is possible that someone completely ransacked the regular beanie display, but no way someone stood there and randomly rearranged all of the balls, which weren't even close to being sorted. Did I take this too seriously?

@bradkcrew wrote:

I did 6 locations for the $27 fee. None had back stock, and I didn't really run into problems, but it still took quite a while at each store to do a good job. I was meticulous with the displays. Every single ball was placed next to the other identical items which meant extensive rearrangement to get it to work out. Every face was perfectly positioned. I sorted and pulled every clip forward and got them to hang nicely. The regular beanie display was completely sorted with each animal facing neatly forward. I thought that was what was required.

But now I'm not so sure. Last night I went into a drug store with a TY display completed by another shopper, so I decided to take a look. What a mess! I know it is possible that someone completely ransacked the regular beanie display, but no way someone stood there and randomly rearranged all of the balls, which weren't even close to being sorted. Did I take this too seriously?

I mean, this is what I do. I am a little OCD. Plus I talk to them and tell them they need to have eyes forward for picture time. I swear some of them are shy and turn around when I am not looking.

I also pull the clip ons forward and try to spread out the stock so it looks fuller than it is. The balls all have to be next to each other and it irritates me that there are four spots (on the square displays) but they send 6 in a package. Well how is that supposed to work! I am very meticulous. But trust me, some stores are very local to me and I stop in for something else and look at the display and can't believe it is a mess. One store also got stock after I was there and just dumped it all on the display. Another store moved the display after I was there and apparently everything fell off and they just threw it back on. It was like starting over for the second visit that should have been easier.

I was lucky that several of the stores that I picked up at the $27 rate had no display. Big score on those. Guess I am on a break now since they are all back at $10.

Hard to believe they are now offering $10 for the ones that never got done for $27. It doesn't add up!

I have some NetSpend projects to do in some of the same stores that did have the first visit completed, so I am considering taking those for $10 since I will be in the store, but IDK....

Double dipping. Nice, but why not wat until they go to $12 unless you're afraid of loosing them or the Netspends are already scheduled.

This is a prime example why someone would take a shop at base pay. Because they're already there.

But I don't see how you van double dip on a burger shop unless it's on a route and you have to eat anyways.

@bradkcrew wrote:

I did 6 locations for the $27 fee. None had back stock, and I didn't really run into problems, but it still took quite a while at each store to do a good job. I was meticulous with the displays. Every single ball was placed next to the other identical items which meant extensive rearrangement to get it to work out. Every face was perfectly positioned. I sorted and pulled every clip forward and got them to hang nicely. The regular beanie display was completely sorted with each animal facing neatly forward. I thought that was what was required.

But now I'm not so sure. Last night I went into a drug store with a TY display completed by another shopper, so I decided to take a look. What a mess! I know it is possible that someone completely ransacked the regular beanie display, but no way someone stood there and randomly rearranged all of the balls, which weren't even close to being sorted. Did I take this too seriously?

I went to a grocery store and it looks like they got a delivery and just threw it all on the display. Absolutely zero order or organization.
It took me about 45 minutes to sort it out when I can get most done in less than 30.

@bradkcrew wrote:

Hard to believe they are now offering $10 for the ones that never got done for $27. It doesn't add up!

I have some NetSpend projects to do in some of the same stores that did have the first visit completed, so I am considering taking those for $10 since I will be in the store, but IDK....

I had some duplicate locations and I wouldn't do them at $10. There's still too much work involved, imo.

Consider that you are still covering your own taxes, using your vehicle, your phone and data, and of course, your time. Now it's like your reloading that display for probably closer to $6 or $7. If anything, use the NetSpend visits to scope out what that store has and wait for the rates to go up to a more acceptable level. NetSpend you can be in and out of the store in probably 12 mins, the stuffed animals are going to extend that to probably 30 mins.

Well, they seem to really be doubling down on this round at $10. Today I got an email asking me to do a Route for $100!! There are 10 stores, in 3 cities in another state and they'd like them done by Friday. For $100 I could drive 3 hours round trip, use $50 in gas, run around like a lunatic to get 10 locations done in a day. Yeah for Me!

Nope.

@Cassiespark wrote:

Well, they seem to really be doubling down on this round at $10. Today I got an email asking me to do a Route for $100!! There are 10 stores, in 3 cities in another state and they'd like them done by Friday. For $100 I could drive 3 hours round trip, use $50 in gas, run around like a lunatic to get 10 locations done in a day. Yeah for Me!

Nope.

I don't know why you are not more thankful for their generosity! LMAO

I have an update on soiled items. I asked about what to do with the extremely dirty/looked like it was stepped on pillow: the stores do not pay for the inventory as whole. They are charged per scan when the individual items are purchased. It's up the the manager if they want to toss soiled/damaged.

Interesting -- it sounds like it's not going to count against them if we discard what is not appropriate for sale. I guess this is why so many are indifferent about there inventory and cleanliness.

The issue I am having is they start sending out stickers AFTER or ON the date the job begins that takes 3 days to get to you, and the stickers are usually delivered in the late afternoon. I had it planned to complete mine by today or tomorrow, but I am stuck waiting for stickers that were mailed. Now, I am afraid I won't have time to complete mine. Why do they wait so long to send out the stickers? Anyone else having this issue?

@Momtreal wrote:

I have an update on soiled items. I asked about what to do with the extremely dirty/looked like it was stepped on pillow: the stores do not pay for the inventory as whole. They are charged per scan when the individual items are purchased. It's up the the manager if they want to toss soiled/damaged.

Interesting -- it sounds like it's not going to count against them if we discard what is not appropriate for sale. I guess this is why so many are indifferent about there inventory and cleanliness.

Not sure about the soiled items, but I was informed by three different managers at c-stores that the store is charged for all the shoplifted items. Shoplifting was the main reason the stores were getting rid of the.

One of my stores would not allow me to remove the plastic covers because the items get so dirty.

@Cassiespark wrote:

Well, they seem to really be doubling down on this round at $10. Today I got an email asking me to do a Route for $100!! There are 10 stores, in 3 cities in another state and they'd like them done by Friday. For $100 I could drive 3 hours round trip, use $50 in gas, run around like a lunatic to get 10 locations done in a day. Yeah for Me!

Nope.

LOL I got emails for a $40 route that's an hour away and it isn't an actual route when it is really 2 separate visits at 2 stores. Sure I'll go take 3 hours out of my day to make $20, barely cover the cost of my gas and taxes, and then go back and do it again in 2 weeks.

@MA Smith wrote:

@Momtreal wrote:

I have an update on soiled items. I asked about what to do with the extremely dirty/looked like it was stepped on pillow: the stores do not pay for the inventory as whole. They are charged per scan when the individual items are purchased. It's up the the manager if they want to toss soiled/damaged.

Interesting -- it sounds like it's not going to count against them if we discard what is not appropriate for sale. I guess this is why so many are indifferent about there inventory and cleanliness.

Not sure about the soiled items, but I was informed by three different managers at c-stores that the store is charged for all the shoplifted items. Shoplifting was the main reason the stores were getting rid of the.

One of my stores would not allow me to remove the plastic covers because the items get so dirty.

So many shoplifts. One manager told me they never sell any but they sure can't keep inventory. This makes more sense than paying per scan.

@Momtreal wrote:

@MA Smith wrote:

@Momtreal wrote:

I have an update on soiled items. I asked about what to do with the extremely dirty/looked like it was stepped on pillow: the stores do not pay for the inventory as whole. They are charged per scan when the individual items are purchased. It's up the the manager if they want to toss soiled/damaged.

Interesting -- it sounds like it's not going to count against them if we discard what is not appropriate for sale. I guess this is why so many are indifferent about there inventory and cleanliness.

Not sure about the soiled items, but I was informed by three different managers at c-stores that the store is charged for all the shoplifted items. Shoplifting was the main reason the stores were getting rid of the.

One of my stores would not allow me to remove the plastic covers because the items get so dirty.

So many shoplifts. One manager told me they never sell any but they sure can't keep inventory. This makes more sense than paying per scan.

I had one store tell me that they had an issue with theft. As I stopped in a gas station this weekend (not for this project), I noticed a mostly empty display, right by the doors - I realized it was extremely easy to just grab one and walk out the door with it, so the display was probably empty due to theft instead of sales.

When they send me the list to lock in for the next month, I usually ask if they can bump up the fee before I accept any. They usually do a little.

Has anyone heard back from the schedulers about the ordering questions (if stores want to order more, etc.)?