Shop scores suddenly dropping

I have been doing shops for a company for over 5 years. The shops are email apartment shops- they involve sending an inquiry and then reviewing the response time and quality. I have consistently received scores of 10 and suddenly every shop is scored an 8 without any comment as to what the issue is. I carefully write and edit each shop- they are spell checked and read over 3 or 4 times before submitting. I am baffled as to what the issue is and not sure what I can do other than for a $10 shop spent a couple of hours writing and rewriting. Has something like happened to anyone where suddenly work that was formerly scored a 10 suddenly scored a lower score? Do you contact the company and ask what can be improved or let it ride? Whether an 8 or a 10 I will be paid just wondering if my chances of future shops will be jeopardized. Comments please.

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I would ask with careful wording. You don't want to put a new editor in self-defense mode, you genuinely want to know what mistake(s) you are making that are negatively impacting your scores so you can improve.

@Fatlady wrote:

I have been doing shops for a company for over 5 years. The shops are email apartment shops- they involve sending an inquiry and then reviewing the response time and quality. I have consistently received scores of 10 and suddenly every shop is scored an 8 without any comment as to what the issue is. I carefully write and edit each shop- they are spell checked and read over 3 or 4 times before submitting. I am baffled as to what the issue is and not sure what I can do other than for a $10 shop spent a couple of hours writing and rewriting. Has something like happened to anyone where suddenly work that was formerly scored a 10 suddenly scored a lower score? Do you contact the company and ask what can be improved or let it ride? Whether an 8 or a 10 I will be paid just wondering if my chances of future shops will be jeopardized. Comments please.

No, accept the score and move on.

Generally doesn't matter. One MSC rated everyone an 8 but recently everything is now 10. Not sure the score matters enough unless you want feedback but the editors may or may not respond.

I would want to know. OP's work was 100% for 5 years and now 20% lower? That is significant in my opinion. If they have found something new to deduct on and you have no clue because the guidelines have not changed, then I would ask.

One possibility is that over the years, you have consciously or subconsciously begun tightening up your writing in an effort to improve your efficiency, and this has caused them to lower the score. But the more likely explanation is they have a new editor or editors, or a decision was made at a higher level to make 8 the standard score for an adequate report, and reserve higher scores for shoppers who put way too much effort into it.

I wouldn't worry about it either way.

@purpleicee wrote:

I would want to know. OP's work was 100% for 5 years and now 20% lower? That is significant in my opinion. If they have found something new to deduct on and you have no clue because the guidelines have not changed, then I would ask.

Yes, this is how I think about it. There might have been a change to the guidelines or expectations that was not noticed. Asking in the right way just sounds like you care about doing a great job.

If you're still getting paid what difference does it make?

@wrosie wrote:

If you're still getting paid what difference does it make?

Some places use their scoring system to choose between shoppers for jobs with multiple people interested. Nobody wants to lose out on the plum assignments over something silly like taking a photo at the wrong angle.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

@wrosie wrote:

If you're still getting paid what difference does it make?
Some places use their scoring system to choose between shoppers for jobs with multiple people interested. Nobody wants to lose out on the plum assignments over something silly like taking a photo at the wrong angle.

But if the same new editor rates everyone the same, all shop report scores should be lowered.

@wrosie wrote:

But if the same new editor rates everyone the same, all shop report scores should be lowered.

That would require the editor in question to be evenly applied across all shoppers AND for this to be a case of one editor evaluating differently rather than an overlooked change in expectations.

So, why assume? What is the harm in asking, "What can I do better?"

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Shop scores suddenly dropping

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