For the sake of us shoppers, will you PLEASE have more printer-friendly forms? Why should shoppers have to print ALL departments' criteria if we're only going into that appliance/electronics store to shop ONE item?

One size does not fit all.

What? Copy and paste it into Word, then delete what's not relevant before printing? Sure, we can do that, but that costs us time. Why should we do what could be done ONCE by you to make your paperwork less of a drain on the old ink tanks?

I don't print your forms out anymore, but newbies just getting started want to print this stuff out. Why make it so hard?

This, aside from the low pay, unrealistic scenarios, and cranky editors, is why we don't give a rat's patootie about hero citations. You show total disregard for the people doing your work when you are too inconsiderate to offer different forms for the few departments shopped at that retailer.

Argh! Yes, this makes me cranky. Crankier, even, than your editors sometimes.

** Rant over **

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2011 05:05AM by TechSavvy.

Don't you love the "printable forms" that include crap for all the uploads? I used to spend way too much time copying and editing before jobs. Now I just don't take the jobs, LOL!

There is not a love for Intellshop these days. I walked away from them about 2 years ago and never looked back.

There was a time when they were a good company to work for, but it just went downhill year after year until I couldn't stand them anymore.

I recently had a fallout over a horrible car dealership, told waht happened, and they did NOT want to hear it, this after many o.k. years. Those shops for
20.00 way too much work, did them as they were in my town, but relieved this
happened and don't have to ever do any more. New editors also lead to their dislike...

My humble thoughts are to just do 1 or 2 shops for any MSC and then dump them if they don't work out in terms of cost-effectiveness, etc.

I hate to say it but all I see are $7 cr** shops and those henious coffee filter pull 'em out of the baskets shops!

I never accept anything from them anymore.... Perhaps if they paid more and removed some of the idiocy, such as standing in a convenience store for a required 20 minutes....or the "baskets fiasco" I might....just might reconsider... but the TV shops never go past $7 and I can't justify that low. Make it $10 and I will reconsider...

I've been fortunate and held out until 1. the rotation is up where I can shop the same salesperson again and 2. there is a good bonus. Only then is this store worth my time.


SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hate to say it but all I see are $7 cr** shops
> and those henious coffee filter pull 'em out of
> the baskets shops!
>
> I never accept anything from them anymore....
> Perhaps if they paid more and removed some of the
> idiocy, such as standing in a convenience store
> for a required 20 minutes....or the "baskets
> fiasco" I might....just might reconsider... but
> the TV shops never go past $7 and I can't justify
> that low. Make it $10 and I will reconsider...

And let's not forget the infamous electronics purchase and return. Sure, let's go buy a computer. These shops go begging every month. Funny, I made a purchase and exchange at that store last month. All I could think about as I stood in line was if the guidelines were a little more realistic, I could have done the stupid shop. And then I remembered what a hassle the forms are.

TechSavvy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For the sake of us shoppers, will you PLEASE have
> more printer-friendly forms? Why should shoppers
> have to print ALL departments' criteria if we're
> only going into that appliance/electronics store
> to shop ONE item?

I "print" everything from every MSC with the virtual printer from www.CutePDF.com (free) to my computer, filed by MSC and Job. The parts that I need to take with me, I print using, [printwhatyoulike.com] bookmarklet. With this, you can clean up the layout and if I want to, I can use CutePDF as my printer, or print hard copy.

To save on paper and on ink, I print almost everything 2 pages per sheet, front and back, and fast draft. Of course, some things, like intro letters on merchandising assignments or scan sheets get printed normally

Thanks for the suggestion of Printwhatyoulike.com - That is a great suggestion!

I use Google Chrome, which lets you print to PDF directly, so I do the same thing with guidelines as well as my finished reports before I submit them. I also have Bullzip PDF Printer on my machines for those times I must use IE. [www.bullzip.com]


Kundry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TechSavvy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > For the sake of us shoppers, will you PLEASE
> have
> > more printer-friendly forms? Why should
> shoppers
> > have to print ALL departments' criteria if
> we're
> > only going into that appliance/electronics
> store
> > to shop ONE item?
>
> I "print" everything from every MSC with the
> virtual printer from www.CutePDF.com (free) to my
> computer, filed by MSC and Job. The parts that I
> need to take with me, I print using,
> [printwhatyoulike.com] bookmarklet. With
> this, you can clean up the layout and if I want
> to, I can use CutePDF as my printer, or print hard
> copy.
>
> To save on paper and on ink, I print almost
> everything 2 pages per sheet, front and back, and
> fast draft. Of course, some things, like intro
> letters on merchandising assignments or scan
> sheets get printed normally

Sorry to burst the bubble here but I absolutely LOVE Intellishop. I was quite surprised to read all these comments. Everyone has a threshold for doing shops. Some do it for $7 (I have always wondered why anyone would do it) but the same shops pay $15 and they let you do 2 shops. Car shops start off at $20-$35 but they pay $50-$60. So folks - to each his own. For some $ 10 seems a reasonable price and for some $30 is less.

My 2 cents.

There's no bubble to burst! LOL

Their shop fees rarely get that high in my neck of the woods. It's very rare for them to bonus anything.

I do the occasional shop at regular price for filler, but there are many I won't touch because of the ridiculous scenarios. I average 9's and 10's on my reports, but have had to fight for a few of those grades because I was dinged when the editor missed something and "they had to contact me". The forms are my biggest pet peeve, though.

sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to burst the bubble here but I absolutely
> LOVE Intellishop. I was quite surprised to read
> all these comments. Everyone has a threshold for
> doing shops. Some do it for $7 (I have always
> wondered why anyone would do it) but the same
> shops pay $15 and they let you do 2 shops. Car
> shops start off at $20-$35 but they pay $50-$60.
> So folks - to each his own. For some $ 10 seems a
> reasonable price and for some $30 is less.
>
> My 2 cents.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2011 08:43AM by TechSavvy.

sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to burst the bubble here but I absolutely
> LOVE Intellishop. I was quite surprised to read
> all these comments. Everyone has a threshold for
> doing shops. Some do it for $7 (I have always
> wondered why anyone would do it) but the same
> shops pay $15 and they let you do 2 shops. Car
> shops start off at $20-$35 but they pay $50-$60.
> So folks - to each his own. For some $ 10 seems a
> reasonable price and for some $30 is less.
>
> My 2 cents.

Maybe in your area they pay $15. The best I've gotten from Intelli on those crappy things is $11.

It's not the price we're talking about. It's Intelli's infamous horrible forms and their even worse editors.

You crack me up, sbrahma. One post... just to tell us how much you looooovvveee Intellishop. One post. Just so you can tell us all the merits of Intellishop.

Do you think we're stupid? Stop creating multiple accounts and just create one and let us know which scheduler/reviewer/owner/operator you are. =P Sheesh...


Like we're idiots or something.


sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to burst the bubble here but I absolutely
> LOVE Intellishop. I was quite surprised to read
> all these comments. Everyone has a threshold for
> doing shops. Some do it for $7 (I have always
> wondered why anyone would do it) but the same
> shops pay $15 and they let you do 2 shops. Car
> shops start off at $20-$35 but they pay $50-$60.
> So folks - to each his own. For some $ 10 seems a
> reasonable price and for some $30 is less.
>
> My 2 cents.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2011 08:43AM by jentodd.

I am just like you folks there - not a scheduler. The forms are as screwed up as any other MS company. As for editors, I have never had any issues except for the car shops they have.

I can say this much - I have earned the most from them this year than any other MS company. Trust me, I am not a novice - I have been doing this for more than 10 years and average 70 shops a month.

I am scheduled to do my first two shops with Intelli-Shop this week. Now I am a bit weary of it. They are bonused shops. One is paying $150 and the other $50 plus they are reimbursing the cost of the service. I thought it was a great deal. Am I being naive and missing something here?

Congrats! That is generous pay. Go for it. Just check your account after you submit the shop - just in case they have questions and you don't receive an email. I have had excellent experience with them and have been with them for at least 4-5 years.

I print very little, so really don't know about the specifics with Intelli. But, is it not possible to use Print Preview and then print only what is applicable to the shop?

I do not understand the need to print. I never print anything out.

Most of us who've been doing this for a while don't print, true. But for those who do, but don't have the technical expertise to selectively print, these forms ridiculous.

Lately I have only done their video shops. That new division is not terribly organized for supporting video shoppers, I must say. Not a disaster, but also still on the steep part of the learning curve. That said, I'm glad to see them, and other MSCs moving into video, so I'm willing to be patient.

Dear Intellishop. thanks for the shops you have given me. I see people complain about 7 dolar shops. Did these people ask for them? Thanks for the choice.

Rightly said! It amazes me why people take these 5-7 dollars shops and then complain!

I completed my first two shops and have submitted my reports. Everything went very well. The communication I have had with my two schedulers has been excellent. I had several conflicts arise and had to reschedule both shops twice. As unprofessional as having to reschedule was, both schedulers were very accommodating to my needs and super nice. I am happy that I had a positive experience.

On another note, they must not have the 5-7 dollar shops in my area. I have not seen any shops on the job board for less than $17. The average shop runs around $25.

There are lots of MSC with worse forms. My least favorites are the one question per page forms. Too much time loading pages. I like the Grocery store forms that have only a couple of pages with very clear forms.

There are some MSC's out there that take the cake! Why should anyone have to "print" some forms! Just fill them out on their site, and click send. If you need to send in receipts, etc... scan them in and include it in the orocess. Some of them could be so much easier.

Good post!

Don / Vegas

TechSavvy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For the sake of us shoppers, will you PLEASE have
> more printer-friendly forms? Why should shoppers
> have to print ALL departments' criteria if we're
> only going into that appliance/electronics store
> to shop ONE item?
>
> One size does not fit all.
>
> What? Copy and paste it into Word, then delete
> what's not relevant before printing? Sure, we can
> do that, but that costs us time. Why should we do
> what could be done ONCE by you to make your
> paperwork less of a drain on the old ink tanks?
>
> I don't print your forms out anymore, but newbies
> just getting started want to print this stuff out.
> Why make it so hard?
>
> This, aside from the low pay, unrealistic
> scenarios, and cranky editors, is why we don't
> give a rat's patootie about hero citations. You
> show total disregard for the people doing your
> work when you are too inconsiderate to offer
> different forms for the few departments shopped at
> that retailer.
>
> Argh! Yes, this makes me cranky. Crankier, even,
> than your editors sometimes.
>
> ** Rant over **

When I was brand new, I would print out the whole questionnaire and take it with me because I was so nervous that I would forget something. I would read them over thoroughly just before heading into the store. I think the suggestions for printing what parts you need is great. I rarely take anything like that with me anymore, but I did plenty of it the first 6 months or so.


Strevel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Why should anyone have to "print" some forms!
> Just fill them out on their site, and click send.
> If you need to send in receipts, etc... scan them
> in and include it in the orocess. Some of them
> could be so much easier.
>
> Good post!
>
> Don / Vegas
>
>

I think some evaluaters there are different than others. I think there may be one there that sends everything back asking for more information.

spree Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think some evaluaters there are different than
> others. I think there may be one there that sends
> everything back asking for more information.


That is my suspicion too. And she/he must be editing for another MSC as well. And the pay is too slow. When I deactivated my account, my pay remained pending. As soon as I reactivated it, I received my pay for one but one is still pending so I guess I will stay reactivated but I have stopped doing anything for them.

Like other posters - brand new, I printed out every gosh-durn thing regarding the shop!

Now that I've been shopping for 6 months I print out:

1. Open up the SURVEY (sassie is great for this). Firefox - PRINT PREVIEW - review the survey, and then normally ONLY the first page. Why? Because that has the address of where I'm supposed to be. *LAUGHING*.

2. IF it is a new type of shop job, I will go through the guidelines and randomly "file/print preview/print" pages that I think are relevant. Something I may forget.

3. For those who shop with BestMark - I always print out the browser page of "Shop Instructions". (the one with the "before you shop" and "after you shop" overview.)

4. For MF - I print out the CPI, review instructions, and somewhere on my printed sheet, I write down what "product" or "scenario" I have to get.

On any piece of paper printed for a job, I just make notes on it: MSC phone number, times the store opens, special orders, etc... I only do the printing because I PREFER to have something to staple my receipts or brochures to. I don't like loose receipts and brochures in a folder. I'm OCD about having nice organized paperwork in my file cabinet!