I am starting to think that schedulers and editors are working against each other, and it is beginning to get frustrating. Schedulers will work very hard to establish great relationships, reward good shopper behavior, and remember who went out of their way for them. Editors, in turn, seem to want to shoot down the shoppers at every turn. I have literally gotten editorial comments emailed to me about my essays from editors with deplorable grammar. They seem intent on breaking your spirit and perhaps treat it as some sort of power play. I'm sure if the schedulers knew about this, they would respond with "Seriously! This is one of my best shoppers! She has gotten me out of more than one bind and I need to harvest this relationship!" Further, I am not submitting terrible reports, but I do occasionally slip up and make an error.

I always CC: my scheduler when I reply to an editor.

The schedulers and editors may often be both working from home and completely unaware of each other's decisions.

Plus, the schedulers have more skin in the game and do not want to reschedule a shop if they can help it.

Plus-plus - you are correct about that all-important harvesting of a relationship by a scheduler. By definition, editors don't have to cultivate this.

Good morning everyone, I'm new to this and I was wondering how do you find out who your scheduler is? I do agree about the editors sometime because I have found that in some cases it is not a technical grammatical error it just may be a choice of words that the writer is using.

pammie8223 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good morning everyone, I'm new to this and I was
> wondering how do you find out who your scheduler
> is? I do agree about the editors sometime because
> I have found that in some cases it is not a
> technical grammatical error it just may be a
> choice of words that the writer is using.


This will vary between mystery shopping companies, but in general your scheduler information will be listed in the assignment details.

Different MSCs use different ways to show who the scheduler is. Sometimes the shop assignment confirmation email comes from the scheduler, or names the scheduler. Sometimes it is in your list of assignments, where it says "contact" for each assignment. Sometimes there is specific contact information in the shop instructions. If I expect to do a lot of shops for a given company, I really try to establish cordial email andphone relationships with my schedulers.

I'm with Missy when it comes to ccing schedulers with my replies to editors if/when I think the editor is not acting like a team player, or when the editor appears not to know what the scheduler instructed me (in writing) to do. Large MSCs may have a hundred or more part time editors working from home and don't always coordinate with the editors about shop details. Instead of stomping my feet and pouting (not accusing the OP of this!!!!) I just take that lack of coordination as part of the scene and try to calmly get things untangled by going through the scheduler. Saving a fee is almost always simpler than replacing it with a different shop.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Different MSCs use different ways to show who the
> scheduler is. Sometimes the shop assignment
> confirmation email comes from the scheduler, or
> names the scheduler. Sometimes it is in your list
> of assignments, where it says "contact" for each
> assignment. Sometimes there is specific contact
> information in the shop instructions. If I expect
> to do a lot of shops for a given company, I really
> try to establish cordial email andphone
> relationships with my schedulers.
>
> I'm with Missy when it comes to ccing schedulers
> with my replies to editors if/when I think the
> editor is not acting like a team player, or when
> the editor appears not to know what the scheduler
> instructed me (in writing) to do. Large MSCs may
> have a hundred or more part time editors working
> from home and don't always coordinate with the
> editors about shop details. Instead of stomping
> my feet and pouting (not accusing the OP of
> this!!!!) I just take that lack of coordination as
> part of the scene and try to calmly get things
> untangled by going through the scheduler. Saving
> a fee is almost always simpler than replacing it
> with a different shop.


Thanks for replying you all I really love this board it's so friendly with so much information! I hope that I don't wear you all out in the days to come with questions :-)

pammie8223 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> walesmaven Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Different MSCs use different ways to show who
> the
> > scheduler is. Sometimes the shop assignment
> > confirmation email comes from the scheduler, or
> > names the scheduler. Sometimes it is in your
> list
> > of assignments, where it says "contact" for
> each
> > assignment. Sometimes there is specific
> contact
> > information in the shop instructions. If I
> expect
> > to do a lot of shops for a given company, I
> really
> > try to establish cordial email andphone
> > relationships with my schedulers.
> >
> > I'm with Missy when it comes to ccing
> schedulers
> > with my replies to editors if/when I think the
> > editor is not acting like a team player, or
> when
> > the editor appears not to know what the
> scheduler
> > instructed me (in writing) to do. Large MSCs
> may
> > have a hundred or more part time editors
> working
> > from home and don't always coordinate with the
> > editors about shop details. Instead of
> stomping
> > my feet and pouting (not accusing the OP of
> > this!!!!) I just take that lack of coordination
> as
> > part of the scene and try to calmly get things
> > untangled by going through the scheduler.
> Saving
> > a fee is almost always simpler than replacing
> it
> > with a different shop.
>
>
> Thanks for replying you all I really love this
> board it's so friendly with so much information! I
> hope that I don't wear you all out in the days to
> come with questions :-)


Keep the questions coming.....we are in this together!!

I would not contact a scheduler re an editing issue. Not their job. If it is something that is not a abig editing issue that changes your status somehow, just let it go. They both have stressful jobs.

The subject of this thread makes me think of a boxing ring with an announcer. "Iiiin this cornerrr...Scheduler weighs in at assigning shops and communicating with shoppers. Innnnn the other cornerrrr...Editor weighs in at critizing the shopper for all they did wrong. LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUMBLE!"

From my experience and that of those I've spoken to, there is not usually a "versus" with schedulers and editors. Schedulers might be viewed by shoppers as the good guy for assigning the jobs and editors the bad guys for the critiques given, but schedulers don't have power over editors or vice versa. They're on the same level, different department.

Obviously, communication between the two can vary but they work together. Neither schedulers or editors want to have to do the same work two or three times to get a quality report to a client. Schedulers depend on the editors' evaluations to know who to assign and who to skip. Copying an email to a scheduler *might* be beneficial if the editor way off base or unaware of a situation. Changing the grade for quality or content, the scheduler can't help. How would the scheduler know what kind of report the editor dealt with? No scheduler is going to tell me how to grade a shopper's report based on content. I can't insist a scheduler assign a shopper who uses great grammar if that shopper always reschedules, either. Schedulers have let me know I need to or not to mark someone late. Schedulers have let me know about combative or fantastic shoppers. Or given me the heads up if something the shopper said about the shop didn't quite add up. Just so I'm aware if it seems fishy. I can also mark a shopper DNU. At minimum, I will note their account if they're obnoxious and argumentative. I copy the email into their profile so it's there for everyone to see. We avoid using difficult shoppers because no one wants to deal with someone who's going to make a bad situation worse.

My schedulers have my back and vice versa. We have talked about great shoppers and PITA shoppers. If I let them know not to use a shopper, then that shopper isn't used. Rare, desperate exceptions excluded. Those happen once in a while. Bottom line, they depend on us to provide feedback so they know who the great shoppers are in regards to quality content. Great shopper status requires more than just submitting a report. Or submitting it on time, the first time. A scheduler's and an editor's job is to get a finalized report that's good enough to send to the client. We work together--not against one another--to accomplish that.

AlwaysAngie,
As I think I stated, I would copy the scheduler IF (really IFF) the editor appeared to be way off base or had given a negative review because the editor was not aware that the scheduler had instructed me (in writing) to do or not do something that made the editor reject the report or really lower my score. Example: I was doing a route of hotel shops for Comapy X. The scheduler and I agreed that the 6 hours after checkpout deadline for report completeyion would be extended by 24 hours, to accomodate the fact that I would be on the road very long hours between shops. The editor was not notified and rejected several shops on the basis that they were late. It was obviously time to get the scheduler involved. Example: scheduler for a new home shop waives the requirement that the shopper represent herself as married and take an appropriate partner to represent the spouse. Editor rejects the shop. Time to get the scheduler back into the loop, no? Those are extreme examples, where the shops would have been rejected and I would have lost both fees and essential travel bonuses while on long road trips.

BUT, I also work for several companies that require consistantly very high ratings just to maintain eligibility for the top shops. The difference between a score of 9 or one of 8, out of ten, could have serious consequences, including putting me on probation, or worse. If the shop instructions ask for my opinion in one section, but the editor lowers my shop score by 1-2 points because she missed that exception to the "just the facts" rule for most of that MSC's shops, I am not going to just roll over and accept her mistake and its consequences for my ability to make a living by getting the best paid shops that the MSC has to offer. In that case, I would first just point out the error to the editor. But, if my score was not restored based on that, I would most certainly go to the scheduler.

Walesmaven, I was not responding to anyone in particular. Shoppers seem to think the scheduler has all mighty power over the editor but that's not the case. Only under certain circumstances will the scheduler be able to make changes and even then, not always.

I received a 7 and a 6 on two reports for Intellishop a few years back before they had the edtiors everyone complains about now. I had an issue with my modem and let the scheduler know. I said I could go back and reshop the locations so I would not be marked late and she said to go ahead and submit. The editor marked me down and ignored my email explaining how I had permission to submit late so it shouldn't have count against me, certainly not when I was willing to reshop it so I wasn't considered late...and it was still well within when my due date, too. The scheduler didn't change the grade when I emailed her, either. The only complaints in the grading were the late submission, too. I don't get 6 or 7s as a matter of course. I get 10s or 9s. So, it is what it is.

I don't want people thinking they can or should email the editor and/or scheduler for grade changes unless there's a valid and specific reason that the scheduler knows about. It's most likely pointless otherwise. I understand why people look to scheduler as being "all powerful" but it is rarely the case, despite the belief some shoppers have. Schedulers don't control or power over the editors or the grading. Though again, under certain limited circumstances, there is a valid reason to contact a scheduler over an editor issue. I'm trying to correct a general misguided belief, such as the title of this thread: Schedulers vs. Editors. There isn't a versus. There's a symbiotic relationship and the scheduler usually can't or won't change the grading under normal circumstances.

That being said, if shoppers do decide to email about the grade, being obnoxious, defensive, or flat out rude won't help. I am more than fair and lenient in my grades. I do not take off for a few minor errors/typos. That doesn't stop those who think they know grammar better than they really do from emailing about grades. It's amazing how often shoppers are rude or obnoxious or sanctimonious when they need my help. I don't tolerate sanctimonious well, less when they're asking me to help. That gets their profiles noted negatively or even deactivated, as happened twice to me this week. Both times, completely unnecessary, though not over grades but over shoppers thinking they could have me do their work for them or arguing that the photo was there when it clearly was not. Whatever the reason and no matter how justified a shopper feels, emailing a MSC with a snotty attitude will never get a shopper the results they anticipated, even if they think it did. In all likelihood, the rude behavior was noted on their account, which could come back to haunt them later.

I always have symbiotic relationship with the companies I work for. But there are times when the schedulers do not own up to their mistake and the shopper suffers. In some instances, I not only do not work for the company but ask them to remove my name from their list.

On one such occasion, I personally deactivated my account. Someone persuaded me to come back. Since I basically liked the company, I did. But then one time one I sent the info to the scheduler because the website was acting up. The scheduler ignored it or did not receive it. So I found a Final Notice on my log that I was ignoring their request. Only after I sent
two messages to the scheduler, one replying to an email ad did she forward the editor the additional info. The editor told me I should have contacted her but I told her I did not know who the editor was for that assignment. She explained that they all belong to different companies working separately and the message on their messager would not reach the editor. I told her that she messaged me on the log without her name. So, naturally I responded there. To this day, that final notice stayed on the board without any apology from anyone.

As I strive to have a good record, I am not very pleased with that. Add to that their being slow payers, where is the mutual respect? We have now gone back to having a harmonious relationship, with me even revisiting shops for them because of errors on their part. However, at the back of my mind I may not be doing anymore shops for them until probably I get paid for all the work I have done for them.

Respect begets respect. There is something very disorganized when different departments are working separately, not only in their work site but also in their systems. Being sanctimonious may apply to all sides. Nobody should be expected to respond to it well.

SusieAD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am starting to think that schedulers and editors
> are working against each other, and it is
> beginning to get frustrating. Schedulers will work
> very hard to establish great relationships, reward
> good shopper behavior, and remember who went out
> of their way for them. Editors, in turn, seem to
> want to shoot down the shoppers at every turn. I
> have literally gotten editorial comments emailed
> to me about my essays from editors with deplorable
> grammar. They seem intent on breaking your spirit
> and perhaps treat it as some sort of power play.
> I'm sure if the schedulers knew about this, they
> would respond with "Seriously! This is one of my
> best shoppers! She has gotten me out of more than
> one bind and I need to harvest this relationship!"
> Further, I am not submitting terrible reports, but
> I do occasionally slip up and make an error.

this sounds like typical corporate behavior.

several years ago, i hired and trained well over 100 people for a company (not mystery shopping). the applicants would come in all starry-eyed with dreams of a successful career and a new tomorrow. i was their first impression of the company, and they enjoyed being in my presence as they pleasantly learned new skills.

then, when their training period was over, it was necessary to place them on one of the supervisors' crews. from there, the supervisor would often abuse them until they wanted to quit. eventually, the new employee would fail to show up for work, no wonder why. then the crew supervisor would tell me to hire and train more people, because the last one quit.

typical corporate behavior.

I received e mails asking me to resend for the hundredth time copies for receipts for intelli shop I repeatedly did as I was asked then finally I receive a note from a higher up I responded to her and sent in the copies once again. The higher up thanked me and said this is what she needed. I was relieved although I enjoy mystery shopping I do it for money. I then received an e mail from an editor saying I did not send in the right papers. I quit then right then and there I will not shop for them again.

Angie

Sounds like you're in a bad mood tonight. ( Except "let's get ready to rumble" was really really funny).

I usually get 10's and only have a couple of 9's. the 9 because the scheduler/editor refused to acknowledge that one of the questions asked for your personal opinion. I explained and asked her to change her remark" don't give personal opinions" remark on my job chart for all to see - know what she said ?
" What do you care, you still got a 9"

Not good enough when she was wrong and it should have been a 10 for a company I do quite a bit with.

BUT not for her.

Don't forget we have our ways too. I get a lot of shop offers from the company, but never take a shop from the two editors who screwed me over. And GOOD shoppers/writers are not always that easy to come by, are they Angie ??

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2012 11:51PM by shoppinalong.

shoppinalong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Angie
>
> Sounds like you're in a bad mood tonight. ( Except
> "let's get ready to rumble" was really really
> funny).

Not a bad mood, but I was exhausted and tired of dealing with obnoxious shoppers who put the blame on me (isn't that an old country song?). One did apologize and admit she had some pretty heavy stuff going on in her life but editors are often the scapegoat for abuse. Shoppers will get nasty with schedulers but they're more likely to get nasty with the editors since editors don't assign the jobs. Little do some realize that I can mark them DNU just as quickly.

Also, while I WILL agree there are crappy editors out there (crappy shoppers, crappy schedulers, crappy companies, blah blah blah), most editors aren't out to get anyone. Some shoppers just don't know what they don't know and the list of what shoppers typically don't know is long. (One day I'll write a post about dos and don'ts of the top mistakes.) If I take the time to explain a couple of common errors that shoppers can work on, that's to improve their reports and grades, which gives them more shops and me less work. I do that though I don't get paid to do it. I could just as easily write, "Thanks for the report," and give the equivalent of a SASSIE 6 or 7 but I don't want to do that.

Still, I do get tired of reading over and over how the editors are the "bad" guys. It's the nature of the business to critique the shoppers. That doesn't mean editors in general are out to get anyone. We're doing our jobs just like everyone else. Getting critiqued is a part of this job. If someone can't take it, then they need to toughen up or consider a job change, especially if their grammar or details need work. I'm also a writer and I've been critiqued many times by harsh, but truthful tongues. I developed a tough skin and realized it's for my own good.

I explained and asked her
> to change her remark" don't give personal
> opinions" remark on my job chart for all to see -
> know what she said ?
> " What do you care, you still got a 9"

I am anal about my grades. I'm used to getting 10s. If I get a 9 and know it was the editors misunderstanding, it will bug the crap outta me but I'll usually let it go. If I get a 9 and I know it's my own fault, it still bugs the crap outta me but I'll strive to do better next time and correct whatever I screwed up on. But then there are days when I'm so freakin' tired and just have to get the report submitted that if I get a 9, I'm just fine with it. LOL

> And GOOD shoppers/writers are not always that easy
> to come by, are they Angie ??

If anyone reading this is a good writer and consistently gets high grades (9, 10 SASSIE, 6, 7 Shopmetrics, 5 CoRI or whomever), then get an ego and KNOW that YOU are among the elite! I've said it before and I'll say it again. I thought I was an "average" shopper until I became an editor. Then I realized that *I* am a valuable commodity to any company. I get the job done on time 99.9% of the time, I am detailed and my grammar rocks. So I realize I'm an asset. Anyone else like that, value yourself. You are not the typical shopper. Editors live for your reports! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! (And Meadow, if you happen to see this, THANK YOU! I hope to see more of yours. YOU ROCK!)

Still not in a bad mood but boy am I laying the truth on thick. LOL

Shopmetrics give out grades? Where do I look?

Oh wow! If I get 9's and 10's, I am a valuable shopper? Well, my son is indeed right. They need me more than I need them. lol My ego speaks. Thanks, Angie.

But it makes me very mad when an editor gives me and 8 or 9 after asking for an info already contained in my report. If only she/he had taken the time to read it well. I will definitely accept an 8/9, if it is a typo as I am far from the best typist and spell check does not always do its function properly. Excuses, excuses...

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shopmetrics give out grades? Where do I look?

You'd only see it if they email you the grade, which I always do unless it's just so awful you wouldn't want to know the grade. LOL I don't think there's anywhere that a shopper can find their grades to view. Not that I've ever seen and I know the system fairly well, save the scheduling stuff. My eyes gloss over and my brain goes numb whenever someone has explained that to me.

I should say that ACE has their grading system set up with 1-7 with 5 being average and 4 being for a returned report but it's still not awful. Anything below that...awful.

I don't know if the other Shopmetrics MSCs are set up to be the same as ACE. There's other grading on the report form that Julie can't get rid of to save her life. I believe it's from another Shopmetrics client. So the grading could be different with other Shopmetric MSCs. For ACE, it's the 1-7 for content and also 1-7 for timeliness. HTH

Angie.

you compose country songs and edit too?

Yes , it does sound like a good country song. I'm just thinking, whoever is a good poet should write a poem or lyrics about Mystery Shopping. That could be
pretty funny.

I've done poetry, short stories, and memoirs and had some published. I've thought of creating a character who mystery shops for one of my stories but I'm not writing as much as I once was. I went back to college and then had a little one and went back to work. So I've not written like I used to. Truth be told, I get sick of being on the computer sometimes. But I do miss writing.

Rising stated----But there are times when the schedulers do not own up to their mistake and the shopper suffers. In some instances, I not only do not work for the company but ask them to remove my name from their list.

Bob's reply---I completely agree with the above and last month took that action with an MSC. The scheduler tried to shift the blame for the missing bonus onto my error, but I had saved ALL our letters. She then began ignoring me, so I wrote to her superior, but was also ignored. Next, I phoned and received results, but decided the bridge needed to be destroyed, requested same and was accommodated.