I just had a flurry of emails with a scheduler at Kern Scheduling. He sent me an email on the day of a shop I was doing, threatening to issue a flake citation if I did not complete the assignment I had requested.

At first, I did not think about it. After all, they have a process that requires you to go back in after getting the assignment to accept it again by clicking on a link. I did not know about the link. It was my first assignment with them. Any way, after I thought about it, I felt and still feel offended. After all, I am a professional, I requested the shop, I completed the shop, ahead of schedule and was about to submit ion linene. Then I saw the email that came in while I was doing the shop making the threat.

Well, I could not leave it alone. I sent an email to the scheduler and told him that I did not feel good about him sending me threats to do a job. He told me management told him to do it. He said he was sorry, if it offended me. Finally, after several emails, I said I wanted to get past this and to please, do not make threats to me. I told him that Gold and Silver shoppers are rated as professionals and know the consequences. I also said we are proud of our work and I for one do not work well under threats.

Question! Is this something I am supposed to accept, as a professional? I have completed about 80 shops since March and no one else has sent me a threat. What do you do with the threats?

Personally, I have started to ignore most of them. At first it bothered me, but I think the warnings are intended for the true "flakes". I think there must be a high percentage of "flakes", and these messages were developed with them in mind.

I also would just ignore it.

Ignore it. Most of those are auto-generated and go to everyone who hads a report due within a certain time frame.

I doubt I'm going to do business with Kern Scheduling any more. I got stiffed doing an assignment for them, doing a theater shop. I had to remember the names and descriptions of 3-4 people, get the time the movie started, the time the previews started, count how many times the workers did a theater check, and some how count how many people are in the theater at the end of the movie for a whopping $7.00???? These people really need to take a reality check and ask themselves if this is worth it! I mean, you sometimes spend at least an hour doing the darn paperwork at the house, with that in mind, some of their shops you don't even make $1.00 an hour on! The movie was an hour and a half, you had to be there 30 minutes early, so you got paid about $2.33/hour when you figure up your time for doing the paperwork and all. I wonder how much the bozo's scheduling the shop getting paid, reckon it's $2.33 / hour?

Assuredd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just had a flurry of emails with a scheduler at
> Kern Scheduling. He sent me an email on the day
> of a shop I was doing, threatening to issue a
> flake citation if I did not complete the
> assignment I had requested.
>
> At first, I did not think about it. After all,
> they have a process that requires you to go back
> in after getting the assignment to accept it again
> by clicking on a link. I did not know about the
> link. It was my first assignment with them. Any
> way, after I thought about it, I felt and still
> feel offended. After all, I am a professional, I
> requested the shop, I completed the shop, ahead of
> schedule and was about to submit ion linene. Then
> I saw the email that came in while I was doing the
> shop making the threat.
>
> Well, I could not leave it alone. I sent an email
> to the scheduler and told him that I did not feel
> good about him sending me threats to do a job. He
> told me management told him to do it. He said he
> was sorry, if it offended me. Finally, after
> several emails, I said I wanted to get past this
> and to please, do not make threats to me. I told
> him that Gold and Silver shoppers are rated as
> professionals and know the consequences. I also
> said we are proud of our work and I for one do not
> work well under threats.
>
> Question! Is this something I am supposed to
> accept, as a professional? I have completed about
> 80 shops since March and no one else has sent me a
> threat. What do you do with the threats?

johng1970 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I doubt I'm going to do business with Kern Scheduling any more. I got stiffed doing an
assignment for them, doing a theater shop. I had to remember the names and descriptions of 3-4
people, get the time the movie started, the time the previews started, count how many times the
workers did a theater check, and some how count how many people are in the theater at the end of
the movie for a whopping $7.00???? These people really need to take a reality check and ask
themselves if this is worth it! I mean, you sometimes spend at least an hour doing the darn
paperwork at the house, with that in mind, some of their shops you don't even make $1.00 an hour on!
The movie was an hour and a half, you had to be there 30 minutes early, so you got paid about $2.33/hour when you figure up your time for doing the paperwork and all. I wonder how much the
bozo's scheduling the shop getting paid, reckon it's $2.33 / hour?
>
If you are out money on a shop, it would not be Kern who stiffed you. Kern is only a scheduling company. The MSC would pay you. If this is the shop I am thinking of, I have done it numerous times. It isn't a difficult or a time-consuming shop, and it allows plenty of time to actually watch and enjoy the movie with your companion. Yes, it does only pay $7 but it reimburses 2 movie tickets up to $32 and up to $15 in concession stand junk food. I take a lot of shops for the non-taxable reimbursements - I frequently eat in an expensive place for NO pay but $150-$250 reimbursement for me and the family to dine. I see this shop as easy money because you don't spend the whole time you are at the movie working. You watch the movie. Although the cash payment is not large, the reimbursable amount is significant if you enjoy movies and want to go, taking a companion. And the time frame is very open - you are scheduled for anytime within about a 7-day period and you can see any show you choose, from date-night, matinee or evening. You can go alone or take a companion. I like the shop and would take it again - BUT only if I wanted to go see the movie. I wouldn't take it to try to make money.

How do you know you have been stiffed? Were you told that the shop was not done correctly and you would not be paid? Or have you just not been paid YET? If that is the case, when did you do the shop? The MSC who has this movie client pays at 90 days so you may just have not gotten paid yet.

I can't say for sure how I feel unless I actually see a copy of the first email. What you see as a threat may be a threat or it may be a mass email warning. A lot would depend on the tone, the wording, etc.

The silver lining is the scheduler did apologize. Whether he can promise not to send another "threat" to you in the future and keep that promise is questionable. If his supervisor tells him to do it again, what is he supposed to do?

BTW, if you have not noticed, a lot of KSS International's current schedulers are not highly experienced shoppers and independent schedulers who joined KSS. Many of them cannot say they have been there, done that. IMO, that makes a difference.

I ignore most of the reminder emails. The ones that crack me up the most was a phone call on the morning of a shop, which I was driving to do. I really, really don't need a telephone reminder call, after several email reminders. I have a good record with the msc, gold certified with 7 years of ms'ing experience. It wasn't even a big deal type of shop. But no, I was not offended, I thought they got too much time on their hands.

John, the assignment you did at the theatre is pretty easy. What you have left out:....Did they pay for your movie ticket and your popcorn?

It usually works like this: $5 for fee

$20 for tickets (2)

$15 Concessions

So, if you have the company I think you do, your potential is (for one person) $25.00. Did you leave something out here, saying that you did that for $7 bucks and no ticket/food reimbursement?

Because for $25 it is worth it....

David, I know many ex-schedulers for that company and it's not a pleasant experience to be a scheduler for Kern. Lorri has a strict set of rules and tight deadlines that she expects her schedulers to follow. If he's got to issue a warning about your not confirming you'll do the shop or to send a reminder that the deadline is approaching, then he has no choice but to do it or risk his job.

I will not work for Kern and I've been vocal about it. It's because of Lorri Kern's unethical behavior towards a person's reputation that has nothing to do with a shopper's performance. As much as I can't stand Lorri and won't work for her company, I've never had any issues with her schedulers when I did. They've always been polite and helpful, except the one who quit/was fired and left me hanging, which started the whole Lorri rampage to try to intimidate me and shut me up over her unprofessional behavior. Otherwise, they've been excellent to work with.

So if you get those messages, realize they're a requirement that comes from upper management. The scheduler isn't trying to shame or threaten you.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2012 06:41AM by AlwaysAngie.

Who needs "Real Housewives" when you've got this board to read?

All the drama, all the pathological personalities, in 1/10 the time......

Okay - once again I do not know a word used on this forum. Please what is a 'flake' I know the definition by Websters but what is it as it pertains to MS?

Thanks so much.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2012 02:35PM by Savana23.

Someone who signs up to do a shop, but never completes it and never contacts the MSC to cancel. The scheduler is then stuck trying to fill the job, at the last minute.

Can I be the sexy slinky shopper in this housewives group? The one who drinks too much and takes day trips to sunny places in her limousine?

In real life, I'll just continue to be the very curvy red-head (with glasses!), who is never too far from a bottle of Diet Mountain Dew and drives her Honda Civic to dreary places in Central Illinois....

A purely fantasy over reality situation. (;

Jen

jentodd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can I be the sexy slinky shopper in this
> housewives group? The one who drinks too much and
> takes day trips to sunny places in her limousine?


So you are like me! I just had a feeling...LOL. Up for some Limo races later?

spaztck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Someone who signs up to do a shop, but never
> completes it and never contacts the MSC to cancel.
> The scheduler is then stuck trying to fill the
> job, at the last minute.


Thanks spaztck!

Savana23 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> spaztck Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Someone who signs up to do a shop, but never
> > completes it and never contacts the MSC to
> cancel.
> > The scheduler is then stuck trying to fill the
> > job, at the last minute.
>
>
> Thanks spaztck!

That is the shopper definition of flake, but many MSCs have a different definition. It can include anyone who takes a shop and cancels at the last minute. Or it can mean any shopper who accepts a shop and cancels AT ALL. I've also seen it applied by schedulers to include those who accepted a shop and performing it incorrectly, requiring it to be re-shopped by another shopper.

I really don't see how giving you a reminder telling you that if you don't complete the shop you will be considered a flake is a threat. Especially if you were supposed to confirm and you didn't. It may have been poorly worded, but I think it is always better to be aware of consequences for ones actions.

Given what I have been told is the flake history of an average new shopper to a company, I can see why they would always remind a new shopper.

spaztck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Someone who signs up to do a shop, but never
> completes it and never contacts the MSC to cancel.
> The scheduler is then stuck trying to fill the
> job, at the last minute.


Or, in the case of Kern, a flake is someone who:

1) signs up for a shop based on the published criteria,
2) then is provided with more restrictive criteria, and
3) asks to be removed from the shop because it is different from the shop for which I signed up.

I was also uncomfortable with the poor communication. I felt like a ping-pong ball being bounced between two KSS schedulers regarding the same shop because it appeared that they do not talk with each other.

If you look over my posts, you'll see that I'm not someone who complains about MSCs frequently. This is also my only flake citation.

(If someone in a position of authority at KSS would like to discuss this, I have email messages to back up everything I've said. I will not initiate a discussion with KSS because I've already wasted enough time on the experience. I'm sharing now because I hope someone benefits from this information.)

> Or, in the case of Kern, a flake is someone who:
>
> 1) signs up for a shop based on the published
> criteria,
> 2) then is provided with more restrictive
> criteria, and
> 3) asks to be removed from the shop because it is
> different from the shop for which I signed up.

I asked to be removed and did not receive a flake citation.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Or, in the case of Kern, a flake is someone
> who:
> >
> > 1) signs up for a shop based on the published
> > criteria,
> > 2) then is provided with more restrictive
> > criteria, and
> > 3) asks to be removed from the shop because it
> is
> > different from the shop for which I signed up.
>
> I asked to be removed and did not receive a flake
> citation.


That indicates that we can add inconsistency to the list of concerns.

Possbily, but then life is inconsistent, and so are people.

Flake citations are NOT issued if you ask to be removed from a shop before the due date has passed. If you ask to be removed after the due date.. well, that technically IS a flake.

johng1970 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I doubt I'm going to do business with Kern
> Scheduling any more. I got stiffed doing an
> assignment for them, doing a theater shop. I had
> to remember the names and descriptions of 3-4
> people, get the time the movie started, the time
> the previews started, count how many times the
> workers did a theater check, and some how count
> how many people are in the theater at the end of
> the movie for a whopping $7.00???? These people
> really need to take a reality check and ask
> themselves if this is worth it! I mean, you
> sometimes spend at least an hour doing the darn
> paperwork at the house, with that in mind, some of
> their shops you don't even make $1.00 an hour on!
> The movie was an hour and a half, you had to be
> there 30 minutes early, so you got paid about
> $2.33/hour when you figure up your time for doing
> the paperwork and all. I wonder how much the
> bozo's scheduling the shop getting paid, reckon
> it's $2.33 / hour?
>
>
I do these shops quite often- they reimburse money at the concession stands, the price of tickets, and money for the report. I have found them a very easy report, too. This is a great way for my hubby and I to have date night, and not shell out a lot of money.

KSS International, Inc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Flake citations are NOT issued if you ask to be
> removed from a shop before the due date has
> passed.


Happy to hear that it must have been a mistake; looking forward to having the flake citation removed after I provide the documentation through PM.

Kudos to KSS for the quick PM I received after first posting in this topic.