Hi guys,

I know I haven't had the time to formally introduce myself on this forum, but I have read a good chuck of the things posted and really learned a lot - so thanks everyone who posts!

I have been doing shops for a couple months now. Up until two weeks ago, I have not received anything but positive feedback from editors and others from MSCs, and I did well over 30 shops last month. But lately, it seems that certain companies are getting extremely nit-picky and rude. For example, some of my reports were rejected for very minor details (things NOT emphasized in guidelines) that were accepted just a month ago. I'm generally meticulous with spelling and grammar and I include a lot of detail for all my reports.

What made me want to rant was what transpired today with Mindy from Beyond Hello. I submitted an auto shop over the weekend and it needed some clarification yesterday. No problem. Fixed it in a few minutes, sent it off and all is well, or so I thought. Today I get a separate email from Mindy stating that there is a discrepancy with the addresses in my report. I replied to Mindy that there is only one *brand* dealership in my town and the address that was given in the guidelines was for the complex as a whole and the address on the business card of the salesman was for the sales office. A simple look at Google Maps can clear this mystery up really fast for Mindy and I told her such. She replies and tells me she will send it through, but that the client may not accept. Seriously? She obviously still didn't bother to look at a map. Oh and she tells me she is deactivating my account because I told her Google Maps will clear up the confusion. For some of us, this is college finals time and I really shouldn't have to waste my studying time teaching Mindy how to use Google Map. And that's exactly what I was doing when that email was sent telling me that I submitted the wrong address/incorrect location (we all know what that means: someone thinks the report should be invalidated).

I'm sure this type of thing happens all the time between shoppers and schedulers/editors, but was it really necessary to deactivate my account? BTW, I have done other shops for this company and spoke to very pleasant schedulers and never had problems before. Maybe I was a bit too rash, but that can happen this time of year when you pull all-nighters for finals.

Feel free to share your rants or stories about bad interactions with MCSs at this time of year! I love to hear what else goes on.

-V

I think everyone seems to get short this time of year because of the holiday rush. For the MSCs most of the work the do in a month is done in two - three weeks as they try to finish before the holiday.

Is this an excuse for being rude, absolutely not. However, without seeing the text of exactly how things were phrased it is hard to judge rudeness. If it is all a complex, then you should be clear. They are probably to to warn people that the shop might not be accepted Ina timely manner. They don't necessarily know how the company works.

If you think it was a simple misunderstanding and want to continue shopping for this company, sending off a friendly request may work. If you have another friendly contact that may be your best bet.

Shelly, I wouldn't waste your time apologizing to these people. I had an issue with them not paying me for a shop that was a day late due to a personal emergency I tried to explain to them. Also, a scheduler did not answer an email from me before cancelling another shop without notice. I was deactivated as well, which I considered a blessing.

There are plenty of polite and professional firms out there. MS companies that treat their shoppers like 'a dime a dozen' need to realize that MS companies are 'a dime a dozen' as well. Just keep registering with as many as you can and you will discover the gems. Work for them and leave the others in the dust!

In 2006, I encountered the only problem I have experienced with an editor. The scheduler complimented me with respect to my report, but the editor deemed it unacceptable. Being confused by 2 opinions 180 degrees out-of-phase, I contacted the individual responsible for solving differences for Bare, but failed to receive a satisfactory solution. I was paid, but requested de-activation as I knew there would be additional difficulties "down the road."

I can agree that some editors are getting ruder during these days. Not long time ago I decided not to work for an MSC anymore just because of one of their editors. After performing a lot of shops for them, I got tired of that editor to pick on my reports every time she got her hands on one.....not worth mentioning the editor's name..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2012 01:51AM by newyorkdan1.

I find the scheduler is rude, i also noticed people were having problems with one in one of there other sites and they moved the schedular to beyond hello.The pay isnt good, It cost more to go do the shop then what they pay.

One of whose sites and who could have moved a scheduler to Beyond Hello? Schedulers are either independent contractors like us or they are employees of specific companies. One company cannot move a scheduler to another company.

I'm guessing scheduling company. What I don't understand is why this thread? December vs. June.

I'm guessing because a new poster came in, did a search for Beyond Hello, and commented to it.

Ah. Got it.

I wonder if its this new function on the site? It says do you work for xxx xxx? If so it brings you to all their topics. I'm personally loving it! :-D

I no longer work for Beyond Hello because of what happened to my friend. She attempted to complete a shop at a high end store but was completely ignored. She smiled at the person on the floor, waited for abot 20 minutes, and was never ever looked at. She stood RIGHT next to the man and he continued to chat away with the same client the entier time. She said that the conversation had nothing to do with retail, it was 'catching up' with some wealthy woman who was invited in to look at pictures of next season's item. My friend took offense to this and took it as a race issue, since she was wearing very pricey items and looked the part. She said that she'd never experience anything like that in her adult life. When she e-mailed the schedule about this, she was given a citation.

My guess is the shop required an interaction or was not valid. She would have been better served to either wait a little longer or simply request assistance. Then she would have been able to report on everything and she would have gotten paid.

I think it good to re-open an old thread, if just to see how or if the company has improved. I had a "flare" on a very
old coffee shop I had done for BH for years...it was my only negative report for them with this client, and the report was not accepted.

I was not able to ever shop that company again (my favorite coffee house). I am still, 3 years later not allowed to do that
shop, no second chances here, even though I was honest and the report was well done. BH just doesn't pay enough unless
you really like the shop, and, yes there is one tough editor, but in my case, it was the client.

I shop monthly with another company who has an editor that is tougher than tough, my rating bounces from a 9 to a 6,
depends on her mood.....she need a zap to wake her up...just saying....

Sorry to bring up an old thread but WOW. I have had good dealings with Beyond Hello so far.. my only complaint is that I know I requested my area the minute they posted it on their Job Board yet they gave it to someone else or just left it sitting in the "My Apps" forever leaving you wondering if you got the shop or not.

Thanks everyone for sharing their stories.. I know (and probably many others) I am thankful for the honesty

dixiewhiskey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to bring up an old thread but WOW. I have
> had good dealings with Beyond Hello so far.. my
> only complaint is that I know I requested my area
> the minute they posted it on their Job Board yet
> they gave it to someone else or just left it
> sitting in the "My Apps" forever leaving you
> wondering if you got the shop or not.
>
> Thanks everyone for sharing their stories.. I know
> (and probably many others) I am thankful for the
> honesty

I have found the same thing when applying for jobs with some MSCs. You apply the second the assignments are posted, but you don't hear back from them until hours or even days later. Then, when they reply, it's either sorry all gone, or they assign you the least convenient one in terms of route. Don't worry...your time will come...remember there are rotation periods!! Are you a new shopper, by any chance?

It's too bad some companies don't realize their editors may need retraining. Think of all the business they might be losing because of them. If I owned a business where one particular editor was deactivating shoppers or making shoppers quit, I'd look into it.

MilessMum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dixiewhiskey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sorry to bring up an old thread but WOW. I have
> > had good dealings with Beyond Hello so far.. my
> > only complaint is that I know I requested my
> area
> > the minute they posted it on their Job Board
> yet
> > they gave it to someone else or just left it
> > sitting in the "My Apps" forever leaving you
> > wondering if you got the shop or not.
> >
> > Thanks everyone for sharing their stories.. I
> know
> > (and probably many others) I am thankful for
> the
> > honesty
>
> I have found the same thing when applying for jobs
> with some MSCs. You apply the second the
> assignments are posted, but you don't hear back
> from them until hours or even days later. Then,
> when they reply, it's either sorry all gone, or
> they assign you the least convenient one in terms
> of route. Don't worry...your time will
> come...remember there are rotation periods!! Are
> you a new shopper, by any chance?


Yes, I am new. So far, I have found it helpful to apply and respond directly to the scheduler - I normally wouldn't contact the scheduler but I landed 5 extra jobs this week just for staying in touch. I probably wouldn't for Beyond Hello because the shops don't pay a huge amount. I mainly apply for them out of convenience, if I get it, great, if not on to the next one