I just found this topic after searching for Strategic Reflections. Yesterday I was called by a scheduler for a job that was 470 miles away. As a route shopper, this happens from time to time, so I take these requests lighthearted. This time, I asked jokingly if they were paying for my flight. The scheduler hung up on me. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, I called back, just in case there was a bad connection. I called back because their auto-recorder had left a message for me earlier in the day and I wanted to know if there were other jobs in my local area that needed completion. In fact, there was one job in my area, but even though it is in my area, it would take about 45 minutes to drive each way. The scheduler said she could provide a $3 bonus, and I asked if she could do better than that. She said they were not going higher than that and hung up on me again.
As a professional, full-time mystery shopper, I don't burn bridges by practicing poor phone etiquette. Sometimes I try to establish rapport with a scheduler by making light of a request to shop something so far away, but I do it in a humorous way, not in an arrogant or condescending tone.
Anyway, I'm not able to log in to my account now. I sure hope it isn't because I was deactivated for asking for more than a $3 bonus on a deadline shop.
Anyone have thoughts on this?
Shopping since 1995; full-time since 2009. Blogging about shopping on www.myfrugalmiser.com.