Okay, I received an email about some cell phone shops that were due today, according to the email. I signed up for two of them close to me and emailed the scheduler to inquire about the shops before I left to do my other shops. I received this email in return:

=============================================================

Ah, unfortunately I can’t award any more [1st company] shops at this time. I’m only assigning [2nd company] stores right now, as I’ve met my quota on [1st company] shops. Sorry about that!

=============================================================

Why advertise 15,000 locations, failing to mention that you have a daily limit on how many shops you can assign? I applied for open shops that were supposedly due today and get this in return? You should mention in the email that you have only a limited number of shops that you can assign, that way I don't waste part of my day waiting to hear from you.

I have two shops assigned with Research Services Group; I will complete those shops, however, after that, I think I will re-evaluate whether I want to do any more of this MSC's shops. That is a crazy scheduling stipulation that should be mentioned in the shop email.

This is why I prefer self-assigning or schedulers who call me with entire accounts of mystery shops. Less hassle and less time wasted. Get my shops, make a route and just go.

They do have me scratching my head sometimes.

Yea at least you got to do some. There was literally 10 within 5 miles of my house and I couldn't do any cause they were for males only hehe. But I agree they should out that right on the application the limit of how many you can do in a day or round of shops.

I didn't get to do any of these shops; from what I understand, the scheduler reached her overall quota. Not the quota for me. My other two shops were unrelated.

Lelou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yea at least you got to do some. There was
> literally 10 within 5 miles of my house and I
> couldn't do any cause they were for males only
> hehe. But I agree they should out that right on
> the application the limit of how many you can do
> in a day or round of shops.

Lelou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yea at least you got to do some. There was
> literally 10 within 5 miles of my house and I
> couldn't do any cause they were for males only
> hehe. But I agree they should out that right on
> the application the limit of how many you can do
> in a day or round of shops.


I wanted to do these too but couldn't because of the gender requirement...so I emailed them. Last night, it was changed form MALE to FEMALE....so I applied. Still have gotten any assignments...

Check back. Apparently she hasn't met her quota because they sent out another email for shops for tomorrow in my area at least. This annoyed the crap out of me because it was not the easy shop they made it sound like and shops that I applied for yesterday are back on the board. If they are going to post them again they should have just given the people that applied yesterday the other shops they asked for. In fairness I got 2/3 that I asked for but still. Also a weird thing happened I don't know if I should report it. I get to the location, park a bit away and take the required pictures of exterior. Then I start walking in the parking lot and get a text. It was bright, so I had to hold my phone up to read it. The minute I walk in an associate barked at me "are you taking pictures of shop just now?" I stayed calm and replied no, but I got a text and couldn't see it with the screen glare. He let it go but still it irked me. If I were taking a picture, which it wasn't why bark at a customer walking in your shop? Later in the interaction I when I was testing the camera on the target phone I joked, I'm just raking a picture of this wall here not you or your store. Then he explained their due to be audited and that people who audit them take pictures of the exterior. I just said oh wow that's crazy. So should I put this in the report or tell the scheduler? I wanted to tell the scheduler right when I left but I don't know.

One reason I could see for posting again rather than just assigning would be a change in the due date. Whose to say if shoppers available this weekend will still be available tomorrow.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2014 03:29AM by LisaSTL.

I'm confused... you said you "signed up" for the shops then made it sound like you asked for an update and was told you couldn't have them. Did you "sign up" (i.e, get assigned) or had you only "applied" for them? Because if you only applied for them, they weren't yours until they were assigned to you. If they were assigned to you and then she took them back, I'd be pissed too, but in a different way (and more legitimately) than if I simply applied for shops and didn't get them.

I get emails all the time about rush jobs, apply for them, and sometimes get them and sometimes not. But I sure wouldn't write off a company just because I applied for something they no longer needed to have done.

#1. The shops are STILL on the board. No mention of a limited number available on the shop email.

#2. The reason I wasn't given the shops was because the scheduler had reached their quota for those shops. However, these shops are still available.

#3. I never said I am going to write them off. Please don't misquote me again. If you are going to be critical of my posts (happened a lot as of lately), at least UNDERSTAND them (perhaps a reading comprehension class?) before you are critical.

My exact wording of my post is as follows:

"...after that, I think I will re-evaluate whether I want to do any more of this MSC's shops."

Nowhere in that post is the words that I am writing this MSC off. Re-evaluate? Sure. I re-evaluate every MSC before I take a shop from them. I'm sure most people do this every time they are offered a shop.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm confused... you said you "signed up" for the
> shops then made it sound like you asked for an
> update and was told you couldn't have them. Did
> you "sign up" (i.e, get assigned) or had you only
> "applied" for them? Because if you only applied
> for them, they weren't yours until they were
> assigned to you. If they were assigned to you and
> then she took them back, I'd be pissed too, but in
> a different way (and more legitimately) than if I
> simply applied for shops and didn't get them.
>
> I get emails all the time about rush jobs, apply
> for them, and sometimes get them and sometimes
> not. But I sure wouldn't write off a company just
> because I applied for something they no longer
> needed to have done.

Lelou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Then he explained their due to
> be audited and that people who audit them take
> pictures of the exterior.

I always try to take my photo on the way out for this very reason. If they catch me taking the photo, it's usually too late for them to bust me for it at that point.

If you feel like you were positively identified as the shopper, I would let the scheduler know. If not, then I wouldn't mention it.

I don't think I was positively identified. By the end of the interaction he was mellow. The funny part I was honestly reading a text when he saw me, I had my POV pictures 10 min before going in the store lol. Here's why I griped. I applied for three shops and got 2. It happens. Then today when I saw a bunch still on the board I emailed the scheduler and said something like thanks for the shops. If by any chance the last one I applied for comes up again or you need someone to pick up a few of these please let me know. I'll be shopping that area all day. She replied with the bit about having almost met her quota. When I'm headed home they go back up on the board. This was like 2 hours later. If the limit of shops per day is 2, just say that on the guidelines or in the emails like most other schedulers do.

Dante, did I miss the quotation marks in dspeakes post? And if she did take "reevaluate" to mean "write off" what is the big deal?

There's a big difference between the two terms. To write-off a company would usually mean to deactivate your account. To re-evaluate their standing would mean to decide whether the MSC is worth working for, and at what rate.

You must have missed the quotation marks around "signed up", because they were there.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dante, did I miss the quotation marks in dspeakes
> post? And if she did take "reevaluate" to mean
> "write off" what is the big deal?

Obviously you feel strongly about the wording you used because it has a particular meaning to you. I actually don't see a big distinction between "write off" and "reevaluate." I reevaluate all MSCs each time I take a shop. If an MSC annoys or disappoints me I might "write them off" - but to me all it means is I would reevaluate them at a later date - like next time I had an opportunity with them. I never deactivate and I never say "never" or "forever" with MSCs. There are several MSCs I "wrote off" and later accepted shops with. To me, saying I will "write off" a MSC does not have anything to do with deactivating.

Sorry to hear this has been a point of frustration for you folks.

I'll talk to the scheduler and see if we can offer some explanation how the process works. Sometimes we're able to change things for the better and other times there isn't much we can do, but I'd at least like you to understand why we're doing things the way we are.

Best wishes.

Uh, Dante, my reading comprehension is just fine, thank you. Perhaps yours needs a little work though.

Here I am quoting you:

"#3. I never said I am going to write them off. Please don't misquote me again. If you are going to be critical of my posts (happened a lot as of lately), at least UNDERSTAND them (perhaps a reading comprehension class?) before you are critical."

I never quoted you in the first place (except to quote the word "signed up" in an effort to clarify what you meant by it -- applied, or was actually assigned), so why are you accusing me of misquoting you when I said *I* wouldn't do something it sounded like you might be contemplating (which you later affirmed was true)? Since when does expressing an opinion about what I myself would do constitute misquoting you about what you intend to do?

I also wasn't critical of you. I was trying to understand what happened. Did you miss the part where I said I would also be pissed if the jobs had already been assigned, and then were pulled? But you weren't clear (perhaps a writing course?) on whether that was what had happened or not.

I never wrote them off; never even considered it. That is my point; you mistook "writing a MSC off" as re-evaluating the MSC.

What I meant by re-evaluating a MSC was that I would decide whether I think the designated shop for the MSC would be worth taking, and if so, at what rate.

There comes a certain point when you must look at a MSC and decide whether their shops are worth the headaches and issues compared to the compensation level. I have never had to write a MSC off and deactivate my account with them. Instead, when I get shop notifications, I look at which MSC it is from, look at several factors (including past dealings with the MSC/Scheduler), and then I make a choice whether the payment is worth it, and if not, at what rate the payment would be worth it.

I still do assignments for Research Services Group, I was just venting some frustration. As I stated, I have never deactivated myself from any MSC. The only thing that may cause me to deactivate an MSC is if they didn't pay me. Never been a problem, as every one of my shops have been paid on time or, in some cases, early.

As far as a writing course, none of the MSC's seem to complain about my writing, which makes your opinion about my writing irrelevant.

If you don't appreciate my rants or venting my frustration, there's a simple solution; there's a link underneath my name on every one of my posts that says "Toggle User Visibility"

Please, feel free to use this button; I promise I won't shed a single, solitary tear if you do this.

Oh, and good day.


dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Uh, Dante, my reading comprehension is just fine,
> thank you. Perhaps yours needs a little work
> though.
>
> Here I am quoting you:
>
> "#3. I never said I am going to write them off.
> Please don't misquote me again. If you are going
> to be critical of my posts (happened a lot as of
> lately), at least UNDERSTAND them (perhaps a
> reading comprehension class?) before you are
> critical."
>
> I never quoted you in the first place (except to
> quote the word "signed up" in an effort to clarify
> what you meant by it -- applied, or was actually
> assigned), so why are you accusing me of
> misquoting you when I said *I* wouldn't do
> something it sounded like you might be
> contemplating (which you later affirmed was true)?
> Since when does expressing an opinion about what
> I myself would do constitute misquoting you about
> what you intend to do?
>
> I also wasn't critical of you. I was trying to
> understand what happened. Did you miss the part
> where I said I would also be pissed if the jobs
> had already been assigned, and then were pulled?
> But you weren't clear (perhaps a writing course?)
> on whether that was what had happened or not.

And the Snarky Award for the Month of March goes to...

DanteInPA.

Lighten up, dude or dudette. Maybe the long cold winter is getting to you. I hope you thaw out for the Spring.

You can think I'm "snarky" and once again, I honestly could care less. However, it gets old when you have one person who follows you around the forum and criticizes your posts. I'd rather come off as snarky than be a troll.

Basically, an opinion is just that; does your opinion cost me money? No, and when it does, perhaps I will allow it to affect me.

Pertaining to chilling out, I am perfectly calm. I have much more of a life than to allow a forum or a specific poster to affect my mood.

Trust me, a happy marriage, happy home and family life leave me little reason to not be chilled out.

Some people matter to me opinion-wise on here; I respect and even value their opinions; I'd know if I went too far with a post because they would let me know in my PM if I did that.

It's respectable to argue because your opinion differs from another person; however, it is not respectable when you're attempting to start fights with other people.

Shop2LiveinFL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And the Snarky Award for the Month of March goes
> to...
>
> DanteInPA.
>
> Lighten up, dude or dudette. Maybe the long cold
> winter is getting to you. I hope you thaw out for
> the Spring.

Every post I've read tonight that was written by you, Dante, has come off as rude, critical or belittling to those you are addressing.
So I have to agree with the person who suggested you lighten up. We're all supposed to be pals here, so please change the tone of your voice.
Thanks.

DanteInPA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You can think I'm "snarky" and once again, I
> honestly could care less.


That *should* be, couldn't care less.

Maybe you *do* need a writing class. Or one in proper word usage. (JUST KIDDING!)

Good morning StormCloud

Actually, it could be either.

StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DanteInPA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You can think I'm "snarky" and once again, I
> > honestly could care less.
>
>
> That *should* be, couldn't care less.
>
> Maybe you *do* need a writing class. Or one in
> proper word usage. (JUST KIDDING!)

Tone of my voice? Really??

How do you know what my tone of voice is when I'm typing? If you invented a way to be able to tell that, you don't need to mystery shop, because you will be a very wealthy person.

minuet00 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Every post I've read tonight that was written by
> you, Dante, has come off as rude, critical or
> belittling to those you are addressing.
> So I have to agree with the person who suggested
> you lighten up. We're all supposed to be pals
> here, so please change the tone of your voice.
> Thanks.

Hi Dante!

Except that the two phrases have opposite meanings. Perhaps sometimes you feel one way, and sometimes the other?

Still just having fun... not trying to be a nitwit.



DanteInPA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good morning StormCloud
>
> Actually, it could be either.
>
> StormCloud Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > DanteInPA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > > You can think I'm "snarky" and once again, I
> > > honestly could care less.
> >
> >
> > That *should* be, couldn't care less.
> >
> > Maybe you *do* need a writing class. Or one in
> > proper word usage. (JUST KIDDING!)

Good Morning Dante....we all have bad days! Myself included...

That's about the truth! Good morning nanabelle and StormCloud!

nanabelle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good Morning Dante....we all have bad days!
> Myself included...