We all make choices about which companies we work for and which assignments we accept. My choices are not the same as anyone else's choices. A shopper's choices are colored by how and why we are shopping, location, competition, and personal likes and dislikes. Amount of pay is always a factor, but, because of shopper differences, different levels of pay motivate different shoppers in different ways. Each shopper should choose his own assignments for his own reasons.

There's been a surprising number of posts on this thread due to a shopper wanting more money, not getting it, and the scheduler snapping off a smarty remark. Get over it. Move on. Spend time making money rather than building mountains out of molehills using a spoon.

I make plenty of money as it is right now. This is a forum. Who is anybody to tell me what I can or cannot vent about? If you would rather not hear what I have to say, feel free to use the toggle. Other than that, good day.

She didn't tell you that you couldn't vent. She's giving advice. Schedulers are going to call you and not have a fat bonus pool to work with, so you can either let it roll off your back, and decline gracefully, or vent every time.

At least try to keep in mind that for every phone call you get from a scheduler asking you to do a low-pay shop a 100 miles away with no bonus, that scheduler has probably called 200 shoppers and gotten the same response. They're just doing their jobs.

I did decline gracefully, told them what I would need to do the shop after being asked and they got smart with me.

Trust me, I don't vent every time. I usually get a call or email asking me what it would take for me to complete such and such a shop; either I get the shop at the price I want or they give me some kind of counter-offer. I don't take kindly to the smart ass comments from some desk jockey who probably hasn't even been outside in the last six months. He's not putting fuel in my vehicle to do the shop, nor food on my table.

It's harsh, but reality is harsh.

If you want to be all "bleeding heart" about this, fine by me. But this industry is a business and the business world is harsh; survival of the fittest.

I make money, schedulers that deal with me know me as automatic, reliable and no excuses. When they assign me a shop, the shop is done right the first time and well before any deadlines.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> She didn't tell you that you couldn't vent. She's
> giving advice. Schedulers are going to call you
> and not have a fat bonus pool to work with, so you
> can either let it roll off your back, and decline
> gracefully, or vent every time.
>
> At least try to keep in mind that for every phone
> call you get from a scheduler asking you to do a
> low-pay shop a 100 miles away with no bonus, that
> scheduler has probably called 200 shoppers and
> gotten the same response. They're just doing their
> jobs.

I'm not a bleeding heart, but, in years of doing this, I find that treating my schedulers and editors like human beings mean that I'm treated like a human being and not just a Shopper ID.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not a bleeding heart, but, in years of doing
> this, I find that treating my schedulers and
> editors like human beings mean that I'm treated
> like a human being and not just a Shopper ID.


yep...and well said, too.

My way of doing things gets the same results. So I see you don't like the way I think, yet I accomplish the same things that you accomplish without the constant cheer-leading and ass-kissing. In addition, I still have my self-respect and dignity, as well as still making a nice chunk of change.

A lot of shoppers seem to think my way too. There's more than one way to accomplish the same results. You don't think these schedulers rant about us? They sure do, you just don't see it because their little forum is off limits to the shoppers.

I have more respect for Lorri Kern, as she at least responded and I'm sure she addressed the scheduler who called me; however, at this moment, due to shops that are scheduled by KSS being extremely low paying and the MSCs they schedule for taking an exorbitant amount of time to pay after shop completion, I will not include KSS or SS in my most favored MSCs and Schedulers.

Some people like waiting 60-90 days for payment; I am not one of those people.

When I am treated with respect, I extend the same courtesy.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not a bleeding heart, but, in years of doing
> this, I find that treating my schedulers and
> editors like human beings mean that I'm treated
> like a human being and not just a Shopper ID.

DanteInOH...Jeez, you've tried to make your point (and certainly entitled to your opinion) so how about giving it (and us) a friggin' rest because it's just going onandonandonandon, ad nauseam.

I beg to differ. I think there is a big difference between treating someone with professionalism and respect, and cheer-leading and ass-kissing.

Personally, I would never stoop so low as to insult someone by calling them a "desk jockey who hasn't been outside in six months" for making a simple error in judgment, especially after they've been named in this post.

KSS schedules for a lot of MSCs. Not worth burning bridges over a snap comment from a new scheduler.

You have respect for Lorri, yet tried to antagonize her into a debate that, quite frankly, doesn't matter. If that's how you treat someone you respect, I'd hate to see how you treat people you don't respect. People who were just doing their jobs, and told you something you don't like. Tantrums are for four-year-olds. I hope y out at least feel better, because other than that, this was pointless and all you did was show your ass.

If you don't like it, feel free to toggle.

parkcitybrian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DanteInOH...Jeez, you've tried to make your point
> (and certainly entitled to your opinion) so how
> about giving it (and us) a friggin' rest because
> it's just going onandonandonandon, ad nauseam.

Oh and one last thing (arguing is pointless, I agree, since my way brings me RESULTS and I won't change it just because you object); do you really think this scheduler didn't insult me when he said "good luck with that"? How's that for professionalism?

In addition, I know a few schedulers who left KSS to go elsewhere and guess what? They say that most of the schedulers there are disrespectful to shoppers because they are taught shoppers are EXPENDABLE. They are taught that shoppers are mindless sheep who will do anything with enough prodding.

If that's your idea of professionalism, good luck! I prefer to do assignments for MSCs and schedulers who appreciate my work and understand what costs are like in the REAL WORLD.

I do mystery shops because I enjoy it and it makes me some extra money. I have earned the right to be able to pick and choose shops as I see fit. When someone, or some company comes around that takes the pleasure out of it; they don't need my services and I don't need the hassle or stress.

Most of the schedulers and MSC owners/management actually appreciate my honesty and tactfulness. They respect me because I have the integrity to voice my own opinion, and I am not afraid to express it. A few of the best qualities involved in mystery shopping are honesty and integrity, and I stand for both.

The only thing that I will agree with is that we agree to disagree. Your way must work, but my way does too! So the best thing to happen would be for us both to agree to disagree, bid each other farewell and be done with this.

I wish you the best of luck!

I believe it's not wise to depend on what an ex-employee says about the company he left. While he may be truthful, he may also be full of sour grapes. I had an issue with Kern myself that we didn't resolve to anyone's satisfaction, but I don't for a minute think everyone there believes shoppers are expendable and can be prodded along like sheep.

I could believe an MSC or a scheduling company might have the attitude that they can always find another shopper, because they can. I also believe they think as a whole we're pretty hard to handle and easy to lose. They're really not in a position to push a good shopper around and would probably be reluctant to lose one. But if we're talking about an experienced mediocre to poor shopper, they don't have anything at all to lose and might not be as careful. They would actually be better off to get rid of Mr/Ms Mediocre to Poor and put their efforts into helping a sharp beginner get up and running. That's what I would do.

What a blowhard & perhaps a touch of narcissism to boot.

Thanks MDavisnowell! I always respect your opinion on here and you give great insight!

I take the statements partially as sour grapes but at the same time, the one specific scheduler has always done right by me. The person has even went as far as telling me which companies he schedules for that are good and which ones I should avoid. This scheduler has even found me assignments with companies that only take shoppers by invitation.

An issue like I had with KSS just makes me appreciate the MSC's and schedulers that take care of me and always treat me like gold.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2014 10:03PM by DanteInOH.

Taylor called me two days ago and was very polite. I gladly picked up the shop with $7 pay and $5 reimbursement since I had three other shops in the area for today. The report is easy and I picked up a cute little wallet. I would never go out of my way for essentially a $12 shop, but I will gladly pick one up if it works with my schedule. I was a repeat shopper and I am glad that Taylor called as I never check KSS portal.