@BornInNYC wrote:

I'm sure it must be aggravating to have a shop cancelled from the schedulers perspective, but I do agree that using the word "....flaked" in that context is incredibly unprofessional. It's not like they thought you couldn't see it, and I agree about not having to threaten, there's a nice way to explain to someone that he/she will have trouble getting future assignments if the shop wasn't completed... things happen, anyone could've had a legitimate excuse, chances are that person would've acted the same way to the OP....now what if one has an emergency, can't make it, and then is treated in that manner ... a good, qualified shopper, may be turned off to that company entirely.

(not to say you're not a good qualified shopper! i'm sure you are... just trying to present an objective perspective )

The word "flake" is the word used in this business to describe a shopper who has taken a job and failed to complete it for other than emergency reasons. It's a lot quicker and more efficient to say "he flaked" than to say "he took a job and didn't do it and left me holding the bag to find another shopper at the last minute and for more money." Everyone knows that "flake" means that big long sentence.

There is no reason to find a "nice" way to say, "Hey, nimrod, don't accept a shop if you're not going to do it" because all that is already in the agreement we sign when we sign up with a company. They already told you that, you agreed to it, and you broke your contract with them. Why should they be nice about it? You cost them time and money by "flaking."

It's the word that is used, so if you don't want to see it on your job board, don't flake.

The thing you're missing here, BornInNYC, is that apparently the excuse was not deemed "legitimate" because most MSC's will be forgiving of a true emergency. If OP had a death in the family, an accident, hospitalization, even a car breakdown -- I think they would have used some term other than "family reasons" to explain why they didn't do the shop. They would have said "family emergency" or "my car broke down and I couldn't get there." "Family reasons" sounds like they preferred to watch a movie with the kids, or had a spat with their spouse, or a relative came to visit. Family comes first when there is a crisis. If you want someone to pay you for your time, you need to put the job first for the hour or two it takes to get it done unless there is an actual or potential emergency involving life and limb that was not under the control of the shopper. And while an MSC might forgive a first emergency, if a shopper keeps canceling shops because of recurring emergencies, even if each was a true emergency, they will consider that shopper a flake for not having backup plans (alternate babysitters, for example, or alternate means of transportation).

Some far no problems with these audits, even using the paper form.

I have performed 100's of shops for GFK with minimal issues. This project that Jeremy is referring to is, in my opinion, way too much trouble for the pay rate. For $75-85, even with a $20 bonus, an 8+ hour day is not profitable. If I wanted to work for minimum wage I would obtain such a job. In my market, I am able to procure 8-12 shops/audits each day and double that income, so that is why I am not participating in the project. I am hearing that other shoppers who choose not to participate in the program are being blocked from other projects as well. There were shakeups of some sort at GFK as the schedulers changed regional areas, I miss my old scheduler there, and have not worked much for them this year. I recommend extreme caution with GFK at the moment.

@westernCulture wrote:

In my market, I am able to procure 8-12 shops/audits each day and double that income....

You perform 50 plus assignments a week, over 200 every month? Your claiming to make over $4,000 a month performing mystery shops and audits?

Where did he or she say how much they were making a month? Assuming they are working five days a week and taking an average of the numbers it would work out to an average fee per assignment of $16 for 200 assignments and $3,200 a month. A realistic number in quite a few markets.

@isaiah58 wrote:

You perform 50 plus assignments a week, over 200 every month? Your claiming to make over $4,000 a month performing mystery shops and audits?

I did almost half that the first week of Feb. Not that difficult at all.

I talked with GFK about this project about 2 years ago when they expected it to pay $130 and take about 6 hours. When they finalized the details, it had dropped in pay to around $95 to $100 and gone up to an expected 2 full days so I decided it was a no go. When they added the drug test and required you do two before it would be reimbursed, I quit even thinking about it because there is only one location in my immediate area and the money versus mileage makes it unreasonable to travel to the next closest. You do have to weigh the factors before accepting a job but it is a different story if you are not given full disclosure.

Maritz has been great with moving dates around due to storms. I believe the work is quarterly so there is recovery time. Not sure if it would have been as easy to reschedule if it were closer to the end of March but I certainly appreciate the cooperation.

My guess is that the scheduler was rude because other shoppers have been cancelling this low-paying, minimum wage shop after doing the first one. Why do you think that you have to do 2 before getting reimbursed for the drug test? Probably because after the nightmare of the first one they know you will be tempted to cancel and then they do not have to reimburse for the drug test. Really- a drug test and background check - good luck filling those shops. However the scheduler still should not have been rude.

I've worked for this company for a while. Yes, you have to pay up front for the drug test but you do get reimbursed after two shops. I have always found them to be fair and easy to work with. I've done more than 10 shops for them and am very happy.

Not a fan of GfK so I'm not defending them, especially since we don't have the whole story. However, I don't know of too many MSCs who will assign a "flake" citation if a shopper is proactive about rescheduling or cancelling due to an emergency. The key is prompt and PROFESSIONAL communication, OP.