"PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US...WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP", etc.
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
I love it when they don't offer a bonus but instead write, "You would really be helping me out and I truly appreciate it." The fee? $5.00 and product reimbursement that doesn't cover the cost of most products in the store. Oh, and the kicker is I have never done any assignments for the MSC begging for help. Yeah, right. Oh wait, there will be some on this board who will tell me I should do it in order to "build a relationship with a scheduler."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2015 07:08PM by Spork.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2015 07:08PM by Spork.
I received a text on Saturday from a company telling me that they had "urgent" mystery shops in my area. So, I logged in to find these so-called "urgent" shops were paying $7-8.
My favorite line in some of these emails is something to the effect of, "My deadline is fast approaching, and I'm in danger of missing it. Please help!!!"
I'll be glad to help when the pay is equal to the fact that you are in a dire situation, and I am going out of my way to assist you.
As the old saying goes, "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."
My favorite line in some of these emails is something to the effect of, "My deadline is fast approaching, and I'm in danger of missing it. Please help!!!"
I'll be glad to help when the pay is equal to the fact that you are in a dire situation, and I am going out of my way to assist you.
As the old saying goes, "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."
Yep, I see this month after month. The one that really ticks me off is the one that reads (in all caps): "HELP! PERSONAL REQUEST!" I click on it, and there is absolutely no bonus.
Sorry, I only respond to personal requests from friends and family, or at least a decent size bonus.
Sorry, I only respond to personal requests from friends and family, or at least a decent size bonus.
How about: "Increased FEE!!...... (50 cents) 
How about "NAME YOUR PRICE...Who will be my hero?"
No reasonable offer refused!
But you have to be a customer and this offer is on the very same day.
No reasonable offer refused!
But you have to be a customer and this offer is on the very same day.
I tend to view those as being in the same category as "fun and yummy" shops.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
I had one scheduler do that to me and when I responded 8 minutes later that I would do the shop she told me that she was sorry, maybe next time, she had already rescheduled it. That boiled my blood.
I used to feel insulted by such things. Then annoyed. Now it simply seems silly, and it is counterproductive inasmuch as it lowers my estimation of the scheduler and MSC and thus lowers the likelihood that I'll ever take them seriously enough to work for them.
x
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2015 12:28AM by MDavisnowell.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2015 12:28AM by MDavisnowell.
I have one scheduler who's been emailing me about an urgent project that needs to be done by [relatively close date].
Said project pays $15 and there's currently no bonus being offered. It's also a 440 mile round trip for me.
Why yes, let me jump right on accepting that to help you out... :\
Said project pays $15 and there's currently no bonus being offered. It's also a 440 mile round trip for me.
Why yes, let me jump right on accepting that to help you out... :\
I finally told a large MSC to stop calling me for FF shops across town or even further with a .50 cent bonus. I told them to place a note on my account that I would not even consider an arches shop that I did not self assign unless it was at least $12 and under 8 miles from my home. I made it clear that I read the daily email they send out and if I was going to pass by a shop, that I will take it and don't want any calls for this customer unless they are ready to give me this minimum bonus pay.
Even then, it must be along the way of my other jobs to make it worth my effort.
Surprisingly, they were very friendly to my request and agreed to note my account to this effect.
Let's see if it holds true.
Even then, it must be along the way of my other jobs to make it worth my effort.
Surprisingly, they were very friendly to my request and agreed to note my account to this effect.
Let's see if it holds true.
I told the VERY LARGE MSC with the arches shops that unless a shop is offering a $20 shop fee, don't call me. They made the note and I only hear from them when they are THAT desperate.
The only reason they are having a DIRE NEED is because they are keeping too much of the fee from the client and not paying the shopper enough to print out the guidelines let alone spend over an hour on the shop, use their own car and computer equipment and pay for their own health insurance. Once we, as professionals, demand that we get paid what we are worth and stop picking up the $5 and $7 shops, the MSCs will have to start offering more to begin with. (Ooops, wait. I still live on earth and not in Disneyland....)
Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.
I still remember Kerns with a certain gas company, start and end of the month. We need help ASAP!
They were paying $2 + $10 GAS to do an assignment. I even argued it out with them, $2 profit is an insult. Given the BILLIONS! Gas companies make you'd think they'd up the profit margins to get more shoppers.
They were paying $2 + $10 GAS to do an assignment. I even argued it out with them, $2 profit is an insult. Given the BILLIONS! Gas companies make you'd think they'd up the profit margins to get more shoppers.
Pay me enough money to make it worth my while and then maybe..
How about 14-15 emails a day, "we were really hoping you can help us on these urgent", and get that everyday. The locations are 200-400 miles a way, one way for $8. Going into the mountains and blizzard conditions.
Or my other favorite - please help us, we have updated the Requirements which are now easier. Say yes and it's super easy.
I once said yes and the easier requirements were 23 pages long with specific cutting and picture requirements.
The kicker..... My pictures were not acceptable since they were as close to 90 degrees as they could be without actually being 90 Deg. I guess 89 degrees wasn't close enough so they magically couldn't pay me OR reimburse for my product purchase. But had the nerve to ask if I would do it again for and extra $5.
Thank goodness they stopped calling after I asked for no call backs unless the bonus was more than $50.
I once said yes and the easier requirements were 23 pages long with specific cutting and picture requirements.
The kicker..... My pictures were not acceptable since they were as close to 90 degrees as they could be without actually being 90 Deg. I guess 89 degrees wasn't close enough so they magically couldn't pay me OR reimburse for my product purchase. But had the nerve to ask if I would do it again for and extra $5.
Thank goodness they stopped calling after I asked for no call backs unless the bonus was more than $50.
I got burned on the pizza one and because oft hat will no longer help them out
@housingbubblesobstory wrote:
How about 14-15 emails a day, "we were really hoping you can help us on these urgent", and get that everyday. The locations are 200-400 miles a way, one way for $8. Going into the mountains and blizzard conditions.
"Going into the mountains and blizzard conditions."
Just Great!
@iamloved1 wrote:
The only reason they are having a DIRE NEED is because they are keeping too much of the fee from the client and not paying the shopper enough to print out the guidelines let alone spend over an hour on the shop, use their own car and computer equipment and pay for their own health insurance. Once we, as professionals, demand that we get paid what we are worth and stop picking up the $5 and $7 shops, the MSCs will have to start offering more to begin with. (Ooops, wait. I still live on earth and not in Disneyland....)
exactly and spot-on!!!!
There is a scheduler that kept sending these "urgent" messages saying they had a shop with a bonus. I wrote asking how much, every time. He never responded even once. Finally, in answer to the last one (yesterday) I just sent this--and FINALLY got a reply..LOLOLLOL!!
His reply:
Ok well I have a $12 bonus on the shop if you are interested.
Thank you
My letter to him:
From: Crickett Baker [@mail.com]
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2015 9:25 AM
To: Tyler
ect: Re: Were behind and need YOUR help!!!
Tyler,
I just want you to know that I have been doing shops for about 2 years and you are the 2nd WORSE scheduler I have seen. Over months I have written you many emails, and you literally NEVER respond. I think you should get a different job.
Crickett Baker
His reply:
Ok well I have a $12 bonus on the shop if you are interested.
Thank you
My letter to him:
From: Crickett Baker [@mail.com]
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2015 9:25 AM
To: Tyler
ect: Re: Were behind and need YOUR help!!!
Tyler,
I just want you to know that I have been doing shops for about 2 years and you are the 2nd WORSE scheduler I have seen. Over months I have written you many emails, and you literally NEVER respond. I think you should get a different job.
Crickett Baker
It was funny to think the first email. Continuing to get irritating. I offered to do it, told them conditions and how much would you pay me for 2 days or 3, plus hazard pay. No response. Of course, wouldn't be enough. Everyone that skis love the snow and freeway in good driving conditions as bad as LA Oh, and frequent closures
@Crickett
I have helped the scheduler you are talking about several times when they were in a bind and spoke with him on the phone. I emailed him a couple of weeks ago since I needed a reference for another MSC and never heard from him.
(Sorry. Could not figure out how to include the post I was referencing.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2015 03:20AM by carmenc970.
I have helped the scheduler you are talking about several times when they were in a bind and spoke with him on the phone. I emailed him a couple of weeks ago since I needed a reference for another MSC and never heard from him.
(Sorry. Could not figure out how to include the post I was referencing.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2015 03:20AM by carmenc970.
I have accepted a few assignments like this, and then promptly cancelled them after seeing the long instructions. And Ive felt no shame! Id prefer to burn my bridges with one company (or should I say scheduker) then spend an hour working just to make $6. There's plenty of other work out there.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2015 03:49AM by mfm.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2015 03:49AM by mfm.
I was doing a audit for a certain gas station and it was a 18.00 shop with 2.00 purchase. And I was talking to the person that was the manager/owner. He asked what I was getting for the shop and I told him. He then in return told me that he pays the gas company 60.00 dollars a month for us to audit it him. and some mystery shops are just peanuts if the owners of the business you are doing a shop for gives us peanuts to do these shops. I also know that some schedulers if they can save the money for a particular shop then they get a bonus doing so.
There's some really shady schedulers out there.
x
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2015 11:49PM by MDavisnowell.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2015 11:49PM by MDavisnowell.
BTW, the fee paid by the franchisee on gas audits is paid to the petroleum company, not the MSC. Maybe you should ask how much they keep? Or maybe the petroleum company takes that fee from the franchisee and use it to offset an even higher fee to the MSC. The bottom line is we don't know who is paying what to who and how much.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.