Beware of LAME schedulers...

So. I accepted a shop due yesterday and confirmed it on the MSC site. Yesterday afternoon, I realized it would be better for me to do it today. I emailed the scheduler and asked "is it possible to do this shop on Monday? If not, I'll make it happen today." She quickly responded with an updated date of Monday (today) and I confirmed it. In a moment of complete incompetence, she then removed the shop and emailed me "I removed the shop per your request."

Of course, I quickly emailed back "I never said I could not do it, no idea where you got that idea. I said I wanted to go today, Monday."

She responded that she didn't understand. I asked for her to put it back, because I had planned to do it today, as I said. She then said someone else already took the shop, sorry!

I then said "Since it wasn't my fault the shop was taken away from me, and I am now not going to earn the $15 I would have gotten (had the shop not been taken away from me), would you please add that $15 to another shop? Either a shop I have already done, or a future shop?

That seems fair."

She is now insisting since I didn't do the shop yesterday, she can't pay me. SHE SAID I COULD DO IT TODAY!!!! Ugh.

Schedulers are the WORST!!!! End rant.

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Personally, I would not have demanded the $15, but would have responded with copies of any emails reminding her of the facts. I may have said something like I am disappointed that I am losing $15 due to this error. A MSC could turn around and deactivate you-even if it is fully their fault and they are unprofessional...

I think it was the Animal House movie where a person is being punished with paddling and was saying "Thank you sir may I have another?"

You cannot get paid for a shop you did not do, whoever made the mistake. You could have asked that, if another shop came up, if you could have that one, since it was a misunderstanding.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2015 10:25PM by breestjon.

Good news! I DID respond to her forwarding her own emails clearly stating I CAN do the shop today, she SAID I can do it today, and NONE of them said I changed my mind...she finally came around, apologized (how often does a scheduler APOLOGIZE???? Someone call Guinness!!!) and...agreed to give me the $15!!! waHOO! Score a victory for our side!!! Merry Christmas to all!

Being the skeptic, I am not sure if I believe this. Getting paid for work never performed? I can see being paid extra on a future shop but I think someone may be drinking too much eggnog.

If this is indeed true, the OP should change/update the title of this thread.

I don't drink eggnog, Sybil2. I'm not a liar, either. Thanks for the pleasant thoughts! Merry Christmas!!

@mystery2u wrote:

Good news! I DID respond to her forwarding her own emails clearly stating I CAN do the shop today, she SAID I can do it today, and NONE of them said I changed my mind...she finally came around, apologized (how often does a scheduler APOLOGIZE???? Someone call Guinness!!!) and...agreed to give me the $15!!! waHOO! Score a victory for our side!!! Merry Christmas to all!

I'm having a hard time letting this one slide by because I have had schedulers apologize when appropriate and have never felt I was due for one I did not receive. Congratulations on your payment. I assume it was due to your documentation of the facts and not the US against THEM stance. Schedulers are people too, busy people dealing with veteran shoppers and newbies. They can slip up and have strict policies, computer programming, and supervisors to answer to. I have found honest open communication and documentation are some keys to all being on the same side instead of scoring victories for one side or the other.

I think it is unfortunate that MSC guidelines and websites can come across as confrontational with their demanding and demeaning language. Referring to their shoppers 'flakes' is one such example. As you well know, 'due dates' are flexible but they make it sound like 'this must be done by this date or the world will end and you will be the first to die'.

This is just my two cents but if you want schedulers to be on your side, then be on their side.

Mystery Shopping | Auditing | Site and Auto Inspections Central and Southern Indiana

@mystery2u wrote:

I don't drink eggnog, Sybil2. I'm not a liar, either. Thanks for the pleasant thoughts! Merry Christmas!!

Correction...You have had too much Guinness! And where did I call you a liar? I called myself a skeptic. I am allowed to call myself whatever I want. And not everyone celebrates Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa.

I don't drink Guinness, either. When I said "Someone call Guinness!!" I was referring to the World Records. I have been shopping for many years and this is probably the 2nd scheduler who has apologized for a mistake. AKA, in my experience, schedulers mess up CONSTANTLY and refuse to admit it. So frustrating. Shoppers must have perfect grammar and spelling and be penalized for their mistakes, but schedulers and editors are not held to that same standard. I suppose I'm the only one who finds that absurd.

Happy New Year to all! (I'm allowed to say that, right?? :0)

Wow. Every reference I made went way over your head. Someone is missing a sense of humor. Maybe Santa will give you one for Christmas. Mazel.

Glad it worked out mystery2u.
Yes, it happens. I have no reason not to believe you.

I had a Guinness Float recently. Vanilla gelato in a frosty mug, with Ireland's famous black stout layered over it. It's exquisite.

"The future ain't what it used to be." --Yogi Berra

Too bad Santa isn't real :0) Thanks for your refreshing sense of humor, pinchers81! It's nice to read comments on this forum that aren't negative.

@mystery2u wrote:

Too bad Santa isn't real :0) Thanks for your refreshing sense of humor, pinchers81! It's nice to read comments on this forum that aren't negative.

I figure it's not a digression from the subject because I was on a Fine Dining shop when I had it.

"The future ain't what it used to be." --Yogi Berra

I must say that I have had great schedulers from all of my MSC. I have always gotten a return email or call. I have had the Guidelines emailed ahead of committing to a shop. I request shops ahead of the dates or after the dates from the schedulers. I have gotten paid for a shop I couldn't do because they were not open. I took pictures of all of the signs, I did go to the location. I'm sure we have been paid for this type of shop.

Recently I drove a 3 hour round trip to do 3 auto shops. In the middle of my last one, I was left alone (of course, it's a dealership, lol!) and checked my email. Out pops one saying the shop I was in the middle of was cancelled! Made a decision to complete the shop anyway, and called the scheduler right after. Turned out someone never updated my reschedule I arranged, and it was cancelled for being a week late. Scheduler was a sweetie, tried to fix it with a big bonus - only he still put a wrong date on it. I called him back, told him it sounded like he was having a rough day, and he fixed it a second time, and again raised the pay to triple what the original pay was. I'm glad I didn't act angry when I called, it paid off in this instance. It's not always roses and chocolate with schedulers, but I just keep the firm hand in the fleecy glove.

I haven't had major prob w/a scheduler yet. Be nice to them & they are nice to you. don't bite the hand that feeds U.

Simply forgot! They are so overwhelmed, Overworked how could they not be Bitter !
Its not necessary but whats the chance you'll ever meet them in person?

Enough of the Scheduler crap. It's not going to change anytime soon so why fight it!

When one of US comes here to vent their frustrations we should let them. Why is there US against US? |Just sayin Can't we all just get along?" Its the xxxxking Holidays. Remember the reason for the Season.

Those are the Schedulers we should be speaking about! The Good ones!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2015 07:14AM by woodyca.

@woodyca wrote:

When one of US comes here to vent their frustrations we should let them. Why is there US against US? |Just sayin Can't we all just get along?" Its the xxxxking Holidays. Remember the reason for the Season.

I have a little bit different take on it. I don't see it as US vs THEM, so when someone disagrees with a post criticizing scheduler, editor, etc., I don't see it as US vs US. I think we're all in this together: mystery shoppers, MSC owners, schedulers, editors, and other MSC employees. I see us as independent contractors and the MSCs are our customers.

As for disagreeing with a post, whether the poster is "venting" or not, part of the value of this forum is that we keep it "REAL." We are all mystery shoppers and we pretty much know the realities of mystery shopping. We don't always agree on the same things. Sometimes one of us gets upset and vents, sometimes with good reason and sometimes not. When I post here on the forum, I don't want other forum members to blindly agree with me simply because they are mystery shoppers and so am I. I want to know what they REALLY think. I want the thoughts, opinions, and ideas of others. And, maybe I'm wrong, but I think most posters want to know what we REALLY think.

Your spot on with the MSC as our Customers. I agree.

@woodyca wrote:

Simply forgot! They are so overwhelmed, Overworked how could they not be Bitter !
Its not necessary but whats the chance you'll ever meet them in person?

Good chance. I've met at least 5 schedulers & 2 editors. I've become friends w/one IRL & we meet for dinner shops every couple of months.

Your sarcastic response goes hand and foot with your very unreasonable request the scheduler "give" you $15.00 for doing nothing. How do you think you deserve money for doing nothing? Mystery Shopping ain't welfare.
Were I a scheduler I would be so tempted to magic marker in black your life from knowing you any more.

You may want to look up "expectation damages". If you agree with a party to do a job for them for $15, and they later say, "Never mind," you are still entitled to $15.

You are entitledcto the money only if you have contract with them you completed tge job. Employers change hours, send people home early etc all the time and the employee gets no compensation. What about when you make an appointment and cancel the last minute, do you pay the person their fee? Some businesses do charge for last minute cancels and no shows but that is stated up front.

@Sybil2 wrote:

Being the skeptic, I am not sure if I believe this. Getting paid for work never performed? I can see being paid extra on a future shop but I think someone may be drinking too much eggnog.

If this is indeed true, the OP should change/update the title of this thread.

I have absolutely been paid before if a scheduler makes a mistake like this- maybe a handful of times.

And Is it really that important that the OP changes the name of the thread?

@Sybil2 wrote:

Being the skeptic, I am not sure if I believe this. Getting paid for work never performed? I can see being paid extra on a future shop but I think someone may be drinking too much eggnog.

If this is indeed true, the OP should change/update the title of this thread.

@adamaimeemom wrote:

Employers change hours, send people home early etc all the time and the employee gets no compensation.

I do with my company, That is the joy of being employee over IC.

Santa isn't real? And I have spent 66 years thinking I was bad........... Happy, Happy!

Aleia W., Scheduler
Shoppers' View, MSC
800-264-5677 | Grand Rapids, MI
[www.shoppersview.com]

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2015 09:58PM by aleiaw.

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