I am really puzzled, why a business like Informa, who works heavily in the banking industry, is being so affrontive. I had a shop for an airport credit card kiosk. Normally I pay no attention to airport shops, since I don't have access, and the closest is one of the world's largest, Well the scheduler contacted me, and asked if I would do it, and he would get me a gate pass for the day. I asked for ans additional $25 over the fee, for travel and hassle. He readily agreed, so on shop day I fight tons of traffic, almost have two accidents, and then at the gate, they don't know me, or have my pass. I call, text, and email the only contact, the scheduler. He calls me back, after waiting some, and navigating my way back out of the airport, and paying for parking.

On the expressway, he says he'll take care of it. Whatever that means. Well through several emails the next day I am contacted by a manager, telling me how the scheduler was SO helpful, and I was SO not helpful, and he would pay me The standard mileage rate I requested for my time, ONLY if I quit contracting with Informa! Otherwise take $35, and stay on!

Anyone else had negotiations turn so sour? I spent a lot of time on this shop, and have always been cordial in my emails. I'm looking at negotiating to get the most return for a shop, that is over 100 miles from home, and they said if you dare ask for more, take the money and run!

I feel your pain. That's what it means to be an independent contractor. We sometimes fight tons of traffic, almost have two accidents, and that's irrelevant to the shop or to the company we might be contracting with. Luck of the draw. And sometimes stuff happens and a shop does not go as planned - at the gate, they don't know you, or have your pass. Sometimes you are able to reach a scheduler timely and sometimes not. You lucked out and were able to reach the scheduler.

The company is in business to make money. Not meaning to sound harsh, but they have a lot of shoppers and what they are telling you is that making money is what is important to them in this situation. They are not interested in making you happy. Take it or leave it. Okay, fine. That's their right. And your choice.

You are in business to make money. Pick what you want to do. Take the money and not work for them again? Or, if the business you do with them important enough to want to continue, take the manager's deal? Your choice.

And, before anyone asks or assumes that I am defending Informa, I am not. I have had problems with Informa. I worked for them at one time and do not work for them any more. My choice, as an independent contractor.

@Mom knows wrote:

Anyone else had negotiations turn so sour? I spent a lot of time on this shop, and have always been cordial in my emails. I'm looking at negotiating to get the most return for a shop, that is over 100 miles from home, and they said if you dare ask for more, take the money and run!

Understand that you are not an employee and you are not their family. They are a company and you are a company. You are "looking at negotiating to get the most return for a shop, that is over 100 miles from home." They are looking to get as many shops done as they can as cheaply as possible. The 100 miles you will drive is very relevant to you. How many miles you or any other shopper drives is not relevant to them. Y

The negotiation here is not one-sided. You are both negotiating. You are interested in maximizing your profit. So are they.

Thanks for your reassurance. I actually waited a few days before replying to the manager, asking for their travel compensation, and staying on board.

I wanted time to get over the offense, and hopefully for him to see my reasonability. But if it were my company, I wouldn't "pay off" someone to leave! Now just have to hear his response, and actually get the money!

My issue, is based in the absurdity of their response. I asked for a bonus to get the shop, they agreed, I accepted.

The shop failed, they offered a travel amount, I countered. They said, we will pay your counter, if you no longer shop for us...or keep shopping for us and take our offer.

Why not just say, No, to my counter, say its too much, we gotta pay another shopper, etc. Why insult me with the amount I asked for, like I did something unscrupulous?

I'm sorry but I am in disagreement. Perhaps I am used to the video world where things work a bit differently but the OP in my opinion is owed the entire shop fee. The fault was squarely on the client for not securing the shopper's gate pass. A video msc would have charged the client for a full shop and paid the shopper.

I agree their manager worded his response in a very tacky way. I'm not surprised because this is an Informa manager. Oh, yeah, we've seen this kind of nebulous communication before.

What they are actually saying is No. If you push it, yes, we will pay you, but then we won't use you as a shopper again. I think the word "unscrupulous" is a little harsh and I don't think they are implying that you are unscrupulous. IMHO they are implying that you are greedy. Big deal. You are in business. Business is business.

I must have misread your original post. I thought that you had actually managed to complete the shop and were now asking for more money to cover the additional problems. Are you saying you did not manage to complete the shop and that the company will now need to negotiate with and pay another shopper to get the shop done? Although these are not my favorite folks, if this is the case, I can certainly see their point of view as well as yours.

I don't see their point of view at all. Someone caused the shop to fall apart by not assuring the gate pass was there when it was supposed to be. That someone was not the OP. Just like we have to own our mistakes, so should the MSC.

@bgriffin wrote:

I'm sorry but I am in disagreement. Perhaps I am used to the video world where things work a bit differently but the OP in my opinion is owed the entire shop fee. The fault was squarely on the client for not securing the shopper's gate pass. A video msc would have charged the client for a full shop and paid the shopper.

I agree 100%. I have had the same problem with a ball game shop, was supposed to pick up tickets the day of the game, reserved for me. No tickets, no entry, the MS paid the total fee. Made a fun day of it anyway, but...

I settled with Informa but found $35 too low to settle for. Asked for $20 more, and about to get blackballed!

I must have misread your original post. I thought that you had actually managed to complete the shop and were now asking for more money to cover the additional problems. Are you saying you did not manage to complete the shop and that the company will now need to negotiate with and pay another shopper to get the shop done? Although these are not my favorite folks, if this is the case, I can certainly see their point of view as well as yours.[/quote]

roflwofl,

As LisaStl said, "Someone" else dropped the ball, so I could not get into the terminal to shop the credit card. On the way home, the scheduler acknowledged the mistake, apologized, and I sent pictures proving I was there. Then I get the follow up, balking at my compensation, and asking me to break shopping for them. I think they might not really like my refusal to shop this location again.

An update for all interested in my Informa mess... The manager emailed me apologizing for the "technical error," that led to "all this."

He promised to pay standard mileage, which I requested for my time and travel, and invited me to pick up any shops on the board. I don't know if this forum helped, or he just saw my point, but I hope he keeps his word!

Thanks all!