When will ACL get a clue about those ridiculous pizza shops, and stop with the bribes already?

What's with ACL schedulers trying to bribe shoppers by offering to assign certain shops in exchange for the shopper agreeing to do one of the pizza shops? The pizza shops are not desirable for most shoppers because of the numerous timings that have to be taken down to the second and the requirement to lift up the pizza and photograph the underside of the crust. It's almost impossible to do the latter without calling attention to yourself. ACL should have a chat with the client about making the requirements more reasonable so that the schedulers don't have to resort to making bribes!

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More About Pizza Store Mystery Shopping

Have you emailed or spoken in a professional manner with the shopper support folks at ACL about your concerns, ? What did they have to say?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Bribing shoppers with the promise of getting a shop A by doing a shop B is, unfortunately, a long standing practice in mystery shopping that has been complained about for the decade plus since I came back to the business. A scheduler has to do what works and if there aren't the $$ to make the shop interesting, they must fall back on other methodologies. Yes, it is unfortunate, but it also opens the door to you proactively offer to the scheduler, "I want shop B and if you assign it to me, I will do a shop A for you for $."

My issue with this shop (and many others not necessarily with this msc) is that prices have gone up and the reimbursement has not. I used to spend about 50c out of pocket to get a 2nd guest pizza. Now I spend almost $4 out of pocket for the same order and report. I have suggested to them they raise the reimbursement to cover. As the op mentioned they seem to have trouble filling the many shops they have for this client. A small increase would go a long way for shoppers like myself who enjoy this shop and relieve the schedulers from some of the end of the month frenzy they have.

@Flash wrote:

Bribing shoppers with the promise of getting a shop A by doing a shop B is, unfortunately, a long standing practice in mystery shopping that has been complained about for the decade plus since I came back to the business. A scheduler has to do what works and if there aren't the $$ to make the shop interesting, they must fall back on other methodologies. Yes, it is unfortunate, but it also opens the door to you proactively offer to the scheduler, "I want shop B and if you assign it to me, I will do a shop A for you for $."

I must admit, something like this happened to me with ACL last week.

I wanted a fancy dining shop and I told them I would do a movie theater shop (that was already bonused) for it. The scheduler said the dining shop wasn't her shop but would see what she could do. Within 5 hours I got it assigned to me.

My gripe with this is that I don't like the client's pizza. We're picky here in New York. Chain type pizza that is not New York Style does not stack up. That said I've done the shop and will do it again on, and only on, a slow day.

I've seen a couple other "starter" clients presented, so they aren't necessarily forcing you to do the pizza. Overall, I like ACL.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2016 08:51PM by tcurione.

First of all, if you don't like the pizza or the MSC, don't work for them. We are independent contractors so we pick and choose what shops we want to do and which MSCs we want to work for.

Second, If the reimbursement or the pay is not enough to satisfy your needs, try to negotiate for a bonus. If the scheduler/client can not meet your needs, don't take the shop.

Third, I do not consider a scheduler getting "creative" when trying to get shops assigned as bribery as long as they do not outright lie about something. Offering Shop A if you perform Shop B is a negotiation not a bribe. They are not forcing you to take either/both shops. On the other hand, I negotiate with schedulers and project managers all the time. I offer to take extra shops making a route if they give me extended deadlines and/or toll/parking fees.

Bribery is illegal in many cases; negotiating is not. Negotiating is an art form.

@Sybil2 wrote:

Bribery is illegal in many cases; negotiating is not. Negotiating is an art form.

I have always considered myself an artist really.

Well put.

@tcurione wrote:

My gripe with this is that I don't like the client's pizza. We're picky here in New York. Chain type pizza that is not New York Style does not stack up. That said I've done the shop and will do it again on, and only on, a slow day.

I've seen a couple other "starter" clients presented, so they aren't necessarily forcing you to do the pizza.
Overall, I like ACL.

Tcurione, I grew up in New York on Brooklyn pizza and have never found any pizza to compare. But since I live 3,000 miles away I have to make some compromises. If you ever tasted the standard California idea of what pizza is you would see why I like the pizza from the ACL client. Pizzas have been vastly improved out here the last few years but they are not at all like NY style! It is a different thing all together.

I agree that the term "bribery" is not correct. We are talking about reimbursement only shops. These bundling tactics, which I have never witnessed being used by ACL, are not necessarily in each of the clients best interests

Now, refusing to assign key shops by conditioning the shopper has to bundle a secondary shop would be inappropriate potentially "strong arm" tactics. I am sure the clients for the desired shops would not appreciate it if they learned the best shoppers were not always afforded the opportunity to shop them by being used as a dangling carrot.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

@isaiah58 wrote:

I agree that the term "bribery" is not correct. We are talking about reimbursement only shops. These bundling tactics, which I have never witnessed being used by ACL, are not necessarily in each of the clients best interests

Now, refusing to assign key shops by conditioning the shopper has to bundle a secondary shop would be inappropriate potentially "strong arm" tactics. I am sure the clients for the desired shops would not appreciate it if they learned the best shoppers were not always afforded the opportunity to shop them by being used as a dangling carrot.

Well that's exactly what the ACL pizza schedulers are doing. They don't post a particular fine dining shop and instead e-mail and text certain shoppers offering them that shop on the condition that they take one of the pizza shops. Whatever you want to call it, I don't think it's a good practice at all. I call it bribing: bribe (v) - to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something valuable.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2016 05:05PM by MSF.

ACL is attempting to get all of their shops covered competently for as little money as possible. As long as this methodology accomplishes this for them - or they perceive that it does - they will continue to do it.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

My ACL schedulers don't do that, though I have seen it before with other MSCs...but, I have recently been getting emails about "double bonus" shops which turned out to be a double of $5. A total bonus of $10 is not exciting. That being said, the particular local pizza chain that they are shopping is pretty darned good and I can get any pizza I want, along with a salad and stromboli because the reimbursement is $32. I can eat on that for a few days. This restaurant has one pizza with grilled chicken, feta, spinach, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil that is divine, and I can add artichokes and olives or other things to it, and they have a really good crust. The location that was double bonused was 25 miles from my house, so $10 isn't going to get me there. There is a location about 5 miles from my house that I love to shop. I do it as a carryout because it is so much easier to get all of the required photographs of the food and there are fewer sections and questions to answer.

I just run a voice recorder while I'm in line and listen back to it later for the timings. Easy as (pizza) pie.

@MSF wrote:

Well that's exactly what the ACL pizza schedulers are doing. They don't post a particular fine dining shop and instead e-mail and text certain shoppers offering them that shop on the condition that they take one of the pizza shops. Whatever you want to call it, I don't think it's a good practice at all. I call it bribing: bribe (v) - to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something valuable.

I wouldn't exactly call a "free" lunch or dinner valuable. You are still required to take timings, photos and write a report. My ACL schedulers do not dangle a carrot in front of my nose but they do text me to offer high-end dining shops with no strings attached. If this practice bothers you so much, don't accept their offer. It is really that simple.

I've done these shops for some time. At first the timing was tricky so I timed every change. The timing is not hard, it's figuring out that it all comes out copesthetic on the report. I buy a signature pizza, an entree salad and a drink. I still cannot spend the full reimbursement amount.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230

@MSF wrote:

Well that's exactly what the ACL pizza schedulers are doing. They don't post a particular fine dining shop and instead e-mail and text certain shoppers offering them that shop on the condition that they take one of the pizza shops. Whatever you want to call it, I don't think it's a good practice at all. I call it bribing: bribe (v) - to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something valuable.

I think you may be taking a definition very literally and applying it very generally. Do you also consider posting mystery shopping jobs as bribery? When you are offered a mystery shopping job, the scheduler is attempting to get you to do the shop by promising something valuable (payment/reimbursement). When you see a job posting for a mystery shop and you accept it, are you accepting a bribe? I call that negotiation. Offering a bonus to complete a shop or offering an additional shop, which would also have payment/reimbursement, along with the original shop,would be the same kind of negotiation.

I can understand the art of negotiation and I have no problem with it. I just wish ACL would come out and say that if you do the pizza shop, you will be in a better position to get a better shop, as well if that is the case. I have not been told that, except when I requested a shop out of state. What frustrated me was that I was willing to do one of the pizza shops in my home area before going out of state, where I wanted the fine dining shop---- but the scheduler said I had to do the pizza shop in HER area before the fine dining shop. That upset me as a fifteen year shopper with them. I'd like to think of myself as a team player with a reputation for being reliable and honorable! I am unsure whether their policies have officially changed, or what; but I know I am not getting nearly the number of shops I used to get with ACL.

Of course we are aware that we are free to choose or ignore shops, forum posts, and numerous other things, for that matter.

In my area, ACL almost never has to add a fee to their reimbursement only shops, let alone bonus the fee. Shoppers willingly and quickly take the assignments. The pizza client is the first exception I recall. I have not done the shop, and their bonus/double bonus does not entice me. The double bonus is starting fee for a few casual restaurants I shop with other MSCs, and lower than starting fee for a few others. I haven't seen the bribery tactic. Presumably, it has not been necessary here.

Sometime ago, Sinclair used the tactic that a shopper must take both Client A and Client B; neither could be taken independently. That also did not sit well with many shoppers. I am not sure if either A or B is still shopped.

Talking to the MSC is a nice idea, and worth a try, but I would not hold my breath. When an MSC realizes that month after month after month, shops aren't moving across the U.S., maybe their hands are tied by the client/contract, or maybe they just are not willing to loosen the purse strings.

The pizza shop was one of my worst as the workers are firing questions at you about how you want your pizza made and you have to do timings and get everyone's name at the same time. What is the easiest way to do this?

@AnneAshley wrote:

The pizza shop was one of my worst as the workers are firing questions at you about how you want your pizza made and you have to do timings and get everyone's name at the same time. What is the easiest way to do this?

I downloaded a timing app for shopping. I keep it open and turn my screen brightness down. As I move down the line I tap the screen to record each time. If you go when there are only a few people on the line its a lot easier to remember names. I note if they are wearing a name tag or not. I look at the name but don't force myself to remember it. Once I get my pizza. I sit in the dining room facing the line and observe them as I text notes to myself. I can make out the names on the tags because I have already seen it; I just have to recall it. Then I text descriptions for those without tags and what station they were at.

You really just have to figure out what works best for you. I bombed this shop the first time I did it. It's trial and error.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2016 08:17PM by jdickersonshops.

@jdickersonshops wrote:

@AnneAshley wrote:

The pizza shop was one of my worst as the workers are firing questions at you about how you want your pizza made and you have to do timings and get everyone's name at the same time. What is the easiest way to do this?

I downloaded a timing app for shopping. I keep it open and turn my screen brightness down. As I move down the line I tap the screen to record each time. If you go when there are only a few people on the line its a lot easier to remember names. I note if they are wearing a name tag or not. I look at the name but don't force myself to remember it. Once I get my pizza. I sit in the dining room facing the line and observe them as I text notes to myself. I can make out the names on the tags because I have already seen it; I just have to recall it. Then I text descriptions for those without tags and what station they were at.

You really just have to figure out what works best for you. I bombed this shop the first time I did it. It's trial and error.

Thank you. That's helpful.

I don't think of this as "pizza".... I'm from the Chicago area.. BUT i love the food at this place. I get garlic pesto, gorgonzola cheese, spinach, pineapple & sautéed onions... I think of it as a yummy flatbread. I'd be in trouble if there was one close to my house.
I downloaded a clock app that shows seconds & just screenshot at each timing. I've never had to remember more than three names at a time which is ok for me.

Nearest one to me is an hour away. They called me and didn't like my request of extra pay for the 2 hours of road time. I hear it is a decent pizza.

There's one right downtown but it's near the college and it's always busy. I don't think it reimburses enough and I would like a fee, so I will stick with locally owned carryout chains that they have around here.

I have done the shop a few times and each time the timing is way over the amount of time it should take. Like 7-8 minutes. I often will time a second pizza just to make sure my timing was really right.
My problem is that it does not pay anything only a reimbursement and it is located on the other side of town,.

I was talking to a scheduler about bonuses for reimbursement only gas station shops. We worked it out for two shops. I asked her about a third one, and she threw in the pizza shop. I said no to the pizza, and I haven't heard back from her on the gas.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I contacted my scheduler recently to mention that the prices have gone up. When they first had this shop I could get my order plus a guest pizza for just 50 cents over the reimbursement. Now I have to spend an extra $4+ out of pocket. With no fee I think it is time they increased the reimbursement. I generally do not do these shops unless I have a guest with me or I get a bonus but they told me there is no increase in the works. I still love their pizza although not at all like NY or Chicago pizza so I will still do them. I am not snatching them up right away any more. If you get the app for the rewards program you get a free pizza now and then.

@sandyf wrote:

I contacted my scheduler recently to mention that the prices have gone up. When they first had this shop I could get my order plus a guest pizza for just 50 cents over the reimbursement. Now I have to spend an extra $4+ out of pocket. With no fee I think it is time they increased the reimbursement. I generally do not do these shops unless I have a guest with me or I get a bonus but they told me there is no increase in the works.

This is my biggest complaint about ACL. They seem to negotiate a fee/reimbursement with the client and it stays the same forever. The reimbursement is set in stone, although they may add things to the requirements occasionally. I may be missing it because I don't shop full time, but I've never seen them increase a reimbursement. They have a TexMex restaurant I've been shopping for 7 years. They used to fly off the board. Now they linger. I rarely take them. They reimburse $25 for lunch, $35 for dinner with bar visit, no fee. This was reasonable, not quite generous, but reasonable, in 2010. Menu prices are now 35% higher and the reimbursement amount is the same. It appears that there is no review of on-going clients and reports. When a client report and contractor terms are put into place they are forever, or until ACL l;oses the client.

Taking shops with no fee is actually a choice, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Idon't take the pizza shops. This pizza is not a favorite and the shops cost me money out of pocket, so they are on my NO list. if they offer me something more, like more money or a shope I really want, who knows? I might take the pizza shop.

rofl, ACL's regional gas station shops are no fee. The reimbursement for gas and food is pretty hefty, but I always get a fee to do the shops. The fee is small, but at least I'm not working for gas.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

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When will ACL get a clue about those ridiculous pizza shops, and stop with the bribes already?

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