@thefoxbox wrote:

You can't get it through your head that no instructions were given to me should I show up and not be able to complete the assignment in the way they intended. I'm not going to argue with you. Because of this one assignment, I now have to call every shop I'm going to. And then some of them may say they don't have valet, like this one, and I may get terminated. If none of that bothers you, you really should look into being an employee of this company.

You need to chill and stop reading and replying to this thread. You are getting more worked up by the minute. I am sure my response is not going to please you either but maybe it will help someone else.

You said, "You can't get it through your head that no instructions were given to me should I show up and not be able to complete the assignment in the way they intended." Life does not come with an instruction manual and from what I can tell, you are still living a life. Life and mystery shopping involves a lot of common sense.

If you arrive home after work and see large flames coming out of the roof and smoke coming out of the windows, do you enter the house? I would hope not. Common sense tells us to call 911.

I have been in a similar valet situation. I was at a very large shopping mall with three distinct valet areas. I was assigned all three locations to be done on the same day back-to-back. The first two shops went out without a hitch. The third one was a ghost town. No valet sign, no uniformed employees, no buff guys running wildly through the parking lot.

While I waited about ten minutes to see if anyone would show up, I called the MSC which was closed of course but I left a detailed voicemail. I emailed my scheduler from my cell phone. I know how two forms of POV in a sense. When no one arrived who was remotely valet-related, I drove to a different park of the parking lot and took a few photos with my camera phone showing different angles of the empty space where the valet should have been. I clearly showed the names of the surrounding stores as more POV. My date/time stamp was on.

When I was finally able to talk to someone on Monday morning, I was complimented for my efforts and the MSC agreed to pay me in full even though their client was probably not going to pay them for that assignment. I did not interject my opinion into my report, my voicemail messages or my emails.

@PaulinMI wrote:

It wasn't like the hospital wasn't there.

Agreed that the analogy of no house being present was slightly absurd, but it was to make an obvious point, which would also apply if you showed up and I just wasn't home.

Wouldn't you just call me at that point, rather than send me an invoice for the job?

I'm not even saying the OP shouldn't be remunerated in some way. I'm saying that the way it was handled is what led to the issue blowing up and being posted here.

A simple email to the MSC saying, "Hey Doug, they no longer have valet at this location. See the attached photo and recording of my call to them," would most likely have resulted in a different outcome. Holding your ground that you performed the assigned to specification just yields frustration.

As far as the MSC checking it out; Yes, they can look into it now, but they (meaning Doug) do not have the resources to call each location monthly to see if they are operating. I would much prefer to take my lumps on an occasional closed location at the existing pay that have all assignments pay half as much because they had to hire a second employee to verify every single assignment.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@PaulinMI wrote:

It wasn't like the hospital wasn't there.

Agreed that the analogy of no house being present was slightly absurd, but it was to make an obvious point, which would also apply if you showed up and I just wasn't home.

Wouldn't you just call me at that point, rather than send me an invoice for the job?

I'm not even saying the OP shouldn't be remunerated in some way. I'm saying that the way it was handled is what led to the issue blowing up and being posted here.

A simple email to the MSC saying, "Hey Doug, they no longer have valet at this location. See the attached photo and recording of my call to them," would most likely have resulted in a different outcome. Holding your ground that you performed the assigned to specification just yields frustration.

As far as the MSC checking it out; Yes, they can look into it now, but they (meaning Doug) do not have the resources to call each location monthly to see if they are operating. I would much prefer to take my lumps on an occasional closed location at the existing pay that have all assignments pay half as much because they had to hire a second employee to verify every single assignment.

im confused. Your point is that if I provided proof that I had gone there plus proof that no valet existed, it would've been a different outcome? Have you read this discussion at all?

@thefoxbox wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@PaulinMI wrote:

It wasn't like the hospital wasn't there.

Agreed that the analogy of no house being present was slightly absurd, but it was to make an obvious point, which would also apply if you showed up and I just wasn't home.

Wouldn't you just call me at that point, rather than send me an invoice for the job?

I'm not even saying the OP shouldn't be remunerated in some way. I'm saying that the way it was handled is what led to the issue blowing up and being posted here.

A simple email to the MSC saying, "Hey Doug, they no longer have valet at this location. See the attached photo and recording of my call to them," would most likely have resulted in a different outcome. Holding your ground that you performed the assigned to specification just yields frustration.

As far as the MSC checking it out; Yes, they can look into it now, but they (meaning Doug) do not have the resources to call each location monthly to see if they are operating. I would much prefer to take my lumps on an occasional closed location at the existing pay that have all assignments pay half as much because they had to hire a second employee to verify every single assignment.

im confused. Your point is that if I provided proof that I had gone there plus proof that no valet existed, it would've been a different outcome? Have you read this discussion at all?

Every assignment wouldn't have to be verified. Why should it be the financial liability of the MSC? Why aren't you placing blame on the client who requested the shop to be performed who didn't update the MSC?

I said that if you contacted the MSC with the info instead of just submitting an incomplete report, the outcome would have been different. Yes. I have read the full discussion.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I said that if you contacted the MSC with the info instead of just submitting an incomplete report, the outcome would have been different. Yes. I have read the full discussion.

I didn't get paid. What outcome would've changed? Maybe I wouldn't have gotten paid? Oh wait.

@thefoxbox wrote:

Why aren't you placing blame on the client who requested the shop to be performed who didn't update the MSC?

When you get more experience in the industry, you will understand that this is a common occurrence. You can either be upset about it, or realize that it's business as usual and deal with it professionally.

I regularly see locations posted that I know are closed. I will often email the scheduler and give them a heads up to pull it from the available assignments. That puts me in good favor with the scheduler because it helps to avoid meltdowns with newbies who can't understand that these things happen!

When a business decides to cease operations, there are a lot of things that need to be done. Contacting the MSC that services the client is often at the bottom of that list.

I've had quite a few instances with Market Force where a location did not exist/torn down/demolished. I took the pictures of what was there and then I explained in detail what happened. I have been paid 100% of the time. I have to wonder with the company you shopped, if they were not going to check to see if there was valet. A simple call from them would be in order. If the location did not have valet, they need to pay you (in my opinion) but they could say you need proof of visit. .You did your part. (pictures would have helped but still, they can verify in 2 minutes whether that location had valet. They simply need to make the call. I have to wonder if they either (a) don't care that much about their shoppers or (b) have trouble retaining good shoppers who make a faithful attempt to complete a shop that is not compliant with what the client wanted.

@Sybil2

You and I did the same thing and received different results. It really depends on the MSC.

I was in a similar situation. I went to the address provided for the valet shop and there were two professional signs with the valet company's name. I drove up the driveway only to find a ticketing machine and gated entrance. I could not turn around or back down the driveway. I had to take a ticket in order to proceed. I emailed the scheduler immediately. She contacted me the next day about a different matter and had no recollection of seeing my emails (i sent a second email later in the day). Schedulers are not on standby for us. We can't rely on being able to contact schedulers for every issue. We have to do the best we can in the moment. After hearing from the MSC, the shopper decides if the outcome is acceptable or not.

Edited last sentence so it wasn't abrupt.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2017 12:07AM by ChrisCooper.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

@Sybil2

You and I did the same thing and received different results. It really depends on the MSC.

Or they just like me better.

JK.

@thefoxbox wrote:

I have been doing a few hundred shops over the last year or so. I've had a few of them returned to me, but never have I had one rejected.

Today, I got an email saying that a shop I had done was rejected. It was for a valet. I had driven an hour each way, out of my way, from other shops that day, just to squeeze in a little more cash for the day.

OP, what date was this shop actually "performed" or "not performed?" From your OP, it sounds very recent. You started this thread today which is a Sunday. You do realize that many, probably the majority of MSCs, are not open on weekends. So all this ranting and raving might be a waste of time. If you just cool your jets a bit and wait for Monday morning, you can probably get a real live person on the phone.

If you go all meltdown on them like some of your posts have in this thread, you will not win the battle and you you might not win the war. The MSC very well could deactivate you.

I suggest you get out of the forum for the night, enjoy a glass of whatever and watch The Oscars or something to distract your mind.

He's already been notified he's not getting paid.

@Sybil2 wrote:

OP, what date was this shop actually "performed" or "not performed?" From your OP, it sounds very recent. You started this thread today which is a Sunday. You do realize that many, probably the majority of MSCs, are not open on weekends. So all this ranting and raving might be a waste of time. If you just cool your jets a bit and wait for Monday morning, you can probably get a real live person on the phone.

@thefoxbox wrote:

He has already replied several times to me saying he won't be paying. It was my mistake for not capturing a photo of no valets present. I don't hold anything against him. It's just the first (and hopefully last) time I've ever had a shop rejected, out of about 200 I've done.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

He's already been notified he's not getting paid.

I know. But many of the forum responses have suggested that he contact Doug or someone at the MSC and discuss that matter further. If anything, he could get clarification on how to handle a similar situation in the future since he seems like he needs a lot of hand-holding. I still say using common sense is the best bet.

To be factual in observation----------> Valet parking is not a division or department within the hospital.

Hospitals deal with medical entities and emergency, not parking. You called the "Hospital". You should have asked for the Parking department. That would be the only department which would be able to answer if the hospital had a valet. Did you call the valet service? Was there a phone number listed on your invoice/guidelines? While the hospital was listed on your guidelines, the hospital was not your assignment.

You should not have checked the entrances of the hospital but the PARKING area of the hospital. Therefore, you did not complete your assignment. It sounds you checked the entrances of the hospital but not the parking area. Depending on the magnitude of the Hospital, parking areas are at times more than 1/2 a mile away. They provide a shuttle bus to the "Hospital" building. If you are looking to visit or see someone in the hospital, there is no need for you to be on the hospital lot. Valet parking would provide this service, even if you admitting a emergency situation. Such as possibly following an ambulance to the hospital. Perhaps you drove past the valet when you drove past the parking signs. Common, if you are not from the area and it "new" to you.

Sometimes the CLIENT is not aware of changes in the Retail. Therefore, those changes are not passed on to the MS company. Then, there are those changes that the CLIENT are made aware of by the MS program. I do know which is which in this case but according to the MSC ----->"they have been doing this assignments for years."<------this statement does not apply to the last ninety days. But it does suggest that there is currently a Valet program at the Client Retail. There are times when we, the SHOPPERS, are more aware of the Clients changes before they are. So, I am grateful for the "job" we do.

I can understand why the assignment was rejected, the report was incomplete, and payment will not be coming. It was not a closed location. The OP looked in all the wrong places for the valet PARKING. As for knowing or not knowing what to do if unable to complete a shop. Err on the side of providing some type of POV. I am sure you carry on you some type of camera whether it is a physical camera or a phone with camera capabilities. Just because you called the "retail" and the answer is no. That does not have to be the truth, or they just don't know.

To answer your question, who is to blame for a rejected shop------------------->YOU.

This is not a criticism reply, this is a learning reply, like most of the others

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2017 01:11AM by sojo917.

OP, just curious, what kind of parking WAS available? Was the parking a free lot with no charge? Or was there a closed entry requiring credit card (or cash) self-payment? Was there a staffed pay booth? What POV (proof of visit) did you provide to the MSC? Did you park and provide your parking ticket as documentation? Did you purchase something at the hospital cafeteria or gift shop? Photos are usually the easiest POV but a timed, dated receipt for parking or a soda, etc., from the hospital would work as well.

If you have a POV that documents that you were at the location, I agree, you should be paid something. Some companies pay the whole fee and others pay a closed location fee. Not sure what NWLPC does, but a taped telephone call with the hospital switchboard doesn't meet a POV requirement.


edited: after a couple small glasses of pinot grigio, I can spell worth a darn. OK, I couldn't spell BEFORE the pinot grigio and I sure can't now ......

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2017 01:41AM by AustinMom.

Someone's enjoying their Oscars Party. Buzzed typing rules!

I am not watching any TV I am just drinking and listening to music with my hubby...and popping into the forum to catch up here and there.

I do believe the OP I deserving of at least an attempt fee, but I also agree with Steve. He should have contacted the MSC and told them he was not able to locate valet and provide them with the recording.

Perhaps @dcrector will chime in.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I am not watching any TV I am just drinking and listening to music with my hubby...and popping into the forum to catch up here and there.

You should be popping into the bedroom instead of the forum! Jeesh!

LOL!!! Thanks for the giggle, Sybil!

The only lesson the OP can learn here is that some companies leave out information, or are not clear on information, that needs to be provided in the shop guidelines or in the general contract agreement. Sneaky companies are not clear on the details providing what happens when a location is closed or there is no mop and they hired you to mop the floor. Market Force only pays a partial fee, not the full fee in these cases. Most companies identify what needs to be be done.

This is a lesson, and another item for our checklist, for all of us, not just the OP. It's terrible that this happened. Taking a picture, geoverifying etc still does not mean you will be paid unless the MSC spells out that these are the things that need to be done to be paid given a closed location. Even if they pay him this time, if it's not spelled out somewhere he, and others, may not be paid next time this happens. So, he's doing exactly what he needs to do and what he's decided to do. Ask, now, what happens in a closed location situation, and get it in writing, and make sure to call all locations under MSCs 'like this' in the future. Sucks though!

@sojo917 wrote:

To be factual in observation----------> Valet parking is not a division or department within the hospital.

Hospitals deal with medical entities and emergency, not parking. You called the "Hospital". You should have asked for the Parking department. That would be the only department which would be able to answer if the hospital had a valet. Did you call the valet service? Was there a phone number listed on your invoice/guidelines? While the hospital was listed on your guidelines, the hospital was not your assignment.

You should not have checked the entrances of the hospital but the PARKING area of the hospital. Therefore, you did not complete your assignment. It sounds you checked the entrances of the hospital but not the parking area. Depending on the magnitude of the Hospital, parking areas are at times more than 1/2 a mile away. They provide a shuttle bus to the "Hospital" building. If you are looking to visit or see someone in the hospital, there is no need for you to be on the hospital lot. Valet parking would provide this service, even if you admitting a emergency situation. Such as possibly following an ambulance to the hospital. Perhaps you drove past the valet when you drove past the parking signs. Common, if you are not from the area and it "new" to you.

Sometimes the CLIENT is not aware of changes in the Retail. Therefore, those changes are not passed on to the MS company. Then, there are those changes that the CLIENT are made aware of by the MS program. I do know which is which in this case but according to the MSC ----->"they have been doing this assignments for years."<------this statement does not apply to the last ninety days. But it does suggest that there is currently a Valet program at the Client Retail. There are times when we, the SHOPPERS, are more aware of the Clients changes before they are. So, I am grateful for the "job" we do.

I can understand why the assignment was rejected, the report was incomplete, and payment will not be coming. It was not a closed location. The OP looked in all the wrong places for the valet PARKING. As for knowing or not knowing what to do if unable to complete a shop. Err on the side of providing some type of POV. I am sure you carry on you some type of camera whether it is a physical camera or a phone with camera capabilities. Just because you called the "retail" and the answer is no. That does not have to be the truth, or they just don't know.

To answer your question, who is to blame for a rejected shop------------------->YOU.

This is not a criticism reply, this is a learning reply, like most of the others

Oh dear. You guys think you have exceptionally high IQs, don't you? I asked if they had valet. Both times I called, they said they had no valet or parking department in their directory and also said they didn't have valet.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I am not watching any TV I am just drinking and listening to music with my hubby...and popping into the forum to catch up here and there.

You should be popping into the bedroom instead of the forum! Jeesh!

My desk is in the bedroom, LOL.

You do not have to have an exceptional IQ to answer the phone or to make a phone call. 8 out of 10 operators at a Hospital don't know what is going on outside the four walls inwhich they sit. Why? Because they are temporary personnel hired to do one job and one job only----->to answer the phone. Unless you know your party's extension, other information is not be given out. For all they know "Valet" could be a name for a person. That information they are not giving out. Can the supplied phone number be incorrect?

Still the assignment was not completed as required. The MSC has made their decision------>Don't worry, be Happy. We learn from our mistakes.

@thefoxbox wrote:

t
They said they had no valet or parking department in their directory and also said they didn't have valet.

Yet, somehow, previous shoppers were able to valet park. Doesn't something about that make you think, "Hmmm...perhaps they were wrong."

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@thefoxbox wrote:

t
They said they had no valet or parking department in their directory and also said they didn't have valet.

Yet, somehow, previous shoppers were able to valet park. Doesn't something about that make you think, "Hmmm...perhaps they were wrong."

No, it doesn't make me think "they" were wrong because I went to the location, and went to all seven entrances, and observed no valet stands. I've done three or four shops for this company before. Each time, the valet stand is very clear and obvious, even if no employees were outside/near it (which they always have been in the past). Further, when I had called in the past and asked if the place had valet, they not only said yes, but told me the exact entrance that the valet worked at. I'm so glad so many of you take the defense of the MSC. It's not often people take the defense of companies versus the contractors who make nothing and lose out on everything, so it's good to see people stand up for the non-little guy. /sarcasm

I'm pretty much done with this thread now. You guys can keep entertaining yourselves.

@thefoxbox wrote:

@eyelove2shop wrote:

OP, I'm sorry your time was wasted, been there, done that! I find it peculiar that the shop instructions provided you with no directions in case the valet was not there.

I had a similar situation. I was doing a ff shop. It was a lunch shop. The shop instructions required me to confirm business hours. I went to the website after calling twice and not getting anyone on the phone. The website listed the hours on Saturday from 10-2pm. The shop instructions stated any day lunch time. I go to the restaurant, learned that was closed. I immediately took a photo, geo verified (although it was not required) and emailed the scheduler while I was still on site, took a screenshot of the website's hours of operation. I went home and filled out the report. I checked the status of my shop and it says received. A week goes by and I don't have a score. I email the scheduler asking for the status of the shop. The scheduler responded, it was cancelled and not sent to the client because the shop was not completed. I calmly replied that I followed the shop instructions to verify the hours of operation. I also asked the scheduler if the client knew their website was reporting inaccurate hours. Guess what? I'm not getting paid for that shop, the scheduler did not ask if I wanted to reschedule and my application for a different shop is pending.

Moral of the story? Sometimes even when doing EVERYTHING possible, it's out of your control. Learning whether you are valued by the MSC is way more important to me than the little $ I would have received. I'm glad you feel received valuable feedback here, I've shared my story to let you know it really doesn't matter if you took photos. The MSC can easily verify if the location no longer has a valet. IMO that is a poor excuse not to pay you.

Thanks for your story. Some people just want to throw stones without giving any useful feedback. I hope I've empowered them. Others, like you, provide useful information. I find it strange how the MSC will seemingly bend over backwards if a client tells them they want a shop done but don't inform the MSC that the location no longer exists. How is that our fault? Just feels weird to me to have this happen.

A client might have 5,000 locations and may not always know a store closed. A prime example of this: I went to a location and ABC business was not there. (I was later paid). Two weeks later, that same exact shop is being posted again. So now.... who is responsible for a shop that does not exist? In this case, I think the MSC should know or have known and have removed that shop from the rotation (because I told them it does not exist) so this is where you try to call and confirm a store is open. Another instance, a grocery store completely closed two years prior and so I let Market Force know but they said go to the location anyway, make sure it's closed and I was paid $3 (closed store fee).

In my case, that particular location is closed on the weekends but they have not updated their website. I work in a different city so I was not able to complete the shop during the weekday. I live in the city of the shop location, so I planned to do it on Saturday when I was home.

Fwiw the website still shows Saturday hours when the location is closed on Saturdays. My scheduler should have communicated that to the client. I'm so tempted to give that location a bad yelp review. If I were a regular customer I'd be pissed if I went there and they were closed because someone was too lazy to update their website. Or perhaps the store manager is slacking and doesn't want to open on Saturday?

I never eat at that location anyway, I prefer their other locations in the city that coincidentally are open on the weekends.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

In my case, that particular location is closed on the weekends but they have not updated their website. I work in a different city so I was not able to complete the shop during the weekday. I live in the city of the shop location, so I planned to do it on Saturday when I was home.

Fwiw the website still shows Saturday hours when the location is closed on Saturdays. My scheduler should have communicated that to the client. I'm so tempted to give that location a bad yelp review. If I were a regular customer I'd be pissed if I went there and they were closed because someone was too lazy to update their website. Or perhaps the store manager is slacking and doesn't want to open on Saturday?

I never eat at that location anyway, I prefer their other locations in the city that coincidentally are open on the weekends.

Actually, this happened to me. The website said the location was open but when I was in the area, I noted the window sign said closed on Sundays. I went home and moved it to Monday!