Are ACL shops not being taken as quickly this month?
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In my area, they posted much later than usual. That may be because they have reorganized their scheduling to have geographic area specialist who will handle all shops in their regions. I suspect that this change was somewhat disruptive as everyone is early in the learning curve with some clients' shops.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
The shops in my area were posted late as well.@walesmaven wrote:
In my area, they posted much later than usual. That may be because they have reorganized their scheduling to have geographic area specialist who will handle all shops in their regions. I suspect that this change was somewhat disruptive as everyone is early in the learning curve with some clients' shops.
In many areas, they are attempting to force shoppers to do a pizza shop or two in order to be assigned one of the non-pizza shops. They switched many of the non-pizza shops from self-assign to request-only. More info. here: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
I wonder if they are putting their hotel shops with the area schedulers as well. That seems counter productive. The people that would want those wouldn't be in that area....
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I wonder if there are other shoppers like me who don't appreciate this new game we are playing with good shop/bad shop combos. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth that they are doing this instead of just offering a reasonable fee for the "bad shops." I haven't even checked their job board yet this month.
I don't appreciate it. i am right there with you-
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2017 10:21PM by bobbedit222.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2017 10:21PM by bobbedit222.
In my area there are a lot of shops that normally go first - so yeah I guess they are getting the less popular ones booked. This is one of those things that may seem like a good idea on paper- but, nope. Not even a little in reality. There are 4 clients that they are asking you to be willing to shop to get a good shop. I would be so mad if I was a more popular shop client to know that they are doing this.
That is really insightful. I had never thought of how it could delay shops to other clients.
@bobbedit222 wrote:
I would be so mad if I was a more popular shop client to know that they are doing this.
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.
@Threemom wrote:
I wonder if there are other shoppers like me who don't appreciate this new game we are playing with good shop/bad shop combos. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth that they are doing this instead of just offering a reasonable fee for the "bad shops." I haven't even checked their job board yet this month.
Yes, I'm right there with you. I've been a loyal shopper with them for 7 years and get outstanding reviews from the editors. I've done non-desirable, non-bonus shops for them in the past, just to build a decent rapport. Yet when I applied for a new toy shop, I'm told I "might" get it if I do a alcohol-compliance shop. Um, the age limit is 21-40, and I'm 45. I told the scheduler that, and she apologized and then offered me a grocery store that was over 30 minutes from the toy store. I declined, so I didn't get the toy shop. Thank goodness I'm signed up with over 100 different companies and don't count on ACL as my sole source of mystery shopping income.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2017 12:47AM by DareWright.
I have seen this practice with other companies besides ACL. Another company does the same thing for a casino restaurant. They won't assign the restaurant unless you pick up at least one bar shop at the same casino for the same date. That ends up being at least two alcoholic beverages...I wonder how many shoppers have gotten dui's because of some of these requirements!
Probably exactly none.
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.
Drink at the bar, drink at the table, then one or two more drinks at casino bars?? Really, I would not be able to stand let alone write a report!
@EileenS wrote:
Drink at the bar, drink at the table, then one or two more drinks at casino bars?? Really, I would not be able to stand let alone write a report!
The guidelines may require you to order 3 or 4 drinks but you are not required to drink them.
I always bring a designated drinker if the shop allows a guest.@roflwofl wrote:
The guidelines may require you to order 3 or 4 drinks but you are not required to drink them.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
I was thinking of what roffle woffle said, but also how long shops like this would take. Big difference between drinks or parts of drinks spread out over several hours and accompanied by a large meal than standing at the bar slamming four shots in 15 minutes.
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.
@LisaSTL wrote:
I was thinking of what roffle woffle said
Yes! Another one!
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Gift card only reimbursement slows the takers....
I am glad I am not the only one annoyed by this new thing!! I was also trying to get one of those toy shops as I will be traveling soon, but alas, they wanted me to do one of the other shops too. I have no problem doing one of the other shops... if it weren't counter productive... those other shops they want me to do are all no children.... this toy shop one is bring a child. I can't be traveling out of state (as I am doing soon) and then be able to do a pizza shop lets say.... where I can't even bring my child inside. I agree on doing many shops for them, and good reports and now to feel this way. Its awful! And I was so excited when I was going to be traveling to get some fun shops with them that aren't available in my area.
Time to sign up with more MSCs if you want to do multi-day routes. That's just not what most ACL shops are conducive to, although their hotel and some meal shops can be very helpful on a road trip.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Seems like they are using a better shop as bait to get a weaker shop done - I am assuming these top clients that were popular would be less thrilled to know they are using their shops as a reward -
Sinclair did the exact same thing and lost the high end AND the low end one. Not fair to either .
I agree what you said about the high end shops not being thrilled to find this out. I did find the schedule from Arkansas to be super friendly and seems to be willing to work with me and assigned me a high end one first... SO I FEEL like I am more appreciated and I will WANT to help him out more (if time allows me to).
I am new to this company but from what I see they only reimburse you. I do not see any fees being paid. Is this normal?
Yes.... and watch reimbursement itis often a gift card for your person use next restaurant visit. Not cash. Not a check.
@TS1212 wrote:
I am new to this company but from what I see they only reimburse you. I do not see any fees being paid. Is this normal?
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Yes.... and watch reimbursement itis often a gift card for your person use next restaurant visit. Not cash. Not a check.
@TS1212 wrote:
I am new to this company but from what I see they only reimburse you. I do not see any fees being paid. Is this normal?
ACL pays with gift cards? I'm pretty familiar with their no-fee, reimbursement-only, but I've never been reimbursed with a gift card by them.
Yes, there is one restaurant that is similar to an Applebees or TGIFs, and they email you a digital gift card.
I wouldn't like that at all. Back in the day when a different company shopped Cheesecake Factory, payment was by gift card. I was willing to do it because my family and I love Cheesecake Factory. I can't think of another restaurant I love enough and certainly none of ACL's current clients. I'm willing to shop their clients for no fee and a somewhat cheap reimbursement, but definitely not a gift card.
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