EPMS rant

Accepted bonused targeted shop, which has restrictions on when target can be "shopped" Very limited window of opportunity. So I call and call and cannot reach target. Running out of contrived reasons for calling. Several calls places, to no avail. Scheduler says to " keep calling " I ask at what point will I be allowed to ask for target directly, as this shop is due.
Not yet, I am told. Not yet ? I feel like I am wasting my time. This has happened a few X weith EPMS lately: target no longer at site..target cannot be reached...just keep calling every hour. Right now I am waiting for instruction, as shop due today. Ridiculous. Message to EPMS: I really like you folks but please, there has to be a better way to do this.

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I know it's frustrating, but keep at it. You will get permission to ask for the target.

I was in a similar situation with them. I got permission to ask for the target, and "she" was never in the office. One morning, a male answered with the target's name. I asked for the target. He said that it was him. I started my pitch. He told me he was in maintenance and had nothing to do with leasing.

Actually, he said, "WHO are you?! I don't KNOW you!"

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

I do quite a few EPMS shops with bonuses.... Often they have that bonus because other shoppers have given up and the target is slippery.... I call periodically through the day/s and keep my log. It's not a big deal to make a few phone calls each day and make up new excuses... I update the schedulers as needed. By the time I hit ten calls, I'm generally given permission to leave a message, etc.

Things to say/do when the wrong person answers:
* Ask for an apartment size you know they don't have.
* Ask if they accept section 8 housing vouchers.
* Ask for "pick a name" who you think works there..
* Ask for that girl you met at the bar last night.
* Ask for that guy you met at the bar last night.
* Ask what schools the residents at the apartment go to.
* Ask if they are north of XYZ city, when you know they are south.
* If you speak a language other than English.....
* Say you got the wrong number.
* Ask if they accept pit bulls.
* If their name is similar to that of a different business act like you are calling the business. (Try ordering a pizza from the Domino apartments....)

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

And they never remember your voice?

I had someone tell me once, you called yesterday and earlier today. I told her she was confused and it was my first time calling. She stood her ground and kept asking how she could help me and kept monopolizing the phone lines. It was crazy! I had to have my mom call to tie up the lines so someone else could answer the phone.

@MFJohnston wrote:

I do quite a few EPMS shops with bonuses.... Often they have that bonus because other shoppers have given up and the target is slippery.... I call periodically through the day/s and keep my log. It's not a big deal to make a few phone calls each day and make up new excuses... I update the schedulers as needed. By the time I hit ten calls, I'm generally given permission to leave a message, etc.

Things to say/do when the wrong person answers:
* Ask for an apartment size you know they don't have.
* Ask if they accept section 8 housing vouchers.
* Ask for "pick a name" who you think works there..
* Ask for that girl you met at the bar last night.
* Ask for that guy you met at the bar last night.
* Ask what schools the residents at the apartment go to.
* Ask if they are north of XYZ city, when you know they are south.
* If you speak a language other than English.....
* Say you got the wrong number.
* Ask if they accept pit bulls.
* If their name is similar to that of a different business act like you are calling the business. (Try ordering a pizza from the Domino apartments....)

yes, trying to change the voice is an issue..

The voice is not an issue at all... Change your vernacular. Can you imitate an accent? Speak as if you are a little horse. Make your voice a bit more high pitched. Be happy and chipper one call. Be kind of drab the next. You can even simply hang up once or twice. Etc. Besides, when I call that many times, I generally get at least two different folks.

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

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/2017 05:15PM by MFJohnston.

I swore off doing these after going thru heck to get my target, making an appointment, showing up and being told she was sick that morning. I did the report on the leasing agent I got, they rejected it (although they probably used it for that employee). I reject them and their targeted shops!

Kona Kathie

eye, they usually remember my voice. I don't deny it. I just tell the inquirer that I'm calling many different apartments.

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

Great tips here! The calls always get me... I don't know why I've never thought of all of those things MFJohnston suggested! I need to work on my bag of excuses!

I'm taking an EPMS break... my last two were impossible to get. After two weeks, I found out that one target didn't work there anymore, and I was still unable to ask for the target at the other.

I love the shops, but the reports get tiring after awhile. I'm sure I'll go back to them, though. The shops pay good money when there are bonuses, and routes are possible. You'd think there would be a better, more efficient, and less repetitive way to report the details of those visits, though.

Why can you not just hung up the phone as if you reached a wrong number. that is what I always do until I get the person I want on the phone. Of couse I have never been given a person who does not longer work at the apartment office

The directions on these shops are clear that you cannot just hang up every time... Moreover, the phone calls for most are recorded....

@Alieda wrote:

Why can you not just hung up the phone as if you reached a wrong number. that is what I always do until I get the person I want on the phone. Of couse I have never been given a person who does not longer work at the apartment office

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

the EPMS editors will notice the hang up calls on the recording, and often times the shop instructions state not to make repeated hang up calls and to log previous call attempts. Maybe one or 2 might fly, and altering one's voice not always successful.

You can hang up once or twice, but not both on the same day. To add to the great list above, I will also pretend we have a bad connection and I can't hear a word they are saying.

I never understand when a shopper says the target wasn't there and they did not get paid. I've always gotten paid as long as the appointment was made with the target. My appointments are never the same day as the contact so I do have to call the morning of the shop to verify the target is working. If they are there when I verify it then there is no issue if they pass me off to someone else. If they are not there I cancel the appointment and try for another day.

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.

Unfortunately, as a scheduler and shopper for EPMS it is very frustrating for us as well when targets are or seem impossible to get in touch with or you find they don't work there anymore. Here is some information that I can offer.
*We have to have 10 calls on record before we can let you ask for the target directly. As long as the the shop instructions allow it. Some specifically state not to.
*We rely on the client to send the most updated information. With the shear amount of shops ordered, we cannot double check all information. Also leasing is such a high turnaround industry that an agent there today may not be there tomorrow and we do not usually get updated on that. Once we get the update from you the shopper we can contact the client for a new target.
*Remember, we want you to be successful, as schedulers we need to get the shops assigned and completed. The easier it is for you to complete, the better for us too.
BTW Great tips @MFJohnston!!

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