ACL- rant

I do take some of their shops because they have restaurants that I otherwise wouldn't pay to go to. Even though it's reimbursement only, the report isn't too difficult. But I only take it when it isn't bundled and if the restaurant is one I want to go to.

We each make our own determination of what shops to pick and for me it isn't always getting a fee.

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They have lost TONS of good people...

One of the schedulers told me "bartering" the shops is a management requirement. I honestly don't believe that but the scheduler seem sympathetic enough.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2017 12:18AM by eyelove2shop.

@samshopper wrote:

They have lost TONS of good people...

I rather doubt that ACL has lost "tons" of good people, but, if it's true that they have lost some shoppers, that's a good thing for the mystery shoppers who still work for them. Maybe there will be less competition and we can negotiate higher fees.

I understood that to mean employees not shoppers....

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Schedulers and editors in my area have changed as quickly as the weather.

I stopped shopping for ACL after I visited a yogurt shop which was closed, despite the phone being answered and confirming they were open. I called the scheduler, I was told to get many pics and that I would be paid for my assignment. I submitted the pictures, and ACL tried to strong-arm me and not pay me.

They finally did pay me but it was after a big hassle, including me having to give them a 1 rating everywhere I could possibly do it. I deactivated my account because, despite the issue being resolved, they acted like they were paying me to keep my mouth shut and not because I earned it.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

@samshopper wrote:

They have lost TONS of good people...

I miss MT and Mabel sooooo much it HURTS!

much

@DanteScheduler wrote:

I stopped shopping for ACL after I visited a yogurt shop which was closed, despite the phone being answered and confirming they were open. I called the scheduler, I was told to get many pics and that I would be paid for my assignment. I submitted the pictures, and ACL tried to strong-arm me and not pay me.

They finally did pay me but it was after a big hassle, including me having to give them a 1 rating everywhere I could possibly do it. I deactivated my account because, despite the issue being resolved, they acted like they were paying me to keep my mouth shut and not because I earned it.

.

Closed after you called? WOW. I have had Confero pay me for a closed location
Love them. The others? Not so much. I have taken the time and expense only to find out they will be undergoing renovations, decided to close for the holiday and that was AFTER calling.

When I first took the pizza shops, it was reimbursement only, and I had to ask for something extra, and I had to buy a salad or dessert. Now it reimburses a smaller amount, but enough to cover the pie and drink, and I don't have to ask for anything, nor do I have to buy salad or dessert, although I can if I want to.

Over the course of, I don't know, a year or two, the shop has improved, and it probably will continue to improve. I don't know why people hate the pizza so much, but if you don't check in every now and then, you'll miss what changes have been made for the better. For example, half the posters still think it's reimb only.

Let me add: I am continually amazed at the hate for the pizza shop, while I hardly ever hear a peep about my nightmare shop, the roller-skating hedgehog. The pizzas are fresh with high-quality ingredients, and I can order whatever one I want. and they offer craft sodas and agua frescas. Hedgehog requires I order a handful of items, some of whose names don't even jibe with the menu, and the food is stale and warmed over, and I have to order a drink but it can't be iced coffee. And the pay sucks. Yet everyone cries over tasty pizza. I don't get it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2017 09:16PM by ShopWhisperer.

@ShopWhisperer wrote:

I don't know why people hate the pizza so much

Floppy crust pizza is gross. I only eat crispy crust pizza.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2017 10:44PM by bgriffin.

I no longer work for them, shops too far and I see them as non bending for various reasons....maybe if they had jobs closer to me but they don't have a one.

Live consciously....

@Madetoshop wrote:

@samshopper wrote:

They have lost TONS of good people...
I miss MT and Mabel sooooo much it HURTS!
much

Mabel was the BEST!

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams

Tried my first one of these the other day, and rather enjoyed the pizza. The distance, not so much, but just means I have to know my schedule before accepting one. Got to love any pizza place that offers the option of roasted garlic on the pie! Yum!

I like the pizza and don't mind the somewhat long report (specially now that I have quite a bit of experience with it), and was ok doing them from time to time even when it was reimbursement only.

What puzzles me is Storage facility shops that are constantly available and pay a reasonable fee. There is very strong cautionary language about not taking photos in front of staff, yet photo requirements are elevator, locks on units, moving cart, anything"amiss." How does one go on a tour with a staff member and take all those photos discretely? Snap a quick photo when leaving the elevator and hope it is not blurry? Slowly walk behind pretending to text? I have done storage shops for several other companies and they never required any photos other than brochure/business card. If the client wants detailed photos of their facilities, perhaps they should request audits. If anyone has done theses successfully (it's a regional Western PA chain), please share your tips, - there is a 7 month wait before they can be shopped again.

It has been really unpleasant to see schedulers change multiple times since they switched to the regional scheduling model.

I've never done the storage shops. ACL has an ice cream shop in my area that I would love to do. However, it's the same problem with the pictures. In my opinion, no one would take the pictures they are asking for. So I can't take them discreetly. I don't do those shops. The pizza pictures are reasonable. I like ACL. But I do have to look at the pictures required before I accept a shop knowing that they ask for too many.

I filter all of my MSC emails to a folder and just mass delete things, but it is still annoying to get the same but slightly-altered email, multiple times a day, minutes apart from each other. On top of that, the local scheduler has started sending text blasts. These are reimbursement-only and fast food, I might add.

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ACL- rant

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