Service Intelligence

August 28, 2010 12:59AM

What a convoluted and difficult website. I'm frankly afraid to deal with them. I passed one of the certifications and finally got signed up for a shop but even getting the proper paperwork was a pain. I looked at their submission requirements and of course in addition to their online forms there is a special so and ao company receipt form and some kind of e-mail attachment required. I decided no thanks but there isn't a cancel link. You have to fill out a online contact form. I guess they'll put me on "probation" for canceling but unless I'm truly desperate I won't darken their door again.

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August 28, 2010 01:29AM

For years they have been a fantastic company to work with. Since they moved the work from Canada to NC in April they have been nothing but a PITA.

August 28, 2010 03:40PM

I agree, I faithfully worked for them, then the move and things changed. They have more shops in No. CA than So. Ca, and it used to be the other way around. Still waiting to be paid for the last, never took this long. There is always a reason for a move, and it's usually not good or at least takes awhile to get things together, new employees, etc. Let's hope they make it.

Live consciously....

August 28, 2010 04:38PM

Irene, payment is one of the few things they have not yet fouled up. Shops done in July will be paid the last business day of August by direct deposit if that is what you have signed up for. If your shop is pre July, you need to be contacting them.

August 28, 2010 11:26PM

Shop was done in July, thought they paid quicker, good news...

Live consciously....

August 29, 2010 01:41AM

I've only done one shop for them, which was recently. There was a problem with the form, and I contacted the scheduler. She was incredibly nice and communicative, and resolved the problem quickly. I can't say I love the website, but so far, my experience has been good. Of course, I can't yet respond to payment.

September 02, 2010 03:10PM

I did get direct deposit a couple days ago, I do a healthy tex mex lunch for them monthly.

Live consciously....

September 02, 2010 03:17PM

Yes, that was the one that I did. Not sure what's happening with that company -- several of the franchises seem to be closing. I've only eaten there twice, and once was for this shop. First time was much better, which makes me wonder if the location is under new ownership.

September 02, 2010 03:31PM

In my area (L.A.) they are still going strong, although my location isn't shopped monthly as it once was (with no rotation). I thought they were all owned by one company, they are always busy, I've read nothing about their having problems, I think they are just being shopped less. SI picked up more jobs in No. CA., they are a strong company, so the move might have slowed them down a bit. I love there food and the calories that go with them....NOT!

Live consciously....

September 02, 2010 03:52PM

They're franchises. Don't know for sure if they're having trouble, but several have shut down.

September 02, 2010 04:13PM

Frachises mean they won't all be shopped. They might have grown too quickly (as many business's), and need to close slow producer's. I haven't noticed any being closed within my 30 mile radius. Just went on and saw they have a new upscale retail store (no purchase), going to take test for it.

Live consciously....

September 02, 2010 09:31PM

Well I'm glad you guys are happy with this outfit. I cancelled my one and only shop with them last friday 08/27 jumped through their hoops and filled out the online contact form and ask them to remove this shop from my "Jobs to do" list. Instead of honoring my request to cancel I received a response to my request on 08/30 asking me if I could reschedule instead of canceling (apparently everyone slams the door on Friday and is unreachable until the following Monday) I responded that I was unavailable to do any shops in the near future. But instead of removing it from my job list I am now receiving e-mails which tell me I have a shop overdue and telling me of the dire consequences of not completing a shop.
Good luck Guys and Gals dealing with this outfit.

September 03, 2010 03:06PM

I've been dealing with "this outfit" for a mere 5 years (one of my first), but as we like to say on the forum, not every MSC is for everyone. Hopefully you'll find more that suit you.

Live consciously....

September 03, 2010 03:47PM

ces1948, you'll likely be disappointed with other MSCs on that basis as well. Some systems are set up better with automated emails (and their removal) than others. Same goes for weekend contact, at least through regular channels (ie; main switchboard or email, or specific schedulers). Some do post an emergency email and/or phone number for issues that fall outside of normal business hours, but there are times I've had to wait until Monday for a reply. But as Irene said, not every MSC and shopper are made for each other.

September 04, 2010 12:34AM

I received a message today telling me my shop was overdue and that I would be blocked from the site if I didn't turn it in. They of course completely ignored the fact that I sent messages over a week ago asking to cancel(that they acknowledged) and acted as if they never heard a word.

September 04, 2010 01:43AM

You need to send message on site, there is a link that opens a window and you write to scheduler on that...only way they get it, a regular email doesn't work. I've had to cancel 48 hours before a job, and this system does work.

Live consciously....

September 04, 2010 01:58AM

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You need to send message on site, there is a link
> that opens a window and you write to scheduler on
> that...only way they get it, a regular email
> doesn't work. I've had to cancel 48 hours before a
> job, and this system does work.

Irene thanks for the reply. All my messages to them and all their replies to me have been via their online contact form. They just aren't connecting the dots.

September 04, 2010 02:04AM

I understand your frustration. If I were new-to-them I would indeed be annoyed and angry. Since they moved the Canadian operations down to NC in April it has felt like the Original Amateur Hour over there. Hopefully they will get a handle on it and return to the smooth professional competence we have come to expect over the years of working with them. Hopefully they won't antagonize the clients in the process or bungle the whole thing too badly for shoppers.

September 04, 2010 05:11PM

I have noticed since the move that they have become a lot more stingy with bonuses and are becoming a huge PITA with their daily notifications. I have become so disgusted with their daily "Let's make a deal and I'll pay you an extra $3 for this shop that only pays $7 IF you accept 3 more assignments" that I turned off email communications from them.

A scheduler gave me a fit the last time I offered to do 6 shops in a very hard to reach area. I said I would do them for $17 a piece because they had to be shopped from 9PM - 2AM and I would be putting about 400 miles on my car. Sounds like a lot, but it is fair, and those shops rarely get filled in those areas. The scheduler refused. This was a few months ago and they simply sit from this point forward. They can continue to sit, and sit, and sit for all I care.

September 04, 2010 05:19PM

Yes, I had a similar situation with a hard to fill spot here and offered to do it for the same fee I had done it previously for the Canadian crew. The response back was barely civil. I haven't a clue as to how much bonus they are paying someone else to do it, but really don't much care.

September 05, 2010 01:37AM

I don't get emails from them -- is that the subscription thing? I only recently found that, and don't really understand it. All my options to subscribe were for shops I've never even seen.

My experience so far has been good, but granted, it's only one shop! Maybe I got lucky with the scheduler -- she was incredibly nice, and went above and beyond many others I've dealt with at other companies.

September 05, 2010 02:42AM

nicelytwicely Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't get emails from them -- is that the
> subscription thing? I only recently found that,
> and don't really understand it. All my options to
> subscribe were for shops I've never even seen.
>
> My experience so far has been good, but granted,
> it's only one shop! Maybe I got lucky with the
> scheduler -- she was incredibly nice, and went
> above and beyond many others I've dealt with at
> other companies.

No, that has nothing to do with "Subscriptions". They are just daily email notifications I receive from the Scheduler for a certain client, that we're getting extremely redundant. She says the same thing every day, and I am not doing those shops at that time of night for a mere $7, while putting on 400-450 miles on my car.

Subscriptions are where you are automatically assigned shop locations that you request. You will be rotated bi-monthly, if they are still even doing subscriptions anymore.

September 05, 2010 02:51AM

Thanks, mystikwizard! Just to be on the safe side, I need to go unsubscribe, LOL! They don't have much in my area, which I guess is the reason I don't get emails.

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