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A CLOSER LOOK - ODD SITUATION

December 15, 2017 10:00PM
A closer look has a fast casual restaurant client in my area that pays a $15 flat fee. It takes at least $10 to get the minimum order, and if you want to eat good, you're going to be using the whole 15. The report requires a surprising amount of photos and narrative. The report takes two to three times longer than the average fast-food Report with other msc's. I often get asked to do these for a bonus that is $10 or less. The locations are not particularly close to my house. I asked for a $50 bonus to do one, and the scheduler seemed insulted. However, the fact is, and I am not exaggerating at all, that other msc's pay a lot of money for easier shops in my area of rural Western Oklahoma. I can get between 20 and $70 to do a Sonic. I can get between 10 and $40 to do an Arby's. I can get between 10 and $50 to do various gas stations. I am very careful to tell the schedulers this. Honestly, with the amount of pay out that other msc's are giving in my unique area, I have no idea how they get any of these locations scheduled. The only time I will occasionally do one is if it has some sort of bonus and I am able to negotiate with the scheduler a separate, highly-sought-after luxury hotel evaluation. I enjoy giving the schedulers a taste of their own medicine.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2017 01:21AM by thunderdeacon.
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More Discussions About A Closer Look (All Companies)
December 16, 2017 04:23PM
Flyer, I think you have some good feedback for the company.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.
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January 27, 2018 10:18PM
I'm new to ACL and all I get are Pizza shops on weekends. I've done three. I've asked for mid week, with no go. But I do appreciate the free pizza which feeds hubs and I for a couple or more days.
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January 28, 2018 01:03AM
@wildherbs wrote:

I'm new to ACL and all I get are Pizza shops on weekends. I've done three. I've asked for mid week, with no go. But I do appreciate the free pizza which feeds hubs and I for a couple or more days.

Use the app and get a flame and soon you will get a free one. And near Xmas time when they give you a card for a free pizza from Jan 1- Feb 28 if you put $25 on a gift card things get even better. I put $200 on, I have spent about half of it and have 3 visits for Feb and I still have 7 free pizza cards left - I will use them all, too
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January 28, 2018 10:16PM
Yes, it is true. The schedulers at ACL now extort most people forcing them to do a shop for LeBron's company because they do at least a shop a week at each store and are a rapidly expanding. So to get a nice hotel shop or fine dining shop, you usually have to do one of the other shops. It is pretty annoying, especially since they don't even pay for most shops (although they do for the type of shop they usually force you to do).
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January 28, 2018 10:49PM
@JimmyP wrote:

The schedulers at ACL now extort most people forcing them to do a shop for LeBron's company because they do at least a shop a week at each store and are a rapidly expanding. So to get a nice hotel shop or fine dining shop, you usually have to do one of the other shops. It is pretty annoying, especially since they don't even pay for most shops (although they do for the type of shop they usually force you to do).

No once is being forced or extorted to do anything. As independent contractors, we are not forced to do any of the shops ACL posts. If we choose to do any shops, we agree to the payment and terms of the shop. We can choose to contact the ACL schedulers and ask for more money or different dates. And the schedulers can try to package some of their less popular shops with the most popular to encourage that shoppers to them. It's called negotiation. No one is forcing anyone to do anything.
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January 28, 2018 11:34PM
@JimmyP wrote:

Yes, it is true. The schedulers at ACL now extort most people forcing them to do a shop for LeBron's company because they do at least a shop a week at each store and are a rapidly expanding. So to get a nice hotel shop or fine dining shop, you usually have to do one of the other shops. It is pretty annoying, especially since they don't even pay for most shops (although they do for the type of shop they usually force you to do).

Each location is done 2x a week - once for Lunch and once for Dinner

No one "forces" me to do any. I do a lot because my father loves this place and because I get a chance to get food for him as well as get a bite when I am out and about
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January 29, 2018 02:37AM
I had no idea that LeBron was an investor. Thanks for posting.
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January 29, 2018 05:32AM
@RobinMarie wrote:

Hey guys, get with the program. Why turn off shoppers, whom you seem to like, with this approach?
Probably because they would otherwise have to pay huge bonuses (not something they're famous for) for the lemon [prune? lol] shops.

"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
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January 29, 2018 06:38AM
ACL has far more than one pizza brand.....
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January 29, 2018 03:07PM
I also do a lot of the pizza shops. I don't mind them when it is convenient. You can use whatever euphemisms you like. I know that most of the time I get a fine dining shop or hotel shop from ACL, they force me to do a pizza shop or they do not give the fine dining or hotel shop. Of course, I think people on here realize that no one is forced to do the fine dining shop or hotel shop along with the pizza shops. I am not aware of any other companies that do this.
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January 29, 2018 03:07PM
ACL does have many pizza brands. However, one dominates.
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January 30, 2018 01:00AM
I'm in Southern OR, and there is a small chain here. Nobody big has come to town!
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January 30, 2018 02:34AM
I find it sad that they have started this hostage situation with their shops. I had not done the cupcake shop for a while so thought I might do one. I had to wait for a reply and then got one asking me to do the pizza shop. I pointed out that I do them fairly regularly and expect to ask for the cupcake shop the next time a pizza shop comes up that works for me. The location they need will require close to 2.5 hours of travel and eating. There does not seem to be any thought that a shopper might not want to travel a big distance to do a shop. I do the two locations that are fairly near by. If I never get the cup cake shop again that is okay with me but it left a bad taste in my mouth that a nice chocolate cup cake would probably wash away.
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February 23, 2018 01:27AM
I have actually enjoyed ACL and my primary scheduler is JG. Very responsive, informative and friendly. Each report takes about an hour - except for a recent hotel shop. I just wish they would do away with outdated checks and pay via direct deposit or PayPal at the least. It's also kind of fun logging in and finding new shops day or night. Many are competitive, but I've learned that late Friday and Saturday nights, it's easier to secure a desired shop.
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February 23, 2018 03:08PM
I am by no means an authority on ACL, but after almost 15 years in this business, one does develop a nose for problem MSCs. My limited experience with ACL is completely positive, as they conduct business in a manner that is compatible with me. Communications are exceptional, concise and totally devoid of the slightest ambiguity. A true life example below:

This past week, I submitted a proposal to complete a shop in an adjacent state. I was asked to accept a second assignment for a different client; I declined. The first job was then given to another person; that's business AND I would not have it any other way. I am the epitome of an independent contractor, have been for 54+ years and will die as such.

A final comment: If ACL's practice of packaging their work is unacceptable, merely move on.
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