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ACL - or why do we masochists (!) keep shopping for them?!!!

December 23, 2017 03:42PM
We all know about the bartering for assignments with ACL, and the Pizza shops from hell...guaranteed to give you a week of stomach pain!

Here's a new one...I got this email today, after sending ACL four (count em'...!,,,four!) emails regarding this shop. I also called them three times but was told that some one would get back to me. Anyway, this email was opened today and tells me...."Someone should have notified you by email by now. Unfortunately, the client rejected the shop because you arrived an hour early, and you ate some of the food before you took the photos." No one from ACL ever got back to me with any requests or info on this shop....it was simply accepted...until, of course, it went POOF!

The shop was done on 11/26, and disappeared from "My events" on December 5, or thereabouts. As I said above, ...lots of emails and calls....then this response four weeks later....Some details....My arrival was after the window stated in the assignment, and the photo was PERFECT!...I don't even know where to start with ACL on this one....it is probably not worth my time, unless I sue them for $100k, just for the mental duress!

Ten foot pole list....never, ever again.Be warned!

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2017 05:43PM by winemaker.
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December 23, 2017 04:35PM
That and they approach for jobs treating us like personal friends.
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December 23, 2017 05:30PM
@winemaker wrote:

We all know about the bartering for assignments with ACL, and the Pizza shops from hell...guaranteed to give you a week of stomach pain!

Here's a new one...I got this email today, after sending ACL four (count em'...!,,,four!) emails regarding this shop. I also called them three times but was told that some one would get back to me. Anyway, this email was opened today and tells me...."Someone should have notified you by email by now. Unfortunately, the client rejected the shop because you arrived an hour early, and you ate some of the food before you took the photos." No one from ACL ever got back to me with any requests or info on this shop....it was simply accepted...until, of course, it went POOF!

The shop was done on 11/26, and disappeared from "My events" on December 5, or thereabouts. As I said above, ...lots of emails and calls....then this response four weeks later....Some details....My arrival was after the window stated in the assignment, and the photo was PERFECT!...I don't even know where to start with ACL on this one....it is probably not worth my time, unless I sue them for $100k, just for the mental duress!

Ten foot pole list....never, ever again.Be warned!

Just curious, what specifically were all the emails and phone calls about? Also was the time on your receipt correct?
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December 23, 2017 05:40PM
Im curious about this one too. I have never had any issue getting a response from ACL. They are actually one of the best as far as communication. If the pizza gives you a stomach ache, then don't accept the shops. As far as the time window goes, was your receipt time incorrect and did you acknowledge it in the disclaimer before you submitted? I arrived at a lunch shop at 2:45 once and the window was 11-3. The shop was accepted and obviously the receipt time was after 3pm since it was a dine in.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2017 05:43PM by gigishopper.
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December 23, 2017 05:45PM
I am doing an awesome grocery store shop next week for them that has a flat rate fee of $28 plus a $35 bonus. I don't have to buy $28 worth of stuff since it's flat rate. And it's about 11 miles from my house.

If you showed up within the timeframe and your photos were good, then you should be politely persistent about getting paid. Resubmit your receipt and the photos should have the time/date embedded in the details. Send attachments of each in the email.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2017 05:51PM by JASFLALMT.
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December 23, 2017 05:49PM
Also, winemaker, you do realize that a sadist is one who inflicts pain on another person? I think you meant masochist.

Keep your chin up and just don't do shops for them, or be selective like others and only do them for bonuses or if it's a shop you really like that's convenient. Happy holidays!
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December 23, 2017 06:32PM
If you actually shopped within the correct time frame with photos of untouched food, it could be a simple case of mistaken identity. Something like that happened to me several months ago with another MSC. Bad video footage from another shopper had resulted in an invalidated shop which was then mixed with my shop at the same location. It got worked out. My advice is when you know you are right, be assertive.

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.
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December 23, 2017 09:34PM
@JASFLALMT wrote:

If you showed up within the timeframe and your photos were good, then you should be politely persistent about getting paid.
^^This^^

Hopefully you kept a .pdf of your shop report. Go as high as you need to, and contact them as often as needed. Document everything.

"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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December 24, 2017 12:31AM
The emails and calls were simply to ask what happened to THEIR record of the shop, as it disappeared from "My Events". The time was right on the receipt.All I got in response was "Crickets"....
JAS.....I SHOULD take this one to the mat...but I probably won't....my time is too valuable (or so I think!)...and you are right...we are masochists!
ACL also begged me (a couple of months ago) to do some storage location shops for them...I caved and did them...and of course they only paid for 3 out of 4. I had heard all the stories about ACL,,,,underpaying, being nitpicky, the pizza shops and the negotiations they do in order to get those pizza shops done....but I didn't listen closely enough.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2017 12:43AM by winemaker.
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December 24, 2017 12:36AM
A lot of ACL defenders here.....or maybe just a bunch of curious folks....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2017 12:37AM by winemaker.
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December 24, 2017 12:38AM
@winemaker wrote:

A lot of ACL defenders here.....or maybe just a bunch of curious folks....

We are telling you to email them again and provide proof. How does that make anyone suspicious to you?
Edited to add that if we were plants we would be telling you to let it go.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2017 12:39AM by JASFLALMT.
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December 24, 2017 01:01AM
Gosh, you have had more problems in the last year with shops than I have had in 20 years.

Do you think that is normal?

I can do that pizza shop in my sleep now. Thanks to SoCalDude for suggesting the gift cards. (We really should meet up for lunch or dinner at some point.) The scheduler asked me to write a tutorial for her to give to her less savvy shoppers. I have been too busy lately to do that.

I don't do a ton of work for ACL. Maybe 1 shop a week? It works for me.
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December 24, 2017 01:06AM
I only do maybe 20 shops a year for them. It works for me that lately they have had more grocery store shops and higher reimbursement take out restaurant shops, which I prefer to dining in.
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December 24, 2017 01:24AM
I like my new scheduler. I think that she's been around (my area) for 3-6 months already. She's been a scheduler for over 15 years.
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December 24, 2017 01:29AM
I no longer work for them as they have no shops in my area, all in the city, but calling someone a sadist seems a bit over the top, just delete them, why call us names? Everyone can't be bad because you've had a problem with different companies.

Live consciously....
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December 24, 2017 01:30AM
They do a shop that you would like a lot that is super high-end and in the past it was mentioned...
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December 24, 2017 02:55AM
@winemaker wrote:

JAS.....I SHOULD take this one to the mat...but I probably won't....

winemaker (love the name, btw) you should persist. Gently. It's not just about your time, it's about taking a stance when you are in the right and someone is in the wrong. I once took a pretty low paying shop "to the mat" in a course of 2 weeks with about 28 emails back and forth with MF to prove that I was right, and I was eventually paid.
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December 24, 2017 03:25AM
Sorry you had difficulty, They are actually one of my favorite MSC.
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December 24, 2017 04:29PM
Sorry you are having issues with them. So far I haven't had any trouble with them but I don't do very many shops.
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December 25, 2017 08:27PM
I have never had a problem with the company and they have been more than nice to help me when I have a question.
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December 26, 2017 02:33AM
I too have never had a problem with them and have been working with them for years. If it is the same pizza shop that I hear they "bargain" with I have done those for years without a promise of a better shop. I consider them a great shop. It is some work to do but I love the pizza.
I cannot imagine it not being worth your time to follow this through. In my mystery shop role I earn very little per hour, certainly less than whatever your reimbursement + fee for the food job you did. A few emails to them would take a lot less than one hour to write so you have more to gain than to lose. Of course in your non mystery shopping life you are earning $50 an hour it may not be worth it. Take a deep breath and think about it. If you value any of their jobs and you do not follow up on this you will have two black marks against you...once for this failed job in their eyes and another for the other one you mentioned where you did not get paid.
Perhaps you are mixing stories of ACL with some other companies. The only stories I recall are about them not offering fees with their reimbursement jobs. I do not recall lots of shoppers having trouble with them .
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December 28, 2017 01:10AM
ACL is one of the companies that reply timely and professionally IMO. Sorry that you had a bad experience. I can do the pizza shop in my sleep since I've been doing it for so long. I just eat one piece and take the rest home to my kiddo. Then in return, I get to pick up their premium shop. Other MSCs barter too, so I don't see anything wrong with them doing it. But that's just me.
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December 28, 2017 01:14AM
I'm thinking that the word "masochists" would fit better than "sadists" in the title of this thread.... I've never worked with ACL, so I will otherwise refrain from comment...

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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December 28, 2017 04:31AM
So many have reported barter shops. I have been MS'ing for 20+ years very part time and have never experienced it. SMH.
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December 28, 2017 04:35AM
Winemaker, you state that your arrival time was after the window. Maybe that is why your report was rejected?
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December 29, 2017 04:29AM
@MFJohnston wrote:

I'm thinking that the word "masochists" would fit better than "sadists" in the title of this thread.... I've never worked with ACL, so I will otherwise refrain from comment...

Oh! beat me beat!
No!
One said to the other.
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March 01, 2018 08:08PM
Before today, I would have said ACL was one of the best companies to work for but not now. They contacted me for more info on a shop I recently completed for them. I replied within 30 minutes. 4 hours later, I get another email telling me that my shop is being dropped because I didn't respond. I responded again. I emailed any ACL email address I could find. Finally this a.m., I called and of course got sent to voicemail. Left a message. I get an email hours later informing me that my responses had gone to spam but unfortunately, my shop had already been deleted. I had missed a requirement of the shop, so they deleted the report. Funny, I've often received "excellent" feedback on my shop reports and my history should have shown them that when additional info was needed, I always responded. In addition, in the past when I've missed or forgotten a step in the shop, they have warned me that the client may not accept my shop but that they would forward it to the client. (I've always gotten paid.) This time they didn't let the client make that decision, No apology for dumping the shop without a bit more effort on their part or for failing to check their spam. Even more infuriating, I did this shop at the last minute for the scheduler even though I really don't like this particular restaurant.
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March 01, 2018 10:43PM
Ark,

This sounds like a tough one. I think we've all been there with the 'no good deed goes unpunished." I like to think of myself as a team player. Someone says 'help!' you wanna help them, right? You can't do that in this business. It's a pretty individualized situation. The best team-spirit you will likely get is here on a shared-experience discussion board.

I had a strange situation happen this week as well. It was a first for me. I received an email with a laundry list of times from a "video" where my report was disputed. I'm reading this list and thinking, 'how could I miss all of this?" because after all, there is a video and no one could get that wrong... right?

After reviewing the list a little more, I realized the disputes were for another diner. Not me. The times were all off. I thought that might have been something I could count on the MSC to dispute on my behalf. After all, my report has the times, the picture of the receipt proves the times as well. I'm happy we figured it out, I just thought it was odd I would have to point that out to the parties.

Reading Ark's experiences, I wonder what would have happened had I not responded to the email promptly?

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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March 02, 2018 12:54AM
Hmmm... The editors are required to use every available contact method you have on file. So you should have had phone calls and texts as well as emails. The request for more info always provides 12 hours to do so. Is there more to the story, such as the report was already late? It sounds like you may have already been on the bubble because of past problems.


@Arkyoutlaw wrote:

They contacted me for more info on a shop I recently completed for them. I replied within 30 minutes. 4 hours later, I get another email telling me that my shop is being dropped because I didn't respond.
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March 02, 2018 02:40AM
I had a shop with ACL where I had to take a picture of the food and when the server delivered the food the plate slipped and the potato skins slid so they were askew...I was told that the food like it was touched/eaten.
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