Smart and Final shops

January 02, 2018 01:35AM

Just notice that one MSC lost the contract with S & F. Another MSC picked up the contract, pays $20, must include photos and one purchase. It didn't say how many associates were needed to interacted with though. This MSC is notorious for their 3 sentence comments on each question along with photos of the restroom, meat department, check out lanes, exterior, and grocery aisle.

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January 02, 2018 02:14AM

Used to get 10.00 reimbursement and 7.00 fee, no help on floors, report was involved the old editor a fussy one. She called me out for double spacing...I refused to work with her after that. I would do them, but not registered with the new MSC.

Live consciously....

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2018 03:56PM by Irene_L.A..

January 02, 2018 01:38PM

It was more than one editor. The whole company, AFAIK, hated double spaces. I didn't have a problem with the company wanting a single space between sentences. What I objected to was how rudely they communicated their preference/requirement.

January 02, 2018 05:48PM

Oh no, I liked the old job. Only one floor employee to interact with and the write-up was minimal. Strangely I never had problems with editors from the MSC for this job like I had doing their others. I haven't tried to find the new MSC but there was another company that has been shopping S&F for a while. I haven't picked up any of their jobs since they required too many interactions and work compared to the old MSC.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2018 05:49PM by wwin.

January 02, 2018 06:16PM

The MSC change is good. I was so frustrated with the old MSP. They have structured the shop the way they used to have it several years ago. I am interested in trying it again because it was a nice chunk off my grocery bill ($20 is a good amount of money) and the new MSC is very specific in their requirements and they are reasonable and polite if they have follow up questions or want you to do things differently in the future. I also appreciate the chart they made to be specific with reference to the BOB item. I felt the old MSP was not consistent with whether it had to be the cashier assisting you who notices the item, or if another employee can do it and still count as a yes.

January 02, 2018 07:03PM

IMO, No problems with the previous MSC. Professional, easy to communicate with, and zero problems with either their schedulers or editors. I only did the S&F shops with them to help them out; now it is just their big pay shops for me. I owe no favors to the new MSC (which I find not nearly as professional) and will put the new S&F shop on my 10' list. Poor pay, pointless narratives, and requirements for photos: never.

All that said, I cannot imagine not being called out for double spacing a narrative. Its straight txt people, not formatted. Editing with extra CR/LFs tossed into the text would be a real pain.

January 03, 2018 07:58AM

I never had a problem with the old MSC. Very straight forward guidelines. It's the new MSC that has way too much narratives that I'm hesitate to do them or other shops for them unless I have nothing else scheduled.

January 03, 2018 02:15PM

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Used to get 10.00 reimbursement and 7.00 fee, no help on floors, report was involved the old editor a fussy one. She called me out for double spacing...I refused to work with her after that. I would do them, but not registered with the new MSC.

As a former editor, I also got called out by her for the same thing. I found it very amusing, since I know for a fact that 75% or more of the reports submitted are terrible! I have 3 scheduled for this week. We'll see how it goes.

January 03, 2018 10:04PM

They never told you to single space....good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Live consciously....

January 04, 2018 05:43AM

As an editor (not for IS), I can say that double spacing can be difficult to deal with. They are notoriously inconsistent. I am sure that neither you nor any double-spacer reading this comment is guilty of this. It's just all the other folks who single or triple-space one out of ten sentences. If your guidelines don't state that double-spacing is forbidden, your editor should not give you a hard time about it.

I'm not knocking double-spacers for being stuck in the 90s... Just sayin'. ;D

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2018 05:45AM by mysiteisgreen.

January 04, 2018 01:50PM

90's, try a lot longer. I have been stuck for decades. Just saying...

January 04, 2018 07:42PM

Double-spacing had been the standard for many decades. I personally prefer to double-space but I no longer do it because single-spacing is the new standard. When I used to double-space, I was consistent.

January 07, 2018 07:13AM

UPDATE:

100% not worth it for reimbursement only and no fee.
I have no interest in writing and re-writing a report for trade.
I wish the old company still had it, crappy editors and all.

January 08, 2018 07:14PM

@SoCalMama wrote:

UPDATE:

100% not worth it for reimbursement only and no fee.
I have no interest in writing and re-writing a report for trade.
I wish the old company still had it, crappy editors and all.

Thx for the update...not for me, reports too long for no fee.

Live consciously....

January 09, 2018 05:42AM

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

UPDATE:

100% not worth it for reimbursement only and no fee.
I have no interest in writing and re-writing a report for trade.
I wish the old company still had it, crappy editors and all.
Thx for the update...not for me, reports too long for no fee.

Plus, there's very little guidance to what they want written. It's like a freestyle report. Hopefully, you guess correctly. I'm not submitting a novel about the shopping experience.

January 12, 2018 07:06PM

Thanks for the update, was curious about taking it.

January 12, 2018 08:58PM

I did one and would do it again. It appears that the person who wrote the questions has never stepped inside this store. However, If you shopped this store under the previous MSC, most of the points they want covered are the same. I agree that the report form is poorly written and lacks direction. The narrative sections don’t clearly state what is required is each section. I did get an email asking for more info but it was easy to respond. I will know better if there is a next time. The MSC mostly does restaurants so the form even has a place to enter the tip.

January 14, 2018 03:14AM

I have no idea who the new MSC is and will need to search for it. But I liked the old shop and miss it! It was one of the ones I could still do, as a widow! 'A hunting I will go.....

January 23, 2018 03:45PM

The new MSC has these shops for a $28 flat fee. Not reimbursement only. That's a nice discount on my groceries, or I can just make a small purchase and make a little money.

January 24, 2018 02:57AM

I wonder if there are two MSCs for this client: one for a $28 flat fee, and one for reimbursement only.

January 24, 2018 07:14AM

@SueGraftonFan wrote:

I wonder if there are two MSCs for this client: one for a $28 flat fee, and one for reimbursement only.

There must be 2 MSCs.

January 25, 2018 07:33PM

I believe the one I did for reimbursement only was a test shop. There wasn’t much thought put into the form. I haven’t seen any more shops for Feb.
I’m guessing Smart and Final is trying out a couple of new MSC’s.

January 25, 2018 09:58PM

I hope they do drop the MSC that has had the account for many years and pick a new MSC I like.

February 15, 2018 05:12AM

Would it be possible for you to PM me some of your favorite MSC's? It seems like they might have some interesting shops in your area and I wonder if they might in mine as well.

February 23, 2018 07:21PM

@SueGraftonFan wrote:

I hope they do drop the MSC that has had the account for many years and pick a new MSC I like.

You got your wish. Unfortunately the fee dropped to a point where it's no longer worth it, and the requirements got more extensive.

"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

February 23, 2018 08:52PM

I did not find the new requirements extensive once you figure out exactly what is needed. In the beginning, I was providing too much narrative. They have also clarified what is required in the instructions. The biggest problem now is the 4 month rotation.

February 24, 2018 03:28AM

I have now done a S&F shop with the new company. Compared to the last S&F shop I did for the previous MSC several years ago, the new assignment is easier, at least to me, and the reimbursement amount would be adequate for an ordinary shop (meaning if the store was not a mess).

February 24, 2018 03:44AM

I read the requirements. I don't see how they are "easier" since they are basically the same but now with photos required. They pay 25+% less than the previous company.

Unless, maybe, there is more than one company doing them and I'm unaware of this easy shop.

February 24, 2018 05:06AM

In my area (SF Bay) the new company is paying $20 but shoppers only need to purchase what they wish. Yes, there are photos but I rather enjoy a covert photo here and there. I did one with a bonus and would do one again. I do love grocery stores in general, and grocery store shops are some of my favorites. However, I did two or three with a previous company at $17 total and found them not worthwhile for me personally.

February 24, 2018 05:07AM

I completely agree @iShop123, I read the guidelines and saw the pay drop, the photo requirements, and I know the new MSC (at least in my area) is known for much more narrative than the old MSC..........must be more than one MSC if some folks feel it is easier!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2018 05:10AM by OCyou2.

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