Why does ACL keep shuffling its schedulers?

I have yet another new ACL scheduler for my city -- I think it's the third of the year. I'd understand if someone had left, but in each case it's a matter of the prior scheduler getting reassigned to a different city. Is there a business reason for the constant shuffling? It seems like they'd be better off letting the schedulers maintain their shopper relationships, especially since their business model relies on shoppers agreeing to do "reward" shops as a favor. Now my current scheduler is begging me to pick up her last June shops without much of a carrot...

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It is probably so those shopper relationships don't turn into preferential treatment.

When my scheduler was reassigned, I politely let the new one know what my ground rules were. She still texted me with those pizza shops for months, and it took a while for her to figure out that I work for cash. We're in a good groove now. I expect her to be reassigned any minute.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Maybe they are trying to keep them in rotation so we all get a chance to work with all of the schedulers?
@HonnyBrown wrote:

It is probably so those shopper relationships don't turn into preferential treatment.

When my scheduler was reassigned, I politely let the new one know what my ground rules were. She still texted me with those pizza shops for months, and it took a while for her to figure out that I work for cash. We're in a good groove now. I expect her to be reassigned any minute.

Even if it is for that, what's wrong with preferential treatment? I get that the purpose of mystery shopping data is to get as random of a sampling as possible within the demographic criteria, if any, but that's how business works. You build relationships, you get preference.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
It may also be that most schedulers have a personal database that they've built over the years. If a new scheduler for a particular area sends out invites from their own databases, it helps build a database of fresh faces for the MSP.

Joan Gingras
Senior Project Director, BarStoolie Mystery Shopping
[barstoolie.clientsmart.com]

Barstoolie@insideevaluators.com
joan@insideevaluators.com
The way the business works is however the business doing the paying chooses to have it work. If indeed it is to get a varied demographic then that certainly takes priority over preferential treatment for the IC.
A year or so ago they started having schedulers be responsible for a geographic area rather than a set of clients. Maybe they're playing around with that system again. My scheduler hasn't changed yet. She is the one that made me turn off text messages and filter ACL emails to my trash. Relentless pestering!
Wow, my region has had five schedulers since they went to a geographic area! Maybe I keep driving them away with my bonus demands smiling smiley And I'm not even including the people who work surrounding regions (some quite close by but too far for me as I don't use a car to shop) who send incessant emails as well.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2018 12:38AM by NinS.
And a related question: Why are so ACL schedulers not professional enough to introduce themselves before sending e-mail blasts. Or better yet why doesn't the outgoing scheduler send a not thanking for the past relationship, wishing well, and introducing the new person?
I wonder if the schedulers for that company are just getting fed up with trying to shove pizza shops down our throats. It's got to be more to it than that, wouldn't you think?
Bingo. I really think that's it. I have worked with three ACL schedulers over three years. I really liked the first one, and I like the current one too. Scheduler #2, not so much. She was a bit pushy and not the quickest or most reliable in responding.

@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

I wonder if the schedulers for that company are just getting fed up with trying to shove pizza shops down our throats.
@Rousseau wrote:

And a related question: Why are so ACL schedulers not professional enough to introduce themselves before sending e-mail blasts. Or better yet why doesn't the outgoing scheduler send a not thanking for the past relationship, wishing well, and introducing the new person?

Not sure about you, but if you're referring to ACL schedulers specifically, I've often received noticeably personalized messages thanking me specifically for past shops I've completed for them. Personalized enough to know that it's not a mass email.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
@Tarantado wrote:

@Rousseau wrote:

And a related question: Why are so ACL schedulers not professional enough to introduce themselves before sending e-mail blasts. Or better yet why doesn't the outgoing scheduler send a not thanking for the past relationship, wishing well, and introducing the new person?

Not sure about you, but if you're referring to ACL schedulers specifically, I've often received noticeably personalized messages thanking me specifically for past shops I've completed for them. Personalized enough to know that it's not a mass email.

Yes, I have gotten my share of personalized thank yous from ACL schedulers for shops which I have done. I have not, however, received any notes of the type I mentioned - e.g. those along the lines of 'I have enjoyed working with you over these past many months. I have been reassigned to a new territory and while I look forward to the new challenges, I will miss our work together. Jane Doe has been assigned to your territory. I have known Jane for several years and have nothing but the best to say about her: she understands our industry well and will appreciate your hard work as much I have. I am sure that you will enjoy working with her. Jane and I are committed to working together to ensure a smooth transition. Her contact details are...'
I also have a hard time where they don't have the contact the scheduler details on certain upcoming shops if I don't want to self assign (because of a date change). If it is just apply (when I have already too much scheduled work), I can do so and read the scheduler user ID on the request shop email.

So far, info@ replies and directs stuff pretty well, but it is not always easy to manage.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2018 05:50PM by rasheedb.
You are absolutely correct. I like the fact that I can text my scheduler for shops, or change the dates. She knows they will get done. With a new scheduler, new relationships have to be built.

@Tarantado wrote:

Even if it is for that, what's wrong with preferential treatment? I get that the purpose of mystery shopping data is to get as random of a sampling as possible within the demographic criteria, if any, but that's how business works. You build relationships, you get preference.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Honny and I are very, very fortunate in that the MD scheduler, Jess Hong, is a real star and would be for any MSC. At the end of June she sent an email to everyone who had done June shops, letting us know the completion rate for Maryland, thanking us, and explaining exactly how she handles/will handle the shops that might need to get "paired", with assurances that not accepting them is a "no harm, no foul," as far as she is concerned. Rather than post this in the kudos section, I thought this was a good place to point out the difference that someone like Jess can make.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@BarStoolie Mystery Shopping wrote:

It may also be that most schedulers have a personal database that they've built over the years. If a new scheduler for a particular area sends out invites from their own databases, it helps build a database of fresh faces for the MSP.

Off topic, but is BarStoolie still in business?
Hi Wales. Which shops do you do for Jess? I do the gas stations. I want to make sure we aren't competing.

@walesmaven wrote:

Honny and I are very, very fortunate in that the MD scheduler, Jess Hong, is a real star and would be for any MSC. At the end of June she sent an email to everyone who had done June shops, letting us know the completion rate for Maryland, thanking us, and explaining exactly how she handles/will handle the shops that might need to get "paired", with assurances that not accepting them is a "no harm, no foul," as far as she is concerned. Rather than post this in the kudos section, I thought this was a good place to point out the difference that someone like Jess can make.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I do not do any gas stations. We are not competing, lol.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Here is what bothers me. About half way thru the month they start begging. If I pick up this ick shop now - then next month when you tell me I have to pick up a ick shop to get a better shop .. I have already done it for free the month prior. And don't even think the schedulers will remember that you helped them out.
Since they get paid by what is assigned/completed- they truly do not care. I have one scheduler in Florida that I despise working with. ever seen 50 first dates with Ten second Tom. Thats her. She will tell you to get a good shop you need to beat another shopper who is willing to do one. So give me two bad shops and you can get the good shop. Now - I would be more than happy to help out for that shop I really want; but, since the limit is 5 in totality- now I am taking up 3 spots for that one shop I want. I advoid that scheduler like the plague and when she begs for help - I won't do it. Cause it never ever benefits me in the long run to step up with her.
Has ACL moved to offshore schedulers? I've been seeing a lot of east-Asian names pop up with poor grammar in both email titles and body messages. I used to work with two lovely schedulers based in the US who were able to understand the circumstances they were dealing with and would be happy to dish out bonuses where reasonable. Now it's a e-blast text-blast of requests with nothing to show for it.
I was a scheduler for ACL they can't keep anyone they want people to work 7 days a week have no days off and be on call basically 24-7.

Ganelle Carriere
Scheduler, A Closer Look
Ganelle.Carriere@a-closer-look.com
888.446.5665 ext.357
862.295.1771 Text
Oh wow, thanks for your encouragement. I am glad we have a great working relationship.

--
Jess Hong
Scheduler
A Closer Look
[www.a-closer-look.com]
jess@a-closer-look.com
1-888-446-5665 ext. 374
(267) 712-9577 text
Add Jess Scheduler to your friends list on FB to view more shops.
Check out my blog!
[jessschedulesmysteryshops.wordpress.com]
@Jess Acl Scheduler wrote:

Oh wow, thanks for your encouragement. I am glad we have a great working relationship.

I'm going to miss you too. 7 months is too long.
Honny,
I do not do any gas station shops, so we are not competing.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
This explains a lot. AND LOL on the pizza shops. They are horrible. The pizza, the shop, everything. I did exactly one. Never again.
This actually worked in my favor. While I absolutely adored my previous scheduler, the new one is offering a higher bonus on all shops. I completed the first of three shops yesterday.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

It is probably so those shopper relationships don't turn into preferential treatment.

When my scheduler was reassigned, I politely let the new one know what my ground rules were. She still texted me with those pizza shops for months, and it took a while for her to figure out that I work for cash. We're in a good groove now. I expect her to be reassigned any minute.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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