Editor Rant!

Contrary to being new to the forum, I have been shopping for many years. However, I recently signed up with a popular company with this forum and I am exhausted with some of their editors already. I have gotten much better about making sure to answer all the 'no's' (and just not imply the no) but I am fairly certain some of these editors are just not reading and asking me questions I have already answered! Then they send me "suggestions" on how to make the next report better without any mention of the HOURS of positive work done. I'm sorry, but I used to edit for major publications and it irritates me when they send me messages to answer questions clearly re-stated (just as they have asked) in the comments. I save ALL my reports so I know if I've missed something. I have never had this issue with any other MSC and it's driving me crazy! How do you handle these situations? It's making me want to be done with this company already and I just got started. *frustrated newbie*

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You've been shopping for many years but you are just now learning to answer all the 'no's' ? This is narrative writing 101 for all Newbies. Example: Question on the report is "Did the associate recommend the in store credit card?" Bullet yes or no marked no. In the narrative section you want to restate it because they want to make sure you didn't mark no accidentally. So in the narrative you say "The associate did not recommend the in store credit card."
All MSC's are different. I personally appreciate suggestions on how to submit better reports. If you are just now learning not to imply no's, perhaps you are making other mistakes as well. If you don't want to interact with editors and get suggestions you have to either turn in a perfect report in the first place, or stop working for that company. You don't have to work for anyone.
I have had editors drive me crazy in the past and I have to decide based on the frequency of interaction if it's worth it to me or not. That is the position you are in but I do recommend you take a close look at whether the editor has a point and you are just not very good at accepting criticism.
Welcome to the forum!
Nah, yeah. I know what you mean. There is one company that will kick back a report if you do not use the EXACT words in the question. This can become absurd when certain 'No' answers follow others. Because if I write "Sam didn't say anything about the cancellation policy," then the fact that he did not tell me the cancellation fee is more than implied.

I am pretty sure they will return a report if you use "restroom" instead of "bathroom" saying that you haven't addressed all the questions. I haven't tried this. There was something similar that did result in a report being kicked back. I just can't remember what it was.

I think that the editors either are not fully comfortable with English or they just ctrl+f for keywords from 'No' answers.
If you answer all of the questions the first time, they will leave you alone. Be gracious and thankful that they are willing to give you advice. Take their advice, and apply it, especially if you foresee completing more jobs for this MSC.
It is only one or two editors who are not reading. The rest seem to push along with no issue. I am okay with constructive criticism. I am not okay with repeating the same information I have placed in the report JUST as they have asked as though the information is not there.

For example: John was wearing a black shirt.

Question from editor: What color was the shirt John was wearing?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2019 09:07AM by amanda_daville.
I am saying that the information is clearly restated the way they have asked but only SOME editors seem to miss it in the report. I will go back and it is CLEARLY marked the way they have asked. I know every editor is different - I have been one. I'm just saying that THEY TOO make mistakes. All other reports I have done are 10/10. Just a little rant that's all. And thanks for the warm welcome!!! winking smiley
@amanda_daville wrote:

It is only one or two editors who are not reading. The rest seem to push along with no issue. I am okay with constructive criticism. I am not okay with repeating the same information I have placed in the report JUST as they have asked as though the information is not there.

For example: John was wearing a black shirt.

Question from editor: What color was the shirt John was wearing?

Just answer the questions and push send.
Exactly what I do. Then I get a message that says "Please make sure to answer all questions, including the color of the shirt next time." LOL!!!!
Amanda,

Would you be so kind as to share the name of this MSP company you described above? The reason I ask is because I am in the exact situation you just described (my experience is shockingly the same). I have been consistently getting top scores from all MSPs I'm working with until recently I signed up for this company.

Their editors would keep asking me to to explain the "NO" answers which I had already clearly explained in my report. It reached the point that I had to simply copy and paste the same sentence in a separate paragraph so the editor is not "too blind to miss it". Did I mention they don't ever tell you who is reviewing your report so you have no idea who you are replying to and whether it is the same editor or various different editors are editing your report (or the updated versions)?

If you could share the name of the company, it would help everyone else out.....
I was getting dry eyed from rolling my eyes at the number of times I would get questions from editors equal to John's black shirt. But in the end, I agree with Niner. Answer - or cut and paste - and press send. And do it promptly. For every editor like this there are two who are politely trying to make sense of poor narrative. Like being a renter and being a landlord are both hard, so are being a shopper and an editor!

Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.
My first Coyle report was for a store. I had to rewrite the entire report. My first dining shop, I had to rewrite the report. I was not aware of Coyle format. My first dining report scored a shining 77. I was also getting 10/10 from every other MSC. But, I listened closely to the feedback and score consistent 100s. You need to learn to play the game. I was not doing what they wanted initially. I fixed it. If you have the patience and the desire, you can also figure this out.
Yes, a bit annoying. I think I can guess MSC so here is what they mean:

Sections WITH narrative: Comment boxes for the standards require a 2-5 word response if answered NO or N/A ONLY. ALL standards answered YES should be addressed in the narrative and do not require a comment.

Sections WITHOUT narrative: ALL comment boxes require FULL sentence responses, even if answered YES.
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