It's okay to do two meals in the same period MF

So a marketforce scheduler called me today asking if I could do a burger shop for them during dinner- 4:15 PM- closing.

I stated that I had another food stop scheduled for today and thought two meal shops couldn't be done in the same meal period. The scheduler asked me to hold while they got approval from their manager. According to the scheduler, it was okay for me to complete both food shops in the same meal period as long as they were an hour apart.

I asked if I could get something in writing confirming permission and they told me they couldn't offer me anything in writing. I politely declined (the heavily bonus shop) and stated I didn't want to take the risk.

The scheduler continued to reassure me it was ok but i didn't reconsider.

Is anyone familiar with this rule? Two meal shops can be performed in the same meal period pending an hour gap?

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They are making an exception to get the shop done.

They literally made an exception. Your proof of this would be that they assigned the two shops for the same period on the same day. Why so paranoid? Do you do the same when a scheduler lifts a rotation?

I used to do two MF shops for a drive in restaurant in the same meal period about 4 years ago. Then I noticed in the instructions they said only one shop per meal period.

I understand the OP's reluctance without anything writing. If he has to drive to do a bonused shop, does it, reports it and then is told he won't be paid because it violated the rules, I would be upset. I believe this is what he is trying to avoid.

But, hey, from the other threads, I understand MF has tons of new shoppers just chomping at the bit to do their shops (sarcasm if you don't recognize it).

@1cent wrote:

They literally made an exception. Your proof of this would be that they assigned the two shops for the same period on the same day. Why so paranoid? Do you do the same when a scheduler lifts a rotation?

One shop was self-assigned weeks ago. The call today was to pick up a second shop. The scheduler didn't even know the shop I already had scheduled was a food shop. I had to inform them...Not paranoid, just cautious. When a scheduler lifts a rotation, there is usually a paper trail. I asked for something in writing. I've heard of people having their shops invalidated or worst accounts closed for far less. I make A LOT of money through bonuses with them and don't want to risk my relationship. Just wanted to make sure.

I remember the rule was no more than one *fast food* shop in any given meal period, so if you had two fast casual shops, or two coffee shops, or two restaurant shops, or a combination of two non fast food shops, that was okay, as long as there was at least an hour between them.

That was when their job board did not allow you to assign yourself more than one fast food shop for the same meal period anyway. (I'm not sure whether that feature of the job board has changed. I'm just saying...) Rules might have changed, so it's good that you discussed it with them ahead of time.

The thing about MF is that they arrange a lot of their big bonus shops by phone, unlike other companies, which make such bonus arrangements through a series of emails that leave a paper trail. I guess they figure that if you receive a confirmation email that the shop has been assigned to you at a higher fee, that's enough.

I had a similar situation. The bonused burger was already scheduled for lunch. A scheduler called for a bonused drive thru shop at lunch. I told her that I had a lunch shop scheduled already. She put me on hold, came back and said that I could do both as long as they were an hour apart. Both shops were approved.

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

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2019 10:44AM by HonnyBrown.

I think you did the right thing. The schedulers could be misinformed, and are under pressure to make their quotas. It's not just about getting paid for the shops, it's about a month or year or two years from now when the algorithm spits out a list of shoppers to be blocked or deactivated. It will not care who told you what.

I don't get why they couldn't send an email stating it was ok.

I think you made the right decision.

I had a scheduler tell me two fast food shops in the same meal period was okay. U double checked with help desk and they said no.
Better safe than sorry IMO.

You made the correct decision, as schedulers, I would think especially with shopping mills like MF, are not always honest. An example is the easy and fun E-mail headers. In addition, it would have been very simple to send you a rule exception letter. You have been called paranoid; I say BS. This is business and if you wish to succeed, you must think as a business person.

I think you did the right thing especially since they would not put it in writing. It may have been legitimate, but remember MF would invalidate BOTH shops if they didn't accept one.

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You did exactly the right thing. MF schedulers -- especially the "overseas" ones -- do NOT know the rules. While I'm sure they mean well, they simply do not know the rules. You risked BOTH shops being invalidated.

Better safe than sorry.

I've had the same thing happen, and checked with helpdesk and got the reply: It is NEVER allowed to shop two meals during the same meal period.

Their meal periods are VERY specific. I personally make sure that if I do 2 meals, they are not only at least an hour apart, but that they are in separate "meal periods".

Best of luck.

Hmmm....there was a thread about MF And meal periods a while back. Apparently, MF had relaxed the rule for a bunch of food route shoppers and let them do them (one hour apart) for a long period of time. Then recently, MF stated that they were no longer making exceptions to the rule of one food shop per meal period.

I have always been aware of the rule, but it never bothered me because I add in a food shop here or there in a route to save on snacks. I wouldn’t want to do a bunch in one day. Having to taste all the food and then figure out what to do with so many leftovers would stress me out. I realize that people got well paid for these food routes and I sympathize that it bites to have to retool when a company changes its rules (or starts enforcing them).

You did the right thing. At the end of every conversation, the scheduler discloses that we are responsible for making sure we follow all guidelines.

Regardless of a few shoppers not having an issue, the fact is we see posts all the time to the contrary.

By the way, the overseas schedulers make about $4 an hour. If they earn a bonus for how effectively they fill shops, they will err towards their personal interests.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

As per the Asian Review, minimum wage in Manila is $10.11. (500+ pesos)

A day.

$4 an hour is so far above the legal minimum wage that I actually cannot imagine marketforce paying it.

I would not trust them after the way they have denied shoppers their shops. It's your risk. If they don't put it in writing, don't trust them.

@ceasesmith wrote:

As per the Asian Review, minimum wage in Manila is $10.11. (500+ pesos)

A day.

$4 an hour is so far above the legal minimum wage that I actually cannot imagine marketforce paying it.

I watched an interesting discussion, I think on CNBC, talking about outsourcing. So, if it is $11 a day then what incentive do they really have in giving us bonuses of more than they earn per day? Hopefully they get some type of bonus for getting us to accept less than maximum.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

Yes, I would imagine $10 US looks like an enormous bonus to them.

I've never had a problem receiving the bonus rate when they call me. They send me a confirmation email and that's good enough for me. But I can understand the hesitation. Their paid fees are embarrassing..........and I have to wonder, who works for that? They don't know their worth. Sad for the rest of us who do.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2019 06:24AM by iblori.

Just did 4 heavy bonused drive thru shops in the same dining period on the same day. Barely made the last one with 4 mins to spare. Granted they were not for MF. Gave the meals to the homeless.

A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.

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It's okay to do two meals in the same period MF

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