Hello all,
I would really appreciate your advice, perspectives, and feedback. All points of view are welcomed.
I recently signed up to do an announced auto for an auto repair chain with Bare/BAI. I have done about a dozen varying projects for them, but they are not a company that I contract with frequently, as they don't have a ton of suitable work in my area.
They are very particular as to the days and times when this audit can be completed, which is completely fine with me, and they sent 3 different sets of materials outlining the guidelines and specifications. These documents included fine detail such as shades of color that are acceptable, measurements down to the inch, and images drawn to scale for comparison. Again, this is completely ok with me, and there was a note that we were not required or expected to remember or evaluate this level of detail.
After accepting the assignment, I received an email stating that I would be required to join a "training call" before I am cleared to complete this project. Thinking I would be on the phone for 10 minutes or so, I agreed and dialed in to the conference call today.
First, I hear an announcement about "Free Conference Calls! SIgn up for your free conference call account at_____________!" I am thinking this is pretty unprofessional, especially for a company of this size. You don't have WebEx or Cisco or something? Anyway. I join the call right on time and she tells me, "Well, we like to wait for 5 minutes to let everyone join." Um, then make the call for 5 minutes later. Time is money, miss. Despite this initial annoyance, I wait and we start 6 minutes after the scheduled time (no one else ended up joining after the fact, so there were 3 of us on the call, plus the project coordinator).
She begins to provide us with vital information to include, "Make sure you read all of the materials. You should print it out and take it with you," "Make sure you know how to take pictures with your device. One time, someone did their whole evaluation and went home only to find all of their photos were just black squares! If this happens, we won't be able to use your report or pay you," and, "Make sure you take the right amount of pictures. If you don't have all of the pictures as mentioned in the guidelines, your report will not be accepted." At this point, I am SUPREMELY ANNOYED at my time being wasted like this.
At 16 minutes and counting, she begins to explain how to print a letter of authorization and hand it to a manager- seriously. I said, "Excuse me, but I am going to have to drop from this call. Thanks." I hung up and went back to the 12 other things I have to do today.
I got an email that said:
"You left the training call today. I hope all is okay. Are you still interested in completing this shop at a later date? It is required to complete the full training call before you can complete your first visit."
I don't think I need to explain to you fine people that I left the call because 1) you aren't paying me for this and 2) it is a waste of my time. I don't mind doing things that are a waste of time (see 1 above) if you are also paying me (see 2 above). What I do not need is 30 or so minutes of "Mystery Shopping 101 for Dummies" (at some points, yes, I could have used this, maybe we all could have, but not now and not today, Miss!) for no additional compensation whatsoever. I did not gain any information beyond what could be gathered from a) basic mystery shopping experience in addition to b) reading the guidelines carefully, which I always do and c) common sense (print the authorization letter? Whoa! Mind blown...I never woulda thunk it!).
I have drafted a reply, but I want to know if I am out of line with it. I fully expect that they won't want to work with me again, which I suppose I am okay with. However, I feel like they really need to know the ridiculousness of what they are asking me (and other MSers) to do here. Here is what is sitting in my drafts to her:
"As an independent contractor, I am sure you understand the importance of me making the best use of my time, since I am contracted to work for a fixed rate. I am fully aware that it is important to review all materials, guidelines, etc., before completing a shop and have done so many times for different companies. I presumed that today's call would be focused on particular knowledge above and beyond what could be learned by reviewing the account materials and less obvious than what should be known by anyone who is not a brand new mystery shopper/auditor (such as printing, reading the instructions, being sure to use your camera properly, etc.).
Essentially, the shop fee is $25.00 and taking ~30 minutes to listen to basic instructions about reporting, taking photos, how to print an authorization letter, and the like, in addition to time, travel, the actual audit, and reporting, takes the fee for this project below what makes sense for me. Again, as someone who is not actually employed by your company, it was my understanding that I am required to complete particular tasks without the "Behavioral Control" (see the link here to IRS articles on this topic) that includes mandatory training calls (of a very rudimentary nature) and the purchase of certain materials.
In response to your question, I am willing to complete the project as per the specifications provided. However, I am not available for calls of this nature unless there is an agreed-upon pay rate for that additional time. Thank you."
Am I out of line here? Too harsh? Not harsh enough?
I would really appreciate your advice, perspectives, and feedback. All points of view are welcomed.
I recently signed up to do an announced auto for an auto repair chain with Bare/BAI. I have done about a dozen varying projects for them, but they are not a company that I contract with frequently, as they don't have a ton of suitable work in my area.
They are very particular as to the days and times when this audit can be completed, which is completely fine with me, and they sent 3 different sets of materials outlining the guidelines and specifications. These documents included fine detail such as shades of color that are acceptable, measurements down to the inch, and images drawn to scale for comparison. Again, this is completely ok with me, and there was a note that we were not required or expected to remember or evaluate this level of detail.
After accepting the assignment, I received an email stating that I would be required to join a "training call" before I am cleared to complete this project. Thinking I would be on the phone for 10 minutes or so, I agreed and dialed in to the conference call today.
First, I hear an announcement about "Free Conference Calls! SIgn up for your free conference call account at_____________!" I am thinking this is pretty unprofessional, especially for a company of this size. You don't have WebEx or Cisco or something? Anyway. I join the call right on time and she tells me, "Well, we like to wait for 5 minutes to let everyone join." Um, then make the call for 5 minutes later. Time is money, miss. Despite this initial annoyance, I wait and we start 6 minutes after the scheduled time (no one else ended up joining after the fact, so there were 3 of us on the call, plus the project coordinator).
She begins to provide us with vital information to include, "Make sure you read all of the materials. You should print it out and take it with you," "Make sure you know how to take pictures with your device. One time, someone did their whole evaluation and went home only to find all of their photos were just black squares! If this happens, we won't be able to use your report or pay you," and, "Make sure you take the right amount of pictures. If you don't have all of the pictures as mentioned in the guidelines, your report will not be accepted." At this point, I am SUPREMELY ANNOYED at my time being wasted like this.
At 16 minutes and counting, she begins to explain how to print a letter of authorization and hand it to a manager- seriously. I said, "Excuse me, but I am going to have to drop from this call. Thanks." I hung up and went back to the 12 other things I have to do today.
I got an email that said:
"You left the training call today. I hope all is okay. Are you still interested in completing this shop at a later date? It is required to complete the full training call before you can complete your first visit."
I don't think I need to explain to you fine people that I left the call because 1) you aren't paying me for this and 2) it is a waste of my time. I don't mind doing things that are a waste of time (see 1 above) if you are also paying me (see 2 above). What I do not need is 30 or so minutes of "Mystery Shopping 101 for Dummies" (at some points, yes, I could have used this, maybe we all could have, but not now and not today, Miss!) for no additional compensation whatsoever. I did not gain any information beyond what could be gathered from a) basic mystery shopping experience in addition to b) reading the guidelines carefully, which I always do and c) common sense (print the authorization letter? Whoa! Mind blown...I never woulda thunk it!).
I have drafted a reply, but I want to know if I am out of line with it. I fully expect that they won't want to work with me again, which I suppose I am okay with. However, I feel like they really need to know the ridiculousness of what they are asking me (and other MSers) to do here. Here is what is sitting in my drafts to her:
"As an independent contractor, I am sure you understand the importance of me making the best use of my time, since I am contracted to work for a fixed rate. I am fully aware that it is important to review all materials, guidelines, etc., before completing a shop and have done so many times for different companies. I presumed that today's call would be focused on particular knowledge above and beyond what could be learned by reviewing the account materials and less obvious than what should be known by anyone who is not a brand new mystery shopper/auditor (such as printing, reading the instructions, being sure to use your camera properly, etc.).
Essentially, the shop fee is $25.00 and taking ~30 minutes to listen to basic instructions about reporting, taking photos, how to print an authorization letter, and the like, in addition to time, travel, the actual audit, and reporting, takes the fee for this project below what makes sense for me. Again, as someone who is not actually employed by your company, it was my understanding that I am required to complete particular tasks without the "Behavioral Control" (see the link here to IRS articles on this topic) that includes mandatory training calls (of a very rudimentary nature) and the purchase of certain materials.
In response to your question, I am willing to complete the project as per the specifications provided. However, I am not available for calls of this nature unless there is an agreed-upon pay rate for that additional time. Thank you."
Am I out of line here? Too harsh? Not harsh enough?