A good story

Here goes: I accept a SeeLevel posting for a pure MS (no purchase or return), and the instructions clearly state a pre-visit call is necessary to confirm that the store is open, hours of operation, blah, blah, blah, and if you don't, and you show up and the store is closed...you won't get paid. Ok, I get it.......I do the call, confirm the hours and that the store is open...and two days later, when I show up, the store is closed (and will be for a few months because of damage to the building the day before (but after I had called)). SeeLevel refuses to pay anything for my effort. Zilch. Geez, I thought I had followed the instructions to the letter.....Is this a version of Calvinball, where the rules are made up as we go along?

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That's a good one.

Had one pulled by them yesterday, after I conducted the shop. I was on a route - 6 shops. Halfway to shop 5, I get an email saying shop 1 has been cancelled. UGH!

They let me self assign a shop, I completed it and they gave me a 1 rating since I was out of rotation by a month. Well, then don't let me self assign it. Other MSCs that use Sassie don't show me available dates if I'm out of rotation.

And then, exclude the shop and don't pay me, but don't rate me a 1 for it.

@Mousegal wrote:

Had one pulled by them yesterday, after I conducted the shop. I was on a route - 6 shops. Halfway to shop 5, I get an email saying shop 1 has been cancelled. UGH!

I would have asked to be paid stating you had already completed the shop. Also since it was on a route, I'm guessing it wasn't local to you.

IPSOS has cancelled highly bonused shops 75 miles away I've built routes around the day of the shop, but before I've left home fortunately. That just made the route unprofitable to even do as it was the anchor and the rest were small potatoes. Not worth the time and gas expense.

Wow! Crazy!

@wrosie wrote:

They let me self assign a shop, I completed it and they gave me a 1 rating since I was out of rotation by a month. Well, then don't let me self assign it. Other MSCs that use Sassie don't show me available dates if I'm out of rotation.

And then, exclude the shop and don't pay me, but don't rate me a 1 for it.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

The good news is you were not doing that shop yesterday when the disaster hit. It could have been worse. I once showed up at a bank only to find there was yellow tape all around and they had been robbed just a half hour before. The bank was closed when I got there but I was so glad I had not gone over to the bank a half hour earlier and been there when they got robbed!

The following opinions are predicated upon common business sense:

mousegal--You have been wronged.

rosie--it is not the shopper's responsibility to track rotations, especially in that they are not always "etched in stone." Concerning Ipsos cancelling shops before you departed, remember what the snake uttered to the man who had saved it from the cold. This, as he lay dying while inquiring "Why?", "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

salisburync--Unless the guidelines stated to call the day of the shop, you have been wronged.

My advice to all is to either roll with the decisions or terminate.

Bob,

I haven't done a highly bonused shop they specifically asked me to do since I was burned. Actually, I haven't done any shops for them since. If one comes up that entices me I might bite. But I don't see any IPSOS shops offered at a price that I would leave home for in regards to the work required.

I was at a big box home improvement store where they were offering an $18 two department shop yesterday. I didn't accept the shop and just did my business.

And the rotation thing? I don't know. I don't live or die on the ratings, but if it impacts my getting future shops, then it matters. A 1 isn't like an 8 or a 9.

Please elaborate on what you mean by "out of rotation". Thank you.

@Gringolalo wrote:

Please elaborate on what you mean by "out of rotation". Thank you.

Many locations only allow you to shop that location once every so often. It might be as little as a week or as long as a year or more. It is their way of making sure that you are not identified as a mystery shopper.

So if I did a shop at a location today, I might be prohibited from doing that location for the rotational period. So I might not be able to do it again for a week, a month, six months or a year. But it does not prohibit you from doing other like shops at different similar locations.

The MSC can also waive the rotation period if they really need the shop completed. This usually happens when the MSC is at the end of their necessary reporting period. That could be monthly, quarterly etc.

Excellent question for a new person.

I don't think it should be the shopper's responsibility to manage the rotations. Many companies have the technology to block a shopper from seeing a shop if they are out of rotation, they should put it to use. Same argument if they let you self assign something for a holiday, then say you can't shop on the holiday. They can, and should block the holiday in the system. Their agreement for rotations is with the client, it should be their responsibility to manage it.

Personally, I would escalate it within that company and see if you can get that rating changed and get paid for your effort. Just my opinion.

@salisburync wrote:

SeeLevel refuses to pay anything for my effort. Zilch. Geez, I thought I had followed the instructions to the letter.....Is this a version of Calvinball, where the rules are made up as we go along?

Just wondering what explanation SeeLevel gave for not paying you?

@724PM wrote:

Just wondering what explanation SeeLevel gave for not paying you?

On sea levels jobs at the top of the job in the instructions, and after they accept the job, and probably in several other places, it says completing the job does not guarantee that you will be paid for it. They don't have to give a reason they can just decide not to pay you.

I believe they always have " a reason" but sometimes it may be a problem for them to TELL you the reason. Let me give you an example. Let's say someone obese does shops that require a lot of straining/walking. One of the clients complains that they send someone out who struggles to complete the shop. Legally they have to accommodate a disability right? So let's say this person asks for a ride on a golf cart (since it is there anyway). Legally, they are supposed to accommodate and allow that person to work anyway right? So the company says "We want you to send someone who is physically able to complete the assignment without any accommodations".
Thus they won't tell the shopper, 'we can't send you anymore because you are fat". I have always been afraid of being excluded from a shop for this reason. I don't know if it's ever happened but I've definitely been afraid that it has!

I once did a shop for them that was supposed to be dine-in. The guidelines stated that if dine-in was closed, take a photo proving it. I did exactly what the guidelines stated. I guess they wanted me to do that for free. My account said the shop was "received" and indicated I would receive the small payment given for the shops. However, I was never paid for it despite being paid for other completed shops. They gave me various nonsensical reasons, but I kept pressing and finally got it after a few months. Another silly thing about it is after I demonstrated that dine-in was closed for them, they quickly posted a drive-thru shop for the same location. Why didn't they just say to do the drive-thru if dine-in was closed?

However, other than that, I have done many shops for them and have not had any issues at all with all of my other shops that were completed normally.

@Morledzep wrote:

@724PM wrote:

Just wondering what explanation SeeLevel gave for not paying you?

On sea levels jobs at the top of the job in the instructions, and after they accept the job, and probably in several other places, it says completing the job does not guarantee that you will be paid for it. They don't have to give a reason they can just decide not to pay you.

Wow! I've not done any of their shops but if they don't give explanation for not paying I don't think I would want to work for them.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2023 05:26PM by 724PM.

Right here, copied and pasted from a finished shop after evaluation.

"Reviewer comments: Final Grade: 10. Superior evaluation. Completed and submitted on time, with project specifications followed exactly as outlined and no additional information or clarification needed. The evaluation was free of spelling/grammar errors and contradictions and written in a professional manner. Regardless of rating, payment for this project is contingent on the client's acceptance of your evaluation. Thank you for your efforts."

I used to do an Wing shop for See Level several years ago.. Sadly the Wing shop closed.. I enjoyed doing those shops..

@F and L TeleComm wrote:

I believe they always have " a reason" but sometimes it may be a problem for them to TELL you the reason. Let me give you an example. Let's say someone obese does shops that require a lot of straining/walking. One of the clients complains that they send someone out who struggles to complete the shop. Legally they have to accommodate a disability right? So let's say this person asks for a ride on a golf cart (since it is there anyway). Legally, they are supposed to accommodate and allow that person to work anyway right? So the company says "We want you to send someone who is physically able to complete the assignment without any accommodations".
Thus they won't tell the shopper, 'we can't send you anymore because you are fat". I have always been afraid of being excluded from a shop for this reason. I don't know if it's ever happened but I've definitely been afraid that it has!

Actually they can tell you this. As an IC you are NOT protected and absolutely ZERO accommodations must be made.

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections and reasonable accommodations for EMPLOYEES. You are an independent contractor, not an employee. They are not required to make any accommodations for you.

@F and L TeleComm wrote:

I believe they always have " a reason" but sometimes it may be a problem for them to TELL you the reason. Let me give you an example. Let's say someone obese does shops that require a lot of straining/walking. One of the clients complains that they send someone out who struggles to complete the shop. Legally they have to accommodate a disability right? So let's say this person asks for a ride on a golf cart (since it is there anyway). Legally, they are supposed to accommodate and allow that person to work anyway right? So the company says "We want you to send someone who is physically able to complete the assignment without any accommodations".
Thus they won't tell the shopper, 'we can't send you anymore because you are fat". I have always been afraid of being excluded from a shop for this reason. I don't know if it's ever happened but I've definitely been afraid that it has!

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

@myst4au wrote:

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections and reasonable accommodations for EMPLOYEES. You are an independent contractor, not an employee. They are not required to make any accommodations for you.

That is totally BESIDE the point. It doesn't matter if they do or they don't. They still wouldn't tell the shopper the reason. You are changing the subject and getting caught up in legalities! No one said the shopper asked for accommodations on a regular basis anyway. I normally check shop size and make sure it's within my capabilities first before applying for the shop anyway. (Or self-assigning!) There are several assignments that I NEVER apply for. Especially if it requires standing on my feet for several hours. Gas stations require me to be on my feet a few minutes (20-30) at a time then I sit in the car to do the paperwork. Then I'm on my feet for about 5 more minutes to give them the leave behind. If I do a site inspection I sit down and ask all the questions first then walk around and take all the pictures at one time, I'm not usually on my feet for more than 10 minutes or so for those. I don't apply or assign sizing audits, or Best Buy Audits because I know those types of assignments I can not do. No one knows your limitations better than you. I read on the forum once that there was someone doing gas station audits from a wheelchair. Your message implies that people with disabilities shouldn't be allowed to do independent contractor work. (Because they are legally not required to allow them to work.) I found your comment quite offensive.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2023 07:03PM by F and L TeleComm.

@F and L TeleComm wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections and reasonable accommodations for EMPLOYEES. You are an independent contractor, not an employee. They are not required to make any accommodations for you.

That is totally BESIDE the point. It doesn't matter if they do or they don't. They still wouldn't tell the shopper the reason. You are changing the subject and getting caught up in legalities! No one said the shopper asked for accommodations on a regular basis anyway. I normally check shop size and make sure it's within my capabilities first before applying for the shop anyway. (Or self-assigning!) There are several assignments that I NEVER apply for. Especially if it requires standing on my feet for several hours. Gas stations require me to be on my feet a few minutes (20-30) at a time then I sit in the car to do the paperwork. Then I'm on my feet for about 5 more minutes to give them the leave behind. If I do a site inspection I sit down and ask all the questions first then walk around and take all the pictures at one time, I'm not usually on my feet for more than 10 minutes or so for those. I don't apply or assign sizing audits, or Best Buy Audits because I know those types of assignments I can not do. No one knows your limitations better than you. I read on the forum once that there was someone doing gas station audits from a wheelchair. Your message implies that people with disabilities shouldn't be allowed to do independent contractor work. (Because they are legally not required to allow them to work.) I found your comment quite offensive.

Oy! You are out there......

I once scheduled a project that required the shopper to take a test drive on a vehicle. We had a shopper who did them for years and did many of them. The client reached out to us and said that part of the shop is to see if they are offered a test drive - and this shopper used a walker to get around, so they felt perhaps their staff was not asking that shopper because of that - being sensitive or not wanting to bring it up, etc., so they asked us not to use that shopper any more.
I've never seen a shopper removed for weight - but of course I guess it could happen and no one would say that is the issue? But I have seen some really detailed reasons clients have asked to have a shopper removed from a project - never that - yet.

Karen Holland
Independent Scheduler for Ipsos
[www.ishopforipsos.com]

@salisburync wrote:

I do the call, confirm the hours and that the store is open...and two days later, when I show up, the store is closed

Personally, I always make calls to confirm store hours just before heading out the door. I would not have waited until two days after calling to go there. So, maybe they expected you to call on the same day.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2023 11:15PM by shopnyc.

myst4au states--The Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections and reasonable accommodations for EMPLOYEES. You are an independent contractor, not an employee. They are not required to make any accommodations for you.

Bob comments--While it is F&L's prerogative to be offended, it is my opinion myst4au's post is concise, informative and candid.The shame is that a client must be guarded in their comments, out of concern for litigation.

@Morledzep wrote:

Right here, copied and pasted from a finished shop after evaluation.

"Reviewer comments: Final Grade: 10. Superior evaluation. Completed and submitted on time, with project specifications followed exactly as outlined and no additional information or clarification needed. The evaluation was free of spelling/grammar errors and contradictions and written in a professional manner. Regardless of rating, payment for this project is contingent on the client's acceptance of your evaluation. Thank you for your efforts."

I don't know about legally, but certainly morally the preceding review should guarantee payment. Once the report submission has been accepted with such praise, the MSP should guarantee payment. If the client doesn't accept it, the MSP should pay anyway since they deemed the shop and report to be excellent.

@CA senior wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Right here, copied and pasted from a finished shop after evaluation.

"Reviewer comments: Final Grade: 10. Superior evaluation. Completed and submitted on time, with project specifications followed exactly as outlined and no additional information or clarification needed. The evaluation was free of spelling/grammar errors and contradictions and written in a professional manner. Regardless of rating, payment for this project is contingent on the client's acceptance of your evaluation. Thank you for your efforts."

I don't know about legally, but certainly morally the preceding review should guarantee payment. Once the report submission has been accepted with such praise, the MSP should guarantee payment. If the client doesn't accept it, the MSP should pay anyway since they deemed the shop and report to be excellent.

There are times that the shop looks wonderful to the editor. It **appears** all guidelines were followed, it is written well and was submitted on time, then the client gets it and reviews video. The client rejects the report because the shopper lied.
The MSC isn't going to pay for this fraud, and shouldn't have to. Sometimes there is no way to tell if the report is fraud until the client gets it and matches up reported info to video.

@luckygirl0100 I think you are incorrect. A few months ago you brought up the same point -- ICs are not protected. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not just cover employees, but also prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all public and private places that are open to the general public.

Specifically to your point, mystery shoppers are independent contractors. PGA golfers are also independent contractors. With the ADA, a golfer successfully sued the PGA Tour to use a golf cart to accommodate his disability. As a spectator of golf, I did not agree with the Supreme Court's decision to rule in the golfer's favor to use a golf cart during pro tournaments.

I recall bringing up the point that a company, whom I have terminated their contract (thank you @shopperbob), prohibited anyone requiring the use of a scooter or mobility device to perform their storage audits. @luckygirl0100 was quick to say ICs are not protected which is not true. I still think that company should remove that language. If the right/wrong person saw it, they could sue, but let's be honest who wants to work for someone that pays 100 days after the work has been done.

@F and L TeleComm I think the jean co. had a mystery shop looking for larger size people. I think it was men's 40 waist and above and I forgot what it was for ladies.

@luckygirl0100 I must disagree with you here. A shopper can write an excellent report but then the client watches the video and the report is a complete fabrication. I’ve also seen the rare shopper who uses the same report for multiple locations. If it’s different editors they may not catch it right away. These are the exceptions to the rule, but there are others as well.

Thank you!

Kate Rattner, Mystery Shop Scheduler

kateschedules@gmail.com

Sign up for my database for several shop opportunities!
[docs.google.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2023 11:16AM by krattner.

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