The MAO blues......
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It seems they picked up an "old" fitness shop that used to be with Bestmark offering $12.
I might have to try it again if I'm in the area. The shop took around 20 minutes with Bestmark.
I might have to try it again if I'm in the area. The shop took around 20 minutes with Bestmark.
Yea, I thought I might try to MAO for an amount that I used to do one of the shops just to see if they wanted me to shop for them. Apparently not..
I can't believe that new shoppers are everywhere this forum's shoppers are. I think the MSC might have changed gears or renegotiated their contract with their client so they don't need to complete all the shops each month.
But that would seem to mean they would have to complete the shops at least once in each timeframe which might mean bonuses if someone hasn't already jumped in at $10 or apparently $9 now.
But that would seem to mean they would have to complete the shops at least once in each timeframe which might mean bonuses if someone hasn't already jumped in at $10 or apparently $9 now.
Same. I did a MAO for the mattress shops for the amount I used to regularly do them for and no counter. Nowadays, they do not go over 15 in my area.
@BabyBooey19 wrote:
In the MAO isn't giving counters - at least to me.
I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you are talking about here.
What is MAO? What is that sentence supposed to mean?
Have synthesizers, will travel...
Sorry, I guess MAO is never used on this board I apologize for not clarifying. MAO is when certain MSC hasn't been able to assign a shop. "Make An Offer" is a green button they put on where a shopper clicks it, and sends a dollar amount they'd be willing to do the job for. Example: The4y are offering a burger shop for $15 - with green MAO button. We press it, and can offer to do it for 20, 25, 100, whatever -- then it's MSC's choice to accept the offer, turn it down, or counter it. Usually when I offer something realistic, they counter it. But this mont, so far, not the case. Hence I said I'm focusing on other MSCs and will check back in a week or two to se if it got better. Again - fully respect their running their business and budgeting how they need to.
They've been shooting down my MAOs left and right. The last one they accepted was 4 days ago, a heavy bonus on a car wash. They've let that one sit in QC for 5 days now even though it was a positive report. Time to invest my energies elsewhere I guess.
Gee, from the title of this thread, I thought I might need to re-read my "Little Red Book."
I tried another on tonight.. maybe I'll have an email in the morning, but I don't think I will. Lol
UDATE: no email.. lol. Starting to look as if I won't ever work for them again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2023 06:05PM by Morledzep.
UDATE: no email.. lol. Starting to look as if I won't ever work for them again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2023 06:05PM by Morledzep.
My MAO's were routinely accepted every month until several months ago. But I WILL NOT lower my offer. Inflation has decreased our buying power. Employees who move to new jobs gain 9%, while those that stay gain only 5%.
[joshbersin.com]
[www.wsj.com]
I can do simple math. Maybe others cannot calculate and are willing to lose money after expenses. I guess these are the same people who believe B-omics is working. (ROFL)
In the meantime, 6 month US Treasuries are paying >5.5% and during the last 3 months the Vanguard Energy ETF gained >18%.
I can wait it out until MAO's are rational.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2023 11:40AM by maverick1.
[joshbersin.com]
[www.wsj.com]
I can do simple math. Maybe others cannot calculate and are willing to lose money after expenses. I guess these are the same people who believe B-omics is working. (ROFL)
In the meantime, 6 month US Treasuries are paying >5.5% and during the last 3 months the Vanguard Energy ETF gained >18%.
I can wait it out until MAO's are rational.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2023 11:40AM by maverick1.
@maverick1 wrote:
My MAO's were routinely accepted every month until several months ago. But I WILL NOT lower my offer. Inflation has decreased our buying power. Employees who move to new jobs gain 9%, while those that stay gain only 5%.
[joshbersin.com]
[www.wsj.com]
I can do simple math. Maybe others cannot calculate and are willing to lose money after expenses. I guess these are the same people who believe B-omics is working. (ROFL)
In the meantime, 6 month US Treasuries are paying >5.5% and during the last 3 months the Vanguard Energy ETF gained >18%.
I can wait it out until MAO's are rational.
Well said. Yes indeed - the 5% is nice and I've also been doing short durations - 4,8, 26 weeks. But it's still nice to make a few extra bucks.
So today I have 3 shops set up. I *could* have done a Mattress. I did MAO ...and my offer was actually $1.00 less than I've done Mattress for previously. (Not saying 1.00 enhances their profit - just saying, I wasn't gouging ) They just declined it, not even a counter. So oh well no Mattress shop today.
@BabyBooey19 wrote:
@maverick1 wrote:
My MAO's were routinely accepted every month until several months ago. But I WILL NOT lower my offer. Inflation has decreased our buying power. Employees who move to new jobs gain 9%, while those that stay gain only 5%.
[joshbersin.com]
[www.wsj.com]
I can do simple math. Maybe others cannot calculate and are willing to lose money after expenses. I guess these are the same people who believe B-omics is working. (ROFL)
In the meantime, 6 month US Treasuries are paying >5.5% and during the last 3 months the Vanguard Energy ETF gained >18%.
I can wait it out until MAO's are rational.
Well said. Yes indeed - the 5% is nice and I've also been doing short durations - 4,8, 26 weeks. But it's still nice to make a few extra bucks.
So today I have 3 shops set up. I *could* have done a Mattress. I did MAO ...and my offer was actually $1.00 less than I've done Mattress for previously. (Not saying 1.00 enhances their profit - just saying, I wasn't gouging ) They just declined it, not even a counter. So oh well no Mattress shop today.
Well, I just rec'd a request asking if I'd do a shop for $7 lower than I have rec'd in the past. I responded I could complete it for the same fee as in the past.
It was declined as another shopper accepted it at the lower fee.
More power to the shoppers who are willing to get less pay for the same work.
Not me!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2023 08:51PM by maverick1.
lots of new shoppers here, perhaps one of them took it?
Hello new shoppers, wait for the prices to go up!
Hello new shoppers, wait for the prices to go up!
@wrosie wrote:
lots of new shoppers here, perhaps one of them took it?
Hello new shoppers, wait for the prices to go up!
I'm not going to call out the new shoppers. Each shopper has to make their own financial decision as an independent contractor if the offer is acceptable to them.
Just like deciding if it's worth it to keep your money in a savings account at less than 1% with the outcome at about negative 5% after inflation or to move your money to alternative instruments with much higher rates..
For me, I calculate that my "gain" is marginal at best with the MAO's at this time. I'm not willing to partake in a near loss. I have other opportunities to pursue with my time.
But, to each their own.
I haven't done a shop for them in months. The MAO are mostly gone. They called me two days ago and I offered to do two shops for what I always did them for. It seemed like we were set. Then, nothing. No emails, nothing on my shop list.
I wonder how they are getting all of these shops done now? Lots of us are no longer doing them.
I wonder how they are getting all of these shops done now? Lots of us are no longer doing them.
I said I'd check back with MAO towards end of month and I did. A Five Guys that - I've done 3 times this year, for $35, $30, and $30. As usual I try to be realistic so my first offer: $34.00 - turned down. 2nd offer: $30.00. They came back at $20.00. Ok, this was gonna be closer to me than usual - - so I offered $25.00. Get this....they came back at 20.......again. Fast forward a few hours - that shop and a few other MAO FG were still there. I was gonna ACCEPT the shop on a different date- because it was literally next door to a doctor I'll be visiting so I figure, why not. So I go to accept at 20 - -and all it says "This shop is no longer available to you"....and I noticed ----all the MAO listings were gone. Go figure.
Oh well, I guess another week of no Five Guys or Mattress. But I did pick up an extra Kia, another storage, and a well located Wawa.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2023 03:37AM by BabyBooey19.
Oh well, I guess another week of no Five Guys or Mattress. But I did pick up an extra Kia, another storage, and a well located Wawa.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2023 03:37AM by BabyBooey19.
I gave my usual MAO amount last week. It was again turned down. The shop is still posted with a hot / MAO tag. I'm still not lowering my fee from previous shop assignments. I'm not caving in. Nope.
[in the voice of Pres. Bush by Dana Carvey..."Not gonna do it...Wouldn't be prudent."]
[in the voice of Pres. Bush by Dana Carvey..."Not gonna do it...Wouldn't be prudent."]
I suspect enough of you are doing them at their price. I say YOU because in general these shops are never bonused more than $2 in hard to assign locations where I live so I do not get involved in these bidding wars. I would suspect, based on reports of what is happening with bonuses, that they were near their minimum number of shops to fill this month so they were possibly able to hold out for anyone to take the shops at whatever fee they were advertising them for or only a few dollars more.
@Niner wrote:
I haven't done a shop for them in months. The MAO are mostly gone. They called me two days ago and I offered to do two shops for what I always did them for. It seemed like we were set. Then, nothing. No emails, nothing on my shop list.
I wonder how they are getting all of these shops done now? Lots of us are no longer doing them.
I responded to a MAO today and asked for $23.98. It was quickly rejected. I then asked for $20.98, and it was accepted immediately. It was posted at $18 or MAO.
I asked for $26 for a different location for next Tuesday. After 2 hours, nothing has happened, but it is late Friday evening. The base offer is again $18, which is too low for me to go to that location.
I asked for $26 for a different location for next Tuesday. After 2 hours, nothing has happened, but it is late Friday evening. The base offer is again $18, which is too low for me to go to that location.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I also responded to a MAO yesterday and made my usual offer that was routinely accepted months ago. It was quickly rejected. (Over 24 hrs later, the shop remains posted as MAO with the same low fee.)
Unlike some others here, I SHALL NOT reduce my fee to do the same level of effort.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/2023 10:30AM by maverick1.
Unlike some others here, I SHALL NOT reduce my fee to do the same level of effort.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/2023 10:30AM by maverick1.
I got an emailed offer for $30 to do one of their burger shops. I would have done it if they had emailed a day or two earlier. It wasn't worth it to drive to that location for $30 when I didn't have anything else to do in that area.
I haven't shopped for them since they updated their ICA, got rid of reimbursing for bridge tolls, etc.
I haven't shopped for them since they updated their ICA, got rid of reimbursing for bridge tolls, etc.
They finally took a MAO at my old price of $25. It has been months since I have done one of these.
I tried last week. I went down to $24 and it was declined -no counteroffer. Few days later - same exact shop was posted $25.00. I just let it be. Went to $30 and then it was gone. So, oh well.
I got my first phone call today.
She was offering exactly what was on the board. I told her I would just take it from the board if I decided I was interested, but after i wondered if she would have given me more if I had asked?
She was offering exactly what was on the board. I told her I would just take it from the board if I decided I was interested, but after i wondered if she would have given me more if I had asked?
I just figured out MAO - make and offe? And what do you mean by counters?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2023 02:48AM by Paula7928.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2023 02:48AM by Paula7928.
@Paula7928 wrote:
I just figured out MAO - make and offe? And what do you mean by counters?
yes, MAO is Make An Offer. The MSC used to make a counter offer if yours wasn't acceptable. Now on some of them they say you can make another offer that is at least $3 less than your previous offer. Sometimes they say that no other offers will be considered, you can accept the job at the current pay amount if you want it.
lol, I just got another call about a shop. The rep offered me $18--huh? I told her that I was pretty sure it was on the website for $20, and she responded that she could give me $20. I checked the website quickly and it was actually $22! I told her, and she said she would need to talk to her supervisor to offer me $22! I said that I could just take it on the job board for $22, how about a little more? She came back and offered $25 which I accepted, but then she said it was subject to approval??
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