I don't know if it's just me, but I am having a hard time getting people to respond to my emails. I understand the Project Managers are busy. Is there a person within the executive suite that is responsive? Does anyone have tips on how to communicate with CI? I have read that the COO is responsive, but do I reach out to someone else?

Here's the lowdown....I am doing a route of stores in the NYC area. The managers REFUSE to call the numbers provided for visits and service. They demand my cell phone number, which I give them. I have been told flat out that they will remove the products unless I do things their way. Fine. No problem. I am a relationship builder. HOWEVER, when there is a corporate visit, I will receive desperate phone calls asking me to run over and organize the display. I reach out to CI and no response. So I end up making an extra visit without pay. I have stores without, or with very low product. When it arrives, the store manager will call me and ask me to come right away and fill the displays. I know I won't get a response from CI, so I do it on my own time. I won't even get into a PM that told me I filled out a report a half hour before the GSC app would even open for my locations. Refused to address it. I sent three emails. I returned without payment.

In addition, the client has not handled the accounts properly. In many instances it is not the fault of CI. The managers have told me they are accustomed to receiving a certain level of service in a very particular way. They don't want to hear the system has changed. I am being put in a very difficult no win situation as I think CI may be too.

I apologize that this turned into a bit of a rant. I guess I am a tad frustrated because I have invested time and money into building relationships. I'm curious if any of you are experiencing similar issues.

I thank you all in advance for your time reading this novel and your wise advice.

Do the job you are there to do. If they refuse service you can indicate that in the app and still get paid. Never give out your phone number.

Sorry, but on another forum you would be called a bot.

What is a bot?

They don't refuse service. Apologies if I did not make that clear. Managers want the service they received from the client for many years prior. And, thank you for your advice on whom to contact at CI. Very helpful. So helpful you are.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2025 09:55PM by MadiHill.

Sounds like they are refusing the service you signed up to give them. Do your job per CI instructions. If they refuse to let you do it, indicate that in the app and leave.

How would you approach that? Do I write in the app that the manager is refusing to use the numbers provided? Explain exactly what the manager is saying? And do you think that CI should know this is happening? Who do you contact there?

I simply say, ordering info left with manager. End of story. If they give you a hard time, just enter notes about it. You cannot cater to them and give out your personal number. You are an independent contractor, not an employee . Please reach out to Daniel Price at CI. Very responsive, he often checks in here.

It is nice that you went above and beyond but you are doing to much. This is gig work, you get paid to do a task. Doing more negates your worth. Dont be taken advantage of by the stores. Be firm, do the job, walk out.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2025 10:28AM by Datagirl.

I have dealt with Daniel in the past. He is a good guy. You have never been able to reach anyone on the phone during their business hours?

@MadiHill wrote:

How would you approach that? Do I write in the app that the manager is refusing to use the numbers provided? Explain exactly what the manager is saying? And do you think that CI should know this is happening? Who do you contact there?

This is not your problem. And exactly that. You put in the comment section, manager refuses to contact CI. I would get the MANAGER'S cell phone number and put that in the app so someone can call THEM. This is their problem, not yours.

You go to the store, you see if they have inventory, you put it out, straighten the display, count the inventory, take your pics and LEAVE. You DO NOT return to the store for unpaid visits EVER. Change your number at this point!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2025 10:30AM by Datagirl.

i admire your ethic and willingness to go above and beyond to complete the jobs and work with the store managers; that being said the above comments are correct. being that this is gig work, you accept the job, complete the job and then move onto the next one.

seconding another comment, contact daniel price and he should be able to help you. unless the stores are literally a 1 minute walk from your residence, you’re kind of wasting money and time returning to stores and/or fielding calls from managers without being paid for your work.

i get it too, i'm the type of person who likes to see a job completed and well-done, however i learned quickly in this business that you’re only there to do what’s asked of you, nothing more. all the extras you might go above and beyond for will hardly get noticed or even get a thanks.

if this work is something you enjoy, you might try researching what merchandising companies are in your area and see if they’re looking for someone for a full or part time employee.

I would give them CI's phone number. I never give my number out unless they are my actual client; not CI's client.

Sorry, but I am still seeing bot like typing.

Daniel will probably see this on Monday provided the client name is removed from the thread. As for the stores saying "do it our way" the answer is no. We are required to do this the way the client wants it. And I have gotten the "We do it our way and why are you sending us so much etc etc etc" a few times. Just explain to them that there is a new company handling things and the manager needs to call the numbers listed on the page included in the boxes.

Wow, these gigs must pay so much more where you are!

You should look for a route sales or merchandising job so you can get paid appropriately for the type of work you clearly wish to do. Stop putting effort into making this role something it isn't, put that effort into becoming a paid employee elsewhere.

Sounds like a CI employee wrote this and is trying to get other reps to work for free.

@Bob Stone wrote:

Sounds like a CI employee wrote this and is trying to get other reps to work for free.

I am sure you are kidding, but for others reading. CI does not roll that way.

Susan, is that you?...

[will anyone get the ref.?]

I've had a store manage express issues with the ordering and asked for my cell number. I told them I was a contractor and didn't handle ordering, and that I might not be the next person to visit, it could be someone else. Give them Ci's number or the company number you were given and leave.

Like others have said, giving out your cell number and making free visits is going above and beyond and there's really no reward for it. These locations may go to a cheaper contractor next month, so building up relationships wouldn't be my goal on these.

@joanna81 wrote:

I've had a store manage express issues with the ordering and asked for my cell number. I told them I was a contractor and didn't handle ordering, and that I might not be the next person to visit, it could be someone else. Give them Ci's number or the company number you were given and leave.

Like others have said, giving out your cell number and making free visits is going above and beyond and there's really no reward for it. These locations may go to a cheaper contractor next month, so building up relationships wouldn't be my goal on these.

I was only doing relationships with my monthly or bi-weekly stuff. Since I was there monthly or bi-weekly. Never would I consider giving my phone number out unless there was an ulterior motive.

Madi, 20 yrs. ago, establishing relationships could be positive; in my opinion, that is rarely, if even now possible.

I have, to the best of my recollection, never completed work for CI, BUT, back then, I shopped for a prior name, Speedmark Web. According to my log, that period was from 2005 until 2007. About that time, the company merged into Shop & Chek and finally MFI, from whom I was terminated in 2010.

I don't give out my telephone number. I do it the way I am contracted and that is that. I had a Kroger in my area tell me they wanted it done a different way. I explained I won't get paid unless it done to the planagram, and what they do once I am gone is not in my control.

Why on earth would you give out your telephone number?

Madi,

It seems as if you're trying to make Independent Contractor jobs into something they aren't. You are agreeing to do a SPECIFIC job, one time, at a pre-determined time, for a specific amount of money. You are absolutely NOT being asked to work as a company representative for either the toy company or CI. In the guidelines for your job, it tells you exactly what you should be doing, and NOT doing, on the SINGLE visit that you signed up for. CI, and/or the toy company, will not appreciate, nor will they pay you, nor will you earn any "brownie points" for doing anything outside of the specific job that you agreed to do.

Please READ THE GUIDELINES. And if you have any questions about the guidelines, and what you should or shouldn't do, email your scheduler, and/or the program manager. NEVER give any business that you do merchandizing at your personal information other than your name when you give them the LOA. If the managers at the store question the LOA, encourage them to read it and contact their company representative, THEN LEAVE.

In the Go-Spot-Check App there are questions about this. Answer them honestly, if refused, take the pictures the APP asks for, then walk away, go home, you did what was required.

@Morledzep wrote:

Madi,

It seems as if you're trying to make Independent Contractor jobs into something they aren't. You are agreeing to do a SPECIFIC job, one time, at a pre-determined time, for a specific amount of money. You are absolutely NOT being asked to work as a company representative for either the toy company or CI. In the guidelines for your job, it tells you exactly what you should be doing, and NOT doing, on the SINGLE visit that you signed up for. CI, and/or the toy company, will not appreciate, nor will they pay you, nor will you earn any "brownie points" for doing anything outside of the specific job that you agreed to do.

Please READ THE GUIDELINES. And if you have any questions about the guidelines, and what you should or shouldn't do, email your scheduler, and/or the program manager. NEVER give any business that you do merchandizing at your personal information other than your name when you give them the LOA. If the managers at the store question the LOA, encourage them to read it and contact their company representative, THEN LEAVE.

In the Go-Spot-Check App there are questions about this. Answer them honestly, if refused, take the pictures the APP asks for, then walk away, go home, you did what was required.

Point of order...

For this one we actually are apparently "representing" the toy company. We're supposed to show their business card when we arrive. Yeah, it's weird af.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2025 02:35PM by weatherman2111.

I often use the phrase "I am here on behalf of so&so" in many of my revealed jobs. If a manager inquires further, I explain that so&so hired a company that I do different types of work for.

It might have already been stated but Daniel fom CI, who reads these boards is the most responsible exective of any MSC company you'd ever see. Reach out to him.

I didn't want to read the whole thread. Sorry

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2025 08:00AM by wrosie.

Send an email to your scheduler and cc the project manager. If no response after 24hrs, call them, somebody will get you to the right person . No response then add detailed comments to the shop. Never go cause a client called you , never give your personal phone number, never work for NO pay. But ALWAYS add detailed comment.

weatherman, I did one of the toy company things, they just asked if I already had a CI lanyard and ID, and I said that I do.. I don't know where any of them are.. but I still have them.

@Morledzep wrote:

weatherman, I did one of the toy company things, they just asked if I already had a CI lanyard and ID, and I said that I do.. I don't know where any of them are.. but I still have them.

I do the same thing. I don't think it realy matters but we are technically there on behalf of the toy company.

I keep saying I want a new one and no dice yet.

@weatherman2111 wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Madi,

It seems as if you're trying to make Independent Contractor jobs into something they aren't. You are agreeing to do a SPECIFIC job, one time, at a pre-determined time, for a specific amount of money. You are absolutely NOT being asked to work as a company representative for either the toy company or CI. In the guidelines for your job, it tells you exactly what you should be doing, and NOT doing, on the SINGLE visit that you signed up for. CI, and/or the toy company, will not appreciate, nor will they pay you, nor will you earn any "brownie points" for doing anything outside of the specific job that you agreed to do.

Please READ THE GUIDELINES. And if you have any questions about the guidelines, and what you should or shouldn't do, email your scheduler, and/or the program manager. NEVER give any business that you do merchandizing at your personal information other than your name when you give them the LOA. If the managers at the store question the LOA, encourage them to read it and contact their company representative, THEN LEAVE.

In the Go-Spot-Check App there are questions about this. Answer them honestly, if refused, take the pictures the APP asks for, then walk away, go home, you did what was required.

Point of order...

For this one we actually are apparently "representing" the toy company. We're supposed to show their business card when we arrive. Yeah, it's weird af.

Even though we are representing the stuffed animal company, I still make it clear that I am a merchandiser only.