When/How Do You Negotiate A Bonus?

October 27, 2020 03:36PM

I think for the most part schedulers want to get their jobs filled and will do what it takes to make that happen. I ask for a bonus if I am going out of my way. If I get an email or see on the board that some shops in outlying areas are bonused, then I take them by creating a route to help more than one scheduler out. Some of those I take at no bonus since I will be in the area anyway. I send out an email to all the schedulers who I do regular work for and say "I am going to be in XYZ area on (date) and I can help you out with these cities, but I will only be in that area on (date)." I will also search boards of companies I do not do a lot of work for to build a good route. Add in a few gas station audits and your gas and snacks are paid for.

Schedulers remember shoppers who help out and sometimes I get a bonus without asking for one by doing a good job or helping out when needed.

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October 27, 2020 06:17PM

So I got a new one today. There are a few cell phone store jobs that need to be done by end of this month. This is a new contract for the MSC and they have been doing them for maybe 3 months now. There are 2 locations left in my state about an hour drive time for me with other work in the area I can pick up but need these 2 jobs 1st as anchor work.
This is where our story begins. They come out early in month at $10. I could have easily grabbed 5 of the locations for $20 each which is average price per these when with the prior MSC. New MSC says no bonus money at the time. We roll along mid month they move to $15. Same offer same no. Down to 2 locations that are not filling and they now up to $25. I offer to do $30 each as it is now end of month and they not worth it even at $30 but there is some other shops I can pick up to make trip worth it. New MSC says wait for it.......... No, We have never had to pay that much for those locations. This is their 3rd month doing them and you have rotation. In a few days when they desperate they will now be $50 a piece. They literally would not give a $5 bonus.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

October 27, 2020 07:01PM

@mmsackett wrote:

I send out an email to all the schedulers who I do regular work for and say "I am going to be in XYZ area on (date) and I can help you out with these cities, but I will only be in that area on (date)."

I think this is a good strategy that could benefit a lot of shoppers who don't already do it.

I don't shop enough to do it myself and have a limited radius (I don't like to - can't really, due to physical limitations - drive past 75 minutes any which way), but I can see how this would be helpful for long distance shoppers. I like the way it's worded with "help you out" too.

October 27, 2020 07:12PM

@BuffaloNY101 wrote:

This is their 3rd month doing them and you have rotation. In a few days when they desperate they will now be $50 a piece. They literally would not give a $5 bonus.

lol

I've seen that before. But, I have also seen one MSC genuinely stick by their pricing limitations (end of month goals be damned ...or maybe they don't have quotas the way their contracts are set up...not sure).

But, yeah, I can think of at least one that still says no to a small bonus all the time as the same job sits there for all eternity on the board.

October 28, 2020 12:53AM

Living in a rural area, every shop is "out of my way". The nearest shops to me are 45 miles away, and I often must drive 200 miles one way to make any real money. I request bonuses almost 100% of the time. The rare exception is if I believe the pay offered is already fair.

I do not work for food, coupons, or discounts. I work because I need the money.

October 28, 2020 06:21AM

Yeah, the rural "playbook" is quite different from other shopper experiences. No such thing as a "convenience" shop I bet.

On the other hand (I could be wrong), I'm guessing some locations just won't have much competition (b/c of how remote they are)?

Even where I live, which is a half million person sized city, if I go 30 minutes out, there are shops that just sit and rarely get picked up. They are in relatively isolated areas. One area is always good for a bonus.

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When/How Do You Negotiate A Bonus?

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