I received a mass e-mail about an shop I wanted to do... I read the guidelines that were in the email and there were dates that were good for me.. I was able to self assign. However, when I read the guidelines, they were a little different.

Guidelines in email

Shop Comments:


**Required Purchased: 1 drink, appetizer, entree, dessert/coffee (optional, if offered)

When I saw the word drink I thought it meant tea or soft drink. But the guidelines say different things.


Page 1 of the guidelines

Shop Requirements Order a drink, appetizer and entree (Coffee/dessert only if offered)
Other Information
● 1 Alcoholic beverage per person. ● you may take a guest ● If you are assigned a “bar” dine-in shop, please request to sit at the bar to complete your shop.

This was not mentioned in the mass email..

Page 2 of the guidelines

-If ordering an alcoholic beverage - Limit 1 per person (if limit is exceeded, shop will be REJECTED)

If does that mean that an Alcoholic drink is optional?


Page 3

e. Drink, App and Entrée. i. drink - does not have to be alcohol (If ordering alcohol, LIMIT 1 alcoholic beverage per person. SIGNATURE cocktail or DRAFT beer. (Bottled beer is NOT acceptable) .



2 places it says no alcohol and one place it does,,,


The guidelines are a little confusing.. When I e-mail the scheduler asking about it. she said that I do not need to order a Alcoholic drink . Then she e-mail me an day later saying that I need to order one.

I explained to her that I do not do alcohol drinks and asked if she could remove it with out effecting my score.. She removed it and she said that she was very sorry about that.

I am glad that she was able to remove it with out any problems... If the mass email said one Alcoholic drink then I would have not applied for this shop.

I know this has been discussed before here, but the guidelines were a little confusing

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2021 01:52AM by Isaiah4031a.

100% contradictory is not a "little confusing".

I once did a gas station audit where the very first line of the instructions was to use the brand's app to purchase gas.

The second line was be sure and NOT use the brand's app for the gas purchase or the shop would be rejected!

Who is paid specifically to write such contradictory nonsense? It almost lends itself to the conspiracy theorists who posit MSCs deliberately use shoppers' reports but not paying the shopper for failure to follow the guidelines!

Edited to add: Thank goodness you asked for clarification before embarking on this assignment!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2021 03:11AM by ceasesmith.

It is terrible that guidelines are often contradictory and confusing but in actuality the email you got has a lot more info about the job than most I get. Many tell you almost nothing. And regarding the confusing directions I would have read that to mean they have several different scenarios depending on if you are doing lunch vs dinner vs brunch or a bar visit. Many companies seem to have a one guideline fits all approach and leave it up to the shopper to figure out which parts are for your shop and which for some other timeframe.

I would think that since we are usually paid on a very low pay scale those who write the guidelines are paid similarly. So they end up with some guidelines writers who are overqualified per the pay scale and others who are paid appropriately for their level of expertise!

It was a dinner shop in the dining room.
'
Also the main email say to visit at dinner time.. But it did not say 4 PM to 1 hour before close or 5 PM to 1 hour before close... I was going to visit after work. I know most shops I have done and to visit after 4 PM and other shops I have done to visit after 5 PM... I also asked about that and she said 5 PM..

Hopefully they will have a carry out shop or dine in shop w-out the alcoholic drink purchase.

I am glad I asked also.

To me, the guidelines are not confusing. It is saying you must order a drink but the drink does not have to be alcoholic. However, if you choose to order alcohol, you are limited to only one alcoholic drink. So, examples of what you may order are: an iced tea, a beer, a cocktail, but not two beers or a beer and a cocktail.

The scheduler's response that you must order alcohol contradicts the guidelines.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

To me, the guidelines are not confusing. It is saying you must order a drink but the drink does not have to be alcoholic. However, if you choose to order alcohol, you are limited to only one alcoholic drink. So, examples of what you may order are: an iced tea, a beer, a cocktail, but not two beers or a beer and a cocktail.

The scheduler's response that you must order alcohol contradicts the guidelines.

Yes, this is how I interpreted it too!

Also, just because you have to order it doesn't mean you have to drink it. You can order a soft drink also.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2021 03:08PM by foodluvr.

isaiah typed or pasted--Required Purchased: 1 drink, appetizer, entree, dessert/coffee (optional, if offered)

Bob comments--I am relatively certain I know which shop is being referenced. The job conditions may be different in other areas, but in SW Ohio and CE Indiana an appetizer is definitely NOT required..

YOu are overthinking

When contradictions happen I go with my gut, especially if they’re not known for getting back quickly. You could always highlight the part that proved your point. Then again, I’ve been lucky to always be accepted *knock on wood* so far and get paid.

Rho also comments
In Northern Illinois an appetizer is required.

I did not want to spend xxx amount on an nasty beer and it did not get drank.. Then the server takes takes it off the tab and then I don't get paid at all by the MSC since I did not order a nasty beer

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2021 12:35PM by Isaiah4031a.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who reads every word of the guidelines. When I've pointed out the discrepancies, I also throw in for good measure, you hold the shoppers to a very high standard for accuracy. I expect the same from the MSC. I've called basic typo's in the client names in emails, statement of new or raised fees - when the fee hasn't changed, my favorite was the statement the effect if I follow the guidelines I won't be reimbursed; somebody didn't understand double negatives and a missing verb (that one got a oh, we're really busy type of response).

I've ruffled some feathers with that, but it is 100% true. We read the conflicting guidance, do what we think is right in order to make their imposed timelines and get penalized with absolutely no accountability at the MSC. It is very evident absolutely nobody proof reads what is sent out; if I were the client and saw those basic errors, I would challenge the entire program's validity; it's the proverbial "what else is wrong and how valid are the results". The MSC's are great at transferring 100% of the risk to the shopper!

Try doing an electronics box store audit that the MSC has been doing for years - the guidelines are BAD to say the least; they weren't written for somebody new, they were written incrementally by multiple people who assume the reader is a mind-reader. I called the help line several times because I didn't want to risk the high dollar shop fee.

In fact I received another mass a couple of days later about a bar shop at the same restaurant.. I read the e-mail and the guidelines in the e-mail said the same thing!!

**Required Purchased: 1 drink, appetizer, entree, dessert/coffee (optional, if offered)

When I saw it was a bar shop, I figured you have to order a alcoholic drink.. How hard is to add alcoholic drink to the mass email guidelines?????

I have done many bar shops where a drink was required and I ordered only non-alcoholic drinks. I always got paid. When a shop (bar or otherwise) requires ordering alcohol, I do so.

People often sit at the bar or in a bar lounge to grab a quick bite when there is a long wait for a dining room table.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

In fact I received another mass a couple of days later about a bar shop at the same restaurant.. I read the e-mail and the guidelines in the e-mail said the same thing!!

**Required Purchased: 1 drink, appetizer, entree, dessert/coffee (optional, if offered)

When I saw it was a bar shop, I figured you have to order a alcoholic drink.. How hard is to add alcoholic drink to the mass email guidelines?????

I had one this morning with contradictory information in the guidelines and questionnaire. I checked in with the scheduler to clarify. He got right back with me very quickly, so I knew exactly what was expected. Although it is not always possible, it is a lot easier nipped in the bud on the front end, as opposed to when you are filling out your report.

GinnyLynnn-- Glad that he was able to get back with you very quickly. My scheduler also got back to me very quickly.

I like when schedulers get back with shopper very quickly.

Welcome to the boards

I went to a location and it wasn't there I confirmed with a resident, a merchant and the police department. I emailed the scheduler this and was emailed back politely and quickly that the wrong name was put on the survey but I would be paid anyway. Really? How can they NOT pay me when they give incorrect information to start.
The location name has now been rectified.

I don't understand the "Really?" part of your post.

MSCs sometimes make mistakes and those mistakes make it impossible for shoppers to complete shops successfully. Shoppers have certainly complained about MSCs that don't pay or don't pay the full fees for such botched shops. Some MSCs eventually pay but don't bother to make it clear to the shoppers that the MSCs will pay. Other MSCs eventually pay but not the full shopper fee.

Your scheduler/MSC made a mistake but the scheduler "politely and quickly" responded, admitted the mistake, and assured you that you would be paid. The scheduler did the right thing. How else did you want the scheduler to respond?.

@big_sky_thunder wrote:

I went to a location and it wasn't there I confirmed with a resident, a merchant and the police department. I emailed the scheduler this and was emailed back politely and quickly that the wrong name was put on the survey but I would be paid anyway. Really? How can they NOT pay me when they give incorrect information to start.
The location name has now been rectified.

When I read Big Sky Thunders post I just assumed as a shopper Big Sky did the same thing that this thread asserts is an issue with guideline writers. Big Sky either made a typo and said they would be paid anyway instead of they would not be paid or since Big Sky said "really" Big sky misread the email as sent. Big Sky, please reread your post and tell us why you are upset that you are getting paid anyway.
We are all human and sometimes get so embroiled in what we are doing, especially when rushed, that we make errors. However, the msc in the case of this thread should have quickly corrected the guidelines once informed they were contradictory.
That being said I always assume a Bar Shop or a shop requiring a bar visit together with a sit down nice meal visit would very likely require an alcoholic drink. If one does not drink or want to buy alcohol I would recommend checking with the scheduler to see if non alcoholic is okay before accepting the shop. The emails are not in any way comprehensive. Many have varied issues they would like to know upfront such as can I bring my children, do I have to order alcohol, can I get to the restaurant after 8 PM due to work hours for my dinner shop, in my big city where parking can cost $6 for a short shop paying $10 will they reimburse me, do you really require me to give the same % tip on a carry out order as on a full service sit down at a table dinner, if you are diabetic (insert any restrictive diet) do i really need to order dessert, and most frequently for me...so what is short list of the entrees I am restricted to? Personally this one is important for me. I do not want to go to all the trouble of doing a shop somewhere that has items on the menu I actually would eat but I am not allowed to order once I accept the shop. I am not one to go to all that trouble for a very small fee unless I get to enjoy the meal. I like the msc's that allow you to click on and see the guidelines before accepting the shop but do not expect them to have every piece of info in the email.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

I don't understand the "Really?" part of your post.

MSCs sometimes make mistakes and those mistakes make it impossible for shoppers to complete shops successfully. Shoppers have certainly complained about MSCs that don't pay or don't pay the full fees for such botched shops. Some MSCs eventually pay but don't bother to make it clear to the shoppers that the MSCs will pay. Other MSCs eventually pay but not the full shopper fee.

Your scheduler/MSC made a mistake but the scheduler "politely and quickly" responded, admitted the mistake, and assured you that you would be paid. The scheduler did the right thing. How else did you want the scheduler to respond?.

@big_sky_thunder wrote:

I went to a location and it wasn't there I confirmed with a resident, a merchant and the police department. I emailed the scheduler this and was emailed back politely and quickly that the wrong name was put on the survey but I would be paid anyway. Really? How can they NOT pay me when they give incorrect information to start.
The location name has now been rectified.

I read B_S_T's post differently. I read their "really" as someone who couldn't believe anyone would/could conclude that B_S_T would not be paid. I read it as someone with an atitude of "Why did the scheduler even bother to say I would be paid? OF COURSE, I would be paid. You messed up. I didn't do anything wrong."

Thanks busybee for a different interpretation of really. Hmm, so easy to misinterpret what one says. You could very well be correct.

I'm currently in the midst of such a problem, and the editor not only refuses to send me anything in writing documenting what she says are the correct instructions, but is not responding to my emails! I did as the guidelines and survey instruct, but am being told that's not correct--but she won't send the right guidelines.

I unlike this but there is no unlike button.

@BirdyC wrote:

I'm currently in the midst of such a problem, and the editor not only refuses to send me anything in writing documenting what she says are the correct instructions, but is not responding to my emails! I did as the guidelines and survey instruct, but am being told that's not correct--but she won't send the right guidelines.

My initial reason for posting was to be another one supporting us in that guidelines are less than correct. I never thought of not being paid because I was given the incorrect information from the scheduler and apparently, even the client. There was no requirement to call ahead and I would never have thought to do that as I don't unless the guidelines state I must. It seems that since so much perfection is expected from shoppers, we could hope for at least that from schedulers, guidelines and surveys. That's all. I am not upset at being paid!

People have different interpretations and people also make mistakes. Just as it is unreasonable for some MSCs/schedulers/clients to expect shoppers to never make mistakes, it is also unreasonable for shoppers to expect the same from MSCs/schedulers/clients.

This is the real world. Mistakes happen. The important thing is how people deal with those mistakes.

If the MSC makes a mistake in the guidelines, fine--but they should correct it when it's brought to their attention, just as shoppers are expected to correct a mistake when they make one. A shopper should not be told that he or she made the mistake when the shopper followed the guidelines as written. And if the shopper requests the corrected instructions so that the shopper can perform the shop correctly, then I don't see why that should be a problem. The shopper should not simply be ignored and left to either make the same mistake again or do as "verbally" instructed, only to not be able to complete the survey correctly because the survey matches the incorrect guidelines and not the correct ones.

Is it too much to ask to have the correct guidelines?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2021 01:51AM by BirdyC.

@sandyf wrote:

I unlike this but there is no unlike button.

@BirdyC wrote:

I'm currently in the midst of such a problem, and the editor not only refuses to send me anything in writing documenting what she says are the correct instructions, but is not responding to my emails! I did as the guidelines and survey instruct, but am being told that's not correct--but she won't send the right guidelines.

I'm not sure why you had a problem with my post, but all you have to do to remove your "like" is to click on the "x" that appears next to your name in the "likes" list, and you have "unliked" it.

I had a problem, and luckily I had the name & email of one of MSC's senior execs. One email & it got fixed. The problem I see with some of the MSC's there is no clear way to escalate a problem with a scheduler or editor to someone who actually works for the MSC with skin in the game to get it done right. Every minute I'm dinking around with an uncooperative scheduler, is eating into my hourly rate; at some point you've got to cut bait. Maybe if we all started cutting bait with the problem children something might change (I have rose colored glasses on today, forgive me.

I had no issue with your post. I grieve for you having an issue all too common. I did not want to click like, not because I did not like your post but by clicking like it feels to me that I like the fact that you are having a problem. I do not like the fact that you are having a problem. Maybe instead of an unlike (i do not like your situation) there should be a button that simply says "in sympathy"

@BirdyC wrote:

@sandyf wrote:

I unlike this but there is no unlike button.

@BirdyC wrote:

I'm currently in the midst of such a problem, and the editor not only refuses to send me anything in writing documenting what she says are the correct instructions, but is not responding to my emails! I did as the guidelines and survey instruct, but am being told that's not correct--but she won't send the right guidelines.

I'm not sure why you had a problem with my post, but all you have to do to remove your "like" is to click on the "x" that appears next to your name in the "likes" list, and you have "unliked" it.

@sandyf wrote:

I had no issue with your post. I grieve for you having an issue all too common. I did not want to click like, not because I did not like your post but by clicking like it feels to me that I like the fact that you are having a problem. I do not like the fact that you are having a problem. Maybe instead of an unlike (i do not like your situation) there should be a button that simply says "in sympathy"

Oh, sorry! I misunderstood. Yes, I've often thought we should have some emoticons or other selections instead of just "like." In sympathy, I get it, understood, right there with you....