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In Memoriam: USPS Mystery Shops (????-2024)

April 08, 2024 01:37AM
@Cassiespark wrote:

Huh?

@gene wrote:

I think they will be back. The person still have such shop listed in her responcibilities and tests still set onmonthe board of tests.
My translation:

The project manager still has USPS listed as one of her projects, and the USPS regular box and hazmat certifications are still available in the list of certifications.

I wouldn't read anything into that other than the MSC just hasn't updated those areas of the portal yet.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2024 01:40AM by drdoggie00.
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April 09, 2024 09:09PM
As Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated". USPS has moved to a new MSC and will be resurrected.
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April 09, 2024 11:45PM
@Cassiespark wrote:

As Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated". USPS has moved to a new MSC and will be resurrected.
Cassie, how'd you find this out? And a hint on the MSC, please?

Score one for USPS for finally doing something right.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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April 09, 2024 11:56PM
The new MSC, who is plain in name, posted in a Facebook group that they had the shops this year, and that they would resume in late April.
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April 10, 2024 12:22AM
A naked wild animal, of sorts.
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April 10, 2024 01:36AM
@ServiceAward wrote:

A naked wild animal, of sorts.

On a secret platform.
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April 10, 2024 03:00AM
The clues were good to identify the company. However, I am lost on what the secret platform means??
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April 10, 2024 03:35AM
I answered my own questions. It just clicked. Not my fave!
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April 10, 2024 04:52PM
I had good experiences with the new MSC but that was years ago when they paid more. TBH, I'm elated that the most recent MSC lost (if that is, in fact, what happened) the contract. Those who give incomplete/erroneous instructions and quickly reject shops because of it have suddenly been rejected themselves. Maybe that's not how it happened but it makes me feel good to imagine the delicious irony.
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April 10, 2024 05:36PM
Of course, now the big question: how much are they going to lower the fee by. This type of move rarely works in our favor. Let's hope it at least stays constant.
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April 10, 2024 06:19PM
I see the hinted at new company is hiring right now. So that is also a good indication they are getting a new client.
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April 10, 2024 06:22PM
@KA047 wrote:

Of course, now the big question: how much are they going to lower the fee by. This type of move rarely works in our favor. Let's hope it at least stays constant.

That and the ease of entering the report. With the old company I had those reports down pat and they were getting faster at editing which meant quicker pay.
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April 10, 2024 10:20PM
@Capurato wrote:

That and the ease of entering the report. With the old company I had those reports down pat and they were getting faster at editing which meant quicker pay.


I have done quite a few shops on the forthcoming new platform. After a while it does become like riding a bike. It is a lot of clicking back and forth through sections.
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April 11, 2024 02:00AM
I'm happy these are coming back. I'm not happy with who the new MSC is, as I'm positive they will cut these down to less than $10 a shop, and they take over a month to pay. Boo. And, no, I don't have any inside info on the pay schedule, but they lowball everything so just educating guessing.
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April 11, 2024 02:07AM
Facing record inflation, our fees keep going down. Where is the equity in this profession?

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
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April 11, 2024 03:33AM
@Cassiespark wrote:

I'm happy these are coming back. I'm not happy with who the new MSC is, as I'm positive they will cut these down to less than $10 a shop, and they take over a month to pay. Boo. And, no, I don't have any inside info on the pay schedule, but they lowball everything so just educating guessing.

If they are any less than base for the old MSC, I won't be doing them until they are bonused.

I am holding off and optimistically believing they will pay at or better than the previous base rate.
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April 11, 2024 07:12AM
What is this other platform? It sounds like they will not be on the regular job site of the new company but a different platform. Can you access it by signing into the MSC the original way or is it an entirely different platform with a different sign on procedure?
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April 11, 2024 02:37PM
The current MSC sub contracted them to the Naked MSC. I recall when they switched back and that was in the explanation from the latter MSC.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
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April 11, 2024 04:12PM
@sandyf wrote:

What is this other platform? It sounds like they will not be on the regular job site of the new company but a different platform. Can you access it by signing into the MSC the original way or is it an entirely different platform with a different sign on procedure?

Roses are red, violets are blue
Maybe this clue will help you
EYE for eye, a world of retribution's gaze
I crave ANONYMITY, a walk through hidden ways
If you are confused, don't cry
Keep thinking, and go BUY

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2024 04:13PM by ServiceAward.
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April 11, 2024 08:21PM
ISS
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April 14, 2024 11:36PM
I noticed the box test is still up there in the drop down section of the app. I liked these shops,and hope they are back. They usually start each quarter so technically they are only 2 weeks off. Cindy H used to schedule alot of them for me pre Covid. Now that everything is automated there is no one to reach out to.
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April 16, 2024 02:35AM
Any idea on when the new MSC will begin posting these?
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April 16, 2024 03:02AM
Is it one of the top 10 MSC?
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April 16, 2024 03:06AM
Actually years before past MSC refer me to current one when they transferred such shops.

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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April 16, 2024 04:36AM
I may have you beat. I took the suggestion to ship to food banks. So I started shipping baking soda (exact weight). I did for about a year until the postal inspector contacted my parents and everyone I know then sought me down in person to be interrogated. Apparently the package kept leaking the baking soda and the fire department would be called to the food banks.
I felt like I was under arrest. They didn't believe me at all. I still worry anytime I fly now I'm on some terrorist list.
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April 16, 2024 04:43AM
@Want985 wrote:

I may have you beat. I took the suggestion to ship to food banks. So I started shipping baking soda (exact weight). I did for about a year until the postal inspector contacted my parents and everyone I know then sought me down in person to be interrogated. Apparently the package kept leaking the baking soda and the fire department would be called to the food banks.
I felt like I was under arrest. They didn't believe me at all. I still worry anytime I fly now I'm on some terrorist list.

Shipping a white, powdery substance during these times probably not a good idea. If I were going to do that, I would put the box of baking soda in a zip bag so if it did come open, it would be in the zip bag.
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April 16, 2024 01:47PM
That actualy was set up in the past.

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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April 16, 2024 09:00PM
Cindy H scheduled shops but for different company.

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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April 17, 2024 02:08AM
Still waiting for the shops. Paying for shipping sucks. :-)
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April 22, 2024 03:05AM
The post office shops took a break for about a year a few years ago. Hopefully, this is just another such break.
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