In most cases, your schedulers at the various mystery shopping providers you have signed up to work with will be your main business contact as a mystery shopper. In the mystery shopping world, a scheduler is very much like your manager would be at a regular job. A scheduler, will analyze your job performance, and can adjust your shopper rating. By doing this, a scheduler can affect your ability to get future jobs from that provider, and can play a big part in how much money you can earn as a mystery shopper. A scheduler has a lot of power in the mystery shopping world, so you definitely want a scheduler to like you.
But there are times over the course of every mystery shopper’s career when an issue arises and you need to contact your scheduler. How do you best approach the scheduler without coming across as bothersome or demanding?
Know Your Goal. There are dozens of times over the course of a mystery shopper’s career when a mystery shopper has some complaints and gripes, and it is incredibly tempting to shoot your schedule a nasty email or leave them an angry voice message. However, there is very little that can be accomplished when your goal is simply to gripe. In fact, it is altogether likely that when you contact your scheduler with the mere intent of letting them know how you feel about something that you will leave a bad impression that will stay with the scheduler for months and even years to come. However, if you have a legitimate complaint that has a feasible solution, let your scheduler know about your complaint and the intended outcome. Ideally, you will contact your scheduler with a goal in mind when you present a complaint, rather than just call to complain.
Present The Facts. When you have a complaint, you may see the issue clearly in your head. However, your scheduler, sitting at his or her desk, has a million other issues going on and likely doesn’t know the first thing about your issue. Keep this in mind when you approach your scheduler with an issue. Lay out the facts about your issue in a clear and concise way. Some people are better at doing this verbally while others are better writing down the facts in an email. Select the method of communication that you are best at in presenting the facts. However, even when you opt for a phone call, you should still follow up your phone call in writing so you have written documentation of your problem if the issue escalates further. When you present the facts clearly, along with the intended outcome, your scheduler will be better able to see your issue and more likely to work with you towards the outcome you have in mind.
A Professional Approach. When an issue escalates, especially when there is money at stake, emotions can run high. However, often when one person pushes an issue emotionally, the other person involved in the issue will pull back. The result often is not one that either party is satisfied with, and both parties may end up with resentful feelings and negative opinions of each other. As with every other business matter, a professional approach that leaves emotions behind will yield the best results in most cases.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you want to pick up the phone or shoot off an email and contact your scheduler about an issue.
Hi,
I am wondering why I am being sent this email. I did not write anyone and complain and I have never done anything like that ever! I may have wrote something in defense of something I had written in the past and why but never disrespectfully or in an angry way. What I just did was answer an email that offered a potential job and it came to me like I had never seen before, with an attachment of some kind, and it made me nervous that possibly it did not get back to whom it came from after I filled it out. So, I sent, or should I say I tried to send it again the next day because I still hadn’t heard back. Other than that, that’s what I did. Was that the reason I was sent this email? I don’t think I have ever been accused of as being a pest and I sure was nothing but excited about the offer. I just had no way of knowing if it was received or not and unless this is connected with what I just wrote you, I still don’t know. Thank You, Jeannine
This is to Jeannine, You may be jumping the gun a little. I’m still a rookie at this shopping bit, just 6 months, and 3 stores I already used. When I started back in December, (I originally signed with a couple of sites months before, but I was too scared to pull the trigger and do a shop!), my scheduler gave me a recommendation of 9 other companies, and 3-4 other learning places, including this “MysteryShopMavin” site to learn from. And I do admit that this Joan does send out a lot of stuff, but the thing is, I do learn from her, and it helped get over the jitters. You may have joined this site yourself, or a company that you joined may have the site for you to be a better shopper. In your comment, about a job offer, with an attachment, I check every site to see if it is a scam. You should do the same before you open ANY attachment. I get a lot of offers on how I can make $150, if I go to a store and cash a check for them! No Thanks! Regards, Ed B
I jut read your comment about watching out for check fraud. I have not been doing serious Mystery shopping since the first of the year. This is what got me into my interest in Mystery Shopping today. I had put in applications a few years ago. Got a couple jobs. And it just sort of vanished. That’s why at first I was not leery about the check I received in the mail. I just thought one of my old applications had surf used. And the fact that. I really need money at the time. Luckily I was smart enough to take it to my bank. Before I deposited or cashed it. But there was something about it that just did not seem right. The cashiers check was for $4500,00. And the letter told me to put it in my bank. And believing a cashiers check is a guarantee that it is good. Got me hoping it was real. But like I said it just didn’t seem right. Those of you who don’t listen to that little voice inside you that screams. Don’t do it .It sounds to good to be true. Please awaken that little voice. And at least look into things a little better.I was lucky. I didn’t do what the letter told me to.I was to put the check in my bank account. And Western Union all but $250.00. Back to them. I didn’t want that much money in my checking account. So I took it to the bank . I figured if it was good they would cash it. Well it was a fraud and the bank said if I would have put it in the bank and send them over $4000.00. Like I said if you receive a check that seems to be good to be true. It probably is. So at least don.t be in a hurry to put it in the bank. Give them the chance to check it out. If it is truly a good check. The money will be there tomorrow. And you won’t end up all the money in the hole. And owing the bank a fortune. The funny thing I got a similar check in the mail about 3 months late for the same amount. But this time it was for a lottery. Good luck in your shopping Donna Gauthier
I am writing to comment on the importance of handling a complaint to your scheduler. It has happenend to me in the past. I had a permanent assignment at a certain store, when I went to login the vendor book, I noticed someone had signed in from the same company on a day later that I had completed my assignment. I politely called the company and let them know that she or he had reset my whole display. I had to do it all over the next Monday. The scheduler stated ” it could have been a new mystery shopper” I thorough understood. Just Remember everyone we all were there once until you learn the ropes of the trade, be kind to new mystery shoppers. It is true it can also effect both shoppers, new and old. Go Shoppers!!
I have folders of each company I’m signed with. I have been “shopping” for 10 years. Never pay to sign with a company and keep track of shops you have not been paid for. There are very few companies who don’t use Paypal and that’s the best way to get paid. I wish the shops did pay $4500. Wow!!!
have any of you ever had a shop rejected that involved the purchase of a good/service that was not of your choosing where you assumed that purchase was an “exspense” and you would be reimbursed for that expense even if you were not getting the shop fee? For example if the shop involved the ordering of photocopies of a designated document? I’m contesting with a scheduler a shop that was rejected and I’m being told I am out both the shop fee AND the cost of the copies!!!! I’m willing to forego the shop fee because I did make a mistake in the copy order but I was completely honest in my report and this scheduler had contacted me because she was in a jam and needed this shop done quickly. How come it seems absolutely unfair that I am now finding myself over $50 poorer because of a small mistake that I made when I was only trying to help out this scheduler? I had no intention of signing up for this shop before she contacted me. This is a legitimate company who I have shopped for before and been paid for my past shops. This is the FIRST time I have had a shop rejected. It seems interesting that a shop with a $50 expense and a bonus being paid on the shope (she agreed to pay me $12) is being rejected. How do I know she is not submitting the shop and the expense and keeping the money which would be illeagal according to my friend who is an attorney regardless of any agreement I may have signed because a contract is NOT valid if no “consideration” is given. Consideration is typically money or something of value – and in this case these copies have no value to me and do not qualify as legitimate consideration. Any recomendations on what I should do? I’ve written two what I feel to be nicely worded emails admitting my mistake and asking only for reimbursment for the copies. All I get back is “your shop was rejected and you will not be paid” in response to my first email and no response to my second email which I sent three days ago. I’m tempted to call their client and hunt down who is in charge of their shopping program to let them know what is going on and request reimbursement. After all if I am not reimbursed not only will I not ever shop for this company again – I will never take my BUSINESS to this store again, and my anual business at this particular store is much more than $50.
I had worked with Marketforce for 3 years without incident until I recently had a gallbladder attack and was back and forth between the Dr. and hospital. There was no dealing with my scheduler as one can only communicate by website messaqeing. Phone messages never are answered. I was dropped because I could not make my visit and there is nothing in place for any one to sub. Be cautious about taking a “permanent” assignment because it gives you no leeway as to emergencies.
I have learned that working with your schedular can help in many ways. You can save fuel by grouping shops in the same area. You can schedule by categories and time required to do shops and complete reports.
Ann, you don’t get paid anything if you don’t do the job properly, because you made a mistake they would have had to pay another shopper to go and do it and reimburse their purchase and pay their fee. The company has not benefitted from you doing the shop as they can’t use your report, they’re not going to reimburse you for that.
What you are suggesting is that the company should reimburse your $50, plus reimburse $50 to the shopper who did it correctly after you, plus pay the fee to the other shopper. Why should the company have to pay out an extra $50 because you made a mistake?