Hey Jacob,

Do you think we could create a Scheduler forum? I think it would be beneficial to both Shoppers and Schedulers

I would be interested in seeing a section for scheduler comments. An editor section might also provide interesting information.

I am in favor of this idea as well.

I support welcoming both schedulers and editors to the forum.

So do I.

I would consider doing this, but I would want to know that it would be active and full of schedulers before I started it. If you're a scheduler, and would participate in this, please let us know!

Count me in!!!

JacobJ Wrote:
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> I would consider doing this, but I would want to
> know that it would be active and full of
> schedulers before I started it. If you're a
> scheduler, and would participate in this, please
> let us know!

Many MSCs prohibit staff/schedulers from posting on any open forums. Just a thought.

I think as long as the client isn't being named, I don't see the issue. Schedulers have no place to make suggestions or vent about certain issues. I think it would be valuable to Shoppers to learn how things work and see a Scheduler's side of things.

While I support the idea of providing a scheduler - and perhaps an editor area as well - schedulers DO currently have a place to vent. There is a private area on Volition for schedulers which shoppers are unable to view. I am told much venting, along with warnings about particular rogue shoppers and kudos to good shoppers, goes on there. This has actually caused hard feelings with many, because, although schedulers have a forum that is limited to schedulers, shoppers do not that privacy in their forum. I am assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that any scheduler or editor area on this forum would be visble to all.

I view this primarily as a shopper board, although I certainly welcome schedulers and their comments. It was my impression from one of Jacob's Meta posts that this is his vision for the forum. I don't see a lot of benefit to encouraging schedulers to "vent" here. I would welcome positive scheduler comments or process input, but venting seems more appropriate with one's co-workers or families. I'm especially interested in hearing the perspective of shoppers who have begun to schedule. When a longtime shopper poster begins scheduling, I see major changes in their outlook and I find that interesting. But venting or lectures would seem offensive to me. JMHO.

AustinMom Wrote:
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> While I support the idea of providing a scheduler
> - and perhaps an editor area as well - schedulers
> DO currently have a place to vent. There is a
> private area on Volition for schedulers which
> shoppers are unable to view.

One problem with this; V-God picks and chooses which schedulers he allows on there.

Personally, my outlook has not changed since becoming a scheduler (in addition, I still mystery shop). My goal is to be a scheduler who can be as responsive and accessible to shoppers as possible. If a shopper has a question, I do my best to make myself available to shoppers; because, believe it or not, we're on the same team and our goals are similar.

I have a little more empathy with schedulers than I did before. The job is not easy, and it can be difficult and downright stressful, especially as deadlines approach. I have learned to embrace the stress and pressure and turn it into determination.

DanteScheduler Wrote:
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> One problem with this; V-God picks and chooses
> which schedulers he allows on there.
>

The selectivity problem on Volition is not limited to which schedulers can participate on the scheduler forum. The owner of Volition also limits the participation of many shoppers and others who wish to participate an all Volition forums. I have been registered with Volition for several years, although I rarely post, preferring this forum, and I have not been able to determine what the qualifying factors that might be used on Volition to allow one poster to be accepted and another rejected.

This is very true. I applied for an account on there two weeks ago and followed their rigid instructions but got emailed after a week saying it was declined without a specific reason. I don't have time for people, websites and the latter who jerk me around and waste my time. I really like it here and would love to post under my Scheduler account if there was a relevant place to do so.


DanteScheduler Wrote:
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> AustinMom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > While I support the idea of providing a
> scheduler
> > - and perhaps an editor area as well -
> schedulers
> > DO currently have a place to vent. There is a
> > private area on Volition for schedulers which
> > shoppers are unable to view.
>
> One problem with this; V-God picks and chooses
> which schedulers he allows on there.
>
> Personally, my outlook has not changed since
> becoming a scheduler (in addition, I still mystery
> shop). My goal is to be a scheduler who can be as
> responsive and accessible to shoppers as possible.
> If a shopper has a question, I do my best to make
> myself available to shoppers; because, believe it
> or not, we're on the same team and our goals are
> similar.
>
> I have a little more empathy with schedulers than
> I did before. The job is not easy, and it can be
> difficult and downright stressful, especially as
> deadlines approach. I have learned to embrace the
> stress and pressure and turn it into
> determination.

Dixie, do you really need a separate place to post? Can't you be just as relevant, if not more so, posting under your scheduler account in the "Shopping Discussion" and the "Shopping Company Discussion" areas?

In my opinion, you can have more impact as well as enjoy broader exposure in those two areas areas vs if you confined your scheduler comments to a separate area. In addition, if the section was titled "Schedulers", many shoppers, thinking it doesn't apply to them, might never visit.

Just my thoughts....

(heart)

I think for organizational purposes, yes. If I (or anyone else) start posting under the Shopper sections of the site then there will be complaints about the relevance (and extra work for Jacob).

I think there would be many Shoppers whose curiosity about what Schedulers/Editors say would lead them to take a peek every now and then. It's not like if this was implemented it would a private forum. I imagine it wouldn't anyway.

I don't think the schedulers need to vent here. But I would love them to help us understand what the mile walked in their shoes feels like, so we can learn to work with them better.

i wouldn't want a Scheduler board to be a place for us to bash them so they have to defend themselves, nor for them to rant about shoppers, except in an educational way. I would like to see more of a "I don't understand why schedulers do blah blah blah" and have some schedulers explain why they can't do some thing, or have to do some things, or are not allowed to explain some things. Or, "Shoppers, maybe you don't realize that when you do (X) it causes me to have to do (Y and Z)." Or, "Shoppers, you may not realize that in an average day I get 100 emails that require response or action of some kind, so it really helps me out if you can please read the shop instructions again and check your ICA for answers before shooting off an email asking for clarification of something you already have the answer to."

Some schedulers seem to like interaction with the shoppers, and others tend to ignore emails and not return calls. Maybe an idea of what their workload is would help us understand and be patient.

That would be my idea of how a Scheduler area might benefit us, to reduce misunderstandings and help us understand that schedulers are human too, and really want us to succeed because they can't if we don't. They aren't the enemy; they are our partners. We need each other.

I'd like to have more open communication with editors and schedulers but there are some problems with setting up forums for them. Many of them have been treated badly when they've posted on the forum. I've seen it written down here many, many times that this forum is for shoppers. We have an atmosphere here that says "not welcome". Many editors and schedulers will not be allowed to post here, and there's a good reason for that. Most of the time their efforts to join in are not welcomed and they suffer harsh criticism here from us and repercussions from their employers.

To have a successful effort in setting up sections for editors and schedulers, we would have to be more inclusive. It would have to be clearly stated that the Mystery Shop Forum is for all aspects of the business and that anyone involved at any level is welcome and is encouraged to post. Then, that would have to be instilled in the minds of forum members who believe this is for shoppers only. Those who state the forum is for shoppers only would have to have a change in mindset for this to work.

The problem with a shoppers only forum is that it is limited and destructive. In my opinion, we spend far too much time and effort on what is wrong with the editors, schedulers, and MSCs and not nearly enough time and effort on how we can improve our own performances. The tone of the forum discourages participation by others in the business, and because it does it limits the forum as to its potential scope and influence. That, in turn, diminishes its possibilities as a business venture.

As long as we maintain an attitude of us against them, we will accomplish little of real value to us.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2014 03:53PM by MDavisnowell.

I wonder if the magazine could expand its coverage to include interviews with schedulers as well as the CEOs of companies.

Is there any reason why the day to day activities of scheduler should be a state secret? I always like it when schedulers give us peeks into their world.

We're really in an odd employment relationship here. If a contractor is building a house for someone, generally at some point they meet with the builder or owner and have a conversation. If i work as an employee, I certainly know who my supervisor is.

Yet I work for 50 companies with multiple schedulers I've never met, sometimes (if they use initials) I don't know if they are male or female, I rarely talk to them on the phone, sometimes the scheduling job is outsourced to people in other countries who barely speak English; on the flip side, each scheduler may have hundreds of shoppers working for them, all of whom they've never met, they would have to look on the profile to know if they are male or female, they rarely talk to them on the phone. And then you can factor in that some schedulers work for multiple companies, giving them multiple bosses too.

We are thousands, working for hundreds, who have hundreds working for them, and who may work for several. It's a very odd "organizational chart." I would love to have a way to demystify it and get to know each other better.

However, many here post here with aliases, so as not to invite retribution for the rants and complaints that get posted. So probably not everyone would want to get to know a scheduler too closely for fear of being identified. On the other hand, maybe if we got to understand each other better there would be less need for rants and complaints.

I think a schedulers section would be great - not for bashing for education. I am interested in how schedulers work and what they are looking for in a shopper.

Dspeakes,

I really like the idea of having schedulers and editors interviewed for the magazine.

I agree.

Over many years, I have felt this forum was for shoppers. As such, I don't believe it has been limted or destructive. I do believe if the forum secludes schedulers, owners, editors, that would be destructive to the friendly environment created for shoppers.

teriraia Wrote:
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> I think a schedulers section would be great - not
> for bashing for education. I am interested in how
> schedulers work and what they are looking for in a
> shopper.


I feel similarly.. Now having gone from a Shopper to a Scheduler/Editor and Shopper, there are a lot of misconceptions about how a MSC works. I see it as something that could help Shoppers while giving Schedulers a place to talk about work that many don't understand. I would never ever post about a Shopper in a negative light as I feel it is extremely unprofessional. Some of you know and have seen me voice my opinion on that.

This is just a suggestion. I don't really foresee it being implemented but at the present time, I feel like I have no place to talk to Shoppers about my POV. I like the community here and feel comfortable enough to share.. Just maybe in a more appropriate place than the Shoppers section.