How to proceed when scheduler is difficult about removing a shop?

I signed up for a shop that in the guidelines says a gift card purchase is required. The shop information listed all of the items required for purchase, but gift card was not listed. I immediately read the guidelines after self assigning and saw this requirement, so I then messaged the scheduler requesting to be removed because I do not want to purchase a gift card. The scheduler is giving me a hard time stating that I can gift the card to someone. Per the assignment email, it states to email the scheduler immediately to have the shop reassigned if I cannot complete, which I did. What do you do if they refuse to remove the assignment? I have a shopper rating of 10 so I do not flake, but I would have never signed up for the shop if I knew this in advance. I do not live close to this assignment and do not want to hold onto a gift card I most likely will never use and I do not know anyone who would use it.

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How much work do you do for this MSC? Is this scheduler Terminator Bob's favorite "The Nikster?" Why are you so worried about telling the scheduler you are not going to do the shop? It's on them to remove it. They can either remove it early or wait until you do not do the shop and then have to find someone else.

I have done some shops I did not want to do because of the relationship I have with the scheduler. It's kinda like "i'll suck it up and do it for you this time" mentality. But I know it's beneficial in the long term to just do it.

I think you tell the scheduler what you told us. I would word it like this:

Thank you, XXX, for your prompt reply. I appreciate your suggestion that I could gift the gift card to someone, however, I do not know anybody who would use it as this business is not nearby. Unfortunately the assignment email did not list the gift card as a required purchase. Had it done so, I would not have accepted the shop. I wanted to ensure this shop was made available to other shoppers and that you have ample time to refill it, which is why I promptly emailed you after realizing the additional purchase. I would appreciate you removing this shop from my shop log. Please accept my apology for the inconvenience. Sincerely, dafizisblue

You cannot control the scheduler's reaction or whether they ban you from doing shops for them. Hopefully, they don't. Only you can consider what is worth risking, and the right decision for you may not be the right decision for someone else. These type of things do happen from time to time, so personally I do not consider this a flake as you did promptly reach out after seeing the extra purchase. The scheduler is doing what they are supposed to do, which is to try to keep a shopper on a job. Nothing wrong with that either.

Edit to add I do agree with @hbbigdaddy's post.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2025 07:34AM by ServiceAward.

I get the impression that this has occurred before, which is why the gift card requirement was not included in the shop description and why I am given a hard time for wanting to decline the shop after reading the guidelines. However, I feel that I deserve the right to do that considering that not all the information is laid out in the shop description. For example, there are numerous pictures that I have to take as well so that could be a determining factor and it should not be counted against me if I choose not to proceed, especially since I emailed promptly and the shop is not scheduled until next week.

If you wanted to assign the shop otherwise and the gift card is going to be reimbursed, why is this an issue? I understand what you are saying, but it seems like that would be a value added to me (if I had elected to shop at the location in the first place). I am going to edit this....so the reason is the gift card purchase in addition to the multiple photos that you did not know about prior? Does this shop happen to be at a food truck?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2025 01:58PM by gigishopper.

@gigishopper wrote:

If you wanted to assign the shop otherwise and the gift card is going to be reimbursed, why is this an issue? I understand what you are saying, but it seems like that would be a value added to me (if I had elected to shop at the location in the first place). I am going to edit this....so the reason is the gift card purchase in addition to the multiple photos that you did not know about prior? Does this shop happen to be at a food truck?

Not a food truck. I am not interested in purchasing gift cards even if reimbursed. Just my own policy. I avoid any shops with gift card purchases. Not interested. And I feel like that should be my choice.

You could always sell the gift card and increase your profit a bit more if it’s fully reimbursed.

I would just say after reading the guidelines, which I could not see before self-assigning, I see this shop is not for me. Please unassign. I will not be completing it. Thank you. Period.

I agree with @mystery2me .
I would make a brief definate statement of why I'm not completing the assignment.
And if I can cancel it on the website, I would also do that.

Sell it, regift it, use it...I will never turn down a reimbursed gift card!

@Snuffycuts99 wrote:

You could always sell the gift card and increase your profit a bit more if it’s fully reimbursed.

@dafizisblue should be able to shop how he/she wants even if it doesn't make sense to others.

I'm curious about this "policy." Is it based on logic or emotion? @dafizisblue are you willing to explain the reason you despise purchasing gift cards so much?

I can think of a chicken fast food shop in Southern California that caters mostly to Hispanics and it's NOT the 3 letter crazy chicken place. This place is Guatemalan-origin. Anyways, the shops do not require you to buy a GC while on the shop, but they have multiple scenarios for their shops. Besides the walk-in/dine-in, they have drive-thru. Then they also want people to pay with a GC because they are testing their employees to see if they can redeem it. So if you assign a scenario that requires GC purchase, you purchase the GC ahead of time and use it on your shop as the form of payment.

Going back to your shop, If you are getting reimbursed for the gift card anyways, why not hand it to another customer and tell them here's something for your next visit. It shouldn't really make a difference.

When I see a job that will fit into one or more of my categories and sounds interesting, but is one of which I am ignorant, I self assign/apply for a single shop. Unless I am unqualified or have been misled, I will complete ONE and then decide whether to continue or move on to other work.

A single unqualified comes to mind; it was for Coyle. After reading what I would be required to recall, I mailed the scheduler, who thanked me for my candor; I was in my late 60s.

I'm with daf! I hate gift cards. For me, they're a potential money waster. If it never gets used or a small balance is left when the card is disposed of (which many people do) the corporation gets money for nothing. Free profit. As a gift, IMO, it's just rude. Give cash and the recipient can spend it how and when they please. Cash is just as impersonal as a GC. If one wants to give a more personal present then one should spend the time to locate and obtain a meaningful gift.

@sestrahelena,

How is it a money waster if you are being reimbursed for purchasing it?

I do agree the gift card thing is a "weak" gift, but it's also more efficient. Some grandmother trying to buy her teenage grandchild something they think might be cool and is not cool just makes the person getting the gift have the hassle of returning it for something else. My mom will now get amazon gift cards or something like that to not have to have the hassle of returning unwanted or non-fitting items.

Why not just RAOK it to someone before you leave. Im sure a random stranger would be tickled. Or give it back to the server and tell them to apply it to somones bill.

The other idea is to sell the gift card online if you do not want it. If you have been reimbursed for it, flip that thing and make a little more money. I don't know what store you have, but unless it is a local place, look the store and value of the gift card up on [www.cardcash.com] and see how much you can get for it.

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How to proceed when scheduler is difficult about removing a shop?

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