I'm confused.. maybe permanently. I don't understand why folks come here and ask why some MSC or another hasn't posted the shops they are looking for even before the new cycle is supposed to start. I know that we have a few schedulers who participate in the forums, but as I understand it, they are IC's just like we are. So I don't really expect them to be able to answer questions that we don't know the answers to either.

"Why didn't the restaurant shops that I like to do get posted on Jan 1?" "Why aren't there any jobs posted on this company's website today?"

The shops I do regularly have specific rounds, some are 28 days, and I know what those days are. Some are monthly, and I know that too. Some are quarterly, or only during certain times of the year. I expect newbies to ask a bunch of questions, and that's fine. But if you've been doing a certain shop that you want to do more of, and they aren't posted when you expect them to be, this forum probably doesn't know why they aren't posted either.

I do offer information now and then, but it's mostly to counter incorrect info that others have posted. Or to answer specific questions that don't impact my income or help other folks compete for the jobs that I want to do.

The one thing that I found beneficial and concrete are the emails and communications that melg posts from the California scheduler about the Kroger program. I think sometimes I'm only seeing that information here or is going to be a precursor of what's to later arrive. In terms of information, that's the one thing I've been consistently gleaning from here.

Okie, It would be nice if we could get all of the same information that the CA Kroger shoppers get. But that is an individual scheduler thing. Apparently our schedulers don't think we need that info ahead of time, or sometimes at all.

Honestly all of posts about 5Gs new requirements, over and over and over.. And the folks that want to know why the cell phone shops aren't posted (x3) are what seems to have gotten under my skin today..

I take it as a combination of questions, clarification, and venting. If I didn't come across some of these threads, I would have missed the grill slip/receipt requirement too.

I am intrigued about this Kroger program. I am in central California and there are very infrequent offers for this, so wondering if this is mainly a SoCal program? I also meant to ask what is Wa-Wa? Some of you refer to the shops but I do not know what that is.

@big_sky_thunder wrote:

I am intrigued about this Kroger program. I am in central California and there are very infrequent offers for this, so wondering if this is mainly a SoCal program? I also meant to ask what is Wa-Wa? Some of you refer to the shops but I do not know what that is.

WAWA as I understand it, is a gas station, similar to Quick Trip or Circle K. I can't honestly say that I've ever seen one, I think they are in the midwest or possibly the Frozen NorthEast coast. The Kroger program is grocery shops, they are on a 28 day rotation, and if you aren't online when they are released it's likely you will not get any shops at all. I was under the impression that there just aren't a lot of Kroger owned stores in Central and Northern CA. I thought Safeway (Albertsons) took over Northern CA and the Bay Area. I remember a Lucky's store in the bay area long after Albertsons bought them out. I thought it was great and I wished I had brought an ice chest from home to stock up on pork (I was there for a 49er game at Candlestick).

I agree. Most of the conversations on the board are trite and pointless. I have considered getting off because so few of the posts actually have value, but sometimes, there are a good ones. I think I mostly also stay on to correct bad information and assist, as I don't often ask questions.

I think most people aren't really going to give up their best tips and secrets.

I think it is annoying when people post things about mystery shopping companies but haven't even tried contacting the company first.

It also seems like I take time to steer someone in the right direction, and then they don't even come back to read it, or at least don't show appreciation for the information.

It's also silly when people say there are no more shops for a certain client or ask where they have all gone and don't bother looking at areas other than there home area to see if there are still shops.

This goes for other forums as well, but I find it frustrating when people ask a question about something specific, and then people just post responses saying "Just do it this way", "I do it this way", "Just use this", etc. when it is not the same, and often the people replying don't even understand what is being asked.

It can sometimes be nice to get a perspective on what a particular shop is like before doing it.

It is nice when there is a legitimate pay issue with a company, such as Red Quanta a few years ago, to have this forum.

JimmyP opines--I think most people aren't really going to give up their best tips and secrets.

Bob comments--To my mind, MOST connotes a majority and that may be accurate. It is similar to sharing info concerning specific shops. Some folks view an inquirer as competition and are unwilling to aid a rival for work.

My situation is completely different. Were I in need, though, I might be inclined to ignore certain requests.

I don't know. Maybe, I felt one way or another at some earlier point. But these forums are open discussion and very rarely moderated. Various opinions and perspectives. There is the beauty in that. The more, the merrier!

In line with what @JimmyP states, I also get annoyed when someone asks a specific question and one of the first replies says something like: "I don't know..."

Sometimes, I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I don't. I don't know! Do I look like the MSC/client?!

I am guessing people have the right to post what they want; just as you did with this irrelevant question. If I don't want to read a post that I think is stupid, I don't open it and read it. I just move along to what I find is interesting. This is a "mixed" forum; just as there are questions as, "What did you do and eat today", there are questions concerning when jobs are posted.

You're going to find this everywhere, all over the online world. People who don't approach the same way. Yes, it's often frustrating, but it's the price of admission. Also, pure laziness or insensitivity.

I begrudgingly accept that whenever I ask a question (not usually here) but in other forums, maybe 3/4 of the answers won't even have anything to do with my question...I guess people love to see their own words in writing? even if rude? unhelpful? self serving?

With all its faults, this forum is brilliant when compared to Facebook groups of broad interest. Be happy.