Have you ever had editors that gave you a hard time? wanna tell us about it?
I haven't had any for several years, but I did in my first couple of years of MSing.
One I've already written about here about shopping a high end hotel and how awful that editor was. I won't write it again, don't want to bore you lol.

Another were a couple of editors from one MSC frequently discussed here.
I used to shop a particular fast casual chain for them...all shops used the same set of guidelines
but each editor interpreted them differently and tried to mark me down for items their previous editor had approved. I finally gave up and suggested that the 3 of them get together and decide what they wanted, once and for all.
Another time I did a bar shop for another MSC frequently discussed here..3 weeks later it was finally reviewed. Editor came back with several requirements not specifically called out and wanted me to return to the bar and do it over - within 24 hours. I just said no.
Another one - not really a hard time, but kind of amusing looking back...was my 3rd or 4th shop and I was new at this and it was at a restaurant. My mistake - I took a note that the server did not write down our order, when I meant to say she did. Editor then emails me a photo of me and my friend ordering, with the server writing it down. She asked? "is that you?" Ooopsie...sorry. It was after that, that I questioned why they need reports, when they've got surveillance video anyway lol.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2025 11:50PM by BarefootBliss.

Not mentioning any names, or anything specific. But I deal with an editor who changes the definitions of the pictures and where they belong in the report almost every time. And every time she does this, and sends my shop back to me she deducts 3 points. One picture will belong to a certain question this time, and next time that same picture will belong to a different question. One time I got upset and sent her all of the pics from my shop and told her to put them where she thought they belonged. She hasn't been as picky since then.

Last year, I had one editor that would score me whatever score I gave on my report. If I scored the store an 8, I received an 8. If I scored them a 10, I got a 10. It finally stopped after contacting the scheduler.

Several yrs. ago, an editor with Ardent services, it was for their major client, inadvertently returned my report. She/he had completely changed what I had submitted into a Dick, Jane & Spot tale. As I was aware that action was their prerogative, I exercised mine and never again applied for work.

I thought about it. The only real hard time I've experienced from an editor was when I was asked to re-do some narratives on a report. Before then, having done primarily basic and straightforward shops that were light on narrative, I was still getting used to shops that required narrative, at the time.

The editor reached out to me, directly. We had a productive conversation. The editor gave me positive, critical, and honest feedback, along with concerns from the MSC/client's perspective. The gist was to ensure that the experience was unique and independent of everything else and past experiences. Since then, I still remember that conversation and advice every once in a while.

Now, I've been very selective with narrative-heavy reports, but seem to do well in that area. The most difficult shops, I'm comfortable doing, given the right conditions and circumstances.

I've generally had positive feedback/interactions from/with editors.

To note, I've reported on negative but factual experiences with no pushback from a good number of MSCs, without any issues. I would continue to do work with those MSCs, without hesitation.

I've also had instances where the editor/client manager reached out to me directly. All positive. I value those MSCs more and would do repeat business.

I did a shop a few months ago. I wrote a very detailed report. A day later she contacted me saying my report was not good, I only wrote 1 or 2 in each area. I was perplexed. Thankfully as I wanted the report to be perfect, I had saved it. It was 4 pages long. Extremely detailed. Rather than apologize she said oh yes I now see it. Obviously she contacted me about someone else's report. So to save face she gave me a list of things she did not like. For example one section asked to write in detail how the sales person built rapport, what questions they asked, how I responded. I wrote I had moved 3 years ago naming the town to live near my son and grandsons. She said those details could id me so not appropriate. I was rather annoyed as I detailed the interaction as requested. Since that time she has had several shops that she needed done. I will not apply. After taking a great deal of time to do a perfect report I was given a kist of made up comments, I had done many of these reports in the past and never were the complaints she made provided. Her loss not mine. I get plenty of job offers based on the quality of my work. No need for insulting editors.

In my experience, editors and shoppers (myself) complement each other. I work hard on the quality of my writing and following detailed instructions, but there is no doubt that editors have made me a better writer over the years. I respond rapidly to inquiries, and feel a mutual respect with them.

If you do a lot of grocery shops, you'll get used to it. But, my very first one, the store did not do well. At all. I received an email with a long list of follow up questions wanting specifics about the issues noted and an answer within 24 hours. The email lacked tone and I was unsure whether I'd made mistakes on my shop form. I was so anxious answering! MANY of these shops later, I feel like this editor and I should be exchanging holiday cards. I answer as quickly as possible with details and occasionally pictures. I know when to expect those follow up questions and have developed an appreciation for the brevity of a questionnaire where narrative is often not required.

I do a lot of gas stations for one of the bigger MSCs. The dinosaur one has become a joke between me and my mom on what they will come back with to knock me down. The last time I went super slow and did everything perfectly. I said let's see what they come back to critique me on this time because they can NOT just accept the job and move on. Their critique this time was I should start taking a specific picture in landscape instead of portrait. It doesn't matter that you got everything you needed in that photo.

Another time, they did not think my 8s were appropriate I should give them higher because my comments indicated they should be rated higher. I responded with I'm not changing it because to get a higher rate, they really needed to do something great and over the top, and I did not feel an 8 was a bad rating. What is the point of asking us to be honest if they want us to change it to fit their idea? I bet it was changed by her before it was submitted.

When a certain BBBaby equipment store was shopped an editor asked me to clarify, in detail, a response from an employee---4 months after the shop and 1 month after I had been paid.

I’ve been getting 9s on all the electronics for that big co that “Ishopfor”. There used to be more areas to fill out specifics of conversations. I did 3 today and discovered that putting the exact product recommendation details and quoted promotional offers in the “other information about this shop” question earned me a 10. I hope this helps someone. I was sad seeing my ratings going down down down.