I did a a shop from hell for a foreign company whose name has 3 letters in it- almost sounds like a railroad starting with C
This scheduler who I believe is based on Italy has sent me MANY shop invites over the past 6 months - rather strangely worded as if she is not a native speaker of English.
In each case I have responded right away and offered to do the shop and asked her to please let me know one way or the other so I can plan my schedule. She NEVER got back to me and in a few cases I sent follow ups asking if I was assigned. I think that is rude!
This assignment which I was assigned as for an Italian luxury product store. The shop entailed a study session to pass a certification, research products getting serial numbers and prices and then a phone call which had to last at least 15 up to 60 minutes. The call lasted 20 minutes as I had to stretch it with questions.
The report was extremely long with many redundant and repetitive questions with the threat of the shop being rejected if adequate info was not provided. Explain what could be done to improve this or that was in every question and required. Very poorly written form!
The form then asked to evaluate the scheduler. That was the first time I ever was asked this in my over 30 years of mystery shopping. Well, I honestly wrote that this scheduler is not one that has been responsive in the past- sending me numerous shop invites and then simply ghosting me. I said I appreciate schedulers who will be polite and let you know if you apply then ask if assigned with a short reply- no thanks for applying but shop has been assigned. I meant this as constructive criticism. An honest comment in my opinion is tough but fair.
The form then asked if I wished to donate my $15 shop fee to some foreign childrens' charity which I found insulting given the amount of work for the low fee.

Last night she sent me a rather nasty email that I had made her big trouble, and that I had violated my shopper agreement by not being "tough but fair." Not sure what that means as I was very honest in her actions as a scheduler. I guess the truth is bitter when told applies here. She can respond to my constructive comment about her but not be responsive when scheduling? I do not appreciate being offered a job then totally ghosted when I immediately apply hear nothing and then when I ask if I am assigned being ignored. I plan my schedule and need to know if I am assigned. Companies expect shoppers to be responsive- well I expect schedulers to be the same.
I have not replied to her and do not think I owe her anything. Just warning anyone who works for this company as to the relatively low pay. Cross them off your list.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2025 02:02PM by Fatlady.

@Fatlady wrote:

The form then asked to evaluate the scheduler. That was the first time I ever was asked this in my over 30 years of mystery shopping. Well, I honestly wrote that this scheduler is not one that has been responsive in the past- sending me numerous shop invites and then simply ghosting me. I said I appreciate schedulers who will be polite and let you know if you apply then ask if assigned with a short reply- no thanks for applying but shop has been assigned. I meant this as constructive criticism. An honest comment in my opinion is tough but fair.

Last night she sent me a rather nasty email that I had made her big trouble, and that I had violated my shopper agreement by not being "tough but fair." Not sure what that means as I was very honest in her actions as a scheduler. I guess the truth is bitter when told applies here. She can respond to my constructive comment about her but not be responsive when scheduling? I do not appreciate being offered a job then totally ghosted when I immediately apply hear nothing and then when I ask if I am assigned being ignored. I plan my schedule and need to know if I am assigned. Companies expect shoppers to be responsive- well I expect schedulers to be the same.
I have not replied to her and do not think I owe her anything. Just warning anyone who works for this company as to the relatively low pay. Cross them off your list.

I think as long as you gave accurate, objective, and factual feedback, you did your part. It's much like a mystery shopping report, where maybe the client asks for subjective feedback and opinions at the end. As long as attempts and actions/non-actions were documented.

To me, depending on one's position, responding to everything would maybe not be practical or feasible.

I'm guessing since the scheduler contacted you after with the response you mentioned, maybe the company doesn't tolerate those actions? Just my guess.

Off topic, but in my line of work, we often give 360 feedback to team members and other teams/stakeholders we work closely with. After having to deliver and receive a lot of the feedback, I think when done and delivered correctly, it can be effective. Depending on the environment, it's usually better to give the feedback earlier and on a continuous basis, to not develop bad habits. To me, if you have the relationship, it's better to not do it anonymously. To me, what management/leadership does with valid feedback shows how well a team/business is run.

You can name the company. Unless you are afraid of additional repercussions?

That company sounds like one I haven't, and wouldn't, work for. That sounds like a horrible experience. I am sorry you went through that. I am sure you did what you felt was right, though.

I would probably put, "N/A" on the area it asked about the scheduler, unless I didn't care if I worked with the company anymore. The scheduler is between the company and my money. I might have talked to her about it first and gave her a chance to correct herself or talk about it before I told the company. That was like going over her head, to me.

I am sure I am not the easiest person to work with either. I don't do all the, "Thank you", "Sincerely", "Good Morning, how are you?". I am pretty direct (not ugly, though), and I am sure a few schedulers could tell the company about me as well. So, I try to think it all balances out (for me anyway). I would hope, if a scheduler had an issue with me, they would talk to me or give me a chance before going over my head to the company.

So, I HOPE I never have the question about the scheduler like you did.

Gotta know, is it RBG?

I'm guessing ISC-CX?

If so, their reports are brutally long, not well written (likely originally written in a different language and then translated to English) and super redundant. I'm sorry you experienced this!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2025 11:45PM by Cassiespark.

I thought ISC-CX, as well. But, would have never expected that email from any of their schedulers. I know many of them speak a variety of languages. However, they have always been nice and explained themselves when I could not understand the way they worded something. Even when I complained once, the scheduler and some other person wrote me back a very kind email with an apology. I hope it was not them.

@wrosie wrote:

Gotta know, is it RBG?

OP said this-I did a a shop from hell for a foreign company whose name has 3 letters in it- almost sounds like a railroad starting with C

@Iluv2shopUSA wrote:

@wrosie wrote:

Gotta know, is it RBG?

OP said this-I did a a shop from hell for a foreign company whose name has 3 letters in it- almost sounds like a railroad starting with C

This was enough for me to figure it out and they aren't one I've seen discussed on the boards here AT ALL, EVER. I think the risk is low to mention them by name. But, I will leave that decision to the poster.

I strongly suspect they offer "opportunities" that do not yet exist so they can tell a prospective client that they have an expert evaluator ready and willing to perform the proposed evaluations for them. This is based on them repeatedly emailing directly and then not following up when you agree. They cannot give you the task when their prospect declines their offer.

They claim that they have 260+ evaluators spread across 85+ countries and that might sound impressive to them. I interpret this as they cannot have much of a presence in the US and they are fighting an uphill battle trying to build a presence from afar.

See post below

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2025 05:19PM by Fatlady.

My apologies for the duplicate posts!

Bingo. Yes is is a company whose name starts with CX- you can guess the last letter think between F and H! LOL And yes their website says they have valuators in 85 countries.
I am glad no one has discussed them on line as it would be a shame if shoppers here got into their web of poor practices and rudeness! They are not worth bothering with. Their report forms with "WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED" on each comment and there are MANY comments and their threat of a reduced or no pay if the report is not to their liking and their questions about sustainability, green policies and DEI are totally off the wall for a GUCCI shoe? Really? If you like to get urgent emails offering you assignments with a sense of urgency then getting ghosted they are for you. Oh then after all the misery of their reports they ask you to donate to some foreign charity I have never heard of really? Sounds like George Costanza of Seinfeld and the phony Human Find he created. LOL
best not to be bothered with them because they truly are unprofessional and rude.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2025 05:27PM by Fatlady.