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Responding To ACL's Texts Has Been A Waste Of Time

October 17, 2024 07:52PM
First, they texted me about a dinner shop for this month. When I responded, they told me the shop had been filled and offered me a November lunch shop for a specific date. When I answered that I was unavailable on that date, they asked me which date I would be available. When I responded with two available dates, they told me that the shop was filled but offered me a November dinner shop. I told them I would be available for the dinner shop on the same dates I gave them for the lunch shop. They then told me the dinner shop was filled. To make things worse, there was an automatic response before each of their real responses.

Why can't they just tell me which shops they want me to do in the first text and tell me the dates when they can be done???

This has been my experience with ACL almost every time I respond to their texts. A. Total. Waste. Of. Time.

No more.
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October 17, 2024 07:54PM
Why bother doing any shops for them? I get some of their text and ignore. I used to shop for them alot, but stopped many years ago. I found better shops to do that actually pay a fee. I found most of the ACL shops (while nicer restaurants) would be reimburse only and no pay. Then I would have to write a "War and Peace" novel and I would have to provide 50 pictures (yes an exaggeration).
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October 17, 2024 08:06PM
Because this is for a restaurant that (1) I like, (2) is close to home, and (3) I have shopped multiple times before and found the report to be a piece of cake, with very few pictures and easy narratives. I don't always need a fee if the shop satisfies other needs/desires.

You like shopping BJ's even though the "pay" is mostly in gift cards (if they still pay a minimal fee). You have your reasons and it's not anyone else's business to question your decision.

If I were still eligible to shop BJ's and could choose between shopping BJ's or this restaurant,I would shop this restaurant every time unless I wished to give my sister yet another of BJ's electronic gift cards as a X'mas or birthday gift. I don't like BJ's food or atmosphere overall.
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October 17, 2024 08:36PM
They send out the mass texts and then if someone responds first, they get it. There automated texting and chat system is terrible. It is frustrating to use. They also often open their chat hours later in the day then it says they will.
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October 17, 2024 10:37PM
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz

I'm glad you found something you like and are willing to do it. If you know the texts are not the best way, then login and assign them. I agree with @JimmyP that they are probably sending out a blast. If you see them send you the text notification, log in and grab it. Don't respond, wait, and hope. Unless you are claiming you cannot login and assign it and it can only be done thru text.

As far as BJ's, i agree that not everyone likes it. I love the rewards they offer (10% back), plus HAPPY HOUR prices on NFL games. Where else you gonna go and get happy hour deals on a Sunday DAY and NIGHT?

Of all the shops I do for restaurants, BJ's is my favorite because I come out ahead. I like TXRH, but the lowest I've gone is $61 and that is spending $11 of my own, which I will gladly do.

Maybe ACL has improved, but I've never bothered to look into it again. I was so tired of the extensive narratives for the pizza chain they did before that stopped.
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October 17, 2024 11:59PM
Except for their senior living shops, I've never found their reports to be difficult. Boring and silly? Yes. That was how I felt about their pizza shops in CA. (I did one of their pizza shops in OR when I was traveling. It was for a different chain. Both the pizza and report were better.)

You're right about just logging in. I didn't do that because I saw the first text during dialysis. Since I started by responding to their text, I continued the conversation via texts. Big mistake.
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October 18, 2024 04:47AM
Just turn the accept-text setting to off.
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October 18, 2024 07:10AM
@Rousseau

For @BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz it's probably good for them to have the text. But better if they use the website to accept the shop when notified instead of playing games with text.

Nothing wrong with being notified, but it it's something that appeals to you, jump onto website or app (if they have one) and grab the shop instead of waiting and going back and forth with text.
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