I emailed RQA, not the store. You can't check inventory using Walmart's system (you can with Home Depot). RQA sent me a list of my stores with the amount of units they had on hand for each store and the stores with the highest amount only have 6. One store only has 3.

@wrosie wrote:

If it's one of the big box retailers I would suggest you go online and check inventory.

The highschool employee might only see a pallet on the floor but not check inventory for the other 3 pallets you will have to track down someone to retrieve for you. THAT'S the stickler! Or hell, they might not have even checked at all, just guessed.

But again you could be right because you emailed and didn't call. Good score if you're right. Then again AI might have answered your email/text inquiry as more companies are doing.

Just be meticulous and take a lot of pictures from different angles showing what they want/need.

I understand your rationale. If my stores were far away I would do hourly (that's what I did with HD but that's also beause they have a large inventory...and of course the project is still on hold). But for the Walmart stores, I also have other things to do in the area of each store, so going per location plus mileage works best for me.

The Walmart brand is American Standard, according to my contact at RQA.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

@Datagirl wrote:

I am curious about the new one they posted but hate the store they are in. Apparently not the same brand garbage disposal as the orange store, or at least I don't think so. They don't seem to carry the glacier disposals. Probably don't have nearly as much inventory but checking the back area would probably be a nightmare.

This store should not have a large amount in inventory, just in time is their philosophy. However, I took hourly because of my drive time. AND, having had a simple propane tank exchange take more than 30 minutes before because nobody knows anything and there is only one key that isn't kept in the garden center register (even though it is near the propane cage and the obvious place to go buy your exchange). Instead, someone carries it around all day and it varies who that individual is! Nope, if I am going to be standing around waiting, I am a lot happier doing so with the meter rolling.

Years ago I was putting in a fire suppression system (sprinklers) in a warehouse that produced cleaning products.

Suddenly a horn blew, the production line stopped. They took all the name brand cleaner labels out, replaced them with store brand labels, and restarted the line.

Now I'm not saying the same equipment is being sold under two names, but it happens.

Oh it's quite possible it's the same product, that happens frequently in manufacturing. I'm just saying Walmart does not sell the name Glacier Bay.

@wrosie wrote:

Years ago I was putting in a fire suppression system (sprinklers) in a warehouse that produced cleaning products.

Suddenly a horn blew, the production line stopped. They took all the name brand cleaner labels out, replaced them with store brand labels, and restarted the line.

Now I'm not saying the same equipment is being sold under two names, but it happens.

I picked up 5 locations for the second store being done. Each one only has 3 or 4 pieces of inventory. RQA gave me the information. Now, I chose to get paid by hour on these, I have a feeling these won't take a full hour. Debating on changing to per location. 2 locations are about a 20 minute drive each way.

Okay this project is so easy. My first store had none in stock and the other six had five units or less with none in backstock. They are taking about 10-15 minutes per location and mine aren't far, which is why I selected to be paid per location for this project (plus I had other things to do near each of the store which is a win win). Finishing up my locations today and then will pick up further locations by hourly.

Edited to add: still waiting on the hold to be released for Home Depot, which is at hourly because each store has a large quantity in stock.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2025 04:49PM by Jusa.

@Jusa wrote:

Okay this project is so easy. My first store had none in stock and the other six had five units or less with none in backstock. They are taking about 10-15 minutes per location and mine aren't far, which is why I selected to be paid per location for this project (plus I had other things to do near each of the store which is a win win). Finishing up my locations today and then will pick up further locations by hourly.

Edited to add: still waiting on the hold to be released for Home Depot, which is at hourly because each store has a large quantity in stock.

I did one today. 26 minutes in the store (half of which was getting checked in with a manager), 4 stickers and their odd landscape photos, a check of the back (zero units there).

The time suck isn't how many units they have, it's that they call for a manager and NOBODY answers. The one they eventually found for me didn't even know what department disposals would be in and I was telling her where we needed to look for the back stock!

Well, this plus it's a 30 minute drive means my hourly choice was a no brainier.

Hey, you gotta do what works for you. None of the stores were busy at the times I went and it went so quickly, plus all of the stores were close to home. For sure anything that was further than 20 minutes away from my house I would pick up at hourly. My first store was about 8 minutes away and each of my other stores were maybe 15 minutes from the previous one.

I submitted my expenses a little bit ago and picked up 8 more stores. All of them are a bit further away (som an hour or more), so I chose hourly for this round. I am going to get them done ASAP so that I can pick up another round as they adjust the radius further out.

Edited to add: the manager should check for the backstock with the handheld device, no need to go look in the backroom. The device will show how much they have in backstock and the location. None of my stores had any backstock--only 3-6 units on the floor, which were on a low shelf. The units are not heavy and I was able to stick the labels on and take photos in 3-4 minutes, get a quick signature, and out the door (and I walk really fast).

Also wanted to add: I checked in at the front desk and told them what I was doing, and asked them to call a manager and have them meet me in plumbing by the garbage disposals. They met me there within a minute
or so after I got to the department and at a couple of locations they were there before I got to the back of the store. At one store the manager didn't show up within a few minutes so I asked a nearby store associate to call someone for me. No need to stand around at customer service, although now that I am at hourly I won't be in a hurry.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

@Jusa wrote:

Okay this project is so easy. My first store had none in stock and the other six had five units or less with none in backstock. They are taking about 10-15 minutes per location and mine aren't far, which is why I selected to be paid per location for this project (plus I had other things to do near each of the store which is a win win). Finishing up my locations today and then will pick up further locations by hourly.

Edited to add: still waiting on the hold to be released for Home Depot, which is at hourly because each store has a large quantity in stock.

I did one today. 26 minutes in the store (half of which was getting checked in with a manager), 4 stickers and their odd landscape photos, a check of the back (zero units there).

The time suck isn't how many units they have, it's that they call for a manager and NOBODY answers. The one they eventually found for me didn't even know what department disposals would be in and I was telling her where we needed to look for the back stock!

Well, this plus it's a 30 minute drive means my hourly choice was a no brainier.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2025 11:58PM by Jusa.

Did my first 4 of these and should have taken the per location pay. Even with some distance involved between locations I'm logging less than 1 hr per stop, including the expected standing around time.

There has yet to be any back stock.

Each store had 6 pcs on the sales floor, except 1 which had sold one so there were 5. At 2 of the stores a couple or three boxes already had stickers.

These are combined with the chemical effectiveness check project, so per location would've made record keeping easier as well as delivering a better paycheck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2025 03:38PM by CoolMusic.

Yes, totally different circumstance than a Home Depot where they will have 20x the number in stock thsn a Walmart. Call RQA before you submit your expenses and ask if they can change it to per store? All they can do is say yes or no, wont hurt to try.

@CoolMusic wrote:

Did my first 4 of these and should have taken the per location pay. Even with some distance involved between locations I'm logging less than 1 hr per stop, including the expected standing around time.

There has yet to be any back stock.

Each store had 6 pcs on the sales floor, except 1 which had sold one so there were 5. At 2 of the stores a couple or three boxes already had stickers.

These are combined with the chemical effectiveness check project, so per location would've made record keeping easier as well as delivering a better paycheck.

That was crossing my mind as I was driving around grumbling to myself, so I have dashed off an email. Thanks for the inspiration...

To be paid a bit more and not waste time tracking driving time would be nice. It would also allow for a more direct path tomorrow as I am currently set for long drives to the first WM and from the last one to try to max the drive time.

I've combined these with the hydrogen peroxide project, for a total of 29 stops. Will make for a nice payday for 3 days of driving around not having to pick up strangers.

Often it's faster and more effective to call rather than email. Now it's too late in the day, but they are on CST so if you had called at say, 5 PM EST, you would have gotten a live person on the phone. When you actually talk to someone, they identify themselves and you know who you are talking to, but when you email retrieve they respond anonymously. It's harder for people to say "no" to a friendly person (you) on the phone than it is when the RQA reps are anonymous via email. Not saying they are going to say no, BTW, but depending on what time you shot off that email you might not hear back from anyone until Monday since they don't generally work weekends. There is an emergency number but they would not consider this an emergency. But if you finish up everything over the weekend and wait to submit expenses until you hear back from them, that would be better.

@CoolMusic wrote:

That was crossing my mind as I was driving around grumbling to myself, so I have dashed off an email. Thanks for the inspiration...

To be paid a bit more and not waste time tracking driving time would be nice. It would also allow for a more direct path tomorrow as I am currently set for long drives to the first WM and from the last one to try to max the drive time.

I've combined these with the hydrogen peroxide project, for a total of 29 stops. Will make for a nice payday for 3 days of driving around not having to pick up strangers.

I wonder if they put it on hold when they realized everyone was switching to hourly pay.

The reason the HD project got put on hold had nothing to do with RQA or the manufacturer, it's some kind of issue going on with HD corporate, though I don't know the details.

I picked up the first round (of Walmart stores) at paid per location because they were all close to home. The round I picked up yesterday after submitting my expenses for the first round I chose hourly because they are spread out, with at least one location being an hour away from my house (one way).

@purpleicee wrote:

I wonder if they put it on hold when they realized everyone was switching to hourly pay.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2025 11:05PM by Jusa.

@Jusa wrote:

Also wanted to add: I checked in at the front desk and told them what I was doing, and asked them to call a manager and have them meet me in plumbing by the garbage disposals. They met me there within a minute
or so after I got to the department and at a couple of locations they were there before I got to the back of the store.

That's my M.O. too for the other project at DT.

"I'm here for XXXX. Have the manager meet me in the HBC aisle." Then I walk away. I look like a hell-raiser or compliance officer and a speak like one too. I put a place-holder for the name, take my photos, go backwards in the app, fill in their name, walk to the back while I move the app to where I need it.

I'm out in under 10 minutes. Time is money.

DT is in some terrible neighborhoods in the Bay Area. One manager escorted me back to my vehicle. The guys at work chastised me for going there. Honestly, thought that code enforcement had shut them down, and I was just going to get a photo for full pay.

@ Jusa - glad the stores are easy for you. The big box store is only safe for drive-up here. People are still looting.

Yeah, I tend to look rather stern and supervisory myself, LOL. Hey, I am dressed neatly in business casual and have a clipboard, LOL--and maybe those years of owning my own business gives me an air of authority, who knows.

I do the same with the placeholder thing, if the manager isn't there fast enough, I put a period in the fiirst name box and a period in the last name box and start, then backtrack through the app, just like you. I have been with this company since 2006 and I figured out a lot of shortcuts over the years, and yes, time is money for PBL (paid by location) rounds. That being said, I do projects for them at hourly sometimes even when I don't have other stuff to do in those areas because this company gives me projects that never hit the job boards, and I am also one of the first people they call for road trips where they are paying me for hotels, food, etc. while out of town/state. I know you know that drill from MSing.

I live in a small city of about 250k but I am not far from several much larger cities (big but not the biggest in our country). I don't go there often, but even our biggest city that does have a high crime rate doesn't compare to what's out in your area. I still lock my doors while sitting in my car before and after a store visit, and I am careful when I go to work in "unsafe" areas that I have a small crossbody bag with my necessary tools in it (sharpie, pen, a pair of scissors) and 1 credit card--I leave everything else safely at home. I don't know how they can turn a profit with the amount of shrink going on in the really big cities.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@Jusa wrote:

Also wanted to add: I checked in at the front desk and told them what I was doing, and asked them to call a manager and have them meet me in plumbing by the garbage disposals. They met me there within a minute
or so after I got to the department and at a couple of locations they were there before I got to the back of the store.

That's my M.O. too for the other project at DT.

"I'm here for XXXX. Have the manager meet me in the HBC aisle." Then I walk away. I look like a hell-raiser or compliance officer and a speak like one too. I put a place-holder for the name, take my photos, go backwards in the app, fill in their name, walk to the back while I move the app to where I need it.

I'm out in under 10 minutes. Time is money.

DT is in some terrible neighborhoods in the Bay Area. One manager escorted me back to my vehicle. The guys at work chastised me for going there. Honestly, thought that code enforcement had shut them down, and I was just going to get a photo for full pay.

@ Jusa - glad the stores are easy for you. The big box store is only safe for drive-up here. People are still looting.

I wish we had a "WOW" emoji for that.

@Jusa wrote:

I live in a small city of about 250k but I am not far from several much larger cities (big but not the biggest in our country). I don't go there often, but even our biggest city that does have a high crime rate doesn't compare to what's out in your area. I still lock my doors while sitting in my car before and after a store visit, and I am careful when I go to work in "unsafe" areas that I have a small crossbody bag with my necessary tools in it (sharpie, pen, a pair of scissors) and 1 credit card--I leave everything else safely at home. I don't know how they can turn a profit with the amount of shrink going on in the really big cities.

Here's the icing on the cake.

The druggies and unsheltered neighbors go through the store (DT) and into the breakroom to heat food or steal lunches. When confronted, they will throw a full-sized trash can through the front window or just carjack the employees. (Twice now)

I wish that I was making this up.

I cant even "like" that, terribly sad.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

Here's the icing on the cake.

The druggies and unsheltered neighbors go through the store (DT) and into the breakroom to heat food or steal lunches. When confronted, they will throw a full-sized trash can through the front window or just carjack the employees. (Twice now)

I wish that I was making this up.

@Jusa wrote:

Often it's faster and more effective to call rather than email.

An excellent point! I forgot how good they are about communications compared to any MSC in the history of the industry.

One of my completed reports is hung up in the app due to server error on their end.

Knowing that, I'll complete my visits tomorrow, but I won't be able to submit expenses until the hung up report clears. Should buy time for the email request to be addressed.

They are so contractor-oriented, I have a feeling the request will be accepted.

Cross 'em if you got 'em!

.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2025 03:26AM by purpleicee.

The only thing i was thinking is that traffic is heavier on weekends, both on the road and in the store, so it might take you longer to do them today. Ah well.

@CoolMusic wrote:

@Jusa wrote:

Often it's faster and more effective to call rather than email.

An excellent point! I forgot how good they are about communications compared to any MSC in the history of the industry.

One of my completed reports is hung up in the app due to server error on their end.

Knowing that, I'll complete my visits tomorrow, but I won't be able to submit expenses until the hung up report clears. Should buy time for the email request to be addressed.

They are so contractor-oriented, I have a feeling the request will be accepted.

Cross 'em if you got 'em!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2025 03:45PM by Jusa.

I'm a little jealous of you people who live close to things but not quite enough to want to trade places. Running out for a jug of milk is a 30 minute expedition for me so I bundle tasks always. I lucked into a bonused shop right by one of the two I visited yesterday so I just calculated everything apart from my side expedition and picked up an extra $55 at a neglected store. It wasn't quick but it wasn't more than 90 minutes and $55 made me feel OK about that.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2025 04:38PM by Deedeezthoughts.

As I sit in my house drinking tea today on my busy street with motorcycles roaring past my house and the occasional semi truck hitting a pothole and making my whole house shake, I'm a little jealous of you! On days where I have to go do some work or run errands and I sit in my car waiting for a person who is not a jerk to let me out into traffic, I wish we lived out in a quiet, more rural place. Count your blessings while you look at the stars, it's hard to see them in the city, even a small one like ours.

I bundle too, even though I live close to a lot of retail, grocery, etc. It's just smart.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

I'm a little jealous of you people who live close to things but not quite enough to want to trade places. Running out for a jug of milk is a 30 minute expedition for me so I bundle tasks always. I lucked into a bonused shop right by one of the two I visited yesterday so I just calculated everything apart from my side expedition and picked up an extra $55 at a neglected store. It wasn't quick but it wasn't more than 90 minutes and $55 made me feel OK about that.

I do the same for the placeholder in the app as well. I put in two periods for the name and fill in at the end. In my opinion, that should be at the very end, after the signature.

All locations were super easy, having only 4 units on hand. Was able to get a manager for most of the stores but the last one, nobody showed (the larges store and the busiest store). An associate helped me, was sure to note in the comments that the manager was paged 3 times but I was done within 10 minutes and didn't want to wait around much longer. I gave the LOA to the associate, had him sign, asked for the manager name and noted it all.

I am not so sure how I feel about doing these for HD. As easy as they were, HD has overhead inventory and possible backstock. I will have to decide if and when that job ever comes off of hold.

It just did. We've got until Sunday.

@Datagirl wrote:

I do the same for the placeholder in the app as well. I put in two periods for the name and fill in at the end. In my opinion, that should be at the very end, after the signature.

All locations were super easy, having only 4 units on hand. Was able to get a manager for most of the stores but the last one, nobody showed (the larges store and the busiest store). An associate helped me, was sure to note in the comments that the manager was paged 3 times but I was done within 10 minutes and didn't want to wait around much longer. I gave the LOA to the associate, had him sign, asked for the manager name and noted it all.

I am not so sure how I feel about doing these for HD. As easy as they were, HD has overhead inventory and possible backstock. I will have to decide if and when that job ever comes off of hold.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2025 03:50PM by Jusa.

Planning to do my one superstore location tonight. Glad it sounds like it won't be too bad!

Trying to decide if I want to do another round. They aren't difficult but the 9 they are offering now are all over the place and not close to home so there would be a whole lot of driving.

I'm so slow! This almost took me an hour. Two managers on duty, but one had to stay at customer service. Manager tried calling other manager, but didn't answer after multiple attempts. I got a hold of another employee with a device that tracked inventory. At the end, the manager at customer service signed off.

I don't think this line of work is for me. Even at $100, I rather just not do it and stick to mystery shopping. Glad I bailed on the orange store!

Ah, sorry to hear that. We all have our own preferences.

@Okie wrote:

I'm so slow! This almost took me an hour. Two managers on duty, but one had to stay at customer service. Manager tried calling other manager, but didn't answer after multiple attempts. I got a hold of another employee with a device that tracked inventory. At the end, the manager at customer service signed off.

I don't think this line of work is for me. Even at $100, I rather just not do it and stick to mystery shopping. Glad I bailed on the orange store!

@Okie wrote:

I'm so slow! This almost took me an hour. Two managers on duty, but one had to stay at customer service. Manager tried calling other manager, but didn't answer after multiple attempts. I got a hold of another employee with a device that tracked inventory. At the end, the manager at customer service signed off.

I don't think this line of work is for me. Even at $100, I rather just not do it and stick to mystery shopping. Glad I bailed on the orange store!

We all have our preferred activities. I learned as I went and by the 3rd store, I had a nice routine down. I had similar feelings when I did my first few on a bunch of other shops so deep breath, this is just the learning curve.