The Shop Logs

Well, I actually did receive my payment today. Good, full amount & all. Get a load of this though:

“We do want to point out that several penalties have been put in place that we clearly outlined during February shopping. Shoppers that did not submit their shop reports before midnight on same day of the shop to meet our “real time” reporting contract with client were not paid. In addition, shoppers that failed to answer questions correctly on the survey as well as delay in returning their phone units were also penalized $10.

Please keep these penalties in mind when reviewing your payments. If you received an email from one of our editors about information lacking in your reports, information being inaccurate in your reports, or the fact that your report was not submitted on same day as the shop, you will see a penalty in place. We have all of these restrictions and rules outlined on the first page of the guidelines in big red letters. They are also on the survey itself and we sent out 6 mass emails to all shoppers on this project regarding our requirements for payment. “

I must say that I can respect payment deductions for tardiness. However, the first paragraph seems to say you had to BOTH delay AND leave out information. The second paragraph goes on to say that if you did any one of the items that resulted in an editor email there IS a deduction. (must I comment on their consistant inconsistancy?) Okay, well at least I was paid the full amount - that smarty-pants email must have made some point.

“We have all of these restrictions and rules outlined on the first page of the guidelines in big red letters.” Um, yes, and red marker scribbles on the top of the sticker - - so professional. Almost as professional as an “I-told-you-so” email with (non)payment.