The Mystery Shopping thread - part 5

ellie9ellie

Jave wrote: »

I have just recieved an email from BARE, telling me that a job has just been assigned to me, and needs to be completed today! I am busy all day today, so cant do it, so have had to reply telling them so.
Its a job that I applied for a week or so ago, and kept just saying "pending". To suddenly email me today, to say I am assigned it, and need to complete it today, is it a bit late notice!
I am starting to think (taking into account previous comments read on here) that BARE arent very good!!
:rolleyes:

Do they actually think you wait around by your computer all day waiting for them to e-mail you to do a job lol They must realise that most of us work and have other things to do with our days as well!!

tigergold

Ellie - think Timmne got married around bank hol weekend and he gets back from his honeymoon tomorow. We best all be on our best behaviour !

Scaredy_Cat_3

auntypog wrote: »

An occasional failure of nerve is normal in this trade. It's generally due to a loss of perspective. Just remember you're not spying for your country, just testing out some employee to make sure they follow procedure (for what is generally a pittance). Even if they suspect you, they will feel far more nervous than you since they are the one being tested. You have all the power. You don't owe anyone any particular allegiance. You are your own boss. You have the right to release any job that makes you feel uneasy. It's all under your control.

I know - at least I know that intellectually! But I can't get that info through to my stomach!!!

I think it all stems from AA messing me around. She offered me 3 jobs and then the next day said they didn't need doing (code for she's given them to someone else)... and because I had to go into town to do a job, the 3 she had offered would have made it really worth while - so I started looking for replacements to make it worth the trip. And somehow I found myself accepting jobs I didn't want! I know it's my own fault - but I'm scared to release the jobs because I really need the money and if I release these it will go against me.

I have to do a recorded phone call in a minute for a rubbish fee. I really don't want to do it but this company have given me nice shop jobs before so I don't want to upset them.

I know you're right though - I'll try to keep telling myself that! I'm just a rotten liar and so scared I'll trip myself up by giving one name and then forgetting and using my own!

Scaredy_Cat_3

ellie9ellie wrote: »

Whenever I'm doing any job that isn't near home I usually say I'm dropping/picking mum/dad/hubby up and thought I'd just "pop in". I've done loads of bank jobs and no-one has really asked too much anyway. You'll be fine I'm sure. Good luck x

Thanks Ellie. Actually they did ask quite a few questions - names, dates of birth, address, where we work, how much we earn etc. And the worst of it is the mortgage adviser wasn't in so the job's not over yet. I have to wait for a phonecall next week (more questions) - then I'll have to go and see her and again risk tripping myself up!

Also have to hope I remember where I told her I work!!! :rotfl: I said I had to come out that way for work so it wasn't a problem to come back!

ellie9ellie

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Thanks Ellie. Actually they did ask quite a few questions - names, dates of birth, address, where we work, how much we earn etc. And the worst of it is the mortgage adviser wasn't in so the job's not over yet. I have to wait for a phonecall next week (more questions) - then I'll have to go and see her and again risk tripping myself up!

Also have to hope I remember where I told her I work!!! :rotfl: I said I had to come out that way for work so it wasn't a problem to come back!

Sod's law!! That's my main problem when I tell little white lies - actually remembering what I'd said in the first place. Had a betting job on on Wednesday and decided to bet on Hereford and Swindon (I think!!) tonight. SA asked if I supported Hereford and I ended up saying my DH was from Hereford. It's worrying but I find it really easy to "stretch the truth". DH is worried that I find it so easy lol

Scaredy_Cat_3

ellie9ellie wrote: »

Sod's law!! That's my main problem when I tell little white lies - actually remembering what I'd said in the first place. Had a betting job on on Wednesday and decided to bet on Hereford and Swindon (I think!!) tonight. SA asked if I supported Hereford and I ended up saying my DH was from Hereford. It's worrying but I find it really easy to "stretch the truth". DH is worried that I find it so easy lol

I wish I did! Hubby is a brilliant liar (should I be suspicious???:rotfl:). Mind you, he does tell stupid lies that he hasn't thought through. Like, a few years ago we wanted to cancel our milk delivery because with 2 kids we were going through gallons of the stuff and it was easier and cheaper to get the big plastic bottles from the supermarket than it was to get the little glass ones from the milkman.

So, to avoid hurting the milkman's feelings, hubby's bright idea was to tell him we just weren't using enough milk to justify the delivery!!! Whaaaaat??? Wouldn't it be easier to just tell the truth in a case like that??

Anyway, I digress. I'm a rubbish liar. I blush - which is something I can't control! And then when I'm nervous I waffle so I'm likely to say somethng about my everyday life which is in direct contrast to what I've just told them. Like I might blurt out how skint I am now I'm not working even though I've just told them I work 20 hours as a clerk - that sort of thing!!! :rotfl:

Scaredy_Cat_3

Just out of interest - I submitted my first ever GR report last night. Do they email to tell you it's approved?

cookinmummy

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Just out of interest - I submitted my first ever GR report last night. Do they email to tell you it's approved?

No Scaredy they dont. They will contact you if there is a query, but I'm sure all will be fine.

If you havent already left for your mortgage assignment - when choosing a false name I always go with my pre-married name as it feels more natural to say and my mums address - again quite natural to say.

I have done a couple of these and one was miles out of my way and they never asked why I was in the middle of nowhere when I could have gone to a local branch just down the road - happy for the business I guess!

Good Luck:D

Scaredy_Cat_3

cookinmummy wrote: »

No Scaredy they dont. They will contact you if there is a query, but I'm sure all will be fine.

If you havent already left for your mortgage assignment - when choosing a false name I always go with my pre-married name as it feels more natural to say and my mums address - again quite natural to say.

I have done a couple of these and one was miles out of my way and they never asked why I was in the middle of nowhere when I could have gone to a local branch just down the road - happy for the business I guess!

Good Luck:D

Thanks! That's exactly what I did - maiden name and Mum's address! Felt weird though, saying that hubby's last name was my maiden name!!!

Sadly, job is longer than I thought. Mortgage adviser not in today so she will ring me next week (more questions) then I have to go in and see her! They certainly make us work for the money, don't they??!!

auntypog

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I know - at least I know that intellectually! But I can't get that info through to my stomach!!!

I think it all stems from AA messing me around. She offered me 3 jobs and then the next day said they didn't need doing (code for she's given them to someone else)... and because I had to go into town to do a job, the 3 she had offered would have made it really worth while - so I started looking for replacements to make it worth the trip. And somehow I found myself accepting jobs I didn't want! I know it's my own fault - but I'm scared to release the jobs because I really need the money and if I release these it will go against me.

I have to do a recorded phone call in a minute for a rubbish fee. I really don't want to do it but this company have given me nice shop jobs before so I don't want to upset them.



I know you're right though - I'll try to keep telling myself that! I'm just a rotten liar and so scared I'll trip myself up by giving one name and then forgetting and using my own!

Income aside, I've come to feel it's a mistake to feel too much of a sense of obligation to do jobs you don't like or have gone off. Companies probably wouldn't want you to do them if you didn't feel happy about it. That's the plus of being self-employed. We get to be selective. Regular shoppers rarely get penalized for releasing a few jobs once in a while: just the !!!!less ones who mess companies about.

If I slip up (and we all do) I just go into my 'Oh dear, I'm all muddled today, I don't know which way's up. What day is it? Time for my medication' act (not so far from the true some days). That usually works because the other person then feels sympathy rather than suspicion. Adopting a 'dithery' persona can be advantagous because this type of person is the last people to be suspected of being a mystery shopper.


The forum appears to have censored the word which denotes 'being without !!!!'. How weird.

Now it's censored fe*k. It's not a rude word, honestly.