The Mystery Shopping thread - part 5

Scaredy_Cat_3

red_fox wrote: »

I did this job on Friday and when I did it I just put the 4 digit number under the time. This is probably wrong but they have never queried it before and I think if it’s wrong they can look at the receipt themselves! Some of these bucket jobs use newer style tills that print off a clear receipt and says the store number on it but some of the old style receipts are barley legible and it’s not clear at all what is the store number.

Well, on mine there wasn't a 4 digit number directly under the time, but there was a long number split into 4 digits, then 1, 1, then another 4, centred on the next line below the date and time. I've included the whole number, so I guess I can only hope it's right. If not, I'm sure they'll query it. In my opinion if they want a number from a receipt they should give you an indication of where to find it. There was nothing on the receipt that explicitly said Store Number. I had a shop job for abai at the weekend and their notes showed exactly where on the receipt you find the info they need.

Hollypear

Hi All
I am back but I am in bits. I have a new hard disc but have lost Firefox so lost all my log ins. Also linked up an old pc yesterday with the last few days emails but cant forward them to this live pc as it doesn't have a USB port on the old one.

But I have been in touch with a few MS companies to explain why I haven't been in touch.

GfK were simply wonderful. One of the blokes gave ma a credit card job in a catalogue store and a railway station ticket job and said I could phone in my results. He was so nice. When I got there the rep was gone....and that meant the fee was greatly reduced. When I phoned Gfk the guy said I have had such rotten luck he was going to double ...yes double my fee even though they job wasn't complete.

I was in tears by this time as I am so stressed it just takes someone to be so kind and it breaks you up. I will never forgot the kindness of this company at this time...of the most stressful periods I have known. Family death, car breakdown, hospital admission etc etc

THEN what do ridiculous Eyeballs do.Firstly they deducted points off me for daring to be admitted to hospital. All heart aren't they.

Then got a cheeky proofreading email about that silly pub job. You pick a drink of list A and B THEN order a Sunday roast.So hubbie orders a lager and a Pimms for me. Then when we order the meal the drink Pimms isn't allowed. If RE had done their research properly they would have known the Sunday roast special comes with a limited choice of drinks. So they say they are not going to pay me or reimburse me. And btw the barman only told us this after hubbie had oredered off List B. I was left with therefore a tea or coffee!!!

Talk about kicking someone when they are down. I am not trying to influence anyone. But please think carefully about this company. They do not deserve the loyalty and hard work we all put into MS'ing.

I at least have a visit to do just now from another company who have been brilliant. When I get back hopefully I will have clamed down but I will answer RE. I am normally a really calm happy go lucky sort but I am enraged by their treatment of me but when I get back to RE I won't miss them and hit the wall.

Hi Timmne welcome back buddie and you will be thinking what happened to HP the comical one.:rotfl:

Thanks veryone for your support it has meant the world to me. Bryssn communicated your support to me.

TractorGirl327

learning_to_drive wrote: »

When you successfully complete at least 5 greasy burger sassignments between 1st Sept and Thursday 25th Sept you will receive exclusive, priority access to the October Seaside petrol assignments for two whole days!

Please take a quick look at the available assignments on www.xec.gapbuster.com, before you miss your opportunity for some free fuel!

Any valid September Greasy Burger assignments that have already been selected or completed are eligible for this bonus.

Please see the list of assignments in your area below that are currently waiting for you on Job Search:

Disgraceful, the most qualified shoppers / those who have passed accreditation should get the jobs, not those who take greasy burgers on and help them out.

Surely they will only get a limited pool of shoppers for this?

Well I dont do greasy burgers, chicken or pizza jobs for Gap anymore as I'm doing Slimming World and I'm not fussed about losing out on the petrol jobs 'cos they don't pay a fee and usually instruct you to fill up your car with £10 worth of petrol for which they'll only reimburse you £8. But I do agree with you that the whole idea is a disgrace, they are obviously short of shoppers for greasy burgers and trying to get people to do more.

Maybe if they (1) Let you order something other than the bog-standard meals, (2) Let you take others with you - especially children! (3) Allowed you to pay by card so you didn't have to draw attention to yourself by asking for a receipt and (4) didn't question every answer you give on a less-than favourable report, they would get more people happy to to the burger jobs.

I still do quite like Gap, but as someone else said, I wouldnt make a specific journey to do a Gap job, but if I'm going to be somewhere anyway I don't mind doing a mobile phone or coffee job for them.

TG x

Scaredy_Cat_3

Tractor Girl - what do you mean, you can't pay by card???? I did a drive thru for Gap yesterday and put it on my debit card - I didn't see anything in the notes saying I had to pay cash. Now I'm worried!

However, I agree, they shouldn't be using petrol jobs as an incentive to do burger jobs. I don't fancy the petrol jobs anyway because I've read you have to visit the loo and I'm not sure I could stomach that anyway!

Hollypear, glad to see you back. I hope you're feeling ok - you've really had a rotten time of it lately. I'm pleased to hear Gfk were so nice - they are one of my favourites anyway so it's nice to have that verified! As for RE, I've never done a job for them and never seen one that looked worth doing! Hope you are soon sorted out, anyway. Welcome back to the comforting arms of the MSE forums!

auntypog

Hollypear wrote: »

Hi All
I am back but I am in bits. I have a new hard disc but have lost Firefox so lost all my log ins. Also linked up an old pc yesterday with the last few days emails but cant forward them to this live pc as it doesn't have a USB port on the old one.


But I have been in touch with a few MS companies to explain why I haven't been in touch.

GfK were simply wonderful. One of the blokes gave ma a credit card job in a catalogue store and a railway station ticket job and said I could phone in my results. He was so nice. When I got there the rep was gone....and that meant the fee was greatly reduced. When I phoned Gfk the guy said I have had such rotten luck he was going to double ...yes double my fee even though they job wasn't complete.

I was in tears by this time as I am so stressed it just takes someone to be so kind and it breaks you up. I will never forgot the kindness of this company at this time...of the most stressful periods I have known. Family death, car breakdown, hospital admission etc etc

THEN what do ridiculous Eyeballs do.Firstly they deducted points off me for daring to be admitted to hospital. All heart aren't they.

Then got a cheeky proofreading email about that silly pub job. You pick a drink of list A and B THEN order a Sunday roast.So hubbie orders a lager and a Pimms for me. Then when we order the meal the drink Pimms isn't allowed. If RE had done their research properly they would have known the Sunday roast special comes with a limited choice of drinks. So they say they are not going to pay me or reimburse me. And btw the barman only told us this after hubbie had oredered off List B. I was left with therefore a tea or coffee!!!

Talk about kicking someone when they are down. I am not trying to influence anyone. But please think carefully about this company. They do not deserve the loyalty and hard work we all put into MS'ing.

I at least have a visit to do just now from another company who have been brilliant. When I get back hopefully I will have clamed down but I will answer RE. I am normally a really calm happy go lucky sort but I am enraged by their treatment of me but when I get back to RE I won't miss them and hit the wall.

Hi Timmne welcome back buddie and you will be thinking what happened to HP the comical one.:rotfl:

Thanks veryone for your support it has meant the world to me. Bryssn communicated your support to me.

Welcome back after all your woes! It's good to hear that GfK were understanding. Well done to GfK!

jobbingmusician

I don't think GAP are quite as bad as some posts on here would suggest.

If you put a 'no' to a question where they ask 'did the staff member [do something they are obviously supposed to do]' you are asking for a callback if you don't put a sentence or two somewhere in the report explaining what actually happened! For example (and I am not suggesting that this poster was at fault in any way) if the staff member closes the window before you have actually had time to look at your takeaway meal and turns away, this is a great experience, because it's good detail for your report and exactly the sort of thing the client wants to hear!!!! (I mean, it's not want they want to hear, but it's the feedback they need! )

On the other hand, if a company refused to pay me simply because I hadn't obtained the name of a staff member who was NOT the main person who served me and/or was not wearing a name badge, I would raise a case in the small claims court quicker than a flash. I do think some of these companies need us to bring them to line.....

jobbingmusician

jobbingmusician wrote: »

I don't think GAP are quite as bad as some posts on here would suggest.

If you put a 'no' to a question where they ask 'did the staff member [do something they are obviously supposed to do]' you are asking for a callback if you don't put a sentence or two somewhere in the report explaining what actually happened! For example (and I am not suggesting that this poster was at fault in any way) if the staff member closes the window before you have actually had time to look at your takeaway meal and turns away, this is a great experience, because it's good detail for your report and exactly the sort of thing the client wants to hear!!!! (I mean, it's not want they want to hear, but it's the feedback they need! )

On the other hand, if a company refused to pay me simply because I hadn't obtained the name of a staff member who was NOT the main person who served me and/or was not wearing a name badge, I would raise a case in the small claims court quicker than a flash. I do think some of these companies need us to bring them to line.....

PS I am in Google Chrome. Here is a smilie test to see whether it's the individual smilies which work, or not.
Test 1. :j :mad: :cool: :rotfl: :A :beer: :money: :rolleyes: :eek: :T :easter: :EasterBun :easter_ba :icotbaske :easter_os

jobbingmusician

Looks like individual smilies. I can see Martin, and all the Easter smilies.

Test 2.

:embarasse :question: :cheesy: :lipsrseal :huh: :female: :exclamati :rolleyes2 :www: :cool2: :male: :undecided :bdaycake: :starmod: :staradmin :shocked: :search: :sad: :kisses: :iloveyou:

jobbingmusician

Now that is just WEIRD! - because I can see the toothy smilie, but when I put the short code (semicolon followed by a capital D) in earlier, I couldn't see it.

Test 3


Test 4

:rudolf: :xmastree: _party_ :drool: :kisses: :iloveyou: :xmastree: :rudolf:

jobbingmusician

SMILIES CONCLUSION (provisional)

All the smilies work except the generic ones. To use smilies, click on 'more' (under the smilies) and use any except the ones in the generic box.

PS Sorry about the monologue, but hope people will find this useful.