The Mystery Shopping thread - part 5

ellie9ellie

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.....

Think you may be right here. Only once they offered me an increased fee to do some work and then went back on their word. I sent a quick e-mail back "explaining" very politely that if they did not adhere to their previous promise I would be left with no option but to "take matters further". I had a very apologetic e-mail back and my fee increased there and then!!.

SC - with the burger jobs you can only pay with cash, not sure about the chicken jobs as never done one. The burger jobs say:

5. DO pay by cash. You cannot pay by card or use any vouchers.

As we have to time them to the second (god knows why!!) paying by card messes with the timing.

HP - it is great to have you back and even better to hear that GFK are human. My main worry was doing a job and then going into labour and then having to explain to someone the reason why I hadn't filled in the questionnaire lol Hope your feeling better xxx

learning_to_drive

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.

Lovely to see you back Hollypear, heard about your run of bad luck, you have a lot sent by the big man upstairs to test you by the sounds of it.

Keep smiling, you confirmed what we knew, RE are dreadful and GfK are a class act.

I've had the issue with the logins at work, its always worth putting them back in as it saves so much time!

ellie9ellie

jobbingmusician wrote: »

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:

Christmas smileys - aarrrgghhh - not yet, please not yet - deep breath, deep breah lol

Scaredy_Cat_3

Jobbingmusician, it was me who said the staff member closed the window and turned away while we were still sorting out the meal and receipt. I did put this in the end comments, along with a couple of other points. The problem with their report is they only give you the option of a yes/no answer, with nothing alongside to explain why you answered no - or if they do have options they are just tick boxes with pre-determined reasons, which are not always applicable.

I'm not all that bothered about this - their report is what it is, if that's the way they want the info, that's fair enough. What I really do object to is the way they take 4 days to answer your queries, and I have been a little concerned by some of the comments people have made - but since I haven't got as far as being paid yet, I don't know if I'm going to have problems there or not.

Now to the really important bit - I'm really interested in Chrome. What's it like and would it be compatible with a Mac? I'm using firefox now, so is Chrome any better?

Scaredy_Cat_3

ellie9ellie wrote: »

Think you may be right here. Only once they offered me an increased fee to do some work and then went back on their word. I sent a quick e-mail back "explaining" very politely that if they did not adhere to their previous promise I would be left with no option but to "take matters further". I had a very apologetic e-mail back and my fee increased there and then!!.

SC - with the burger jobs you can only pay with cash, not sure about the chicken jobs as never done one. The burger jobs say:

5. DO pay by cash. You cannot pay by card or use any vouchers.

As we have to time them to the second (god knows why!!) paying by card messes with the timing.

HP - it is great to have you back and even better to hear that GFK are human. My main worry was doing a job and then going into labour and then having to explain to someone the reason why I hadn't filled in the questionnaire lol Hope your feeling better xxx

I've looked again at the notes and I still don't see anything saying I have to pay by cash. Maybe it only applies to low value spends? If you're buying a single burger for example it would only be £2 or £3, this was £11.49. I reckon it would be quicker paying by card in this case, rather than messing about with change.

What about the pizza jobs? Can they be paid by card?

ellie9ellie

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I've looked again at the notes and I still don't see anything saying I have to pay by cash. Maybe it only applies to low value spends? If you're buying a single burger for example it would only be £2 or £3, this was £11.49. I reckon it would be quicker paying by card in this case, rather than messing about with change.

What about the pizza jobs? Can they be paid by card?

Can't see anything in the spec that says you can't pay by card for the pizza jobs. I'm sure I paid for the one in July by card and got paid. Probably just the burger one you pay cash for 'cause of the damn timing points.

Scaredy_Cat_3

ellie9ellie wrote: »

Can't see anything in the spec that says you can't pay by card for the pizza jobs. I'm sure I paid for the one in July by card and got paid. Probably just the burger one you pay cash for 'cause of the damn timing points.

Same here - I've read my assignment notes for the drive thru chicken job and also the pizza job, and I can't see anything about how to pay, but I just doubt myself!!!

Any ideas about the pizza delivery? I haven't read the notes properly for that one yet. I assumed you pay by card over the phone when you order, or do you pay the delivery guy? If you pay the delivery guy, surely he doesn't carry a receipt book around with him, so how do you get a receipt? Has anyone done these jobs before please?

johnny_c-l

The burger jobs have to be cash but cards are OK for pizza and chicken.

I always use my cashback card for MS'ing, even if it's a £2 chicken thing.

For pizza delivery you can pay by card over the phone and you then sign for it at the door. I've found the till receipt is usually attatched to the card receipt you sign so I rip it off without asking....makes things easier I find!

Mind you, I have been paid for a pizza job where I only got a card receipt before.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Thanks Johnny!

RoxyK

I had the best job last night so far. It was brilliant! Casino visit and we had a great time. Had £75 when I left which is quite a bit more than when I went in lol And I get reimbursed for expenses too. Shame you can only do them once really. Was an RE job too. I've had no trouble with them at all.

Down to earth today after my 1st chicken job tho.......never again. Easy job though an at least you get a fee.