The Mystery Shopping thread - part 5

stardoman

Little_Chicken wrote: »

Are you having a laugh? Do you really think that these companies - as tight as they are - really check CCTV?!?!?! And in a busy bar are going to bother trying to track down a couple of drinks out of those that are sold during the period you're there. get real! It's mystery shopping not MI5:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

It is very easy for them to do as they have entry and exit times. They literally key the date and time into the system and the picture is displayed. Doesn't take much time.

I visited one store about it a year ago. It was my first ever visit to this particular store. The next time I visited, 4 months later, I had a strong feeling that they knew who I was. I have since discovered that they print out a picture from the CCTV of the person who they think is the mystery shopper and have it displayed in the staff area. I no longer do that chain.

There is also a petrol station that I am both a regular customer and a mystery shopper. I suspect that they know I am the shopper, but as I also go in as a customer it confuses them. I recently went as a customer during the 2 week mystery shopping window. I didn't have time to do the mystery shop that day. When I did the msytery shop a few days later the store was a right mess and service was rubbish. I think they had relaxed thinking that they had been shopped for that month!

Mandy.

Little_Chicken

I think they're really petty. I've rocked up to a number of jobs where the pubs have closed, and I've been out of pocket as I've paid for travel. Or the opening times on their paperwork is wrong and the places have been closed. I've also not been paid by RE when their websites gone down and the deadline has passed. So I have no loyalty to them. Still not convinced by the cctv checking either...if they can't get the basics right I can't see them being this organised.

Little_Chicken

stardoman wrote: »

It is very easy for them to do as they have entry and exit times. They literally key the date and time into the system and the picture is displayed. Doesn't take much time.

I visited one store about it a year ago. It was my first ever visit to this particular store. The next time I visited, 4 months later, I had a strong feeling that they knew who I was. I have since discovered that they print out a picture from the CCTV of the person who they think is the mystery shopper and have it displayed in the staff area. I no longer do that chain.

There is also a petrol station that I am both a regular customer and a mystery shopper. I suspect that they know I am the shopper, but as I also go in as a customer it confuses them. I recently went as a customer during the 2 week mystery shopping window. I didn't have time to do the mystery shop that day. When I did the msytery shop a few days later the store was a right mess and service was rubbish. I think they had relaxed thinking that they had been shopped for that month!

Mandy.

You all seem to be missing the point

My point was that in busy pubs it would be difficult to track down what you bought - especially if you are there for an hour or so.

I guess they could track down your food order, and the time on CCTV, but they wouldn't be able to easily track down any additional drinks that you did or didn't buy. :cool:

ThinkingOfLinking

Little_Chicken wrote: »

I think they're really petty. I've rocked up to a number of jobs where the pubs have closed, and I've been out of pocket as I've paid for travel. Or the opening times on their paperwork is wrong and the places have been closed. I've also not been paid by RE when their websites gone down and the deadline has passed. So I have no loyalty to them. Still not convinced by the cctv checking either...if they can't get the basics right I can't see them being this organised.

Yes, that has happened before, being sent to a pub which is closed (for refurb) and I have proven it by taking photos...and despite me spending time familiarising myslef with the job briefing and travelling and then spending money travelling and printing notes out, they never pay for that although they should.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

Yes, that has happened before, being sent to a pub which is closed (for refurb) and I have proven it by taking photos...and despite me spending time familiarising myslef with the job briefing and travelling and then spending money travelling and printing notes out, they never pay for that although they should.

Is this RE? If so, thanks for the heads up! I've not worked for them yet, and think maybe I won't bother in future!

Even Gap, who we call fit to burn, agreed to pay me when I went to do a shop and it turned out it was closed for refurbishments.

Little_Chicken

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Is this RE? If so, thanks for the heads up! I've not worked for them yet, and think maybe I won't bother in future!

Even Gap, who we call fit to burn, agreed to pay me when I went to do a shop and it turned out it was closed for refurbishments.

It happened to me on my first ever shop with Gap, and I haven't done one for them since.

I've also had the same problem with RE. I've even emailed them to say certain locations are closed, and they still appear the next month.:mad:

ThinkingOfLinking

SC, I have been sent to 2 pubs by RE that were closed for refurb, yes.

stardoman

Little_Chicken wrote: »

You all seem to be missing the point

My point was that in busy pubs it would be difficult to track down what you bought - especially if you are there for an hour or so.

I guess they could track down your food order, and the time on CCTV, but they wouldn't be able to easily track down any additional drinks that you did or didn't buy. :cool:

Fair enough it would be hard for drinks jobs where you don't get a receipt. But food orders, where you have to enter the receipt number, it is very easy for them to print out a copy of the receipt.

I have done a reshop where the previous mystery shopper had become so drunk they threw him out of the pub! They realised somehow that he was the shopper and contacted the mystery shopping agency. Now the brief has changed to say no more than 2 alcholic drinks per person.

Mandy.

teedy23

teedy23 wrote: »

I commented on this a while back, it drives me nuts, I have to either log off and on again or continually save work then try again. It takes me two hours sometimes, but that includes walk away in the huff time too. I contacted RE about this they say no-one else has complained
I,ve also solved the sent for a meal to pubs who dont serve food. I have treated them like drinks jobs as per instructions, put in the max amount expences, then just load up the receipt for drinks. It worked, had to buy a meal anyway as job was quite far from home.

I think I,ve found a solution, partways anyway , to this problem, I right clicked on the box by mistake YUREEKA! it works a lot of the time.:T

cookinmummy

Hollypear wrote: »

I AM BACK. Hola to all my friends. I have missed you all. I swear to God I had withdrawal symptoms from not seeing the forum but I promised hubbie I would forget about MS'ing. Except I kept getting texts offering me jobs.

Nice to see you back HP and glad you enjoyed yourself.:D