The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Scaredy_Cat_3

Hollypear wrote: »

Nah it is us Scots who speak the Queens English. I am Gaelic speaking but am fluent in Scouse, Belfast and Southern English. I even speak Brightonese. I do some Yorkshire too like "Been down pit.

My favourite is the Scouse accent. Trying to get Bryssn to teach it to me but I cant understand a bleeding word she says except EVERTON:rotfl:

I have always wondered why do some of you English say "It were raining" Cos last time I met up with Her Maj she said " It WAS raining here yesterday bloody cats and dogs and it took 15 footman to dry them so they didn't stain one's Axminster carpets.

I talk proper posh, I do! Actually, I'm a cross between good Lancashire and tatty north east! My favourite accent is Scouse, too. My Dad's a Scouser so we consider ourselves honorary Scousers. I love watching LFCTV to hear the accents - always puts a smile on my face. Have you noticed the true Scousers always have a twinkle in their eyes?

sinderella_2

sorry guys but at risk of being vile, my hubby thinks Scouse is more of a speech impediment with all the schlurring..I don't mind, it means the ravishing Cheryl Cole is invisible for him cos he can't get past the accent! He also can't stand Tess Daly's vowels..(hmmm, now you know way too much about some of the tv we watch...)
He has what you might call Estuary English, so I think he has a bit of a cheek really in criricising anyone's accent. I don't really have one, but grew up in Cornwall so when he first told his mum about me she said
"Oh no, she doesn't have one of those stupid accents does she?" The cheek!!!!!!!:mad::mad::mad:
I personally like the Durham accent which I find soft and warm.

sinderella_2

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I'm up north and haven't seen any new jobs in my area for over a month! What's worrying/puzzling is I've accepted a job with another company that has a suspiciously similar scenario to one I did for Gap about 2 months ago (same shop). I'm wondering if they have lost the contract?

Gotta say I don't weep if gap lose a contract - their pay has to be worse of the lot, but mainly I find them difficult to work with in respect of them being virtually uncontactable and remote. I just feel they have a more automated rather than personal system ans I don't necessarily think it's for the best.

Scaredy_Cat_3

sinderella wrote: »

Gotta say I don't weep if gap lose a contract - their pay has to be worse of the lot, but mainly I find them difficult to work with in respect of them being virtually uncontactable and remote. I just feel they have a more automated rather than personal system ans I don't necessarily think it's for the best.

Their reports are a nightmare, too. I've lost count of the number of times it wouldn't accept my answers and I've had to fiddle around and then explain in the comments that it wouldn't accept the right answer.

The other company is paying more for this job than Gap did. So far, they are a better company all round, easily contactable, straight-forward reports etc. Can't be a bad thing!

paulherts

Thanks for the replies.

I agree with the sentiments about them being a poor company.

Cheers Paul

sinderella_2

I guess we all have our different reasons for favouring or disliking certain companies, (HP and RE being a commonly known example!) but I guess it's each to their own; I remember being staggered by MikeLB (a hugely experienced shopper) when he said they were one of his personal faves. I guess it's just a case of trying each co and seeing who works for you!

paulherts

I hate to be ignored and that is what Gap do.

They contact you with a query, which is usually an excuse not to pay you. You reply with a reason and then they say it is an invalid assignment, you query that and they fail to respond.

As I have said before I was banned from several of their clients on the same day and despite raising enquiries and a complaint did not receive the courtesy of a reply.

The latest example was with a phone shop. The team member did not have a name badge, did not fill out the pad, gave me a generic business card and did not give me his name when directly asked. I have not been paid because I did not obtain a name! When I asked Gap what more could I have done, a copy of the business card was uploaded, they did not reply.

I also find they queried reports where you had to submit negative feedback.

I still work for them but only as filler jobs where I have other things to do as well, though I am aware opinions will differ. To be fair I had no real problems with them in the early days.

Cheers Paul

joeyjimbles

Hi all
Thanks for the invaluable advice on this thread - can't believe I've only just found it! Its taken me gallons of coffee to read it all!

Does anyone else find that despite the preferences you filled in that they still get phone calls from G*p to do fastfood restaurants? And that they always ring about 8pm on a Saturday/Sunday - my DS2s bedtime? I'm really getting fed up with it but don't know how to stop it other than stop shopping for them altogether which I'd prefer not to do as they can work out quite well for me sometimes. Any advice?

joeyjimbles

Oh and Scaredy Cat - you're right - G*p did lose some contracts recently and both (well the 2 I know of) to the same company. The new company told me so when I rang to check something in the scenarios for both and she said that they were new to them. As you say, the pay is better with this company and I've never had any problems with them either.

sinderella_2

Hello Joey Jimbles welcome to the thread and thank you also for reading it, too. I know it can be offputting because sometimes we do go off on tangents but you'll find we are friendly, especially to those who do a bit of research like yourself!

and paul herts I totally agree it is the ignoring that is unacceptable. I also find they can't tell you in advance of putting in a report whether a situ you have identified (such as your missing sa name) makes the report invalid or not. They say only their proof readers or whatever they are called can decide so you have to submit it anyway. That seems to me like a way of getting the report but then being able to not pay for it and it ticks me off good and proper!