The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Scaredy_Cat_3

iNath wrote: »

Click on the link in the email, on the 2nd page you should get a list of what departments you need to visit

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][SIZE=2][B]Counters at this  store:[/B][/SIZE] 
 [SIZE=2][B]Extra  counter you must visit [SIZE=1](if applicable)[SIZE=2]:[/SIZE][/SIZE][/B][/SIZE]  
[SIZE=2][B]Extra counter you must visit [SIZE=1](if  applicable)[SIZE=2]:[/SIZE][/SIZE][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=2][B]
Extra counter you must visit  [SIZE=1](if applicable)[SIZE=2]:[/SIZE][/SIZE][/B][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]

The questionnaire is 10 or so pages long, but covers every single department so many are not applicable, just leave it blank or cross through them to remind yourself. When you fill it in online it will only ask the relevant questions.

If there is not a member of staff in the department you may leave after 30 secs. I usually only end up assessing 2/3 staff members as there's hardly any on the shop floor

I'm struggling with this, too. The assignment notes seem to cover every department so it's hard to know what to do. Even the 'Shopping List' seems to give a different set of checks to the notes.

If I look at My Visits on the TNS site it tells me I have to check 2 counters, plus a cafe plus petrol. But the assignment notes suggest I have to check much more, and then the Shopping List doesn't mention the cafe or petrol, but does list a load more stuff. How do I work out what I actually have to check?

Last time I had a set of notes like this, for TNS, it was a competitor shop and turned out I'd asked more than I needed to and taken far more notes than I needed to - but you don't know that until you get to the questionnaire. Any tips please, I'm getting really stressed with this.

Bluecake

Can someone please tell me when you usually get paid by Gap. I started with them in October and have not yet been paid for October assignments. I have emailed them several times but not had any response. Is it usual to wait this long?

ruthiejane

Bluecake wrote: »

Can someone please tell me when you usually get paid by Gap. I started with them in October and have not yet been paid for October assignments. I have emailed them several times but not had any response. Is it usual to wait this long?

You are paid at the end of the following month, jobs done in October were paid at the end of November. You definetely need to get in touch with them. Keep emailing them until you get an answer.

sophisticated.

Scaredy Cat, I got a response to my e-mail late this afternoon but I can't log onto my e-mails now to copy it to you :mad: It said something along the lines of doing everything in the questionnaire that applies to your store?

I think I'm going to do what iNath said and just visit those departments.

Scaredy_Cat_3

sophisticated. wrote: »

Scaredy Cat, I got a response to my e-mail late this afternoon but I can't log onto my e-mails now to copy it to you :mad: It said something along the lines of doing everything in the questionnaire that applies to your store?

I think I'm going to do what iNath said and just visit those departments.

Yes, that's the same kind of answer I got last time I did one of these. I mean, if I knew which ones applied to my store, I wouldn't be asking, would I???

So I ended up doing the whole lot and then found out I didn't need to. Last time, I remember cursing at what a horrible assignment it was and how I was never going to take it again, but then when I got to the questionnaire I saw how easy it really was. The problem is you can't see the questionnaire until later.

I wonder if it's ok to start the questionnaire using false answers for things like times and receipt numbers - just so we can see which actual questions apply?

ruthiejane

SC and Sophisticated when you click the link in the email, and agree to the T&C then next page is a list of counters which apply to the visit you are doing. The "extra" counters vary each month, but the questionnaire stays the same. So, you probably have to check bakery, toilets, CS, music/books/video/TPF and up to three others which will be listed beneath those. The briefing notes contain everything you need to know, and on the first page under scenario is another list of all the relevant departments. You will have to speak to someone, or look at a product in eachof the depts on that list. Exactly what you need to do at each one is included in the briefing notes. Ignore anything on the questionnaire that isn't in the briefing notes.
These are only confusing the first time you do one!! When you actually come to fill in the questionnaire online only the bits you were supposed to do are shown. Hope that helps.

Scaredy_Cat_3

I'm not quite with you, I'm afraid. That list has 13 sections and then there's the extra counters listed below. Surely I don't have to check 16 sections???

cranezoe

you have to find all the products on the shopping list to check they are there and in a good condition.
you then have a list where you have to find a member of staff in specified areas to ask them where the "brussel sprouts/shampoo/tights etc" are. thats in the brief what you have to ask. and then you usually have to visit a counter - fish or meat or deli etc and ask a question there.
oh and ask a question at the customer service
also checking the tills, carpark, toilet, cafe and petrol!!!!! Not for the faint hearted hey?!

Misty_Blue

Pullin_me_hair_out wrote: »

Didn't think I would ever get to the end of the questionnaire as every answer involved a three sentence comment. Phew !

GFK? If it's the kind I'm thinking of, the questions do repeat themselves, but the first asks about the actual process and the second wants to know how you felt about it. So your first answer might be: "The consultant asked me several questions to establish my requirements...etc, etc." Just an account of what took place. Your answer to the next one might be: "I felt that I was valued as a customer, since the consultant took plenty of time to ask me questions, and seemed to be paying attention to my replies."

Plus the visit is broken down into several stages - ie greeting, questions, demo, closing the deal etc, so it can feel like you're being asked the same thing over again.

It does get easier with time.

Scaredy_Cat_3

cranezoe wrote: »

you have to find all the products on the shopping list to check they are there and in a good condition.
you then have a list where you have to find a member of staff in specified areas to ask them where the "brussel sprouts/shampoo/tights etc" are. thats in the brief what you have to ask. and then you usually have to visit a counter - fish or meat or deli etc and ask a question there.
oh and ask a question at the customer service
also checking the tills, carpark, toilet, cafe and petrol!!!!! Not for the faint hearted hey?!

Yes, that sounds like what I did before - thank you. BUT I still think the assignment notes are confusing. It's not at all clear which counters are meant to be done. I thought the Shopping List was the main thing to follow - but that doesn't include petrol and cafe, and I know I have to do those, too. It would be much better if they just made one list with everything you need to cover instead of having about 3 different lists and trying to work out which bits are relevant.