The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Scaredy_Cat_3

blindman wrote: »

I wouldn't stress your self too much over the numbers game.
So long as you get at least 8's and are reliable then you should get more jobs.
I know (like me) that you strive for perfection


I honestly think they (along with RE) do not bother with the numbers.

When I was doing the flights last year supposedly your score had to be '8' Fair enough, must be reliable and accurate etc.
Then later on the minimum reuqired score went down to '5' which is the score a newbie gets.
No sense!

Thanks Blindman. I know I'm being stupid but this really upsets me. I've scored 10/10 before so used those as a basis for how to complete the reports and now it's frustrating to be marked down for something they've never even mentioned before. The thing is, each 'marker' or 'editor' has their own preference - this person who has asked for numbering has never marked my reports before. And you don't know who will be marking the reports in advance anyway so there's no way I can predict that, and adjust my report accordingly.

To be honest, I don't think I'll bother after this. It's not worth the time and effort I put in to doing a good job and completing a good report, only to have this upset. It's like a slap in the face. I know it's tiny but there's no reason why this latest report shouldn't score the same as the last.

If these numbers are so unimportant then I'd rather not see them at all. It makes me feel inadequate.

flyer

Cherry_pie wrote: »

How long do they take to pay? I've just done my first catalogue shop for them today and I'm wondering about payment times?

Couple of weeks or so. I was horrified the other day when I opened one envelope and all I found was a letter saying here's your £20 and nothing else!!

I spent the next 10 minutes wondering how to call them and tell them when I spotted the £20 note on the floor!

Cherry_pie_5

flyer wrote: »

Couple of weeks or so. I was horrified the other day when I opened one envelope and all I found was a letter saying here's your £20 and nothing else!!

I spent the next 10 minutes wondering how to call them and tell them when I spotted the £20 note on the floor!

haha, i'll watch out for that one, I'm excellent at not opening post, especially if it looks like a bill, so i'll make sure I open everything from now on! How long did they take to pay you??

tizzy79

Cherry pie they normally have it out to you within 21 days. Thank goodness the postal services don't know what's in them. Each letter tells you what job it's for so it's easy to keep on top of what is outstanding.

I see the comments about BARE, I got that too, I had actually logged on to ask if anyone else got it. I normally get 10's and 9's and this time I got a 8 and this email. Must say I have never had this marker before. Also it asks for comments if it is a negative response. but I comment even if it is all positives as I like to give feedback on what was good and confirm it is the correct answer.

Scaredy_Cat_3

tizzy79 wrote: »

Cherry pie they normally have it out to you within 21 days. Thank goodness the postal services don't know what's in them. Each letter tells you what job it's for so it's easy to keep on top of what is outstanding.

I see the comments about BARE, I got that too, I had actually logged on to ask if anyone else got it. I normally get 10's and 9's and this time I got a 8 and this email. Must say I have never had this marker before. Also it asks for comments if it is a negative response. but I comment even if it is all positives as I like to give feedback on what was good and confirm it is the correct answer.

Same here - I seem to have got better marks in the past when I've put loads of comments in - and they have usually been really positive comments. I don't like this stuff about numbering the comments because

1) it's the first time I've been told they want it this way and I feel it's wrong to mark me down when my previous reports have been fine but they have apparently changed what they want and not bothered to tell me, and

2) I don't feel that my comments will necessarily fit into a neat little box for 2.1 or 2.2. That's basically just explaining why you ticked yes or no to the question above, and will interrupt the flow of the 'additional comments' section, which I have always seen as a sort of overview of the whole thing.

I know it's only a little thing, but I put so much effort into the report I feel totally gutted to have received less than 10, when the same style and standard of report has got me a 10 in the past. I feel, for the fee in question, it's not worth this much upset to me and I may not bother again. I have emailed to ask for clarification but am not very hopeful.

Thanks for the comment, though - it's a comfort to know I'm not the only one this has happened to.

EDIT: Another thing that annoyed me... last time I queried the marks I was told they mark down for things like spelling. I am really careful with spelling and grammar, but what really got me was the email telling me this contained 3 or 4 glaring errors.. the worst of which was something like 'if I don't here from you'... Well, what can you do if that's what you're up against???

tizzy79

Hee hee scaredy cat you have cheered me up that I have not been the only one picked on and for no reason. Perhaps it is a new editor?

Maybe we will get a flight now ... I wish.

Another thing i can never figure with them is the allocation. Do you find that you apply for a job and it lies in your scheduling area and it still showing as available for some time. I know somewhere it says you should know either way with 72 hours. I have jobs that have been lying there for over a week now.
On another note though I strangely like there questionaires as if there is a error it tells you exactly where.

tizzy79

Aaargh did anyone know about this? I was just finishing a report and it logged me out and gave this message. I am not a happy bunny! :mad: :mad: I did not see any warning for this before hand. I am going to be pushed to get this submitted tomorrow afternoon as I will have limited acess to the internet due to decorating in my house for the next week.


Server Maintenance

Overnight we are performing several crucial updates to our servers.

We expect to be able to grant access to the site again early Sunday afternoon.

You will not be penalised any points if this period of downtime prevents you from completing your report.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Webmaster - 07/02/09 23:50

jessicamb

yup RE site just failed for me too

ah well, needed to get up in the morning anyway.

brryssn

Loolabell wrote: »

Hi all, just a quick question, have done a few jobs with Aba-i and got paid the £10 voucher, thing is im doing a "catalougue store" and the incentive is £15, when is this normally paid, i am assuming it's cash for this one?!?!?

Cheers!

Just looking at all my Abai jobs - about 20 in total - and they have all been paid in approx three weeks. It's great to have those crisp ten pound notes falling out of the envelopes! Sometimes three separate ones arrive on the same day, even for jobs with the same company ie "Catalogue shops" & "Designer Outlets".These are some my favourite jobs as I enjoy doing them and the report is easy. I like being able to add comments at the end to give an overview of the job too.

Lindz_Delirium

I am doing a food and drink job for RE today in a "rainy or sunny cutlery" pub. The reimbursement is £9.75 and I have to buy 2 specified drinks and a sunday roast. I notice the Sunday Roast comes with a drink, so if the drink I want is specified in the ones included with the Sunday Roast can I buy extra drinks at the end? Also, I am tking hubby and daughter so bill is likely to come to more than £9.75 so do I put in receipt for more tha reimbursement or should I get seperate receipts?

Confused?!!!!!

thanks all x