The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Loolabell_2

P.S i also got an email from TNS, but have also got another one to say ignore , as it was a mistake.

nads

ukmonkey wrote: »

Aye, I signed up on Monday, and still there are no jobs showing as available! :-(

I've applied today for TNS and GFK too...we'll see what happens with those.

Good job! My personal opinion is try and get as much as you can from Gfk and TNS, avoid GapBuster and if you haven't already join Retail Eyes as they are reasonable but just like GapBuster, don't go out of your way!

superhez

nads wrote: »

Good job! My personal opinion is try and get as much as you can from Gfk and TNS, avoid GapBuster and if you haven't already join Retail Eyes as they are reasonable but just like GapBuster, don't go out of your way!

I have just done my first job for gapbuster, can I ask why everyone avoids them is it just the low pay or are they difficult to work for. I have just done a travel agent which was quite low but I thought not too bad for half an hours work.

Timmne

I could answer that or I could just be nasty and tell you to have a peruse of the past 4000+ posts

They're poo to work for, occasionally - although there are a few GAP fans here, who will change their tune when they get their random gap-sacking!

nads

superhez wrote: »

I have just done my first job for gapbuster, can I ask why everyone avoids them is it just the low pay or are they difficult to work for. I have just done a travel agent which was quite low but I thought not too bad for half an hours work.

I've been open minded about Gap but I'm starting to come around and this is why:

1. Controversial but I actually believe that if you give a generally report especially for one of their golden friends they don't like it and will try and find a sneaky to way to prevent paying you.

2. There fees are incredibly low in comparison to the amount of work involved.

3. There's no guarantee you will ever be paid. Tendancy is, if they don't like they'll email you and no replied will be responded too.

Here two recent examples that make me cause for concern:

1. I did a stamp job for them with a minimum spend limit of £5, mine came to £4.45, which was no fault of mine. The sales assistant forgot to charge me and give me my stamps. Not my fault, but was an indication of the service. Still not going to pay me. They made the job public again.

2. I've just done a travel agent visit like you. Part of the agreement is that we upload a quote that we receive. Due to technical issues this wasn't possible. I did get a business card but there is no guarantee I will be paid by them, as it's not all the information they want.

They always find a way to wriggle out of paying. Don't do too much for them because they will never do the same for you!

nads

Forgot to say, join GRG too (see first post), I love them, just can't get much work with them!

They have the right balance between work involved in a job and the amount of relevant feedback required by them. I have never had a callback or a rejected visit from them.

superhez

nads wrote: »

I've been open minded about Gap but I'm starting to come around and this is why:

1. Controversial but I actually believe that if you give a generally report especially for one of their golden friends they don't like it and will try and find a sneaky to way to prevent paying you.

2. There fees are incredibly low in comparison to the amount of work involved.

3. There's no guarantee you will ever be paid. Tendancy is, if they don't like they'll email you and no replied will be responded too.

Here two recent examples that make me cause for concern:

1. I did a stamp job for them with a minimum spend limit of £5, mine came to £4.45, which was no fault of mine. The sales assistant forgot to charge me and give me my stamps. Not my fault, but was an indication of the service. Still not going to pay me. They made the job public again.

2. I've just done a travel agent visit like you. Part of the agreement is that we upload a quote that we receive. Due to technical issues this wasn't possible. I did get a business card but there is no guarantee I will be paid by them, as it's not all the information they want.

They always find a way to wriggle out of paying. Don't do too much for them because they will never do the same for you!

Thanks for that Nads, M'mm I have quite a bit booked in for them for the next couple of weeks, a bit doubtful about doing them now.

I didn't get a printed quote either, asked for one but she said she would just write the prices on the brochure!

The brief did say "if only a business card can be obtained" so i thought it would be ok, but maybe not by the sounds of it.

How long do they normally take to get back to you if they have problems?

nads

If you couldn't get a quote they wanted a business card

There's a very high chance that soon as you submit your paperwork it will come back and say something about it going into Pending - it's a running joke with them :rolleyes:

They can get in touch with you at anytime to be honest but the first 24 hours are the usual time. I don't think there is a way to see what payments you will receive from them.

Timmne

I think the problem is with them, is that they have a handful of clients but they're probably some of the biggest clients possible in the UK - three of whom are part of a massive group.

This means that they will do anything to avoid upsetting them and will 99% of the time, believe the client (i.e. bonus hungry, CCTV watching manager) over the shopper, who is reporting as they see it.

GAP have cut all telephone contact unless it's on their terms (when they need you) and if you dare call them on the UK number, they'll sack you. If you email them, they'll ignore it.

nads

Timmne wrote: »

I think the problem is with them, is that they have a handful of clients but they're probably some of the biggest clients possible in the UK - three of whom are part of a massive group.

This means that they will do anything to avoid upsetting them and will 99% of the time, believe the client (i.e. bonus hungry, CCTV watching manager) over the shopper, who is reporting as they see it.

GAP have cut all telephone contact unless it's on their terms (when they need you) and if you dare call them on the UK number, they'll sack you. If you email them, they'll ignore it.

I knew you couldn't resist