The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

bumblebee23

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I'd love to know how the staff know in advance that they are getting MS'd on a particular day and how they know what the MSer is going to order etc. It makes a mockery of the whole thing... I assume they get leaked this info from management. But I still don't understand why the companies would pay out for someone to MS the place if they then leak the info on what to expect to the staff... which then distorts the MS report. Or am I missing something?

To be honest, it's all starting to look like a game.

I don't think it's the same for all retailers but when I worked for a well known beauty retailer (they aren't shopped anymore but don't know if I can name them!) head office would tell us exactly which week we would be shopped... we also knew what areas of the store they would be looking at, pharmacy, tills, add ons etc We didn't know the specific day but obviously in that week you would have more staff than normal and everyone would be drilled on how to behave and what to say to all customers... Kind of defeats the point really, and I used to think that even then!

owlet

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Don't some cafes have loads of ice around the supplies of yoghurts and that kind of thing?

EDIT: Cherry Pie - you beat me to it - you must have posted just as I was checking my spelling!!!!

Ahhhh thanks scaredy & cherry - that's probably it!! The yoghurts were out of stock, so that's probably why there were no ice packs. Mind you the position for them was in the chiller . Ok, I'll just mark it as 'no' lol.

owlet

I think RE are about to post loads of jobs, there are headers on my screen going from April to July - but nothing there yet. Keep refreshing!

scubaangel

Ive got a load of airport jobs under those owlet, might be that you have those options unchecked so dont see them?

Lindz_Delirium

I am doing a supermarket job for TNS next week and the shopping list lists items "good enough to buy" - does that mean I have to buy those items?

xxvickixx

No, Linz, I never have. I judge it as if I had the items on my shopping list would I buy them in the condition they are in, if the veg looks floppy or the meat is all brown for example I would say no. I guess this is a subjective one really, if you say no they will want comments as to what was wrong with the item. HTH x

ruthiejane

Lindz_Delirium wrote: »

I am doing a supermarket job for TNS next week and the shopping list lists items "good enough to buy" - does that mean I have to buy those items?

No - just would you buy them if you wanted to. There is nothing specific that you have to buy, just questions to ask, and products to look at! You do have to spend some money but can buy whatever you like.

mtem74

Imagine my excitment to find 60 jobs on RE. If only I could do 1 of them. Either trains or airside airports, with only a couple near to where I actually live. lol

owlet

scubaangel wrote: »

Ive got a load of airport jobs under those owlet, might be that you have those options unchecked so dont see them?

I do have airside unchecked, but I still see them when they appear! Maybe they are ever hopeful lol. EDIT: They have just appeared and you are quite right, airport but landside. It would be worth my while if there were three or four outlets that needed visiting.

On the plus side, GYP have just phoned and in return for taking two crummy burger jobs, I have got two petrol jobs & one small supermarket . Another bonus is that one of the burger jobs is breakfast & I actually quite like the breakfasts there . Meant to ask them about underground sandwich shops but forgot :mad: . There are two in my town & I never see any jobs for them. I'll have to email them!

ellie9ellie

Well I see were debating the phones then!!!! I did think of the Iphone but it seems to have a lot of stuff on there that I just wouldn't use. As long as it has "Quick" access to e-mails, a good camera and an MP3 player I'll be happy. I go back to work in June and apparently work have really cracked down on using the internet whilst in work so if I need to check my e-mails for MS jobs I will need to pop to the loo!!

Hope everyone's questions have been answered. When it comes to MSing jobs I don't mind one way or another if I get "found out". I'm there to do a job, I have my brief and I do it to the best of my ability. Luckily I've only been spotted once at a Golden Arches back last year. They clocked me as soon as I asked for a receipt. That is why I do audits as well - I don't mind them knowing who I am. I have, however, had to give up doing my two local golden arches (no laughing now please!!!). I found out that the dad of one of the mums I had befriended at my DD's school owned the franchise to them and I didn't want her to find out that I was the one doing the mystery shop - no more free burgers for me - my hips are very grateful though!