The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Scaredy_Cat_3

glitterjunkie wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Just got a quick question that I'd really appreciate some help on, if poss! It's regarding a supermarket job for TNS - I know I'm not allowed to post the name up here, so am hoping someone will have psychic powers and magically guess which one it is; it's a major chain, if that helps at all!

I've read through the briefing pack and the questionnaire, but am still confused... the questionnaie lists loads of different departments which you're supposed to visit and ask a question in each one. I don't think I have to visit them all.... but I'm just having trouble working out which ones I *do* actually have to visit - how do you find out? Is it just the ones on your 'shopping list'? I'll be there all night if it's all of them!

Thanks in advance! I am slowly ploughing through all the info in this thread and have actually read up to p.98, but doubt I'll be able to read much more before I have to do the job!

Scaredy Cat - I totally agree re. GAP travel agents! I did one last week, and after completing it I think the fee should have been double what it was! Took me 40 mins to actually get out of the shop, and then nearly the same again to do the report as they wanted comments. Not doing one of those again!

Glad you said that - I feel better now. I did have a slight twinge of doubt as I walked past the travel agent this morning, but now I'm sure it wasn't worth it. Pathetic fee!

Anyway, with regard to the TNS supermarkets... I have exactly the same problem every time I get them - their briefing notes are soooo confusing! Anyway, I did one today and am just preparing my notes for another one tomorrow, so I think I can help. What's really annoying is I spent ages checking out a number of items (like the community notice board... the notes said if you can't find it, ASK someone) only to find not a single question on that in the report! Also had to get a yucky cup of tea in a dirty cup in the cafe, and again, not a single question about it!

Right, you have to do everything on the shopping list. In addition, if you look on page one of the Briefing Notes (not the Questionnaire), that shows which departments you have to check. However, if you wait 30 seconds and there is no-one in that section you can just leave it and move on to the next one.

Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you need more help. I am just writing up my notes for tomorrow and trying to figure out exactly which bits I need to do, as well!

bumblebee23

Hollypear wrote: »

As you all know I hate Gyp. It puzzles me why so many of you go for a crap burger or pizza etc Plus time it takes you to get there and back and do the report. Plus you are asked for a receipt giving the game away. And don;t you dare contact them by phone or you are sacked.

Can someone tell me what you gain from doing jobs for them as I did 1 job in Dec which was a pizza delivery. Now I can but a pizza of good quality in Asda /wherever for £3. This 1 cost £17.

Did I get reimbursed.....Nup

Did I contact Gyp. No can't be a**** got a life to lead.

Yet read on another MS forum people almost bereft cos Gyp had dumped them...Beats me.

I actually *shock horror* quite like the burgers/pizzas... I'm a junk food junkie! I personally have a full time job and can afford to only do the shops that interest me or that I'm going to be in that area anyway... I just do it for the lols really!

The very second I start paying to commute to areas purely for a burger shop, or worrying over what some jumped up GAP worker thinks of my report I will give it up though!

I can see your point though, I've noticed a lot of people 'moaning' about the jobs they have CHOSEN to do... if ya don't like 'em, don't do 'em!!!

Timmne

bumblebee23 wrote: »

I can see your point though, I've noticed a lot of people 'moaning' about the jobs they have CHOSEN to do... if ya don't like 'em, don't do 'em!!!

I think people generally moan because they have to complete far more work than the brief stated originally, or the questionnaire requires too much detail than is reasonable. I don't think I remember seeing any moaning about jobs where people have completely been aware of the requirements....

pebblespop

i did a job in the railway station tonight and i had to buy a steak pasty.
guess how much the pasty was????



£2.80!! i nearly fell through the floor! it wasn't even that good!!

minniepoos_2

Right - I've signed up with 3 MS companies and have my first two jobs on thursday! Doing a telecommunications retailer (!) with GFK in the afternoon, then going for a pub meal on RE in the evening.

I've read and re-read everything - now going to start re-re-reading to make sure I get it all! I'd been wanting to do this for ages, so hope I enjoy it and get it all right, now I've finally got around to signing up!

Keeping my fingers crossed, and thought I'd better say thankyou to all on here for letting me lurk for the past few weeks and soak up all your knowledge!

Will let you all know how I get on...

nads

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Glad you said that - I feel better now. I did have a slight twinge of doubt as I walked past the travel agent this morning, but now I'm sure it wasn't worth it. Pathetic fee!

Anyway, with regard to the TNS supermarkets... I have exactly the same problem every time I get them - their briefing notes are soooo confusing! Anyway, I did one today and am just preparing my notes for another one tomorrow, so I think I can help. What's really annoying is I spent ages checking out a number of items (like the community notice board... the notes said if you can't find it, ASK someone) only to find not a single question on that in the report! Also had to get a yucky cup of tea in a dirty cup in the cafe, and again, not a single question about it!

Right, you have to do everything on the shopping list. In addition, if you look on page one of the Briefing Notes (not the Questionnaire), that shows which departments you have to check. However, if you wait 30 seconds and there is no-one in that section you can just leave it and move on to the next one.

Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you need more help. I am just writing up my notes for tomorrow and trying to figure out exactly which bits I need to do, as well!

Scaredy I was in exactly the same position as you sitting in a car park at 12 noon today. Wondering why I took the job in the first place, must have spent about 50 mins in total reading and re-reading over and over again trying to figure out the depts you need to check I thought screw it, in the end I opted for the 5 mandatory ones and 2 compulasory ones and just went ballistic going down the aisles, ype yep thats good yep yep tahts bad...blah blah..


and those f"*&^$"*"* internet trolleys... I'd like to see them on Gladiators.

KSG1970

KSG1970 wrote: »

Quick question re the shop that sells stamps... Do you have to have a particular debit card as I completed the initial questions then it said I couldn't proceed ?

Can anyone help me here ?

Thanks.

owlet

Please can anyone confirm that I have got the gist of the GFK bingo job?

The fee is £xx which you get paid in full. Expenses come out of that fee?

The brief says that the fee includes main session only - does that mean that I can't play the other games or just that it is at my expense?

I am thinking that they state the spends to show the split between paid expenses and your fee within the £xx they are paying??

Sorry if I am being thick! Thanks x

Scaredy_Cat_3

KSG1970 wrote: »

Can anyone help me here ?

Thanks.

I haven't done one of these but I did do the test ages ago. I have a vague memory that the notes do state you can only use certain debit cards. Can't remember which ones they are, though. Sorry.

tigergold

KSG1970 wrote: »

Can anyone help me here ?

Thanks.

From what I rememebr, if you are talking about gap stamp jobs, i think you do need a particular type of debit card. I answered the questions and said no i don't have this type of card, so never done a job for them. Maybe someone else can confirm