The Mystery Shopping thread - VIII

flyer

duchy wrote: »

I just completed it afterwards-no comeback yet but only submitted it yesterday

I'd risk it for one but I've got 3 today!

jdan9

I can't remember if its possible to go back and change things with GAP. If it is, you could always put some random times in, get thru to the next stage, then after you've done the visit, go back and put in the correct times?

johnny_c-l

flyer wrote: »

I can see the questionnaire but how do I enter the results if I haven't been? I have to state left and right etc

Just make a note of your answers (on a scrap of paper or something) and fill it in online as usual after the visit. Never had a problem with this, and have always been paid.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Hollypear wrote: »

Right I am dealing now with RE. Firsly I phoned and told them the website is down again. They disoute this and say it IS working. So can some of you try and log in and post what you get.

Coincidentally I went to a RE chemist and the girl was giggling about MS'ers, I said "Whats a MS'er??? She said we know who they are as they ask for hay fever tablets and advice on weight reduction. She has several friends who work for this shemist and 1 shopper was thin as a rake so it looked odd her asking for weight reduction. She joked they might as well have I am mystery shopper tatooed on the forehead.
So the account holder of this job is going to phone me back to discuss this. As I tolf RE about this and pointed out how stupid the scenario is and are they happy we are identified by the obvious scenario.

I would welcome any input on this, Maybe they will say we should go in with padding and wear 6 coats to look fat.

What a shame you weren't there to MS the place! Would have been great to listen to all that and then ask for hayfever tablets and weight loss stuff!:rotfl: I think I would have bottled it and left, but would love to see their faces!

It really is a farce, isn't it? I thought Gap was bad enough with telling them what times the MSer will be there, and then making us ask for a receipt, but looks like RE are heading that way, too.

jdan9

johnny_c-l wrote: »

Just make a note of your answers (on a scrap of paper or something) and fill it in online as usual after the visit. Never had a problem with this, and have always been paid.

This seems the best option. I doubt that they have any facility for recording if something is entered into the report before everything else - I think they just have to trust you.

nads

It was just a really illogical scenario, they tried to be greedy by asking us to do three parts instead of two.

Scaredy_Cat_3

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

That's not a very good idea, though, is it, because then he'll get a bad write up!

Anyhow ... TNS ... I'm doing my first "big" supermarket shop for them tomorrow. I've only even done small supermarkets for them.

Just looking at the paperwork, oh my goodness, there are so many departments I have to visit and ask questions. Do I have to make a note of the persons name and description in every department? There are about 20 different areas I need to visit!

I've done a few of these, and find them a nightmare. Half the problem is that they make you wait 3 or 4 months before you can do the same place again, so when you are finally allowed, you've forgotten all the stuff you learned the first time that would have helped.

I only picked up one this round, and am 99% decided I won't bother with any more after this. They really are ridiculous - you have to do so much, it's just not worth the fee - and then (as someone else said) they make you pay for an overpriced coffee in a dirty cup and sit and try to look natural. And then they don't ask any bloomin' questions about it! I spent ages once looking for a community notice board to check the notices were all up to date - and it wasn't even mentioned on the report! That's what's annoying - the questionnaire is so confusing you are never sure exactly what you have to look for - many times I find half the stuff I've checked doesn't come up on the report at all. :mad:

When I've had a run of 3 or 4 to do, the latter ones are much easier because you have already seen the questionnaire - goodness knows why they won't let us see the questionnaire beforehand - it would make life so much easier.

The only good thing is that if there is no-one in a dept after 30 secs you can scratch that one off the list and move on.

TractorGirl327

Thanks to all who commented about the TNS supermarket job. Why can't they just let us print off a copy of the questionnaire we'll be filling in rather than a general one which is actually of s*d all use?

Scaredy_Cat_3

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

Thanks to all who commented about the TNS supermarket job. Why can't they just let us print off a copy of the questionnaire we'll be filling in rather than a general one which is actually of s*d all use?

Agreed! I really do think I will boycott these jobs after this one. I'm actually tempted to cancel it anyway because it now conflicts with somewhere else I'd like to go, but I don't like to cancel unless absolutely necessary.

And then the worst is buying a bar of chocolate for about 39p in the garage... and asking for the receipt!!!! :rotfl:

nads

flyer wrote: »

Whoops. Sorry! First time I've posted here.

Thanks flyer We all appreciate everyone posted alerts