The Mystery Shopping thread - IX

BerryDelight

Hi All

Just a quicky - is there a limit to the number of pages you can claim as expenses? I normally print out the brief and a copy of the questionnaire 10-20 pages which I think is ok? However recently joined GapBusters and have had to print off all the manuals can I claim for these as well?

Clmac - TNS took nearly two weeks to come back and accept but has been worth it

Its toooo hooooot!

ladyxbird

GFK are very strange I accepted a bank job for them an hour or two ago and looked onto my scheduled visits and it had disappeared!

angel13

glitterjunkie wrote: »

Just a quick question to anyone who's done a GFK red and black bank and NOT been an account holder there. It says non-account holders can do the assignment too, but you have to have something to do at the counter - e.g. pay in some money or a cheque, change some coins etc. How the heck do you do that when you're not an account holder? Imagine the conversation - "Hello, can I pay in a cheque please...(hands over bank card/paying in book from a rival bank)...no I don't bank with you, but please can I pay it in anyway?!" They'd either think you'd lost the plot, or immediately click on you're a MS! Anyone got any ideas of what could be done instead?

I had the same query a whole ago and in the end cancelled the job as I could not see how i could possibly do it without looking like some weird security issue! if its the same you also have to check where machines are as well, who on earth would do this if they dont have an account!

Scaredy_Cat_3

glitterjunkie wrote: »

Just a quick question to anyone who's done a GFK red and black bank and NOT been an account holder there. It says non-account holders can do the assignment too, but you have to have something to do at the counter - e.g. pay in some money or a cheque, change some coins etc. How the heck do you do that when you're not an account holder? Imagine the conversation - "Hello, can I pay in a cheque please...(hands over bank card/paying in book from a rival bank)...no I don't bank with you, but please can I pay it in anyway?!" They'd either think you'd lost the plot, or immediately click on you're a MS! Anyone got any ideas of what could be done instead?

Just take ANY bill (with a giro payment slip at the bottom) and try to pay that. They will refuse and you say ok. That's all they want you to do.

They will refuse to accept payment (in my experience) even if they actually can take payment there. I have a catalogue account, which states on the bill you can pay either at your own bank or at this particular bank (which is the catalogue's bank) - they even refuse to let me pay that! They are appalling (in this respect anyway;))!!! Many years ago I wrote a complaint letter to my local branch about this very issue and they sent me £10 compensation and admitted they were in the wrong!!!

I think (if memory serves me correctly) you can even go and ask for change... they just want you to interact with the cashier.

mharzuk

glitterjunkie wrote: »

Oooh that is a fab idea...never thought of that! I think my nanna might bank with them actually, might just do that Thankyou very much x

You can pay some money into my account if you want. I might need to charge you a fee for the use......:D

Scaredy_Cat_3

angel13 wrote: »

I had the same query a whole ago and in the end cancelled the job as I could not see how i could possibly do it without looking like some weird security issue! if its the same you also have to check where machines are as well, who on earth would do this if they dont have an account!

I agree, I find these jobs very odd. I usually go to a little desk or something and make out like I am writing out a cheque ready to pay my bill (the one I know they will refuse to accept ) - this gives me a few minutes to glance around and see where things are... then I start browsing for leaflets But I think they do say you should ask where the machines are if you can't see them and this really is odd if you can't possibly use them.

I think this is one of those times where we should break out the I'm a Mystery Shopper t-shirt.

Clmac

thanks for the replies re TNS, will just have to be patient!

KaramelRose

YAY!! I'm so excited. Just got offered a place on the judging panel for a youth theatre funding thing so I'm off to London for a couple of days on the 8th and 13th! I didn't realise it but it's really well paid and they pay my expenses!

Will have to see if I can get some MS jobs to coincide with these visits once I know more details about where and when I've got to be there.

I've been dancing round the office!

creaker

I just asked for change for parking.

angel13

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I agree, I find these jobs very odd. I usually go to a little desk or something and make out like I am writing out a cheque ready to pay my bill (the one I know they will refuse to accept ) - this gives me a few minutes to glance around and see where things are... then I start browsing for leaflets But I think they do say you should ask where the machines are if you can't see them and this really is odd if you can't possibly use them.

I think this is one of those times where we should break out the I'm a Mystery Shopper t-shirt.

exactly next time i get one i will try and do it without looking too conspicuous! last time the first time i attempted to do it i could not find the branch and then when i rescheduled i had a good think and decided against it .... what sort of mystery shopper am i when i cant find the branch and i walked up and down repeatedly :rotfl: