The Mystery Shopping thread - IX

lisainglasgow

Well I'm back from Aberdeen, the nightclub visit went well, no big problems apart from when I tried to enter the timings onto my report it wouldn't accept that I entered at 11pm one day and left at 1.45am the next day! So I had to put in the wrong timings for it. I did put an explanatory note in my report but no doubt it will get queried by RE.
Also I tried to do a phone job for Bare when I arrived - but the shop was mobbed! There was a queue of 8 people at the counter, and a further 7 people waiting to be seen to by the enquiry people. I went back a couple more time but the queue was the same, and the shop would have closed by the time I would have been see. I have written them an email to explain all of this, and I did make a note of the things that I could in the shop like how clean it was and the amount of handsets out etc, but I don't have much hope that I will be paid. :mad:

mharzuk

Hollypear wrote: »

Ta mharzuk you are in Glasgow too aren't you. See instead of sequins just pin in some Valium tablets.

Thanks HP, I'm a bit further South than you but sometimes for a day out I'll visit the bright lights of the big city.
If you let me know which padded cell you will be in for the summer I'll pop in and give you an update on the world of MS according to MSE......:D

lisainglasgow

lisainglasgow wrote: »

Well I'm back from Aberdeen, the nightclub visit went well, no big problems apart from when I tried to enter the timings onto my report it wouldn't accept that I entered at 11pm one day and left at 1.45am the next day! So I had to put in the wrong timings for it. I did put an explanatory note in my report but no doubt it will get queried by RE.
Also I tried to do a phone job for Bare when I arrived - but the shop was mobbed! There was a queue of 8 people at the counter, and a further 7 people waiting to be seen to by the enquiry people. I went back a couple more time but the queue was the same, and the shop would have closed by the time I would have been see. I have written them an email to explain all of this, and I did make a note of the things that I could in the shop like how clean it was and the amount of handsets out etc, but I don't have much hope that I will be paid. :mad:

Suprise surprise my timings were queried by RE at the nightclub - even though I clearly stated the exact times in the first line of my report, as well as telling them the issue with their system!

Scaredy_Cat_3

cte1111 wrote: »

When I go with the OH and kids, we order a starter, large pizza and 2 drinks, which is exactly what it says on the scenario. We take the kids' water bottles with us, so don't need to order any extra items. It does say extra items must be on another bill, which would look so odd to ask for a couple of items for your children on another receipt, so this seems the best way to do it for me.

We do the same. However, it has evolved a bit in recent months! In addition to the stipulated starter, pizza and 2 drinks, hubby also gets a salad bowl sometimes, and the kids also have a dessert sometimes. It means we end up spending more than the reimbursement, but Gap have never queried my bill and have always paid up (so far ). I did query it with them when I first registered with them because I was confused that the brief said they would only pay for 2 people, but they emailed back and confirmed it was ok to take the kids along - as long as we only report on the items stipulated.

Another little point - someone mentioned emailing Gap to ask about whether you can use coupons or not. I *think* it's safest not to as every brief I've read has always said you can't. Although I think some people have used coupons and still been paid, so who knows?... Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that I don't think you can rely on the email reply from Gap to be correct...

I remember a few months ago I got a brief which didn't mention that I was not allowed to order pineapple (this had always been on previous briefs). I emailed Gap for clarification, and they replied saying I definitely could NOT order pineapple. I commented on here that I thought that was unfair as how could any newbies be expected to know that if they hadn't seen the old briefs. That was when I found out they had more than one brief in circulation and some did allow pineapple and some didn't. Mine did allow pineapple, but Gap had told me it didn't (I know it did because on subsequent visits with the same briefs, I ordered pineapple and got paid). So, my theory is that Gap don't bother to check the specific brief when replying to emails (unless mine was just a one-off mistake).

Loolabell_2

Hollypear wrote: »

Is it just me being a pain but I am thinking of jacking in most MS'ing.

Right we cannot mention clients and link the fees to them so I am not breaking rules here as I am notioning the MS'ing company here or the client but for clarity I need to mention the fee.

I did 2 fashion shops yesterday. Fee £8 per shop. It is a purchase and return fee. Forgive me if I am being stupid but when an assistant has spent ages discussing an outfit with me and all the paffle ( my new word) of wrapping it etc paying etc etc. I dont think it is feasable (sp) to return it the same day as that looks odd.

So that is 2 trips into a major town centre ...parking etc. So that adds up at around 2 hours. Then another say 1 hour to return it. It is not RE but loads of questions. What did the assistant say. What did she say on approach. Why did she recommend that garment. What did she say about the material. What did she say about caring for the garment. Did she take care in wrapping the garment??? The only question they have missed is "What did the assistant say about what is our reason for living"

Cos by this time I was wondering why i am on the planet....and which planet I am on cos by now I don't flaming know. I feel as if I am on Mars.

I got to the end of the mega questionnaire and guess what.....aaaarrrrgggggghhhhh


The they want a summary of the whole !!!!!!! thing.

Well by now I am thing stick the garment where the monkey hides his nuts.

I am now going totally radio gaga.

I have worked out the time to do the shop, travel there and back, return the garment ( for any eejits out there it is a Scottish( well Glasgow word) which I will happily explain , do the report which took me 1 1/2 hours. another 1 hour to return it and a !!!!!!! summary of that. Almost 5 hours for £8.

Stop the bus I am off to India to sew sequins onto tea shirts. Probably earn more.

Comments welcomed.

PS Those who know me will just go ...Ah there she goes our HP on another rant. Newbies will run for cover.

I will welcome comments while I await on men with white coats coming to cart me to the loonie bin.

Hi HP,

Funny that was thinking the same thing on Thursday when i had a similar experience.... to be honest i know i am going to have to gve it up soon as i am planning on doing a bit of "Round the world" travelling, which we had planned to do a long time ago.................too long a story, anyway i know more recently i have become more choosy with the assignments i pick, i remember i used to pick anything that came up... and by time i had completed everything it was less than the minimum wage! I love MSing though.... i supose it helps to build up a good profile with the "better" companies.

Hope you have a good day all.......... not got much booked in for the rest of the month just two this week, but a have a major auditing job for alcohol this month!!

flyer

As predicted, all TNS Area Managers have been made redundant. A sad day.

lisainglasgow

flyer wrote: »

As predicted, all TNS Area Managers have been made redundant. A sad day.

Who predicted this? My area manager had PMT I think - sometimes she was really nice and other times she was so rude, even when I was asking a query in a nice way.

Loolabell_2

lisainglasgow wrote: »

Who predicted this? My area manager had PMT I think - sometimes she was really nice and other times she was so rude, even when I was asking a query in a nice way.

Ditto!!! :rotfl:

lisainglasgow

Loolabell wrote: »

Ditto!!! :rotfl:

As we are both in Glasgow I think we may have had the same AM? :rotfl:

Loolabell_2

lisainglasgow wrote: »

As we are both in Glasgow I think we may have had the same AM? :rotfl:

Yep, i used to think it was a man aswell, as i never really read her full name!!! :rotfl:
Just read about your Aberdeen assignments!!! you don't have much luck eh...i hope it gets sorted for you :rolleyes: