The Mystery Shopping thread - IX

lily_the_pink

MO2 wrote: »

I am wondering if anyone can help me with this.

I failed a test for one Gap clients last year, and I wanted to take the test again. So I emailed them and asked for the test to be rested. I got the following reply: “The certification test we cannot reset due to a contractual agreement with the client”. Is this right? As I remember from this forum many were allowed to take the test once again after resting the test.

does that mean I will never be able to do the chicken ones then (as I failed miserably last year - mainly due to not reading the manual BEFORE taking the test) - oh no my life is at an end :rotfl:mind if I had failed the petrol or stamps one I would be annoyed.

scotsbob

In_Debt_Dean wrote: »

Very sorry to have upset you Holly

P.s. I'm not sure if you a referring to me as using MS as a way to "earn a lot of money" (and taking the Glasgow jobs from you). However, I am well aware of how much each MS pays and after spending hours reading details on the MS websites, I am also well aware that it is never going to replace an income. However, as jdan9 has shown in his signature, it can be a great supplement!

Anyways, I apologise again, I didn't mean to waste peoples time or clog up the board!

You shouldn't be apologising mate.

You have every right to Mystery Shop and every right to come here and ask for help, this is not a private club.

You posted earlier telling us you did your first job yesterday. How did it go? Come back and tell us how it went.

Don't be intimidated off the forum.

squeaky1055

Don`t forget to fill in the surveys on RE. It helps make up lost points, ie:job cancellations or change of date.

scotsbob

Hollypear wrote: »

SNIP

Mayer it is the recession but too many people are looking for a way to earn a lot of money. Well sorry you would be better off on the horses.

SNIP


Too many want it spoon fed and expect us to hand them a list of high paid assignments. Then they want us to help them with the tests to get into some compies.

SNIP
Too many people dont do a search so we are continually answering the same old, same old.

Maybe I sound selfish but when I started I went through all the trials like Tern trials,

And many will slag me for this but I am in Glasgow. There are more posters there than anywhere else. I worked hard to get good relations with my companies so if I gice out all the tests on getting accepted there are less jobs for me.

Or am I being selfish.

Opinions welcomed.

Well as you have invited opinions.

Anyone thinking they will get rich will only stick at MS for a month or two at the most, then they will find something else.

For many people £200 a month could be the difference between financial survival and getting into debt.

For someone just made redundant, for a single parent struggling to bring up a kiddie, for a pensioner struggling to get by, for someone desperate to keep out of the clutches of a money lender, £200 could make a huge difference.

Even in a really good month, with lots of jobs I might get £250 -300 that might just pay my bar tab for a weekend. For someone else here, it's a months bills paid.

People Mystery Shop for different reasons. Some to make a bit extra for a holiday or a luxury, some do it as a hobby to keep occupied, some do it for a bit of fun. However a lot of people are doing it to keep their head above water and if they need help a forum like this is where they will come.

If someone is struggling to get by financially and comes here needing help I'm not going to refuse them.

Becles

Hollypear wrote: »

Too many want it spoon fed and expect us to hand them a list of high paid assignments. Then they want us to help them with the tests to get into some compies.

No offence intended to anyone but I'm not keen on the MS challenge threads and targets in sigs. I think it sends out the wrong message as it makes it look like MS is easy money to make, so people come on here expecting to make a fortune "just like that" but don't realise the work you have to put in, or that you need to build up relationships with some companies. That's why I haven't joined in.

I don't mind helping out people on here if they are making an effort and are genuinely confused with something. I'll not help newbies who come on just expecting to be spoon fed into highly paid jobs, as that's not fair on everyone else who has got off their bum and done the groundwork.

My little one has got chicken pox, so I'm hastily rescheduling everything as my parents are on holiday so I'm confined to home! Husband is going to see if he can finish early tomorrow, so I'll be flying round tomorrow afternoon doing all my jobs.

Loolabell_2

Good morning!!

Just wanted to post on here i have had to release a supermarket job onto TNS, no point posting on Alerts as it is just the one, hope it's useful for sosmeone (It's for Saturday...)

blindman

paul2funky wrote: »

Hi guys......

First post for me on here but been reading this forum for a while.
.....have been mystery shopping since May.... and much more now since I was made redundant from my job as a recruitment consultant at the end of June :mad:

Have done quite a few jobs with RE and GAP also one each with TNS and ABAi....but whats the score with BARE jobs......I applied to do a rather well paid one with them recently (£17 fee) and never heard anything back - do you have to chase them as a rule or is it just more luck that that they pick you to do the job?

I realise it was very early this morning but I suggest you read the forum again as the answer is there (several times as this is a FAQ.);)

duchy

I don't think it's a case of "refusing" I think it's a case that many people on here have invested time in building up their companies and their reputation with the companies. It is understandable when posts appear from people who say things like "I booked six jobs but the MS company now won't change the dates to suit me" as if it is a right that a company will change submission dates that you've already agreed to rather than an agreement made at the time of accepting the assignment. Messing them around does none of us any good as the more reliable the shoppers are and the higher the standard of reports the more clients will use MS rather than other methods. (I'm not saying never change assignments-we've all at times shuffled assignments either to make them more profitable when others come up in the same locality or because of life happening).

I think people are more than happy to help those who want to help themselves but are loathe to help those who see it as a quick buck grab everything going and then cancel the lot or want nothing but shortcuts and aren't even motivated to read the first page.

In a recession it's inevitable more people will be drawn to mystery shop either to top up an dwindling income or as a stop gap. Yes some will do a couple of joibs and then not bother again or not even do that job. Arguably that may impact on all of us if MSers are seen as "unreliable" although I'd hope the better companies will see it for what it really is.

There's a huge difference between helping and spoonfeeding. No-one is trying to make things harder but there is a perception that some people will simply take and never give back (ie not share what they learned or never post to alerts etc). The more that attitude is seen the more cautious people will be if they feel their goodwill is been taken advantage of.

I don't think that is selfish.

EDIT I do agree that the Challenge thread may be giving the wrong message too-good point. A more interesting challenge might be who can do the biggest variety of jobs in a month

duchy

paul2funky wrote: »

Hi guys......

but whats the score with BARE jobs......I applied to do a rather well paid one with them recently (£17 fee) and never heard anything back - do you have to chase them as a rule or is it just more luck that that they pick you to do the job?

If you do a search for "Bare" on the top right hand corner of this page (change it from Main site to Forum ) all will become clear -well as clear as anything is with Bare but at least you'll know you're not alone in your confusion

blindman

As I said earlier , this thread is amateurish there are other better resources for the serious Mystery shopper.

BTW
If you're annoyed by the newbie spoonfed requests and repeat questions then just wait a week or so, they'll soon go away.