The Mystery Shopping Thread - X

Hollypear

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

Hello, new poster here...I have been a Mystery Shopper for many years and didn't know this forum existed until recently. I firstly want to say that there are some lovely helpful people on here with some great tips (and not just for newbies...I have added a couple of tricks up my sleeve so thanks everyone.:j


I would like to comment on this quote:

ISWMLE wrote: »

...." It seems to me that a lot of these MS client profiles are mainly aimed at the 'popular' end of the retail market too - fast food chains, chain pubs, mobile phone companies etc. None of which I'd dream of visiting as a normal customer very often. I haven't yet seen any 'up market' eating or public houses being listed for MS visits.

The "popular" jobs are where you gain your experience in the early days....prove yourself and more rewarding assignments follow. The Client is looking at the overall experience of their "typical customer" and as these are places you wouldn't dream of visiting then your comments would be of no value in a typical scenario. Granted if they wished for feedback from customer's who wouldn't normally frequent their establishments then they would compile a brief and approach suitable panel members to carry out the job.


I feel however, ISWMLE that you will not be selected for “‘up market' eating or public houses" as you fail to see that some of your comments are just unnecessary and definitely not constructive.

Comments such as:

"staffed by ethnic minority staff, and clearly located off the high street. Therefore, it was only likely to be visited by similar people that lived in the area."

do not reflect the service you are receiving. If you feel out of place in some assignments then quite frankly I feel you shouldn't do them. How can you be objective if you have pre-conceived ideas?

I think you have shown that you do not have the correct mind set to be a successful Mystery Shopper and it is no wonder that RE have removed you from their panel.

ISWMLE wrote: »

May I give you a warm welcome to the forum Roseviolet. I hope you will enjoy it here and am sure you will be a helpful source.

I do so agree with you. I once did an assignment where I was to pose as an investor who had £25,000. Mind you this was only after I had proved myself to this company with far more menial jobs. So off I swan dressed to kill . Actually the lady teller swatted me off like a fly and said rudely and curtly "I have not signed on yet you will have to go to another window."

So after eventually getting an appointment and having a long involved discussion with a financial adviser I did my report. I expressed no opinion. I felt my role was to let the bank "experience" through my eyes what a genuine customer may experience. I merely said that the fact I received such an unfortunate 1st impression that had I been a "genuine" customer I would have gone to another bank.

There is no better way for a bank or similar institution to know what the customer experience is genuinely like.

My feedback said the bank very much appreciated my feedback and thought my reporting skills were excellent.

My point is as you say that is what the companies want. You to pose as one of their normal type of customers.

And those who know me well will confirm I am indeed a poser.

felixthemoggy

pinkprincess39 wrote: »

Hee Hee all day audits on RE for music shop just been posted and also jobs to go under cover and check up on the auditors!!!

Just been reading the previous posts on this subject - sounds quite interesting even if you don't take the job I suppose you could always go along if you're in town to have a nosey at the other mystery shoppers conducting the exit surveys. - That way you'll still be able to enter the competition and meet and greet them without messing up RE's results !!!

Beckfordbaby

I have just found this forum today, although I've been a MS for 5 years and love the challenge. I think this forum is great as it is a lonely job sometimes. It is great to hear other MS views. Does anyone else notice the reduction in fees recently?
I did ask in a previous message today if anyone knew which company did MS for Marks & Spencer and Boots. My main reason for saying this is I am sick of the poor service in both of these stores, and I'm not alone in my opinion.
Happy shopping to all my fellow MS.

Hollypear

AndyInYorks wrote: »

Welcome to the forum Rosey, excellent first post.

I would just add that with the GAP burger etc jobs, before you accept the job one of the questions you have to answer is "Do you enjoy eating fast food?" - and if you say no you don't get the job. So you should not be accepting burger etc jobs if you don't like these places.

I would add there are more upmarket places but due to the costs involved etc the MS companies only tend to allocate these to proven, experienced and reliable shoppers.

Well I will be a shoe in for one of those. Last time I had tea with Her Maj she complimented me on the way I held my pinkie up while sipping char from the Royal china. One of those blasted Corgi's through ran off with the cucumber sannies so I had to go get a cheap burger

ukmonkey

pinkprincess39 wrote: »

Can you imagine( for example only!) Monkey doing the audits and getting checked up by TG !! :rotfl:HA HA HA

Why's that so funny?! :o

She seems like a cool lass, we'd have a laugh I'm sure!

felixthemoggy

Whilst I've got a minute I was just wondering if ESA reported back to the competitor travel agents because todays shop was [STRIKE]attrocious[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]atrocious[/STRIKE] disgraceful. I asked to book a late deal going anytime next week and the travel agent gave me a brochure and said to come back when I had decided where I wanted to go !!!:eek: helloooooo !!!!!!!
I really want them to get a copy of my report but alas I fear they won't.

Rosy_Violet

Hollypear "My point is as you say that is what the companies want. You to pose as one of their normal type of customers.

And those who know me well will confirm I am indeed a poser."



Thanks Hollypear :j

There's nothing I like more than posing!
I love thinking into my roles....In one day I can go from hiring something on the never never because of my CCJs to paying cash for a classy motor!

Lead us to the stage!:dance:

ukmonkey

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

How silly of RE...

I wonder how many questions you have to ask the punters? A good few hours entering 80 questionnaires...making you work hard for your money.

• Hello Madam, I'm conducting survey on behalf of the shop you've just left. Would you mind answerering a few questions? Yes/No
• Could you please qualify that answer with a comment?
• Sorry your comment must be at least 50 words ( approx 30 characters)
• Did you make a purchadse today? Y/N
• How much did it cost?
• Did you pay with cash?
• If yes, what years was embossed on the coins that we handed over? If you did not pay with coins, what were the serial numbers of the notes that you paid with?
• How many different buttons did the till boy press on his till?
• What was the barcode number of the third item purchased by the person who has JUST walked out. There...look, her over there...

--

I dread to think....

Hollypear

Beckfordbaby wrote: »

I have just found this forum today, although I've been a MS for 5 years and love the challenge. I think this forum is great as it is a lonely job sometimes. It is great to hear other MS views. Does anyone else notice the reduction in fees recently?
I did ask in a previous message today if anyone knew which company did MS for Marks & Spencer and Boots. My main reason for saying this is I am sick of the poor service in both of these stores, and I'm not alone in my opinion.
Happy shopping to all my fellow MS.

I shall PM you. Welcome to our happy forum. Well it normally is.

You are dead right. I did MS'ing for about a year or so then discovered this forum one day doing a google search for something else. I have been here ever since. As it is very lonely at times and some things stump even us more experienced ones. Especially some of the companies you only get the odd job from.

I got offered a job from PIP today with an upped fee. Obviously they maybe rotate their shoppers and I had fallen off the radar. I didn't even ask for a fee increase. Obviously someone has let them down. I need to have a good look at the brief as it is one I haven't done before though for them.

Financial sector again. I find though they are a bit boring in some ways I have learnt a huge amount though about banking and the various different accounts.

ukmonkey

felixthemoggy wrote: »

Whilst I've got a minute I was just wondering if ESA reported back to the competitor travel agents because todays shop was [STRIKE]attrocious[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]atrocious[/STRIKE] disgraceful. I asked to book a late deal going anytime next week and the travel agent gave me a brochure and said to come back when I had decided where I wanted to go !!!:eek: helloooooo !!!!!!!
I really want them to get a copy of my report but alas I fear they won't.

Is it a travel company that is MSed by another company? If not, I'd write to their head office (tell them that you're a mystery shopper but don't mention that you were there doing a visit - tell them that you felt the visit was so bad that you just had to write a report, in the style of a MS visit) send the report to them, and tell them that if they want you to MS any of their stores, you charge them £XX per visit.

Worth a try??