The Mystery Shopping Thread - X

BerryDelight

Nice to see the board has settled down a bit...phew!

Is anyone having problems with TNS. I received my work pack two weeks ahead of the job and then received a reminder to open the link. I did so, acknowledged Id got it then received another email telling me that if my visit page hadnt updated I had to email them...
The visits page hadnt updated so I duly emailed them. I then log on this morning to see another email sent at 5am telling me if I didnt open the link by 9am I would be deallocated but if I have opened the link to send them another email.
I have now sent two emails neither of which has resulted in anything being changed so I am fully expecting to be deallocated. What is wrong with them?!!

KaramelRose

Can I please just point out that I took a pub job that was the NORMAL fee and NOT the reduced one. I wouldn't have done it at the reduced fee, but was quite happy doing at the NORMAL fee that we've all been used to before.

I find it quite offensive that you deem me to be screwing things up for the rest of you when I usually steer clear of the pub jobs anyway. It just happens that this particular pub (which is not a CUTLERY pub by the way) is within walking distance of my home and I'l probably go there for a drink anyway, so why not get a free drink and a bit of pocket money at the same time? The visit does not even include a trip to the toilet or anything, it's just literally a quick survey about how the DRINK WAS SERVED and what glass it's in.

I'm off to University in October and am trying to earn as much extra money as I can. I'm sorry if this offends you. I'm a very intelligent young person who has always gained the respect of everyone I've worked with, working my way quickly up any organisation I've ever worked for and for my actions to be belitted by someone who doesn't even know me is quite frankly disgusting and outrageous. And I think I deserve better.

Sorry if I sound like I'm over-reacting (which I probably am) but who are you to judge my actions?! I do very little work for RE as most of the time I don't think the fee is worth it and am becoming far more discerning when I pick my MS jobs. It so happens that this pub I am mystery shopping was a rival pub when I was in pub management and from that view, it's a job that greatly interests me. I spent the best part of two years competing with this pub, and I'd like to see now if it does well it in it's mystery shopping test.

Maybe I'll steer clear from here a bit more often. It's a shame as I'm quite happy to help out any new shoppers who needs any help, wanting to return the favour some kind people on here once showed me.

BerryDelight

Holly I for one dont want you to start avoiding the forum, you have been very helpful to me especially. Some people cannot help themselves but to judge others, stuff em!

I was going to stay quiet on the subject but for what its worth what RE are doing makes good commercial sense. Of course in times like these companies will go to them if they are charging cheaper rates, to charge cheaper rates they have to pay less. Its a simple, effective economic strategy. There will always be people undertaking the shops so the best thing you can do if you dont agree with their practices is to stay away from them.

look_after_the_pennies

Morning all.

Just got one assignment to do today and then nothing until Monday. Missed out on the RE alerts yesterday morning as I had a rare day off and was still in bed! Lol, early bird catches the worm and that!

KVet

I'm gutted I missed all the GAP ones last week due to me not having my rota still I have 2 this week which is exciting, one from GR to check out a bank and one from RE to go to a pub next friday when im out anyway so should be interesting! Quite exciting all this! Tempted to take a BARE one for looking round car places but I hate going to car places at the best of times so still debating that one

blindman

BerryDelight wrote: »

Holly I for one dont want you to start avoiding the forum, you have been very helpful to me especially. Some people cannot help themselves but to judge others, stuff em!

I was going to stay quiet on the subject but for what its worth what RE are doing makes good commercial sense. Of course in times like these companies will go to them if they are charging cheaper rates, to charge cheaper rates they have to pay less. Its a simple, effective economic strategy. There will always be people undertaking the shops so the best thing you can do if you dont agree with their practices is to stay away from them.

Did you miss the point of this post then

RE are playing the inverse Supply and Demand ploy. They will keep lowering the fees if they find they can get inexperineced shoppers to go out and do them.

If the supply of shoopers stops then they will have to increase the fees.

Have some pride in your work and don't seel your self cheap. :eek:

blindman

mysterious_girl wrote: »

Right then Gmac9i, the best thing to do, which is what I have done, is give RE a wide berth, sign up to better paying companies and leave the RE jobs to the people who enjoy them and stop moaning about it. I haven't accepted an RE job for about 6 months because basically they are poor payers (albeit always very punctual) so I do other jobs with other companies that pay much better. If people want to do the RE jobs, leave them to it. It's none of our business.

There won't be any as RE will have undercut them :cool:

blindman

annasbee wrote: »

We had quite a lengthy discussion about this a few pages back. Why would anyone over 40 need a mobile phone, why would anyone over 30 want to go out in the evening and god forbid a person over 25 eating an underground sandwich - whatever next eh !!

I explained this and what to do about it.

• Regardless of age and sex you can qualify for all assignments

NO; Obvious female assignments are Bra fittings and obvious Men assignments are Tailor fittings.
The client dictates what the target demographic is so they may not want a 45 year old Female to buy a mobile phone as this type of customer is not the biggest group that visit the store.
What to DO
Don't moan that you're the wrong age\sex-it's not personal.
If you desperately want the job then contact the MS company and ask, they may bend the rules.

aplaceinthesun

Blindmand - to be honest, and with respect , the relatively few people on public (and not so public forums...) will most certainly be outweighed by those registered mystery shoppers who do not visit these type of forums , for various reasons, so trying to get people here to boycott certain companies will only be a drop in the ocean .

I do understand the reasons for trying to get people to stop shopping for these companies , and kind of agree but only if the whole shopper base could be reached , that will NEVER happen so the battle , I feel , is futile.

I have to say I took two pub jobs with no fee , just reimbursement, this week. Pubs were I could get 2 meals(on offer) , starters and drinks for just over the reimbursement , I am happy to sit there for 20 mins and type up results for the sake of a free'ish' meal out , I am a busy mum, part time worker, part time home educator - so for me a little break from the norm is most worth it , its not just the monetary side of it ..... although , again with respect, I understand that various people mystery shop for various reasons.

At the end of the day it is down to each and every individual to do what they feel is worthwhile to themselves, and themselves only. I deliver part time for DHL and some would say that I make peanuts for doing so , less than the minimum wage , but hey that is MY choice , its flexible, fits in with my family and other commitments and I actually enjoy it.

Please blindman and gmac have respect for what others choose to do .... and not make them feel bad about it ....

KVet

Just picked up 3 jobs on ESA for 3 different travel agents to go around and just take pictures of the outside windows! Sounds pretty easy Hope no-one thinks i'm a terrorist or someone planning a robbery!