The Mystery Shopping Thread - X

Lil_Me_2

Hollypear wrote: »

If only more people did that RE night buck up their fees,

You think more people should pick up jobs and release them at the last minute so other shoppers can get them at a higher fee??

TractorGirl327

Lil_Me wrote: »

You think more people should pick up jobs and release them at the last minute so other shoppers can get them at a higher fee??

No, I think Holly was saying we SHOULDN'T pick them up, let them stay there, and then wait for RE to put their fees up when the due-by date is imminent.

Rosy_Violet

Originally Posted by Hollypear
If only more people did that RE night buck up their fees,

Lil_Me wrote: »

You think more people should pick up jobs and release them at the last minute so other shoppers can get them at a higher fee??

I don't think Hollypear means people should pick up and release jobs...I think she is referring to your earlier comment about emailing the agency and requesting a better fee before accepting the assignment. That would be much more professional.

It seems to me that a lot of agencies are having jobs released and cancelled last minute these days. On the plus side it’s great for reliable shoppers as we get the extra last minute work. I do however hate the global emails that pop up in the inbox checking up that you are doing the job.

mysterious_girl

I was visiting someone in a nursing home yesterday and a mystery shopper came in to do a MS of the place. She was so obvious! I have read the briefing notes for this outlet as I have done some of the other branches (not the one I visited) and she was following the scenario to the "T", not using her own words, but using the American lingo as it's an American MS company & nursing home.

She quoted the brief word by word saying "Oh yes, and she loves to dance and likes to watch American Pop Idol and..." mentioning some other US programmes that we dont even get here. "She likes to dine of grits and biscuits.." - Okay exaggerating there but you get my drift.

I felt so embarassed but she didn't seem phased at all.

Rosy_Violet

mysterious_girl wrote: »

I was visiting someone in a nursing home yesterday and a mystery shopper came in to do a MS of the place. She was so obvious! I have read the briefing notes for this outlet as I have done some of the other branches (not the one I visited) and she was following the scenario to the "T", not using her own words, but using the American lingo as it's an American MS company & nursing home.

She quoted the brief word by word saying "Oh yes, and she loves to dance and likes to watch American Pop Idol and..." mentioning some other US programmes that we dont even get here. "She likes to dine of grits and biscuits.." - Okay exaggerating there but you get my drift.

I felt so embarassed but she didn't seem phased at all.

I have been in places where I have recognised questions asked; always gives a silent chuckle....tempted to wait outside and chat to a fellow shopper! Perhaps we should have a secret handshake :cool:

yonk

minniepoos wrote: »

I just completed a report for Grassroots - 1st one for a couple of months. I'd forgotten how user friendly they are - they're almost a pleasure to do!
(just a shame they don't seem to have that many jobs in my part of the country!)

Totally agree with this.

red_fox

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

I have been in places where I have recognised questions asked; always gives a silent chuckle....tempted to wait outside and chat to a fellow shopper! Perhaps we should have a secret handshake :cool:

I have never seen a fellow shopper before but the other day when I was doing a large supermarket job and had to ask a stupid question about locating an item that was pretty close to me. A customer looked at me and smiled. Either that or he though I was a complete idiot.

Lil_Me_2

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

I don't think Hollypear means people should pick up and release jobs...I think she is referring to your earlier comment about emailing the agency and requesting a better fee before accepting the assignment. That would be much more professional.

But that's not what I said. The job I mentioned had been feeless, picked up, released, RE sent an e-mail out, it was picked up again and then released again before it came back with a fee and was due in 24 hours.

It was an instance where a job close to the due date had an upped fee and nothing more.

As I've said before the fees offered are open to personal interpretation. What one person sees as a "rubbish" fee another may see as an "ok" fee as they are in the area for another reason and don't mind completing the job.

If you don't think a job is worth the fee then don't pick it up, if no-one picks it up and it gets offered to you for a higher fee and then becomes worth it then great, but I don't blame RE for testing the water to see what their shoppers think is an acceptable fee.

pinkprincess39

Hi does anyone have a phone number for tns ....I have a query?

I have to visit a supermarket and go to the pharmacy, phone shop and tech support. I HAVE to buy a recommended product in the pharmacy but tho it says i dont have to buy anything in the other 2 depts it states that i will have to buy something to prove i was in the shop. so will the product i buy in the pharmacy be sufficient do you think? On the questionaire irt seems to ask 3 times for receipt details so i wasnt sure if i had to buy 3 things
Ta peeps

Rosy_Violet

[FONT=&quot]Originally Posted by Lil_Me [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But that's not what I said. The job I mentioned had been feeless, picked up, released, RE sent an e-mail out, it was picked up again and then released again before it came back with a fee and was due in 24 hours.

Not sure I misinterpreted anything here but apologies if you felt I did.
I was just commenting on how beneficial contacting the agencies can be when they have an assignment at deadline. I think the overall feeling is that the more the fees are lowered the more difficulties the agencies have in getting them completed and so sometimes a comment about the fee (or lack of it) might help them reconsider.

It was an instance where a job close to the due date had an upped fee and nothing more.

And that's a great result...just shows the benefits of jobs being around at their deadline and the agencies having to pay more.

As I've said before the fees offered are open to personal interpretation. What one person sees as a "rubbish" fee another may see as an "ok" fee as they are in the area for another reason and don't mind completing the job.

I totally agree. I select entirely on what assignments I like and where I am going to be. It’s trial and error in all assignments. Some suit and some don't and it soon becomes apparent which jobs you enjoy and those you don't.

If you don't think a job is worth the fee then don't pick it up, if no-one picks it up and it gets offered to you for a higher fee and then becomes worth it then great,

I benefit greatly from last minute increases as assignments become available last minute. ...I sometimes wonder though whether the increase of unreliable shoppers has caused the initial lower fees as the agencies need to hold back funds in order to meet their deadlines.

but I don't blame RE for testing the water to see what their shoppers think is an acceptable fee.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
I do however blame RE for devaluing the work over the last couple of years.[/FONT]