MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD XII - ** New people please read posts 1 & 2 **

Scotties_Mum

ChefBungle wrote: »

Not started them yet, but I reckon it's going to be quite tricky. Only old people text with their phone right in front of their face, so I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb when I'm trying to take pics whilst moving up 1 bay at a time!

I've got 8 shops to do, and I think i'll get rumbled at some point.

Worst. Jobs. Ever.

creaker

are these with the company that doesn't like to be mentioned. I got an email late last week that sounds like this but haven't received all the info yet

Lil_Me_2

buttabean6 wrote: »

I have been trying to do these for a week or so now, but am finding it quite difficult! Impossible to look like you are just texting and getting a clear shot. Also ended up with 2 members of staff in the aisle and a manager at one store, so had to abandon! Going to try again this week!

Hope you're having luck.

ChefBungle wrote: »

Not started them yet, but I reckon it's going to be quite tricky. Only old people text with their phone right in front of their face, so I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb when I'm trying to take pics whilst moving up 1 bay at a time!

I've got 8 shops to do, and I think i'll get rumbled at some point.

Well I managed 7 today. Took me 3.5 hours travelling a route of around 25 miles. My first one was a bit nervy, but I got to the point where I though screw it as I was so obvious. I just chucked my headphones in, stared at my phone and took the photos. I found a Sunday was a good day though, busy enough that there were lots of customers and the staff were fairly busy too. Did have to wait a while for people to move though and I got some funny looks from customers haha. Only downside is the quality of some of the photos isn't great, but by the time anyone would have noticed what I was doing I was done.

Uploading the photos however is taking ages! Especially having to rename them all too.

kessik

I could totally kick myself right now!! Had 2 jobs for E*A and end date is 20/1/10. I had to go and do one for React also, due today and close to the other two so I decided to kill two birds with one stone and do all three together. Input my results for the first E*A and for some reason decided to check the first day it could be done by, only to discover it's tomorrow. Feeling completely furious with myself and only the fact that I had to be in that direction anyway is placating me right now. To think I bought a diary specially to keep track of all this stuff!

On another note, anybody else been turned away by Gap? They don't want me so OH is going to apply in his name.

ChefBungle

Scotties_Mum wrote: »

Worst. Jobs. Ever.

Have to take proper camera as no way my mobile would take clear enough shots from such a short distance away. Have done 2 so far, one of which had 39 bays and was a blo0dy nightmare, felt like a shifty shoplifter.

I have 7 stores to do, might try and cancel a couple of them.

Did you have a look at the authorisation letters that B sent out?

ChefBungle

Lil_Me wrote: »

Well I managed 7 today. Took me 3.5 hours travelling a route of around 25 miles. My first one was a bit nervy, but I got to the point where I though screw it as I was so obvious. I just chucked my headphones in, stared at my phone and took the photos. I found a Sunday was a good day though, busy enough that there were lots of customers and the staff were fairly busy too. Did have to wait a while for people to move though and I got some funny looks from customers haha. Only downside is the quality of some of the photos isn't great, but by the time anyone would have noticed what I was doing I was done.

Uploading the photos however is taking ages! Especially having to rename them all too.

Haha, I just have this mental picture of you taking pictures in the aisle, completely oblivious to the fact that the store manager is at one end of the aisle, and a big, burly security guard is at the other end.....

How long did it take you to take the pics?

Becles

creaker wrote: »

Has anyone done work for IMS? do they pay two months behind? also, is it just me or do their jobs seem a little extensive for the fee involved?

It'll tell you in the brief when the job will be paid. Some jobs take longer than others to be paid.

There is a lot of work involved for the fee. I've been with them a long time and as with other agencies, the fees seem to have gone down for the work involved.

Also please can everyone remember with the photo jobs that the company is very strict about being discussed in a public forum.

Lil_Me_2

ChefBungle wrote: »

Haha, I just have this mental picture of you taking pictures in the aisle, completely oblivious to the fact that the store manager is at one end of the aisle, and a big, burly security guard is at the other end.....

How long did it take you to take the pics?

:rotfl: Yeh that sounds like me. In one store I happened to look over and see a couple of MOS chatting at an empty checkout at the end of the aisle, they didn't seem to notice/care though.

Generally if there weren't too many gaps and I could get the whole bay in one shot it took less than 10 minutes.

Rosy_Violet

squeaky1055 wrote: »

I have some of their order forms at home so I write the order numbers on those. I also take a form as I am browsing and write down how many customers and staff etc are in the store. I then slip it into my bag out of sight, one less thing to remember.

I write out the order forms too!
Before I go I write 3 ...
1. Item codes to buy and I list them in order of preference to buy according to cost and weight. Always strive for lightest and definitely less bulky I once bought a small light but it was in the biggest box possible. At just under 5ft no one could see me- just this box walking along the street by itself).

2. Out of stock items. I check on line too. Once the checkers weren't working for me but I used the quick pay machine to check. An earlier time everything they said was out of stock was in and I did spend ages looking for something but have twigged to look for summer garden items or camping items as they always seem to be in short supply.
I use this one to make all the notes on too whilst I sit and wait for collection.

3. The order in items. Can check on stock checker as in my early days I did find that one store had the item once...had to decide I didn't like it after all! Also saves time on the return.

look_after_the_pennies wrote: »

Yeah, all the mystery shoppers are coming in :rotfl:

Love this!
Same in car showrooms too. Shouldn't think there are many genuine customers considering the number of car jobs there are every month! I think I have seen many a fellow MSer with a notebook or 'sending a text' hovering. :rotfl:

I have queued in Travel Agents! Once queued for 10 minutes and then the manager came over and I thought I was to be served at last! All she did was direct me to stand in another queue and went and chatted to a friend.
Gyp jobs ok if you are walking past one and have time in between another job but I definitely wouldn't go out of my way for one.

Hope everyone has a lovely Monday. I am going to enjoy a day off today. No 'real' work, no MSing, just one audit later that I shall combine with the food shop.
Just going to chill , readand just might be tempted to occasionally look on the laptop

misssarahleigh

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

I write out the order forms too!
Before I go I write 3 ...
1. Item codes to buy and I list them in order of preference to buy according to cost and weight. Always strive for lightest and definitely less bulky I once bought a small light but it was in the biggest box possible. At just under 5ft no one could see me- just this box walking along the street by itself).

2. Out of stock items. I check on line too. Once the checkers weren't working for me but I used the quick pay machine to check. An earlier time everything they said was out of stock was in and I did spend ages looking for something but have twigged to look for summer garden items or camping items as they always seem to be in short supply.
I use this one to make all the notes on too whilst I sit and wait for collection.

3. The order in items. Can check on stock checker as in my early days I did find that one store had the item once...had to decide I didn't like it after all! Also saves time on the return.




Love this!
Same in car showrooms too. Shouldn't think there are many genuine customers considering the number of car jobs there are every month! I think I have seen many a fellow MSer with a notebook or 'sending a text' hovering. :rotfl:

I have queued in Travel Agents! Once queued for 10 minutes and then the manager came over and I thought I was to be served at last! All she did was direct me to stand in another queue and went and chatted to a friend.
Gyp jobs ok if you are walking past one and have time in between another job but I definitely wouldn't go out of my way for one.

Hope everyone has a lovely Monday. I am going to enjoy a day off today. No 'real' work, no MSing, just one audit later that I shall combine with the food shop.
Just going to chill , readand just might be tempted to occasionally look on the laptop

I think i shall put this down to experience. I know better now for next time. thanks for all the good advice