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

misssarahleigh

kellyshay wrote: »

The point being if you were not carrying out a MS would you have still have ordered the pizza that night therefore you would have bought it anyways. So the expense would not have been wholly and exclusively for the job.

I hve done a pizza job recently and never ordere from this compnay before. The purchase was 100% for the job. And, it wasn't even nice lol

TractorGirl327

ChefBungle wrote: »

That's really weird, I was just thinking the same thing!

More than happy for you to start it TG - just make sure you get everyone's approval this time, some people can be, erm, difficult!


:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Great minds!!

jc2703

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

This thread is approaching 200 pages again. Gosh, don't we talk a lot!!

Is everyone happy for me to start the next thread when the time comes?

TG x

ok here as long as there's somewhere i can drivel on a bit i'm happy!

proshopper

jc2703 wrote: »

Experience? to use as an incentive to get more work from the company? still not sure whether these reasons would get it ok'd tho!

I feel that these are valid reasons, and I pick up work for precisely these reasons: to increase my rating as a shopper; to gain experience in an outlet type that I do not regularly assess; to prevent my account from becoming inactive. These are all ways in which I increase or protect my future earning potential. As a self employed MSer, this is surely no different to some other sole trader increasing their business by way of a special offer (e.g. first consultation free). Surely HMRC could not argue this?

vicz123

i think as long as you can explain it and pick a line and stick to it then hopefully won't be a problem. for me, i will pay tax on anything i take home with me so all food and drink consumed for the job or days out etc... i would not pay tax on

i am happy for a new thread tg

nehpets81

jc2703 wrote: »

Experience? to use as an incentive to get more work from the company? still not sure whether these reasons would get it ok'd tho!

Yes, they are the best ones I can think of and I would think they would be accepted by the tax people - Not sure an RE pizza/clothes shops can be used to get more work from them, tho! I would like to think that HM Customs have bigger fish to fry than to look into the reasons for the odd mystery shop that people don't make money on but I would be a little bit worried if I had a lot of the same jobs that don't offer a fee and I didn't pay tax on the reimbursement. But maybe I worry too much!

nehpets81

Has anyone else had a non burger mystery shop that resulted in a bit of a "floor show"? I had an eat in donut job where I must have stuck out like a sore thumb - "hmm.. I'll have 6 donuts and will just sit at this table and munch thru them all!". As soon as I said I was eating in, the server told me to sit down, he leapt out from behind the till (leaving bemused people still queuing) to fetch me napkins and a stirrer for my coffee and told me to have a wonderful day etc... Also, I'm pretty sure I noticed a glimmer of recognition at a station outlet when I asked where the nearest ATM was...

Miss_Qwerty

nehpets81 wrote: »

Has anyone else had a non burger mystery shop that resulted in a bit of a "floor show"? I had an eat in donut job where I must have stuck out like a sore thumb - "hmm.. I'll have 6 donuts and will just sit at this table and munch thru them all!". As soon as I said I was eating in, the server told me to sit down, he leapt out from behind the till (leaving bemused people still queuing) to fetch me napkins and a stirrer for my coffee and told me to have a wonderful day etc... Also, I'm pretty sure I noticed a glimmer of recognition at a station outlet when I asked where the nearest ATM was...

Not a floor show as such, but did a chicken drive thru Sunday as soon as I asked for a receipt she got all flustered, and then somehow ended up wishing me happy valentines day. I've never had a girl wish me happy valentines before, let alone one I've only known 2 minutes and 13 seconds

TessieP

Hi

yes happy for new thread to be started, thanks and for all the advice on here

nearlyheadlessian

nehpets81 wrote: »

Has anyone else had a non burger mystery shop that resulted in a bit of a "floor show"? I had an eat in donut job where I must have stuck out like a sore thumb - "hmm.. I'll have 6 donuts and will just sit at this table and munch thru them all!". As soon as I said I was eating in, the server told me to sit down, he leapt out from behind the till (leaving bemused people still queuing) to fetch me napkins and a stirrer for my coffee and told me to have a wonderful day etc...

I know what you mean; my suspicion is that those assignments are set up to be obvious for staff to give them the best possible opportunity to score well. Having said that, I've eaten and drunk coffee in those places when not msing, and always sit in, and the staff are always fantastic and behave like that anyway. Occasionally I wonder whether people are on to me, but in places like that I often put it down to genuinely good service.