Mystery shopping thread xiii ** please don't mention client names on here **

DebtHater

Grrrrrr......

GFK annoy me! They release jobs with very little notice to get them complete by a deadline, then complain about the fact that the opticians didnt have any available appointments!

But, back on the topic of extra mileage fees, emailed GR half hour ago about topping up a job fee and they added an extra £5 for travel, no questions asked. Well done GR!

samtastic7

anyone done the burger test yet i read somewhere we need to re do it
i think for the fee its a joke as we are experienced shoppers but they employ new people daily

DebtHater

samtastic7 wrote: »

anyone done the burger test yet i read somewhere we need to re do it
i think for the fee its a joke as we are experienced shoppers but they employ new people daily

From what I understood of the email I received yesterday, its going to be released in April, but there is a "Test" test so you can brush up your knowledge before re-certification. And to be honest, I think its probably a series of complaints from the client that has prompted a mass re-testing of all the shoppers!

And yeh I agree, the fee is poor, but its a free lunch!

From the email I received yesterday (client name removed):

Over time, the XXX programme evolves to meet the changing needs of the client. These changes are communicated to you through shopper paperwork and notice board updates. But every now and again it is good to step back and refresh our knowledge about the programme and its requirements.

To give everyone the opportunity to refresh their knowledge about XXX's Mystery Shopping, we’ve created a brand new online training and practice test environment, designed to help you know the difference between what a burger should taste like and what makes for fresh fries!

In a month's time, XXX’s will require all shoppers globally to have renewed their XXX’s certification. So we suggest getting in early to familiarise yourself with the material and have a go at the practice test to ensure that when the time comes, you will be able to renew your certification with ease!

borders

Just been offered a couple of jobs with Blueapple. My first from them. Fees look ok but dont have access to briefing or questionnaire. Anyone worked for them? Just checking that I'm not going to get sucker punched with a dodgy scenario and 200 question report. And how do you submit your pay claim?

DebtHater

borders wrote: »

Just been offered a couple of jobs with Blueapple. My first from them. Fees look ok but dont have access to briefing or questionnaire. Anyone worked for them? Just checking that I'm not going to get sucker punched with a dodgy scenario and 200 question report. And how do you submit your pay claim?

Its a sister company to MSOut - I've always submitted an Excel-type spreadsheet with the answers on, and in the same attachment there is an invoice form for you to fill in and return with the results, I have received cheques back in the post within 2 weeks.

But I hardly ever get work from them, last job was about 6 months ago :rotfl:

samtastic7

DebtHater wrote: »

From what I understood of the email I received yesterday, its going to be released in April, but there is a "Test" test so you can brush up your knowledge before re-certification. And to be honest, I think its probably a series of complaints from the client that has prompted a mass re-testing of all the shoppers!

And yeh I agree, the fee is poor, but its a free lunch!

From the email I received yesterday (client name removed):

Over time, the XXX programme evolves to meet the changing needs of the client. These changes are communicated to you through shopper paperwork and notice board updates. But every now and again it is good to step back and refresh our knowledge about the programme and its requirements.

To give everyone the opportunity to refresh their knowledge about XXX's Mystery Shopping, we’ve created a brand new online training and practice test environment, designed to help you know the difference between what a burger should taste like and what makes for fresh fries!

In a month's time, XXX’s will require all shoppers globally to have renewed their XXX’s certification. So we suggest getting in early to familiarise yourself with the material and have a go at the practice test to ensure that when the time comes, you will be able to renew your certification with ease!

I was speaking to someone who use to be a manager and they can spot us a mile away as we ask for a receipt no one else does
if you notice when u pay by card you still have to aske as they dont give one automatoically and I was told me if the report is not in there favour they check cctv and find the shopper and identify them they say the shopper did not check condiments or something that way we get booted from the jobs as we been identified as the MSer
basically they try and avoid accepting a none satifactory report

mysterious_girl

borders wrote: »

Just been offered a couple of jobs with Blueapple. My first from them. Fees look ok but dont have access to briefing or questionnaire. Anyone worked for them? Just checking that I'm not going to get sucker punched with a dodgy scenario and 200 question report. And how do you submit your pay claim?

I did a job for them about a year ago. Just as previously stated it was an excel spreadsheet or something or other. Just emailed it back. They paid promptly. No problems. Nice people.

DebtHater

samtastic7 wrote: »

I was told me if the report is not in there favour they check cctv and find the shopper and identify them they say the shopper did not check condiments or something that way we get booted from the jobs as we been identified as the MSer basically they try and avoid accepting a none satifactory report

^^^ This actually happens as well!

I had an email come through a few months back from Gap, saying that I had been recognised on CCTV as a 30yr old woman wearing a flowery dress with dark brown hair. There was a phone number on the email asking me to call in, so when I did, they were surprised it was a male that called. In fact, I'm mid twenties, male with blonde hair and I have never worn a flowery dress in my life lol. So the client really mucked up there!
All over the fact that they didnt have a good report..... something about the timings if I remember correct, they kept me waiting for ages and then the fries were cold due to being left on the tray for so long.
They tried to get the report thrown out as the 30yr old woman didnt check the toilets.... of course she didnt, she wasnt the MS'er! I was!

And a quick Q for anyone on RE.... I havent used RE much since they changed it all about. Under job details, it says "next stage required by...." where it says Review spec, the time required by is 13:35 on the visit day, but I'm going to be out MS'ing all day, so wont report until the evening. Am I just reading this wrong, or will nothing happen until I press the "Visit Attempted" button?

borders

Thanks for the replies folks. It's supermarket jobs and they're offering mileage for the my local one, though not for the one further away from me towards the city. Makes me think they've had to pay mileage to get someone to travel to my area in the past. Would be quite happy to become their local shopper. Works for me.

Only concern is that they specify using excel. I dont have that, I use openoffice which works ok for excel documents 99% of the time. Told them that when I replied to them. Could always visit my daughter and borrow her laptop but it just makes it a wee bit more work.

DebtHater

borders wrote: »

Thanks for the replies folks. It's supermarket jobs and they're offering mileage for the my local one, though not for the one further away from me towards the city. Makes me think they've had to pay mileage to get someone to travel to my area in the past. Would be quite happy to become their local shopper. Works for me.

Only concern is that they specify using excel. I dont have that, I use openoffice which works ok for excel documents 99% of the time. Told them that when I replied to them. Could always visit my daughter and borrow her laptop but it just makes it a wee bit more work.

If its any help, I always completed mine using Google Docs (part of Google Mail) even though I have MS Office anyway, just saved downloading and uploading all the time.

I have invites available for Google Mail if you want to use it