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

Hollypear

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

Can't wait to read it!

TG has now added it on to Page 1 of the thread. Called Hollypear's Idiot Guide. We shall soon see whether it was worth my time.:)

MollyEliza

Puzzcat wrote: »

Depends who its with.. it should be in your brief... some pay a set amount and if you go over you pay the extra, some only pay for one person but you can take a guest at your expense, some you have to eat alone..:(
should all be written in the paperwork that you have.

Brief specifies that I have to take someone but it doesn't reimburse for all the specified spends. If I do it I will be out of pocket and not sure how to proceed. I wouldn't mind paying out extra if it was somewhere that I would choose to go to but it's not lol:rotfl:

Rosy_Violet

MollyEliza wrote: »

Brief specifies that I have to take someone but it doesn't reimburse for all the specified spends. If I do it I will be out of pocket and not sure how to proceed. I wouldn't mind paying out extra if it was somewhere that I would choose to go to but it's not lol:rotfl:

No brainer really! Why put yourself through a meal in a place you wouldn't choose to eat, be out of pocket and have to write a report? Don't accept it, or if you have already please release it so someone who likes eating in the establishment can benefit.

To get the most from MSing you should choose assignments that you want to do, feel comfortable doing and above all benefit from. You might think it's a free meal but you are having to closely observe, write the report and you will have to wait a few weeks for your reimbursement.


oops! Sorry HP....forgot to put a title note! Will try harder promise. Read the idiot's guide and I'm still one! Twas good though (much more polite than mine would have been).

MollyEliza

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

No brainer really! Why put yourself through a meal in a place you wouldn't choose to eat, be out of pocket and have to write a report? Don't accept it, or if you have already please release it so someone who likes eating in the establishment can benefit.

To get the most from MSing you should choose assignments that you want to do, feel comfortable doing and above all benefit from. You might think it's a free meal but you are having to closely observe, write the report and you will have to wait a few weeks for your reimbursement.


oops! Sorry HP....forgot to put a title note! Will try harder promise. Read the idiot's guide and I'm still one! Twas good though (much more polite than mine would have been).

Thanks Rosy
I accepted this assignment on 6/2 and it sounded good and I thought I wanted to do it. I only received the brief this evening and it is supposed to be carried out tomorrow. I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place!

mysteryshoppingninja

MollyEliza wrote: »

Thanks Rosy
I accepted this assignment on 6/2 and it sounded good and I thought I wanted to do it. I only received the brief this evening and it is supposed to be carried out tomorrow. I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place!

I think if it was me I'd do the job so as not to let the company down but try to do it as cheaply as possible, obviously I don't know what the brief specifies but if you can go for the cheapest drinks from those you are allowed to purchase that should help. Just consider it a learning curve and remember you can use the purchase requirements excess as a tax loss so there will be a small saving that way.

I did a restaurant recently and went £10 over the reimbursement but there's not many ways of getting a posh meal for two for a tenner!

Quite unusual to get the brief so late, they normally at least give you an indication before accepting as to what the assignment entails. Which company is it with if you don't mind saying?

Having said that though there have been times I've been literally waiting for a brief to be emailed over so I can jump in the car and do an urgent visit... Think sometimes we're more organised than the MS companies :rotfl:

Thats me done for the night - up early to do some egg shops woohoo! Is it me or do audits take an absolute age to type up? My typing speed is 90wpm certified and I still struggle sometimes

mysteryshoppingninja

Actually just had a thought - since you've accepted the job such a long time ago but only got the brief explaining the purchasing requirements now you can maybe ring your scheduler at the MS company and try to negotiate a few quid extra? They'll probably just tell you to take a run and jump but shy bairns get no sweets

Rosy_Violet

MollyEliza wrote: »

Thanks Rosy
I accepted this assignment on 6/2 and it sounded good and I thought I wanted to do it. I only received the brief this evening and it is supposed to be carried out tomorrow. I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place!

mysteryshoppingninja wrote: »

I think if it was me I'd do the job so as not to let the company down but try to do it as cheaply as possible... Just consider it a learning curve and remember you can use the purchase requirements excess as a tax loss so there will be a small saving that way...

Gosh! That is a little last minute so I can understand how you feel. Naughty agency!
I would agree with mysteryshoppingninja in that I would do the job and put it down to experience. You won't let the agency down and that will hold your reputation so that you get offered future work.
If you can find the menu on line you could plan ahead what to order so as to keep your costs as low as possible. Always a satisfying challenge!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

ManjoMungo

Hollypear wrote: »

Have you shopped the same place recently. Sometimes is just comes up rejected and you never know the reason. Could be someone applied seconds before you.

Hi hollypear :hello:

I had two rejected too, then the same day they rang to ask me to do two urgent visit this weekend !!! :eek:

jc2703

clippy_girl wrote: »

am i missing something? had an email re an alert but nothing there?

i have only had two new jobs show on re since the weekend

Same here - glad its not just me!

Hollypear

ManjoMungo wrote: »

Hi hollypear :hello:

I had two rejected too, then the same day they rang to ask me to do two urgent visit this weekend !!! :eek:

Don't tell me. IT was the 2 you got rejected right. Figures.
:beer: