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

MaxAben

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

I think some new shoppers are always a bit shy of asking the allocators.
It's that feeling of not wanting to sound silly.
When answering I think most of the experienced shoppers do say that the best people to ask are the agency staff.

It's the consequences of it all being online these days. In the past we had to talk to allocators to get the jobs. Sadly it's become an annonymous process.

I completely understand. The thing is if we don't get asked we do not know how to improve our programs to make it easier for the shoppers to understand. Suppose I will just need to keep reading the forums.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Max, there are some companies where I do always deal directly with the allocators as they are great. However, there are one or two, such as Gap, where it can take them up to 3 days to reply and that often isn't fast enough.

Rosy_Violet

MaxAben wrote: »

I completely understand. The thing is if we don't get asked we do not know how to improve our programs to make it easier for the shoppers to understand. Suppose I will just need to keep reading the forums.

You can't change human nature. I am sure there are occasions when you have asked a friend or colleague something to save face with the boss (in your case a client maybe, as you are the Boss).

The only reason people get a little irritated on here is because it is quite obvious they haven't read the first page or a question posted a few posts previously. Most of the stuff on here is quite basic to grasp. More complicated queries are always referred back to the agency.

We try to encourage the professional ethos.

I think Feedback from the agency should be encouraged but not in a school days class marking system. I deplore marks out of ten, losing points or being sent a generic comment. Better to talk to someone or correspond with a real person via email. The agency staff must make themselves available. No contact telephone, and days for an email reply are very frustrating when you want an instant answer.

This is probably why people chat on here. We can have a little moan occasionally but someone will put a different point of view. But I reckon those that actually comment on here are a minority.

lovetowinacar

MaxAben wrote: »

Hi,

I would like to ask a question from a different side of the Mystery Shopping world. Do you, the new shoppers ask the company you work for these questions you have? I would hope that my fellow allocators/panel managers/community managers... would be there to help the new shoppers? But it seems that these simple questions that all shoppers have at some point in their shopping life get asked here and everyone starts to get all annoyed! Just a thought ;-)

Max

Hi Max

I am fairly new to this and have found that some companies do not reply to emails asking for information or clarification. Some of the information requested can tend to be unclear and then when inputing results the options do not always allow for all eventualities - there is one company that allows an overide system - if X = Yes then Y cannot be No etc this system is better since it allows the shopper to actually state when these options were chosen.

Hope this helps from a new shopper

blindman

MaxAben wrote: »

Hi,

I would like to ask a question from a different side of the Mystery Shopping world. Do you, the new shoppers ask the company you work for these questions you have? I would hope that my fellow allocators/panel managers/community managers... would be there to help the new shoppers? But it seems that these simple questions that all shoppers have at some point in their shopping life get asked here and everyone starts to get all annoyed! Just a thought ;-)

Max

Max

Appreciate the question:

On any Internet forum lots of people are too lazy\stupid to read the previous pages\thread to see if their question has been asked, so there are LOADS of duplicate Q+A's

It's frustrating for some to keep answering the same questions-so (being human)
they:
1 Give up
2 Get sarky
3 Get rude
4 Repeat the answer...

I've done all of the above :cool:

As Rosy V says the removal of "real" allocators is a problem as newbies can't ask "simple" questions.

The other problem is that MSing has become so debased that any numptie (who thinks its an easy way to a £million) can join any firm (without any tests, or loyalty accredititaiton) and who gets paid peanuts (famous saying...)
So the workforce for MS Co's is only motivated by the "easy money" fly by night types. Their job standard is low and even they soon get disallusioned at the low fee and terrible CS from the MS Co's that they leave.

(Look at all 13 threads and see how many people are still here.)

The reliable\honest shopper doesn't get a look in because of these "numpties" and is also savvy enough not to take the miserably low\no fee jobs so they eventually go elsewhere.
Leaving MS Co's with less than reliable honest shoppers.

So with your new company my recommendations are:

1 Write GOOD scenario paperwork that's BLINDINGLY obvious what the shopper has to do. Saves time on both sides

2. Write GOOD SCENARIOS that do not make the MS shopper stand out like an BL**DING sore thumb:D

3 PAY a resaonable amount for the effort that has to be input.

4 REWARD good reliable shoppers with either first pick for jobs, or extra fees or something.

5 BE contactable at the weekends so if the job goes wrong then there's some support.

Rosy_Violet

blindman wrote: »

The other problem is that MSing has become so debased that any numptie (who thinks its an easy way to a £million) can join any firm (without any tests, or loyalty accredititaiton) and who gets paid peanuts (famous saying...)
So the workforce for MS Co's is only motivated by the "easy money" fly by night types. Their job standard is low and even they soon get disallusioned at the low fee and terrible CS from the MS Co's that they leave.

(Look at all 13 threads and see how many people are still here.)

I partally agree...

I think joining has been made a lot easier with the internet access and this has to be good from a client's point of view as now they have more varied feedback.
Forums like this have opened the world of MS and whilst I love the thread I also hate it for being so free with the info. It irritates me that it's a sticky at the begining so no one has to even search for it - it's blazened like a banner for all to see. Most of the time client confidentiality is blown wide open; it's easy to work it all out and so that has contributed to the decrease in fees.

I think many people pick up the info on here and fall into different groups. Those that can't cut the mustard and give up; those that make a sucess and don't have to ask anymore and those who like to know there is someone else out there and offer some support.

TractorGirl327

I'm just back from a Sunday lunch job. Hubby & I both accepted the up-sell of the Large Sunday lunch and oh .. my ..word it was delicious. Probably the best meal I've ever had in that chain of pubs.

Added bonus was that not only were our drinks included, but the children's meals were free with a paying adult so we all had a meal and drink for the price of 2 main courses.

Going to do battle with the RE site now and write it up!!!

Rosy_Violet

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

I'm just back from a Sunday lunch job. Hubby & I both accepted the up-sell of the Large Sunday lunch and oh .. my ..word it was delicious. Probably the best meal I've ever had in that chain of pubs.

Added bonus was that not only were our drinks included, but the children's meals were free with a paying adult so we all had a meal and drink for the price of 2 main courses.

Going to do battle with the RE site now and write it up!!!

Sounds great! What makes the job worthwhile .

PM me the pub please...could do with a Sunday Roast blowout!

TractorGirl327

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

I'm just back from a Sunday lunch job. Hubby & I both accepted the up-sell of the Large Sunday lunch and oh .. my ..word it was delicious. Probably the best meal I've ever had in that chain of pubs.

Added bonus was that not only were our drinks included, but the children's meals were free with a paying adult so we all had a meal and drink for the price of 2 main courses.

Going to do battle with the RE site now and write it up!!!

Rosy_Violet wrote: »

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Sounds great! What makes the job worthwhile .

PM me the pub please...could do with a Sunday Roast blowout!

Have done so.

Although a bit cheeky of them to ask for comments about my husbands meal and the childrens food when they only reimburse one meal!

squeaky1055

blindman wrote: »

Each to his\her own but how do you make any profit from this type of trip?

What's your hourly rate of pay taking into account the petrol costs, time on the road, report writing ? Did you really want to buy that burger\coffee\lunch\cofee?

Not a criticism, just confused as to why some people do this...

As I said I got bribed so was def worth doing it! I expect other msers have acheived a very good deal knowing how desperate Gap can be when a burger joint needs doing....it can be more or less name your price!! I will not have to buy any petrol at all this week or next, plus a few corner shops lined up....and I fitted in jobs for other companies on the way. I left home at 9.30 am and returned at 5pm.Reports were easy and taking into account that I spent nearly 2 hours doing normal shopping in between and managing to eat a pub lunch, then yes I am very happy!
Plus I have a holiday home in the place I was sent to so managed to check on that whilst I was there! All ready for the season starting next week! In fact if they had waited till then I would have had the burger at the normal fee:rotfl:

Also has not made me too tired to work today...I run a business all week so as us ladies know, I have spent the day cooking, cleaning and ironing!