MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD XV - please, no mention of client names or fees on here

Dotty13

mysterious_girl wrote: »

Yes, I think it's really unfair too. My friend's husband is a manager at a car outlet and I'd hate to think I'm wasting his staff's time. I even feel guilty doing the bank ones for GfK. But at least I don't take up too much of their time, 10 minutes at most.

I'll tell you whats unfair - ESA charity shops!!!! I wonder how many people know how their hard earned donations are being spent. I'm sure that an MS contract would cost in the £1000s - surely that money would be better spent helping the cause its being donated to, rather than lining the pockets of an MS co/MS'er? And are we really supposed to evaluate the little old dear who is working on a voluntary basis and giving her time FREELY - asking nothing in return, but a peaceful nights sleep knowing that she has helped a worthy cause!!! The world's gone mad:eek:

TractorGirl327

Dotty13 wrote: »

I'll tell you whats unfair - ESA charity shops!!!! I wonder how many people know how their hard earned donations are being spent. I'm sure that an MS contract would cost in the £1000s - surely that money would be better spent helping the cause its being donated to, rather than lining the pockets of an MS co/MS'er? And are we really supposed to evaluate the little old dear who is working on a voluntary basis and giving her time FREELY - asking nothing in return, but a peaceful nights sleep knowing that she has helped a worthy cause!!! The world's gone mad:eek:

I have to say I thought exactly the same thing!

Mrs.T20

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

I have to say I thought exactly the same thing!

Me three. Its all very bizarre.
Maybe they are banking on the MSer donating the fee to the shop

galaxynicole

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

I have to say I thought exactly the same thing!

I agree! I've never taken the charity shop jobs that I've seen in my area cos I just think it's wrong. Though I do find the people in the charity shops lovely, not met a mean or mardy one yet so they probably get a brilliant score and I guess you could always mystery shop them and then donate the fee to that charity anyways.

galaxynicole

Mrs.T20 wrote: »

Me three. Its all very bizarre.
Maybe they are banking on the MSer donating the fee to the shop

LOL we had the same idea!

Flygirl767

Dotty13 wrote: »

I'll tell you whats unfair - ESA charity shops!!!! I wonder how many people know how their hard earned donations are being spent. I'm sure that an MS contract would cost in the £1000s - surely that money would be better spent helping the cause its being donated to, rather than lining the pockets of an MS co/MS'er? And are we really supposed to evaluate the little old dear who is working on a voluntary basis and giving her time FREELY - asking nothing in return, but a peaceful nights sleep knowing that she has helped a worthy cause!!! The world's gone mad:eek:

What you have to realise is that charity shops are big business for the charities themselves and bring in a lot of revenue. Most have paid managers so why shouldn't they be ms'ed like any other retail manager? Most bosses of charities are on HUGE salaries, this is what people should be aware of, not the odd ms contract. All those charity muggers who stop you in the street all the time are on paid salaries as are the ones who call you up to ask you to set up direct debits. Any service, whether paid or voluntary should be monitored.

I guess what they are trying to do is ensure their shops are being properly run and not abused. I'm sure you would like to know that your dontations are being resold rather than be swiped by a volunteer or given away for no money?!

Dotty13

galaxynicole wrote: »

LOL we had the same idea!

Yeh, but that not gonna happen is it.... (or is that just me?). I mean if we were gonna give out money to charity, we would do it freely, not just because we are MS'ers. They can't rely on that train of thought. I'm really non-plussed. Maybe ESA did a full sell on them, saying they NEED this. Shame on them then! Either way - I'm not impressed!:rotfl:

proshopper

Dotty13 wrote: »

I'll tell you whats unfair - ESA charity shops!!!! I wonder how many people know how their hard earned donations are being spent. I'm sure that an MS contract would cost in the £1000s - surely that money would be better spent helping the cause its being donated to, rather than lining the pockets of an MS co/MS'er? And are we really supposed to evaluate the little old dear who is working on a voluntary basis and giving her time FREELY - asking nothing in return, but a peaceful nights sleep knowing that she has helped a worthy cause!!! The world's gone mad:eek:

I can see what you are saying, but there is another way of looking at it. Charity shops are run like businesses, with proper management structures, etc. Some of the workforce in the retail stores are employees rather than volunteers. Charity shops need to maximise profit, just like any other business. MSing is one way of evaluating service standards, and if it works for the retail sector, generally, why should charity shops be any different? If the client identifies areas that are lacking and remedies these, then profit should increase.

I have "done" hundreds of charity shop jobs (and I mean many hundreds). I have seen staff and volunteers delivering excellent customer service and I have also seen the worst service you can imagine. Over the years, I have certainly seen an overall improvement as the charity shops now operate more like proper retailers than village hall jumble sales.

Edit: Snap to what you said, Flygirl!

galaxynicole

Flygirl767 wrote: »

What you have to realise is that charity shops are big business for the charities themselves and bring in a lot of revenue. Most have paid managers so why shouldn't they be ms'ed like any other retail manager? Most bosses of charities are on HUGE salaries, this is what people should be aware of, not the odd ms contract. All those charity muggers who stop you in the street all the time are on paid salaries as are the ones who call you up to ask you to set up direct debits. Any service, whether paid or voluntary should be monitored.

I guess what they are trying to do is ensure their shops are being properly run and not abused. I'm sure you would like to know that your dontations are being resold rather than be swiped by a volunteer or given away for no money?!

Fair point. I didn't really think of it in that way.

Dotty13

Flygirl767 wrote: »

What you have to realise is that charity shops are big business for the charities themselves and bring in a lot of revenue. Most have paid managers so why shouldn't they be ms'ed like any other retail manager? Most bosses of charities are on HUGE salaries, this is what people should be aware of, not the odd ms contract. All those charity muggers who stop you in the street all the time are on paid salaries as are the ones who call you up to ask you to set up direct debits. Any service, whether paid or voluntary should be monitored.

I guess what they are trying to do is ensure their shops are being properly run and not abused. I'm sure you would like to know that your dontations are being resold rather than be swiped by a volunteer or given away for no money?!

You've really surprised me! I thought everyone would be involved on a voluntary basis - however, what you say does make sense. Why would you have the stress of management without the management salary? What I have a problem with however is, that the volunteers (ie, the ones being assessed) are there on a voluntary basis, and you can't take this away from anyone - no matter how !!!!!! they are. If it wasn't for them, then there would be no-one to take the money being donated, and isn't that the real point?