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

serendipity2706

dazza.mk wrote: »

eh? Video reports from TNS? - just received following email:

Dear
We are venturing forth into the realm of video reports and would like to know if you would like to take part in this. We are proposing that in addition to your normal assessment you provide a short, 2-3 minute video of yourself summarising your assessment and highlighting key points. This would then be included with your written report to the client.
You would need to own or have open access to equipment or a device to video yourself and have the ability to upload the video to a designated website.
For including the short video you would receive an additional fee.
If you are interested then please fill out the below and return to this email address:-
Name: ________________
Fieldworker ID:________________
Email Address: ________________
We will confirm back to you if we require any of your assessments to include a video report.
Many thanks,
TNS RI Mystery Shopping Team

Me too- have replied asking for details

TractorGirl327

nearlyheadlessian wrote: »

So by my reckoning, I tend to spend no more than 30 to 40 minutes on a tns coffee job. Considering I only do them in places where I would probably have gone in for a coffee anyway, at times when I'm passing by, and I maximise the value by taking along a friend (means they like me more!) or by stocking up on nice biscuit bars with the reimburse, or buying nothing but espressos to bump my loyalty with the coffee company ... Well I can't publish the tns coffee fee/reimburse details, but I reckon I do pretty well out of it.

Oh .. my .. God .. I can't believe this .. but I AGREE WITH YOU!!!!! (apart firom the bit about "nice" biscuit bars - they are disgusting!!) :rotfl::rotfl:

There's a first time for everything!!

nearlyheadlessian

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

Oh .. my .. God .. I can't believe this .. but I AGREE WITH YOU!!!!! (apart firom the bit about "nice" biscuit bars - they are disgusting!!) :rotfl::rotfl:

There's a first time for everything!!

Glad we see eye to eye on something

Try the Hazelnut filled biscuits - pretty tasty with a cup of coffee at home I find. Other good things to stock up on include coffee beans, ground coffee and more or less anything else in sight

TractorGirl327

ukmonkey wrote: »

Not at all. Just a few too many trouble-causers on this forum.

ukmonkey wrote: »

Regarding fees, one in particular that has shocked me recently is TNS - no longer paying a fee for the coffee jobs, disgraceful.

ukmonkey wrote:

But it isn't free!

You seem a bit grumpy this week sweetheart.

Aunt Flo visiting is she? :rotfl::rotfl:

Flygirl767

dazza.mk wrote: »

eh? Video reports from TNS? - just received following email:

Dear
We are venturing forth into the realm of video reports and would like to know if you would like to take part in this. We are proposing that in addition to your normal assessment you provide a short, 2-3 minute video of yourself summarising your assessment and highlighting key points. This would then be included with your written report to the client.
You would need to own or have open access to equipment or a device to video yourself and have the ability to upload the video to a designated website.
For including the short video you would receive an additional fee.
If you are interested then please fill out the below and return to this email address:-
Name: ________________
Fieldworker ID:________________
Email Address: ________________
We will confirm back to you if we require any of your assessments to include a video report.
Many thanks,
TNS RI Mystery Shopping Team

I would love to know what their "additional fee" is..some paltry amount knowing them! Not worth the bother I would imagine.

TractorGirl327

nearlyheadlessian wrote: »

Glad we see eye to eye on something

Try the Hazelnut filled biscuits - pretty tasty with a cup of coffee at home I find. Other good things to stock up on include coffee beans, ground coffee and more or less anything else in sight

So you ARE allowed to buy other things? They reimburse up to £**** which is far more than the cost of the coffee and cardboard wafer, but specifically say not to accept a pastry or muffin if offered and to purchase the wafer! I did a job last week and purchased an almond croissant as well as the wafer, waiting for it to be marked .........

Rosy_Violet

ditsyrascal wrote: »

That is actually very VERY incorrect.
The fees clients pay have to cover a darn sight more then just the mser fees. Not to mention much how much cost is involved by those msers who constantly re-schedule & cancel visits.

The difference between what msers are paid and what the client pays is a very small margin (especially in a declining economy where agencies have to be more competitive and where clients budgets are being cut left, right & centre).

If agencies do not take into consideration the economy or the market then they will loose clients – normally to newer agencies who are trying to undercut their competitors and who will offer msers the same work and an even lower fee.

Also agencies are Businesses. If, as Businesses, they did not make any money they’d be pretty shoddy at their jobs, do you not think??!

Agree with the principles of the cut throat nature of the business with todays economic struggles but as a Mystery Shopper we are often being asked to do more and more for smaller and in some cases no incentive.

I think some agencies are taking the pee expecting a well written report for no money. I am fortunate that I can be choosey over what I pick up. This is mainly because as a reliable and experienced shopper I am fortunate in that I get offered last minute reshops from some of the unreliable and poor readers that are picking up anything and everything for peanuts.

My main beef is that we aren't treated as individuals anymore. We get lumped together in round robin emails and downgraded fees initially.

And writing a report on 'free coffee and bun' isn't acceptable. Your time and objective comments are worth more than what you'd give to a chimp at a tea party!

Clients are laughing really as shoppers put money in their tills that probably covers most of the pay they have to give to the agencies to collate the reports. So the client wins really. If no one took the jobs then they would have to think about adding a fee. Still I know there are lots of people out there that will do anything for free calories so the vicious spiral downwards will continue.


Rant over....feeling very tetchy about payments today.
But things have been redeemed as I got 3 calls to reshop someone elses work! Have decided fees have to be lower in order to pay someone to do it properly when the cheap option cocks up!:T

nearlyheadlessian

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

So you ARE allowed to buy other things? They reimburse up to £**** which is far more than the cost of the coffee and cardboard wafer, but specifically say not to accept a pastry or muffin if offered and to purchase the wafer! I did a job last week and purchased an almond croissant as well as the wafer, waiting for it to be marked .........

As far as I'm concerned the notes haven't changed and I always purchase up to the maximum and beyond and have then been reimbursed the full amount. If that changes I shan't be doing any more of these jobs!

mharzuk

Dotty13 wrote: »

Talking about reducing fees, has everyone had the email regarding the 20% cut in audit fees for the company that can't be named?:eek:

Ohhhhhh you'll be in trouble when Monkeyboy reads your post Dotty. :eek:He may even call you inaccurate and childish names.

snoppydog

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if Retail Active send invoices for me to complete to be paid or do I just send them email with the jobs i've done. I've looked on the first page and on Retail Active website but cannot find anything.

Thanks