MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 17 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

Badger_Lady

Well I just started shopping a few weeks ago and have got assignments coming out of my ears! I already have a full-time job so am working around it (I just like to keep busy) and that seems to be going well. Luckily my job is on flexi-time and I'm based in a capital city, so there's plenty of scope for "popping by" on my way to / from work or at lunchtimes.

In three weeks I've made enough money to buy a cheap Blu-Ray player on eBay, plus I've had a couple of hundred quids' worth of freebies (mostly consumables) without going out of my way.

However there are three mistakes that I've made, with painful lessons attached:

1. I was instructed to ask for a receipt, which I did. The salesperson said, "no worries - I'll pop it in the bag for you". However, they only gave me a credit card receipt and not a till receipt so I had to completely reshop it the next day

2. I did an overnight stay with a group of friends, supposedly all expenses paid. I'd sent my booking confirmation to the company before staying there, then submitted my full report afterwards which was passed to the client before someone noticed that I'd gone to the wrong location (there were two close together). So my £120 reimbursement was declined (I have to admit this did grate a bit because two days later the location I had visited came up for identical assignment and it seemed unlikely that my report couldn't be used for that...)

3. I agreed to an assignment due in November, but when I called for the first part found out they were closed on the dates needed. Instead of contacting the company to explain, I released the assignment and was therefore docked two points

Anyway - the point is I started out with Retail Eyes which seems to be doing me very well, but have now started signing up to a few more not least because I'd like to stay local and am bound to run out of clients if I keep doing them through one agency only!

blindman

Badger_Lady wrote: »

However there are three mistakes that I've made, with painful lessons attached:

1. I was instructed to ask for a receipt, which I did. The salesperson said, "no worries - I'll pop it in the bag for you". However, they only gave me a credit card receipt and not a till receipt so I had to completely reshop it the next day

TIP
ALWAYS say A VAT receipt


2. I did an overnight stay with a group of friends, supposedly all expenses paid. I'd sent my booking confirmation to the company before staying there, then submitted my full report afterwards which was passed to the client before someone noticed that I'd gone to the wrong location (there were two close together). So my £120 reimbursement was declined (I have to admit this did grate a bit because two days later the location I had visited came up for identical assignment and it seemed unlikely that my report couldn't be used for that...)

This wasn't for a hotel near an airport was it?
I reshopped one in January where the shopper had gone to the wrong location :eek:
Obviously not you but it has been done before :eek:

3. I agreed to an assignment due in November, but when I called for the first part found out they were closed on the dates needed. Instead of contacting the company to explain, I released the assignment and was therefore docked two points

Points mean bu**er all

Anyway - the point is I started out with Retail Eyes which seems to be doing me very well, but have now started signing up to a few more not least because I'd like to stay local and am bound to run out of clients if I keep doing them through one agency only!

TIP
In petrol visits always ask for a VAT receipt for ALL purchases.
Had a few where I only get the receipt for the petrol.
Even so never had problems with the MS Co though

Lil_Me_2

My only other tip is give up with Retail Eyes quickly, they aren't worth the hassle!

Lots of other companies, with better paid assignments and less tedious reports.

Oh, and stick around on here, it's always nice to see new faces!

donut24

Daley83 wrote: »

Hi I'm a posting with a few simple questions for any experienced mystery shoppers on here.
I'm considering signing up myself but the FAQs don't seem to cover what I consider the important things.

1. Whats the average you get paid per job? (I realise it will vary I'm just asking for a ball park figure)
2. How often do you get assignments? (Again just a rough average)
3. Do you ever have to travel far or is it always somewhere you would travel for personal shopping?

Hopefully I'm not asking anything stupid but even between FAQs and this thread I can't seem to find clear answers regarding these issues and they are my main concerns before I actually sign up.

Thanks for reading.

Hi Daley

I've been mystery shopping for about 2 weeks. I think the number of assignment available to you depends on your location and the number of companies you sign up with. I've gone through the rigmarole of signing up with some to find that they don't have jobs in my area. On the other hand, there are a lot of jobs within walking distance to where I live but this is because I'm new, therefore, am not barred from re-shopping any stores yet.

Retail Eyes tends to have a lot of assignments but I was shocked at how much time it can take to fill in a questionnaire, my first took over an hour! It definitely did not feel worthwhile. However, I still take assignments from them if I'm passing one of their shops en route to where ever I'm going.

I've done a couple of assignments for Tern and GFK and I really liked them. The pay was reasonable and the surveys a decent length.

Gap have a lot of assignments if you like fast food and the surveys are ok.

I'd suggest signing up with a couple of companies to begin with and see how you go before taking the time to sign up with the others.

Money_maker

Dont you just hate it when that RE assignment gets snapped up from beneath your nose. Had been waiting for this one. Never mind, try again next month.

Monkeynut

Money_maker wrote: »

Dont you just hate it when that RE assignment gets snapped up from beneath your nose. Had been waiting for this one. Never mind, try again next month.

I would count myself lucky as it would give me a good excuse not to have to do it!!!
I just accepted a dry cleaners (which despite haveing walked past hundreds of times, I'd never actually realised it was there!). I wish I would stop accepting silly RE jobs, but I'm determined to top up the "Lets pay off the first loan by Christmas so I can have the last 3 months of unpaid Maternity Leave off before I have to go back to work" fund!
So now I have a few days to find something which will need to be cleaned!!! :rotfl:

Miss_Qwerty

Monkeynut wrote: »

So now I have a few days to find something which will need to be cleaned!!! :rotfl:

I have a coat that I need dry cleaning, but i'm too tight to pay for such a 'luxury' expense without getting it through MS'ing if you want me to post it to you

Money_maker

Yeah - it was my coat I wanted cleaning too!

jen_br

OMMMGGGG I picked up a chicken job here today as the premium was really good and hey whatever i was in town.. this chicken was the NICEST, cleanest, staff lovely etc etc...

im gobsmacked that good chickens do exisit.

MoneySavingBecky

hey guys and gals
just been allocated LOTS of edigital surverys
but the first section on some says..."Please take a screen grab of the page you are viewing and email it to info@edigitalresearch.com. Then go to the website homepage and answer this section. Please do not go further than the homepage."

does that mean take a print screen of the survey page or the website homepage :S

thanks [=
xxxxx