MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 18 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

HTR

mysterious_girl wrote: »

Remember what is to the left and right of the store and write it down or record it before you go in. You will be so overwhelmed when you get out that you will forget. And if you have to buy something, don't forget to get a receipt! Take notes if you can on your mobile by texting yourself. I do that all the time.

Thank you mysterious.

Thankfully the job doesn't involve a purchase, just a product enquiry and the only proof I need is a business card. No photo's required either although a quick snap of the shop front is good idea as a couple of the questions are about the cleanliness and appearance of the shop front and it's probably a good habit to get into.

lalli_pickle wrote: »

Also, wander past beforehand and take a picture from across the street if you can. That way when your mind goes blank you can see what was in the shop windows, how clean it looked and what was around it (also helps for when you suddenly remember halfway home that you needed to send in a picture with your report and have to go traipsing back).

I also text myself while walking around stores or have "conversations" with my voice recorder on the phone.

If you let us know which company you're shopping for (Mystery Shopping company NOT which client) then there may be some more specific hints.

Thank you pickle.

Texting yourself is a great idea. I've got a Blackberry so I might type out a memo with reminders of what I need to do, I can then have a read before I go in the door and add any answers as I go.

I'm not sure which MS company names I'm allowed to actually mention, I know that they prefer us to keep quiet about the assignments and MS in general. Having looked on this forum a few times, there does seem to be a secret language that you have (eg: egg jobs) and I wouldn't want to say the wrong thing.


I'm looking forward to doing the job, it's about time that I gave mystery shopping a try and when work is quiet the extra money will be useful. I have noticed that some jobs have got rather low fee's though, the question:fee ratio is sometimes quite alarming. I guess that there is an awful lot I will need to learn.

Thanks for your responses so far.

EDIT// I'm refreshing my research about MS'ing and just discovered the 'useful quotes' thread. That should save me some time.

kman

HTR wrote: »

I'm not sure which MS company names I'm allowed to actually mention, I know that they prefer us to keep quiet about the assignments and MS in general. Having looked on this forum a few times, there does seem to be a secret language that you have (eg: egg jobs) and I wouldn't want to say the wrong thing.

The only one you're not allowed to mention is Assosia...

HTR

Thanks kman. lol

It's a job for ESA.

lalli_pickle

HTR wrote: »

Thanks kman. lol

It's a job for ESA.

Ah, ESA are generally quite simple reports, keep a note of entry and exit times, names of people you speak to and descriptions of them.
The other thing I've noticed is that when you finish the report there are 3 options, "save", "upload" and "check complete".

If you click check complete first it will sometimes tell you everything is fine even though you haven't uploaded anything so check before you submit that you've uploaded your picture :eek:

The other thing with those is that you have to save the report, then come out of it and submit from the main menu. The first one I did I just saved and it sat, unsubmitted, on my main screen for ages before I called them and asked why I kept getting reminders for a job I'd already done

jen_br

HTR wrote: »

Hi shoppers,

I've been looking into doing mystery shopping for a while now and have signed up with a few companies. I'm self-employed and my usual line of work is very irregular, so I thought that while I'm out about I'd do an odd shop to earn myself an extra drink. Anyway, up until now I have only browsed the job opportunities and descriptions, basically to get a feel for what is involved and expected of me. I hadn't accepted any assignments purely because I'm a little nervous (perhaps others were on their first ever shop?), I was worried that I'd get something and not get paid for my time.

Today the phone rang, it was an assignment in my local town and I don't know why but I said yes...:eek:.. My first ever mystery shop is taking place tomorrow which is great, but I'm still worried that it could go wrong.

I've got the questionnaire here, it seems fairly simple, I think that the hardest part will be remembering everything about the shop and the assistant that serves me while also remembering to stick to the scenario.

I know that I'm a newbie here, but if anyone has any tips or could share their first mystery shopping experience I'd be very grateful.

Thanks.

hi travel shop or death?

never take photo beforehand you may get caught

relax acr natural and believe you are the scenario its easier

lalli_pickle

jen_br wrote: »

never take photo beforehand you may get caught

Ah, oops :rotfl:

Bad advice from me, ignore me and listen to Jen

StacFace

Does anyone know if the current retail visits on Helion are done in every branch of that store or only in a certain area(s)? I'm wondering as I know I have one of those very local to me and never see it, even when there's loads of them up (suggesting new upload and none yet taken) the nearest one is over 200 miles away!

lalli_pickle

StacFace wrote: »

Does anyone know if the current retail visits on Helion are done in every branch of that store or only in a certain area(s)? I'm wondering as I know I have one of those very local to me and never see it, even when there's loads of them up (suggesting new upload and none yet taken) the nearest one is over 200 miles away!

The sports audits I can see everywhere, the other retail I can only see a few and they seem to be Jersey/Guernsey way (although geography is not my strong point)

spender

Would the person who keeps beating me to FFF STOP IT - I am having a tantrum:D

HTR

lalli_pickle wrote: »

Ah, ESA are generally quite simple reports, keep a note of entry and exit times, names of people you speak to and descriptions of them.
The other thing I've noticed is that when you finish the report there are 3 options, "save", "upload" and "check complete".

If you click check complete first it will sometimes tell you everything is fine even though you haven't uploaded anything so check before you submit that you've uploaded your picture :eek:

The other thing with those is that you have to save the report, then come out of it and submit from the main menu. The first one I did I just saved and it sat, unsubmitted, on my main screen for ages before I called them and asked why I kept getting reminders for a job I'd already done

Thanks for the tips.

I've just had a look for the 'submit' button and found it. That's quite easy to miss first time around and important to know. Don't want to complete the report and then fail to submit it in time.

jen_br wrote: »

hi travel shop or death?

never take photo beforehand you may get caught

relax acr natural and believe you are the scenario its easier

Thanks jen. It's a travel shop.

I'll try and relax as much as possible. I've read the scenario and have a clear picture of what I'm asking for, as long as they don't throw any awkward questions at me I should be fine. Because I'm going alone, if I get caught off guard by a probing question I can always use the excuse, "I need to discuss it with my partner".