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

clippy_girl

god reacts burger jobs are even worse paid than gaps :eek:

dazza.mk

OK ESA really are messing about with the fees now? - new clothes shops

visit 1 or 2 Depts = Fee + reimbursement
Visit 3 Depts = Lower Fee + higher reimbursement

eh? - where is the sense in that

System

polythenegirl wrote: »

I don't think its a case of us wanting to work for peanuts though. I certainy don't, but until I've built a reputation with the companies I'm not in a position to either demand more or turn down jobs with lower fees

I completely understand your comment, but when you do have a good reputation you will be in the position us experienced shoppers are in right now. There will always be someone willing to do it for less money and in that instance why should companies pay more. The only winners are the big corporations.

djboss

Regarding the reducing fees. Is it about time that we started discussing the details of fees on here, so that the newbies can see what the problem is? It seems to me that the RE's of this world don't deserve the respect we're giving them by keeping the details hidden!

Eventually, The lower quality of reports and the drop in reliability of the "Cheaper" MS'ers will lose the quality business for the MS Companies involved, or they'll start to reinstate the higher fees for better work. Standard market economics. Unfortunately, at times like this when the economic problems are on everyones mind, coinciding with the publicity the MSing has been having, things are a bit out of balance.

polythenegirl

rachelja wrote: »

I completely understand your comment, but when you do have a good reputation you will be in the position us experienced shoppers are in right now. There will always be someone willing to do it for less money and in that instance why should companies pay more. The only winners are the big corporations.

Oh yeah completely, but at least your in that position now. As I said itis a horrible no win situation for New Starters.

I am sorry if I'm annoying people in here as a new starter on this though

clippy_girl

dazza.mk wrote: »

OK ESA really are messing about with the fees now? - new clothes shops

visit 1 or 2 Depts = Fee + reimbursement
Visit 3 Depts = Lower Fee + higher reimbursement

eh? - where is the sense in that

you get a lovely item (which you no doubt need to pay extra towards)

they can make it look like there is a benefit to do the job at a cost of about £1 to themselves!

i used to work for a mail order clothing co and the clothes cost less than 20% of what we sold them for. so if someone wanted a £4 p&p refund because their order was delayed, we would offer a £10 voucher. cheaper for us and they thought it was great!

i dont mind doing reimb only jobs if it is a decent reimb- eg bare jewellery. yes you may end up paying slightly towards it or not getting as much selling on ebay but at the end of the day, its a decent payment for the job however you look at it.

esa are taking the !!!! with that one (although the one dept one is ok, i have one of those the fee has not decreased since i last done it in may)

Lil_Me_2

clippy_girl wrote: »

god reacts burger jobs are even worse paid than gaps :eek:

I did these last year, the fee is less, but the work involved is less too. I'd prefer these over GAP.

Becles

clare*H wrote: »

I have been MS since the summer, for mainly reimbursements, not many fees. I have just started looking on this forum and have seen a post with regards to informing HMRC for tax and NI purposes, and that MS companies are passing on our details with a possible fine of £100. This has started to get me worried, is this something that I should have done? I am currently on maternity leave from work receiving statutory maternity pay, does anyone know if I inform HMRC this will affect my pay in anyway? Thanking you all in anticipation.

Yes you should have registered as self employed when you first started doing the additional work. Have you kept records of what you've spent and earned while doing the mystery shopping?

I'd give the self employed helpline a ring (number on first page) and explain what has happened and see what they say.

It won't affect your SMP as you can do self employed work while getting SMP.

dazza.mk

clippy_girl wrote: »

you get a lovely item (which you no doubt need to pay extra towards)

they can make it look like there is a benefit to do the job at a cost of about £1 to themselves!

i used to work for a mail order clothing co and the clothes cost less than 20% of what we sold them for. so if someone wanted a £4 p&p refund because their order was delayed, we would offer a £10 voucher. cheaper for us and they thought it was great!

i dont mind doing reimb only jobs if it is a decent reimb- eg bare jewellery. yes you may end up paying slightly towards it or not getting as much selling on ebay but at the end of the day, its a decent payment for the job however you look at it.

esa are taking the !!!! with that one (although the one dept one is ok, i have one of those the fee has not decreased since i last done it in may)

No agreed re: reimbursement jobs, comment was really related to the screwing around with Fee + reimb., increase the departments (have to drag a child around with you as well) put the fee down and increased reimbursement is just getting silly!

System

polythenegirl wrote: »

Oh yeah completely, but at least your in that position now. As I said itis a horrible no win situation for New Starters.

I am sorry if I'm annoying people in here as a new starter on this though

But I'm not in a good position now, that's what I mean. I've been doing this for 9 years and the drop in fees is what makes me angry. I am not getting many good jobs and would be better off getting a cleaning job which would pay double or treble of this! For this reason I take on few ms jobs and mainly do other work.

And no you are not annoying me, I am sorry if it came across that way. I would just work out your options and do the best for you. I wouldn't recommend a friend or relative to start in this line of work if they had other part time work options iykwim.
Yes it is a no win situation, I agree.