MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 19 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

Monkeynut

Nope, still not accepting.
Oh well, will try again tomorrow, but not like we're losing out on much anyway!

yonk

LizzieMSL wrote: »

Hallo Jen, thanks for the thumbs up! Yes it's Mystery Shoppers Ltd (or MSL for those who know us!), our website is mystery - shoppers. co. uk (can't make it linky as I'm new, but beware lookalike sites!)

We're doing lots more video these days so definitely worth registering and maybe dropping an email to follow up after a week or two.

I still think your "pay to be certified" thing makes the site look a bit scammy. It's the one thing new shoppers are always told, don't pay to work. I know it put me off applying to you until I finally had a personal recommendation.

louise12113

Monkeynut wrote: »

Nope, still not accepting.
Oh well, will try again tomorrow, but not like we're losing out on much anyway!

Ive been accepted for some and not all ones applied for. bit odd

proshopper

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

Picked up a last minute Kitchen store on RE this morning at 10am

Did the job at lunchtime

Did the report about 5pm, uploaded a photo which to me looked a bit out of focus, but left it .......... just logged on, and it's been proofread and passed for payment already!!

Is this an RE record?

No, TG, definitely not a record. I did an audit for RE last week. Finished it at 11:30, was in motorway services at just after midday submitting, read some emails, went back on RE and report was passed and payable (20 minutes-ish after I had submitted).:rotfl:

mysterious_girl

yonk wrote: »

I still think your "pay to be certified" thing makes the site look a bit scammy. It's the one thing new shoppers are always told, don't pay to work. I know it put me off applying to you until I finally had a personal recommendation.

I certainly will NEVER pay to shop! Don't care who recommends. Its a definite no go area for me. Have never in my life had to pay to apply for a job. Its greedy, unnecessary, unfair and downright WRONG!

LizzieMSL

mysterious_girl wrote: »

I certainly will NEVER pay to shop! Don't care who recommends. Its a definite no go area for me. Have never in my life had to pay to apply for a job. Its greedy, unnecessary, unfair and downright WRONG!

Hi, totally agree with you on this one, and just to be clear, you do not have to pay to sign up with us! It's an optional thing, just means you get prioritised when we are searching for agents, but we do still use lots of uncertified agents so don't let it put you off us!

mysterious_girl

LizzieMSL wrote: »

Hi, totally agree with you on this one, and just to be clear, you do not have to pay to sign up with us! It's an optional thing, just means you get prioritised when we are searching for agents, but we do still use lots of uncertified agents so don't let it put you off us!

But why charge for the certification?!?! Lots of companies have certifications you can pass without having to pay for it.

I use to recruit staff to work in Hong Kong in the construction industry. We paid their flight, accomm etc etc. They didn't have to spend a penny. I know its not the same but the principle is.

Lil_Me_2

Monkeynut wrote: »

How did they know that you didn't ask?

The station was flagged as having a toilet so when I didn't answer the question I got queried on it. I made the mistake of being honest that I didn't ask the staff member haha. Ho hum.

With regards to MSL I have to say I've not had a great experience working for them. I was called and asked to do an exam assignment, it was allocated and I told them when I'd do it (about 4 weeks away). Then I got a follow up call asking if I'd booked the exam yet and when I said no I was told that it had to be booked asap and therefore they were going to find someone else! I offered to book it there and then but it wasn't good enough. Pretty unreasonable I thought and it'll make me think twice about working with them again.

LizzieMSL

mysterious_girl wrote: »

But why charge for the certification?!?! Lots of companies have certifications you can pass without having to pay for it.

I use to recruit staff to work in Hong Kong in the construction industry. We paid their flight, accomm etc etc. They didn't have to spend a penny. I know its not the same but the principle is.

Not quite high enough up the ladder for this to be my decision but certainly worth expressing your opinion direct to the company! I think the reasoning behind it would be that a) paying would prove the agent serious about being a MS-er, and that b) the test itself would be a way of showing that they were up to standard, so a sort of good-agent filter maybe, but don't quote me on it as the certification thing was started before I even joined the company!
Again, don't let it stop you from registering as we have lots of brilliant agents who get regular work from us who are not certified

jen_br

LizzieMSL wrote: »

Not quite high enough up the ladder for this to be my decision but certainly worth expressing your opinion direct to the company! I think the reasoning behind it would be that a) paying would prove the agent serious about being a MS-er, and that b) the test itself would be a way of showing that they were up to standard, so a sort of good-agent filter maybe, but don't quote me on it as the certification thing was started before I even joined the company!
Again, don't let it stop you from registering as we have lots of brilliant agents who get regular work from us who are not certified

TBH I have never paid to register and I get quite regular work, I told yonk the same thing and she has had a job *maybe even 2 now?* I have had plenty of their work with out registering. I see Matts thing with the paying for certification like if you are a Property manager or a lawyer etc you pay to be part of the bar or the association. I guess Msers just don't earn enough to really warrant it.

Lil_Me wrote: »

With regards to MSL I have to say I've not had a great experience working for them. I was called and asked to do an exam assignment, it was allocated and I told them when I'd do it (about 4 weeks away). Then I got a follow up call asking if I'd booked the exam yet and when I said no I was told that it had to be booked asap and therefore they were going to find someone else! I offered to book it there and then but it wasn't good enough. Pretty unreasonable I thought and it'll make me think twice about working with them again.

Yeah LIl_me I had a bad experience when I first started but the office has had a bit of a juggle and it seems a lot better...
Im not on commission *hrm maybe I should be?* but I do find them fair and things have gotten a LOT better now that they have gone to an online system. Before that there were a lot of C*ck ups because of the lack of online system and the allocation via email got messy.

Anyhoo we are all entitled to our opinons but I just wanted to say that Ive had fast payments and fairly good fees from them!