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

boyoboy1986

jen_br wrote: »

Strange, Did you try the CENTRE instead That has free parking same with the asda car park. is MAG charging for outside as well?

I do a lot of work up that way eek

I didn't check the others as I had my mum in the car and she was gibbering away like hell.

I have looked on the centre website and found this though http://www.shopthecentre.co.uk/newsandevents/news/34956.aspx

From looking at that it looks like the Asda (a complete nightmare at the best of times) car park and the one over beside Curry's etc still don't charge or you could always park up at KFC/Sainsbury's and walk over but for 50p it's probably not worth the hassle plus you can get it back in selected stores when making a purchase apparently. The Cadbury store definitely takes them as I ended up buying a bag of mis-shapes and used it when paying.

borders

Yeah, sad tightwad me was warned about the Livingston charges coming in a couple of months ago and I haven't been back there since. Out of principle I don't use places that charge for parking unless I really have to.

StacFace

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

I'd wait until they'd finished their phone conversation and then go back and ask them then ................ hardly rocket science is it

That wouldn't be accepted, you have to offer desserts and coffees, make the recommendations etc. before taking away the plates. The MS report specifically asks if you were offered them before the plates were taken and it's a Yes/No response. This has happened before, when someone forgot to ask and went back straight after clearing the plates when they realised, the company said it did not count as we have to ask before we physically take the plates away from the table.

If we said the MSer being on the phone was the reason we didn't ask at the time of clearing then they would check CCTV to confirm this, and then the report would become invalid.

DevilsAdvocate1

StacFace wrote: »

That wouldn't be accepted, you have to offer desserts and coffees, make the recommendations etc. before taking away the plates. The MS report specifically asks if you were offered them before the plates were taken and it's a Yes/No response. This has happened before, when someone forgot to ask and went back straight after clearing the plates when they realised, the company said it did not count as we have to ask before we physically take the plates away from the table.

If we said the MSer being on the phone was the reason we didn't ask at the time of clearing then they would check CCTV to confirm this, and then the report would become invalid.

I've MS'ed one of the RE chains, but think it must be a different one to the one you work for. I always open a tab and pay the bill at the very end by credit card. Usually, I get a receipt automatically. But if I don't get one I don't have a problem in asking as its at the end - I already have all the answers so its too late for the staff to change their behaviour.

StacFace

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

I've MS'ed one of the RE chains, but think it must be a different one to the one you work for. I always open a tab and pay the bill at the very end by credit card. Usually, I get a receipt automatically. But if I don't get one I don't have a problem in asking as its at the end - I already have all the answers so its too late for the staff to change their behaviour.

Yeah, I've noticed 3 chains in my town on RE, well 2 because I'm not allowed to see my own. The above way is the only way around it I can think of and personally it is what I would do if I didn't work where I do and was MSing there. Asking for the receipt at the end without the tab is an option but it's more hassle and more obvious than opening the tab in the first place, and although staff can't change their behaviour one of them may be very good at remembering faces and spot you if you visit again 6-12 months later.

Asking for a receipt after you've just paid off a tab with a credit card is also not suspicious. We know an MSer may do this but we get lots of people who want the receipt in these circumstances, and as before we can give good customer service to everyone but not preferential service to everyone.

mimi1234

So what's everyones workload looking like at the moment? Mine has gone from mentally hectic in May to almost dead in June. I have 7 jobs to do by Monday and then that's it. I may take a little break from it as I am running around like a headless chicken at the moment.

Looks like RE are trialling loads of new clients. I've seen spicy chickens, really posh crystal jewellery shops and sorry guys, looks like the chain of studenty clothes shops ABA-I used to do have been pinched by RE too. I'm doing 2 of the said shops on Monday.

Has anyone done their TNS phone shop recording? If so, can you pm me.

Have a super weekend all and enjoy the lovely weather.

mysterious_girl

mimi1234 wrote: »

So what's everyones workload looking like at the moment? Mine has gone from mentally hectic in May to almost dead in June. I have 7 jobs to do by Monday and then that's it. I may take a little break from it as I am running around like a headless chicken at the moment.

Has anyone done their TNS phone shop recording? If so, can you pm me.

Have a super weekend all and enjoy the lovely weather.

Picked up 16 jobs today for next week. Have a nice weekend Mimi.

Miss_Qwerty

mimi1234 wrote: »

So what's everyones workload looking like at the moment? Mine has gone from mentally hectic in May to almost dead in June. I have 7 jobs to do by Monday and then that's it. I may take a little break from it as I am running around like a headless chicken at the moment.

Has anyone done their TNS phone shop recording? If so, can you pm me.

Have a super weekend all and enjoy the lovely weather.

Last month was my busiest month to date (although I only started in 2009 so still slowly building up my reputation and experience), but quiet for June. I've got 5 jobs to take me through to the end of next week and then that's my lot.

nehpets81

mimi1234 wrote: »

So what's everyones workload looking like at the moment? Mine has gone from mentally hectic in May to almost dead in June. I have 7 jobs to do by Monday and then that's it. I may take a little break from it as I am running around like a headless chicken at the moment.

Funilly enough it is the opposite to you - I didn't do much last month (had quite a nice break) and today alone I have picked up about half a dozen and the next few weeks are filling up quickly. I think after my break I'm in a mood to take more on - I even actually considered an egg shop before coming to my senses...

nehpets81

mimi1234 wrote: »

Finally, has anyone heard any more about the REACT coffee shops? I went to one over the weekend and they were talking about being mystery shopped recently. One of the girls was saying the most recent shopper thought she was 22 when she is actually 35. Was gonna ask if they knew which company were shopping them but bottled it. Does that mean REACT have definitely lost them?

React are definitely still doing the franchise outlets - I'm doing one next week. Not sure about the outlets they actually own themselves as they haven't been done in London for quite some time now.