Mystery Shopping Thread 20 **PLEASE DO NOT MENTION CLIENT NAMES OR FEES ON HERE**

polythenegirl

Hooloovoo wrote: »

Why shouldn't I? Well in any job it's generally accepted that reinventing the wheel every time is a bad way of working and spending your time. It's always a good idea to take advice from others more knowledgeable and experienced than yourself.

I hate to imagine where the world would be now if everyone was forced to work out everything for themselves! Do nuclear physicists work out how to split the atom every time they design a nuclear power plant?



Well, I think that is a little harsh regardless of how you meant it.

Considering I discovered mystery shopping, researched it, signed up, and did my first shop before I even knew about this thread I would hardly say I was asking to be spoon fed.

As did I! I found this thread by accident, but that doesn't mean I asked peopel to do my leg work for me.

Again - sorry you took this the wrong way - wasn't meaning any offence


Anyways...

Hows people looking for work? I've not done anything for about a week and a half due to holibobs in Rome and finding it difficult to get stuff now Is it just the wrong time of the month?

polythenegirl

someone wrote: »

Please be friendly!

I wasn't trying to be unfriendly, just saying that I thought it a little cheeky

Anyways... sorry if I've caused offence!

Hooloovoo

dazza.mk wrote: »

I also don't think you get that the company may be looking for specific demographics, so if you sign upto a specific site due to someone's advice you may not even see the jobs you were hoping to see.

Yes, of course I understand that.

Also in some cases specific companies might be 'the best' due to a shopper having built up a reputation with them, that isn't something you can leapfrog.

I understand that too. I'm not trying to "leapfrog" anything. It would just be nice to have a little idea in advance which companies are worth spending time building up the "reputation". For example, it's not worth spending time building up a good rep with RE and gaining lots of points if everyone on here says that the jobs never get any better.

polythenegirl wrote: »

As did I! I found this thread by accident, but that doesn't mean I asked peopel to do my leg work for me.

I honestly don't see that I'm asking people to "do the leg work for me". I hardly think asking for a little advice on which of the tens of companies offer the better paying jobs once you've worked for them for awhile, or which companies seem to concentrate on which areas, is asking for people to do work for me.

Do you all apply for employed positions without checking out the salary or what it's like to work for the company first? Maybe I'm strange but it's standard practise around here to check out the company first before you even apply - doing it the other way around is rather foolish.

Monkeynut

Can someone point me in the direction of how to invoice Aba (not Abai). For some reason I had in my head that they paid automatically, but have been in contact with them to ask about payment, as it was my first job with them, and they told me the time frame they aim to pay in after receiving the invoice. So I was obviously wrong that they paid automatically, but cannot find an invoice. Should it have been emailed to me for me to complete and return, as with the ones we shouldn't name (but often do anyway!), or should it be on the site somewhere like First Tracking for example?
Am hoping to find out so I don't have to ring them again as really I should have asked when talking to them before!! Got off the phone and thought Oh, hang on a minute, it's all very well knowing that I have to do an invoice but why didn't I ask how to do that!!

cyprus31

Hooloovoo wrote: »

Maybe I'm strange but it's standard practise around here to check out the company first before you even apply - doing it the other way around is rather foolish.

I don't think you're strange at all.

Most of us have used the 'suck it and see' method to find which companies are worth the effort. I really don't see any harm in picking other people's brains about this - it's quite logical to me, but I suppose you're always going to come up against the old argument that 'We had to do it, so you should too'.

My favourite companies to work for are ESA, Helion, Bare, TNS, Tern and Grassroots.

Good luck!

cyprus31

Monkeynut wrote: »

Can someone point me in the direction of how to invoice Aba (not Abai). For some reason I had in my head that they paid automatically, but have been in contact with them to ask about payment, as it was my first job with them, and they told me the time frame they aim to pay in after receiving the invoice. So I was obviously wrong that they paid automatically, but cannot find an invoice. Should it have been emailed to me for me to complete and return, as with the ones we shouldn't name (but often do anyway!), or should it be on the site somewhere like First Tracking for example?
Am hoping to find out so I don't have to ring them again as really I should have asked when talking to them before!! Got off the phone and thought Oh, hang on a minute, it's all very well knowing that I have to do an invoice but why didn't I ask how to do that!!

I make my own invoices on a Word document and give my name, address, job name, scenario or wave and then list the fees and any reimbursement. Send this to [EMAIL="invoices@aba.co.uk"]invoices@aba.co.uk[/EMAIL]
Also include their name and address.

someone

Is Max around? I sent an email over the weekend about a job in Manchester that does not look posible to do (for anyone!)

borders

Hooloovoo wrote: »

Yes, of course I understand that.

I honestly don't see that I'm asking people to "do the leg work for me". I hardly think asking for a little advice on which of the tens of companies offer the better paying jobs once you've worked for them for awhile, or which companies seem to concentrate on which areas, is asking for people to do work for me.

Do you all apply for employed positions without checking out the salary or what it's like to work for the company first? Maybe I'm strange but it's standard practise around here to check out the company first before you even apply - doing it the other way around is rather foolish.

Hard to say which companies would be best for you. Different ages, gender, availability, locations, willingness to travel.... get different amounts of jobs.

I have never had a job from Bare, Tern and several others in the 3 years I've been doing this. Other people get a lot of work from these companies. Used to get a lot from ESA but they've cut their fees so much that it's not worth me travelling to do their jobs now. About 100 jobs last year, I've done one this year.

You really need to check out each company yourself and find out whats available for you. It's the only way to do it. Asking other people only tells you whats best for them, doesnt mean it has any relevance to you. A quick read of the forum and the alerts will give you a general idea of people's opinions and what type of jobs are on offer.

dazza.mk

agree with the above, that was what I was trying to say in my posts that what you will be told won't necessarily be the best for you. You may also find that several 'badly paid' shops from several different companies become an attractive position when they are combined.

Boredupnorth

borders wrote: »

Hard to say which companies would be best for you. Different ages, gender, availability, locations, willingness to travel.... get different amounts of jobs.

I have never had a job from Bare, Tern and several others in the 3 years I've been doing this. Other people get a lot of work from these companies. Used to get a lot from ESA but they've cut their fees so much that it's not worth me travelling to do their jobs now. About 100 jobs last year, I've done one this year.

You really need to check out each company yourself and find out whats available for you. It's the only way to do it. Asking other people only tells you whats best for them, doesnt mean it has any relevance to you. A quick read of the forum and the alerts will give you a general idea of people's opinions and what type of jobs are on offer.

Just to prove this, I do masses of work for both Bare and Tern and even with the reduced fees from ESA I still find it very worthwhile doing work for them.

I wont do anything for RE as I cant see how you can make money doing them. Everyone is different so the correct answer to the original question is the only way to find out is try it yourself.