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

misssarahleigh

The_Write_Girl wrote: »

Misssarahleigh - I'm interested in doing a bit of mystery shopping as I'm on maternity leave and like to keep active. I do investigative journalism which I suppose is similar.

For example if the shopper has to visit a bank and ask about a specific account, is he or she allowed to ask any other questions as a diversion tactic? I would probably use the line 'I'm on maternity leave but...'

I know establishments are alerted to a visit but are they given the details of what the shopper will ask?

Also I'm on SMP. It is ok to be self-employed? Isn't it??

Ah, don't worry. Like others have said your given your 'cover story' in the breif really. Anything they ask extra you can normally make up as you please. e.g. small talk with the bank while there entering your details etc

I would suggest you pick one up, give it a go and see what you think. We can explain but it won't come close to experiencing it yourself.

In over 2 years i've only been rumbled once. And i convinced him i wasn't a mystery shopper so well he processed my application for a loan fraudulently lol he he he (won't be going back to that shop)

misssarahleigh

MysteryMe wrote: »

This is a first from me, contacted by a shop after they received the MS report I did. :rotfl:

Just had a delightful phone call from the owner of a shop I visited few weeks ago, thanking me for my MS report which they'd just received. The nature of the shop and the circumstances of this particular location I visited meant it wouldn't have been hard to realise it was me once he'd seen the report. Thankfully he said he had no idea I was a MS at the time. I had to leave a real contact number so he looked through his records and decided to ring me. I'm just pleased he received a glowing report (well deserved) and not one slagging him off lol!

It's not my usual location and I would never be able to shop it again anyway but it did take me aback a bit at first but bless him he was genuinely keen to make whatever improvements he could and was pleased for the feedback!

I've given cinema voucher out and a sandwhich one. Both times it made there day and they looked really happy, which in turn put a smile on my face.

jen_br

DPJames wrote: »

My brother won prize potato in the local vegetable fair at the weekend. Luckily for him you weren't there. You'd have won.

Yup because insulting people who have helped those on this thread is the way forward you are no better then the "monarchy" you speak of.

Frankly your attitude is disgusting -- and for RE sake it makes me feel like putting you on Ignore.

I know that I have helped countless people on this thread and via PM's I have always answered and tried my best to provide work info, supply info etc. So for you to come on here and abuse me like that is personally insulting and im going to hit the spam button. Thankfully this is a forum and there is mods who will take care of that!

Oh and sorry for replying so late - whilst you were arguing I was MS'ing!

LINKYPIE2009

Does anyone have a spreadsheet that they use? or some tips on how to draw one of my own up?

Many Thanks

LInkypie x

tania-jo

Have picked up my first audit with RE - am actually realy looking forward to it, although I'm not sure why! Can I just ask though, if I audit for a company am I still able to ms them ( in a different store) Thanks

jen_br

tania-jo wrote: »

Have picked up my first audit with RE - am actually realy looking forward to it, although I'm not sure why! Can I just ask though, if I audit for a company am I still able to ms them ( in a different store) Thanks

Depends on the store but if its for RE and its the sandwich one yes but you won't be able to do the store your auditing

kst101

LINKYPIE2009 wrote: »

Does anyone have a spreadsheet that they use? or some tips on how to draw one of my own up?

Many Thanks

LInkypie x

Mine has columns for date completed, which MS company it was for, fee, expenses, where it was, distance from my house, mileage at 45p/mile, sheets of paper (at 6p/sheet), a profit or loss and the date I was paid. I do my accounts on a receipts basis ie when I get paid although you can do it when you do the actual job. Given the time it takes some MS companies to pay I prefer to not count the profit until I have been paid. It's fine to do it either way, but you need to be consistent.

If I've done several jobs in one day and travelled to different places I will do a separate row for mileage rather than allocate it to one job, although I am not quite sure when to count it against my profit. Usually go for the month where some at least of the jobs have paid, but that isn't entirely scientific.

proshopper

tania-jo wrote: »

Have picked up my first audit with RE - am actually realy looking forward to it, although I'm not sure why! Can I just ask though, if I audit for a company am I still able to ms them ( in a different store) Thanks

jen_br wrote: »

Depends on the store but if its for RE and its the sandwich one yes but you won't be able to do the store your auditing

I'm not sure about these audits, but when I have audited for RE in the past I have been precluded from MSing that retailer (any branch) ever again; this has applied to at least three clients. A one-off audit may not be worth doing if you are hoping to pick up future MS work for the same client.

kst101

Just looked at ESA and all my jobs have been OKed for pay

When do ESA pay these days - will next one be mid October? Hadn't done any jobs for ages and then loads came up (which was quite nice of course)

cyprus31

pinkprincess39 wrote: »

Also I have been asked to ask for an unusual item for the MOS to find for me...any ideas? cant be a Dog/Cat/Animal foodNon-Food items or Loose Vegetable

Whenever I have done these it has stated that, if possible, you should ask for an ingredient listed on one of their recipe cards.

The last time I did this store, I checked the recipe cards near the front of the store and picked one up that used capers. I took this with me and asked a young lad if he could help me find them. He was totally foxed and spent ages looking at the dried fruit section before asking another member of staff for help.