Mystery Shopping Thread 21 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES*

Catatonia

Thanks. I am having problems doing the orientation though. I have downloaded all the manuals, and clicked through all the training bits, but it won't let me take the test for pizzas or chicken (did burgers ok). Has anyone experienced this? I have emailed, but was wondering if anyone here had the same difficulty.

DevilsAdvocate1

xangeleyes wrote: »

Hello. I've just signed up to a couple and I just needed a bit of help with something - hope it's ok to post on here.

With one company it says Fee £13 and that I've got to use that £13 to buy what they tell me to.
So I use this £13 out of my money first I guess until 'pay day'. But what do they pay me to DO this? Am I making sense? lol.
Or is the Fee what they'll pay me and it's just a coincidence that fee and purchase price is the same?

Some companies are just giving reimbursements and not giving a fee at all. Sometimes, the reimbursement does not cover what you are required to buy. You have to be really careful so that mystery shopping earns you money rather than costing you money.

Some companies, such as Gyp, give you the full reimbursement even if you spend less. Some companies, such as Retaileyes, will give you what you spend up to a maximum. So if a job says the reimbursement is £10 and you only spend £5, you only get the £5 back.

HTH.

marvellousaunt

Catatonia wrote: »

I've read about the problems with GAP in this thread. Do you think it's worth me starting to work for them? I have signed up and am tempted by some of the fast food assignments, but I'm not sure it's worth doing all the orientation etc questions if I'm not guaranteed a payment?

So far, they've been a pretty good earner for me. My top gap tips:

-If they ring you, try to accept as many of the assignments that they offer as you can. I think it makes them more likely to ring back.
-If they ring up and try to get you to do a crap*py gapburger miles away, DO negotiate an extra premium or ask if they have any petrol, supermarket or post office assignments near you. I’ve managed to get them to double the additional premium (around double the normal fee, on top of the normal fee) and give me about 4-5 incentive assignments in exchange for 1 or 2 burgers.
-Wait until premiums are added before accepting assignments. I rarely do an assignment for face value.
-When you start doing several shops, don’t bother eating all the fries! They’re disgusting and you only need to eat one… helps with the figure
-Be very careful with the timing and your observation, particularly for burgers. If they can, they’ll query things, so be on top of the accuracy, prompt at sending the forms back and always get a receipt.

I’ve found if you do everything by the book, they’re ok. I don’t trust them though from the tales here, but I’m squeezing as much out of them while I can! I do think it’s worth it to be honest, but they’re not the only company I use and it’s very nice to do an enquiry only GFK/Grassroots assignment in between the various fast food ones

Ziggy_Stardust

Any advice on Helion and pending jobs? I had one booked for today but up until 4.40pm last night it was still pending, as the job was about 10 miles away I cancelled it (I do have a life and it would take a couple of hours including travelling). The job came up again last night and I've re-booked it for Monday but its still pending and I've heard nothing.

marvellousaunt

Ziggy_Stardust wrote: »

Any advice on Helion and pending jobs? I had one booked for today but up until 4.40pm last night it was still pending, as the job was about 10 miles away I cancelled it (I do have a life and it would take a couple of hours including travelling). The job came up again last night and I've re-booked it for Monday but its still pending and I've heard nothing.

Perhaps Max can advise?

I had a similar situation - one pending for about 3 days, the assignment date got put back but it was never confirmed.

ajdj

Ziggy_Stardust wrote: »

Any advice on Helion and pending jobs? I had one booked for today but up until 4.40pm last night it was still pending, as the job was about 10 miles away I cancelled it (I do have a life and it would take a couple of hours including travelling). The job came up again last night and I've re-booked it for Monday but its still pending and I've heard nothing.

I had exactly the same problem last week, so ending up cancelling a 'pending' one as I hadn't had confirmation before leaving the house on the morning the job was due to be completed. It specifically says not to email regarding pending jobs, so maybe Max could advise on how we should be dealing with these?

N.I.M

I've not applied for their assignments recently because of it but I had assumed they had black listed me. Looking at whats here though I'm glad to see its not just me.

Ziggy_Stardust

Would it be possible to do the 'apply back' on it? At least then people will know that there's a chance that the job might not proceed.

MaxAben

Ziggy_Stardust wrote: »

Would it be possible to do the 'apply back' on it? At least then people will know that there's a chance that the job might not proceed.

We already have a back up system but these are just extra shops, not back up so they can not be linked in the same way, sorry

Tudorc1

Max, You have an email!