Mystery Shopping Thread 24 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

emmylc

Anyone have any experience of the ESA 'fashion retailer - clothing' jobs are like?

I haven't done any work for ESA before so not sure what they are like to work for and I can't get a look at the questionnaire without applying so not sure how much of a faff it will be. I have read the brief but can't tell from that.

Any info appreciated - thx

Wizzbang

Once I looked through the description for those jobs, I changed my mind. They seem like an awful lot of work and I think you'd easily be recognised as a shopper- going into 3 different depts, asking a silly question and then moving on somewhere else AND trying out the changing rooms. However, I think their click and collect jobs are easy peasy! Some people must take them however.

Big_Graeme

Wizzbang wrote: »

Once I looked through the description for those jobs, I changed my mind. They seem like an awful lot of work and I think you'd easily be recognised as a shopper- going into 3 different depts, asking a silly question and then moving on somewhere else AND trying out the changing rooms. However, I think their click and collect jobs are easy peasy! Some people must take them however.

This is going to sound harsh but you can't cherry pick easy jobs hoping to make a quick buck, the skill of a good shopper isto take the brief an make it into a perfectly normal transaction. You don't seem to have that skill set as yet, that iswhy you just see the poor paying jobs.

awaywiththefaeries

emmylc wrote: »

Anyone have any experience of the ESA 'fashion retailer - clothing' jobs are like?

I haven't done any work for ESA before so not sure what they are like to work for and I can't get a look at the questionnaire without applying so not sure how much of a faff it will be. I have read the brief but can't tell from that.

Any info appreciated - thx

I did a few of those jobs last month. Not sure how similar these are, but in my opinion they weren't a complete nightmare, and worth it if you can string a few together. My first one took a good hour or so, but I got a lot quicker as I went, like a lot of jobs. Yes you did have to approach a lot of different staff members with questions, which was a bit awkward, but the ones I did with 3 different departments were all huge stores, so you didn't keep running into the same staff. You aren't reading a script so its not too strange, and if its the same the reimbursement was quite fair. Reports did take quite a while though, with lots of comments required.

skivenov

MysteryMe wrote: »

Nothing to do with anyone being underskilled, it is quite clear that the problem is with the merchandising company in this instance.

Beg to differ. If you're being paid to install something, you install it, if you have to move some stock, you move some stock, if you have to change a profile, you change a profile. There's more than one way to skin a cat,and the more ways you know, the better you can do the job.

Wizzbang

Big_Graeme wrote: »

This is going to sound harsh but you can't cherry pick easy jobs hoping to make a quick buck, the skill of a good shopper isto take the brief an make it into a perfectly normal transaction. You don't seem to have that skill set as yet, that iswhy you just see the poor paying jobs.

Whilst I appreciate that is your opinion, I am perfectly entitled to take whichever jobs I wish to make an easy buck! That is the whole point of me doing MS, whilst it may not be for those who are relying on it as a career. This is the joy of being self-employed- in my own business which I run day-to-day and is my main income, I take whichever jobs I wish to and often turn down those who aren't willing to pay the going rate. When you have skills, you don't undersell yourself, unless you're desperate for the money, or to build up a client base, or reputation etc.

I would argue that the skill of a shrewd business person is to spot the jobs that are easy money and not under-sell themself. If you feel you need to take those lower paying jobs to gain experience, then that's up to you. As a wise business person, you look at the potential work from all aspects and take into account all the costs- cost of your time, cost of mileage, cost of other resources you will need to use and so on and so forth. I value my time more highly than those low paying jobs and I also feel that they are high risk- much higher chance of something going wrong in a multi-part job, much more to rehearse/ remember. If you are going to string a bunch together, these odds increase even more.

Of course, everyone's circumstances are different and if you live in a town, where you have no mileage costs and you price your time differently to mine because you don't have another income stream, then that's fine. But, let's just say I don't work for the minimum wage and I price my time at 5x that.

skivenov

Be good, and if that doesn't work for you, be cheap and available

mskitten2904

That's what Market Force is for

mskitten2904

mimi1234 wrote: »

I am sad they have gotten rid of most of the allocators. The one who always said "Good Afternoon" at 9am, and "Good Morning" at 4pm is no longer there. It was like she was constantly drunk/stoned. I really liked her. Boohoo!

I think she may be at GFK now lol. If you have spoken to her you will know who I mean lol if not, listen out haha x

JohnnyG

mskitten2904 wrote: »

That's what Market Force is for

LOL, I have to admit some of MF's jobs don't pay that well but there's not many assignments on there that I don't like/won't do.

I've said it before, I like to place the odd bet so I particularly like their bookie jobs. If I can get their double visit bookie jobs, then even better .

There's one particular job on RA that has quite a few parts to it for a very small fee.......that one I won't ever entertain.