Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

Jammygal

Becles wrote:

The best one was when I got spotted in a burger chain. I had a blue and white stripy jumper on (this bit is important!). It was one in an out of town retail park, so you don't get people on expenses asking for reciepts which I think makes you more obvious.

I'd already done the loos, before ordering the food as I needed to use them. The service was rubbish until I said the magic phrase "can I have a receipt please?" The colour drained from the ladies face and she said in a very loud voice "yes you can have a reciept". Several pairs of eyes looked over from the cooking area and stared at me. I took my food and went and sat down.

The manager came out came out of a side room and I heard someone on the counter say they had a "blue stripy gap problem near the front door". All turned and looked at me.

All of a sudden two people came out with a bucket and mop each. One went into the toilets and the other started cleaning near where I was sitting. Someone else was sent out with a grabber and bin bag to collect the litter from the bushes outside. Another staff member came out with some balloons on sticks for all the children in the restaurant, and another came out with a coffee pot offering free refils to all who had hot drinks.

Some old ladies sitting next to me were also amused by all the activity. They got up to leave and immediately the coffee lady and balloon lady rushed over to take their trays from them. One woman commented "what's going on? The service in here is normal sh*te" :eek: and I don't know how I kept a straight face.

I got up to leave and a lady rushed over to collect my tray too. She asked if my meal was ok, and pointed out that the toilets were over there. I said thanks but I don't need to go, and watched their puzzled faces as I walked out, as they were not sure if I was the shopper or not

I've also mystery shopped a shop where the sales person slagged the previous customer off to me, as she was suspected of being a mystery shopper. That was quite amusing too

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: That is sooooooooo funny!!!! Just the thought of all those balloons on sticks and the old ladies!!!!:rotfl:

Gemmzie

I'm oddly tempted to ask for a receipt for no reason next time I'm in there... might be fun :rotfl:

Rachie_B

advent1122 wrote:

I do voluntary work with teenagers which involve a lot of eating in fast food places

I must get a receipt to claim on my expenses, so not all people who ask for receipts are mystery shoppers. I have never encountered any different behaviour from the staff when I ask for a receipt.

Maybe you gave the game away in some other manner. Did you rub your finger along the counter whilst waiting to be served or maybe it was the stopwatch you were carrying.

:rotfl:

i agree ive not had any strange looks / different treatment by asking for a receipt

hubby always asks for a receipt for his work expenses too

that is hilarious though becles :rotfl: :rotfl:

jobbingmusician

Christina_F wrote:

I am just doing a report for RE and I was wondering how much I input for the invoice box and for the receipt box? I spent £12 and the allowance was £10

Can anyone help me please?

It really doesn't matter, I've tried claiming both ways (i.e. putting in the allowance, and putting in the total spent) and they are obviously used to both as I've been refunded the allowance accurately both times.

The form just isn't very well designed!

jobbingmusician

Sorry to do 2 posts runnning, but I thought it might be useful if I wrote down some of the things I have learnt this week about shopping for cars - I did 9 of them.

Invent a name for yourself. I am Mrs White, so I became Mrs Black for the exercise. My first name stayed the same - quite important, as they usually use this and you have to be used to reacting to it!

Use a previous address, where you know the postcode and the phone number. Then you can be fluent giving an address without the embarrasment of millions of unwanted phone calls.

If you drive to the showroom, have a good story about why you are changing car or upgrading (I did VERY expensive executive models, and normally drive a small car because I don't believe in wasting money! :A )

Say you have done the test drive and everything, that you've done your homework, and a lot of other comparitive research as well. You are not going to tell them which land based dealership gave you the comparison quote, but it's not a local place - it's somewhere more than 100 miles away which you visit quite often.

If you persuade them you have done LOTS of homework on comparitive models, you have a good story ready for why you don't remember the exact specification (e.g. is climate control A/C included as standard? GOK!) on this car! After all, you have test driven 5 or 6 comparitors in the last week, haven't you!!!

Look at a picture of the model you are going to 'buy' on the internet before you go. You might even be wise to choose a colour that you like best, and refer to it by its proper name. Write this down with the spec.

You can write the spec down in a notebook and READ IT TO THEM - my experience is that they are impressed with the length and detail of the specification - it's perfectly plausible that you have written it down to get it right.

Finally, have an exit story ready. I'm not going to reveal mine, but I will say that I told people I had to talk to someone and would be getting back to them today.

If you don't like the sound of the above, don't take the job on. It actually is pretty horrid doing all this lying, even though it's for a good cause, and I'm REALLY relieved it's over!!!!!!!! :beer:

Mandles

jobbingmusician wrote:

Sorry to do 2 posts runnning, but I thought it might be useful if I wrote down some of the things I have learnt this week about shopping for cars - I did 9 of them.

Invent a name for yourself. I am Mrs White, so I became Mrs Black for the exercise. My first name stayed the same - quite important, as they usually use this and you have to be used to reacting to it!

Use a previous address, where you know the postcode and the phone number. Then you can be fluent giving an address without the embarrasment of millions of unwanted phone calls.

If you drive to the showroom, have a good story about why you are changing car or upgrading (I did VERY expensive executive models, and normally drive a small car because I don't believe in wasting money! :A )

Say you have done the test drive and everything, that you've done your homework, and a lot of other comparitive research as well. You are not going to tell them which land based dealership gave you the comparison quote, but it's not a local place - it's somewhere more than 100 miles away which you visit quite often.

If you persuade them you have done LOTS of homework on comparitive models, you have a good story ready for why you don't remember the exact specification (e.g. is climate control A/C included as standard? GOK!) on this car! After all, you have test driven 5 or 6 comparitors in the last week, haven't you!!!

Look at a picture of the model you are going to 'buy' on the internet before you go. You might even be wise to choose a colour that you like best, and refer to it by its proper name. Write this down with the spec.

You can write the spec down in a notebook and READ IT TO THEM - my experience is that they are impressed with the length and detail of the specification - it's perfectly plausible that you have written it down to get it right.

Finally, have an exit story ready. I'm not going to reveal mine, but I will say that I told people I had to talk to someone and would be getting back to them today.

If you don't like the sound of the above, don't take the job on. It actually is pretty horrid doing all this lying, even though it's for a good cause, and I'm REALLY relieved it's over!!!!!!!! :beer:

I couldnt do those car ones. Too much to remember and i would trip myself up with the lying.
Has anyone ever done something different like a holiday(who with if you did) or any other different to cars banks and restaurants? Ive done a bowling alley and cinema(didnt like cinema one , i had to time each ad exactly plus write down adverts and manufacturer ..quite hard in the dark and it all goes to fast and gets really confusing.

Becles

Mandles wrote:

Has anyone ever done something different like a holiday(who with if you did) or any other different to cars banks and restaurants?

Sign up with as many companies as you can for variety. Most types of high street shop are done and it makes it more interesting doing different shops, rather than the same scenario over and over again.

The ones with lots to remember get easier over time. I've done a full financial review once, and all my income, savings, loans, pensions, insurances etc etc etc were fake and I carried it off with no problem. Remember to use fake details that you're happy to expand on if needed. eg: You will look odd if you give a job title, then can't tell them what your job involves if they make personal chat about it!

Haven't see the brief for the car jobs so don't know what is involved. Generally don't be too involved, don't give away how much you know and don't use industry jargon. A normal customer wouldn't do that, so you might give the game away by knowing everything already. It's best to make minimal conversation and let them do the talking.

System

Hi, I'm loving this thread and wonder if you could answer me a couple of questions i'm stuck on please?
(Not being lazy honest - have read the first 15 pages and then spent last hour and a half locked off site :mad: )
Have been trying to sign up to BAI and they need my phone no. from abroad, and for my bank a/c : IBAN no. BIC no. and SWIFT no. Apparently i can get the last three from my bank?!
Hoping someone can help and thanks for all the info on this thread it is great :T :T :T Have applied to do TNS, Retail Eyes and Grassroots. Just dying to get onto BAI as theyhave some good jobs near me!
Thanks a lot
Rachel

Mandles

Ive done about 30 jobs and belong to 4 (between me and my OH) and find it great fun. .. wish id joined when i first got married as its ideal if you are a couple..you could eat out most nights & im staying in a lovely hotel this weekend but i fancy a free holiday. PM me anyone if you know a mystery shopping company that does holidays(be great!).

Just read the post above(posting at same time). I think you will have to ring the back as i have no clue and why did you pick BAI why are they good?

Rachie_B

jobbing musician ,well put i agree with all the above re : the cars assingments

i actually quite enjoyed them when i got into the swing of them ,but 11 in a wkend is very tiring !

rachel,yes if you just ring up your bank they will give you the numbers you need for BAI to pay you,I did this last month and it all went through fine

but remember they pay in euros so the bank deducts a bit fore the conversion ,think it was about £8

HTH