Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

Dormouse · 17 February 2007 at 9:19PM

KerryBridges wrote:

What has happened to the TNS website?

Tried to log in and got a message to phone a number that doesn't exist!

Help.

Something's wrong with their site - everyone's having problems logging in.

CSandL · 17 February 2007 at 9:21PM

Oh thanks Dormouse - thought I'd broken it!

Rachie_B · 17 February 2007 at 9:22PM

same here :

"An error has occured. Please contact TNS Mystery Shopping on 01753 890 080. We apologies for any inconvenience caused."

???!

Chas · 17 February 2007 at 9:24PM

puddings wrote:

I want to know how many of you give the benefit of the doubt when borderline and how many mark down if you're not entirely sure

example...
At a supermarket checkout recently. As I was leaving the cashier did say something but it was said fairly quietly and I as I had turned around to leave at that point, I wasnt even sure whether she was speaking to me or the next customer. It did sound like it could have been a "Bye" (or it might have been a "Hi"!)
On the form it says "Did the operator bid you farewell" Yes or No.
----
After a restaurant visit with a freind, I reported that the fixtures and fittings were clean and tidy (which they were by my standards) however when my friend read the report afterwards, she (clearly having higher standards than me) said that she would have marked them down for that.

So is it innocent until proven guilty or visaversa in mystery shopping land?

I always give the member of staff the benefit of the doubt, so in the example you gave above I would answer 'yes' to the question 'did the operator bid you farewell?'

As far as the restaurant visit goes I would always go by my own opinion, not the opinion of my friend. You need to be consistent in your marking in order to build up a reputation with a company. Imagine the situation if you marked the establishment down (based on your friend's opinion) then returned a few months later & gave them good marks for exactly the same standards. The mystery shopping company could question why you have given different scores for the same thing.

I am not keen on simple yes/no answers - I much prefer questionnaires which give me an opportunity to explain my scores.

GingerSte · 17 February 2007 at 9:28PM

I was wondering. Have any of you ever mystery shopped for GNER? It's just when I was working for them a few years ago I got "done".

truthi · 17 February 2007 at 10:09PM

Hi,

I've joined a few mysteryshopping websites such as Grassroots etc but haven't heard anything from them.

I failed the TNS panel membership survey but was wondering can you take the test again?

Do you guys know how to join the GFK panel where you get amazon vouchers or something for surveys?

I hope some people can recommend more websites to join. I have joined gapbuster, retail maxim, retail eyes, grassroots. Retail maxim haven't calledyet either but thatmaybe because I haven't sent in a picture of me in to them which they requested.

Rachie_B · 18 February 2007 at 10:42AM

truthi wrote:

Hi,

I've joined a few mysteryshopping websites such as Grassroots etc but haven't heard anything from them.

I failed the TNS panel membership survey but was wondering can you take the test again?

Do you guys know how to join the GFK panel where you get amazon vouchers or something for surveys?

I hope some people can recommend more websites to join. I have joined gapbuster, retail maxim, retail eyes, grassroots. Retail maxim haven't calledyet either but thatmaybe because I haven't sent in a picture of me in to them which they requested.

Yes, I am sure someone said you can apply to TNS again and you may pass this time.

I would get a pic emailed to Retail Maxim ASAP ,I didn't do mine for ages but as soon as i did i got 4 assignments in one week lol

With Retail Eyes & Gapbuster it's fastest finger first,so just keep checking to see if there are any assignments offered in your area.

I will PM you a link to a site with all the MS companies listed on, for you to trawl through !

Rach

Dormouse · 18 February 2007 at 2:27PM

truthi wrote:

Hi,

I've joined a few mysteryshopping websites such as Grassroots etc but haven't heard anything from them.

I failed the TNS panel membership survey but was wondering can you take the test again?

Do you guys know how to join the GFK panel where you get amazon vouchers or something for surveys?

I hope some people can recommend more websites to join. I have joined gapbuster, retail maxim, retail eyes, grassroots. Retail maxim haven't calledyet either but thatmaybe because I haven't sent in a picture of me in to them which they requested.

Further to Rachie's excellent advice, just wanted to add that both TNS and GfK run survey panels as well, which is where you get paid in Nectar points etc, but this is completely different from mystery shopping. I just wanted to make this clear

There's more advice on the survey panels on the Freebie board, whereas this thread is purely for MS.

Also, just wanted to add that Retail Maxim haven't offered me any work at all, even though I submitted my photo ages ago.

It must depend on the area where you live.

System · 18 February 2007 at 3:47PM

Re Retail Maxim. I didn't send a photo for them but I noticed I didn't get any work until I clicked through to read their training manual. The link is in one of the joining emails they send you. I was offered work within days.