Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

ViksB

Is it acceptable to take a baby/toddler in a pushchair with you when you do these mystery shops?

Thanks
Viks

stephi103

ViksB wrote:

Is it acceptable to take a baby/toddler in a pushchair with you when you do these mystery shops?

Thanks
Viks

I have done them with my son. The only ones I haven't done are pub ones.

Becles

It depends on the company, and the baby/toddler!

Some state "no children" in the job brief, so obviously you wouldn't be able to do these.

If it's a good baby/toddler, then there is no problem. The only problem would be if the child had a tantrum or something, and distracted both you and the shop assistant from what they should be doing. It wouldn't be a fair report if that happened. Best to do them when baby/toddler is napping in the pushchair or just after a feed etc., so they'll sit content while you are busy.

Genie75

Boudica wrote:

Hi All

I'm interested in this but receive disability benefits. Would it be worth my while? I would be interested in doing the phone ones or internet ones.

Thanks

You'd have to check but I think you would loose your disability benefits.

Fran

Genie75 wrote:

You'd have to check but I think you would loose your disability benefits.

If you are on Disability Living Allowance it is not an income related benefit and you can work while claiming it.

If you are on Incapacity Benefit you are allowed to do Permitted Work - (direct.gov website).

If you are on income related benefits such as Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit then it could affect these, it depends how much work you do. I think (check first) you can earn £20 if you are on IS because of sickness or disability before it is taken pound for pound off the benefit. While you are entitled to Income Support you will get full H.Ben/C.Tax Ben if you are entitled.

If for example you have claimed DLA or IB because you say you cannot climb ladders and you do a mystery shop on top of a roof then your benefit would be affected.

littlestar1981

Hi

Someone posted a mystery shopping website that just did food places... does anyone know what it was called?

Thanks

Dormouse

ViksB wrote:

Is it acceptable to take a baby/toddler in a pushchair with you when you do these mystery shops?

Thanks
Viks

Totally depends on the job and the company. As Becles said, some jobs categorically state "no children", they're usually banks and places like that.

I've done POs and supermarkets with my toddler (and he's not in a buggy anymore, LOL). Also, I've had situations where I've asked companies directly whether it's okay to take my son with me (as I didn't have any childcare for that day), and they were very happy about it, saying it would make the MS even more authentic.

So yes, it's fine sometimes, and a no-no at other times.

ViksB

I will wait till the information comes through and then ask them. I might be able to get cover but I agree that it would make the mystery shopper thing more relastic.
Thanks for the advice

Viks

jobbingmusician

izoomzoom wrote:

Just done yet another MS and the wonderful friendly staff as usual did not look at me or smile or greet and all the other things that just seem like common decency.

Not that I am bothered, but how am I suppose to fathom their eye colour for the report .... and I then forgot something because I was trying so hard to catch their eye.

Is it just me ?

I wouldn't go spare trying to catch their eye - just put clearly on your report that you looked carefully for eye colour, but the staff member did not look you in the eye at any time, and you felt that this was not common decency! If it's one of those dreadful GAP questionnaires where you HAVE to choose an alternative, I just choose any old thing and then explain in the comments either for that section or at the end that it's the design of their crappy questionnaire that has made this necessary, and actually this is what REALLY happened. (I don't actually say the quaire is crappy, but make it quite clear - my distinct impression is that GAP staff hate their IT as much as we MSers do! )

littleazb

Hello everyone,

I've been a bit of a lurker on this forum for a while now and picked up lots of hints to join mystery shopping sites (thanks all!) I was offered my first assignment a couple of days ago for GRG Research. I completed the jobs and have come to key in the results today only to find that the results page is not available anymore (I had briefly checked yesterday and it was working) but also the helpline number given is disconnected!

Does anybody have any experience with this company and are they usually reliable? I'm concerned about payment as it does say to put results in within 24hours which I now can't do!

Hope somebody can shed a bit of light on what I should do next,

Many thanks.