Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

jobbingmusician

I think in that case I would assume your results have been lost, and take the test again It's a very long time since I signed up with them so I can't remember how long they took to get back to me, but they are a very reliable company so I can only conclude they must have lost your results..

puddings_2

Taggie wrote:

Are you aware that you are breaking client confidentiality by naming the banks, you need to edit your post. I have put xxxxx in the quote of your post in my reply.

Yes, that's very honest of you.

Can anyone tell me if Martin or MSE will suffer consequences if I break my confidentiality agreement on the forum as that is the only reason that would deter me from naming clients and fees? - they def won't send the heavies round, after all everybody on this forum is anonymous so how would MS companies identify me individually from my posts?

I know there are some shoppers on this forum that take every assignment very seriously, no matter how small the fee, but personally, I go with the theory of "you get what you pay for"... if a ms job has a fee that FAIRLY reflects the time and effort involved in completing the survey, then I'll do the job properly and promptly return a fair and fully commented report.

Nowadays however, there are far more jobs being offered than ever before with either no fee or a tiny tiny amount and to me that's taking the pi#s, so I feel justified in treating them the same way. It seems to be becoming the norm that you accept a motel room for the night or your lunch in a pub instead of receiving a fee. It wasn't like that when I first joined up and companies that are cutting pay deserve to be named and shamed.

Becles

Companies can and do read forums such as this which discuss mystery shopping. I've had more than one "general telling off" type e-mail reminding people not to discuss confidential stuff on internet forums.

One company I work for is very serious about confidentiality and will sack anyone found mentioning their work on the internet.

You can be identified by your posts. If you read back through my posts here, I've mentioned where I live, my family, my interests, major events like my wedding and pregnancy and even posted a picture of myself! If I did something I shouldn't, it wouldn't be too hard for the companies to work out who I am by reading my past posts.

You also get snitches who grass people up if they see them posting things they shouldn't be. I've seen that happen on another forum which caused problems for both the worker and the people who run the forum.

It can cause problems for MSE if confidential infomation is posted. The company can quite rightly complain to MSE and ask for it to be removed, which the abuse team will have to do. This can have consequences for the MSE user, depending on the what the abuse team decide to do with them!

As an example, I've seen a full job brief posted on here, which named the company to be visited, dates and times, fees, etc. This compromises the MS company as it's giving their confidential information to comeptitor companies. It may also alert staff to the scenario for this month, which makes it easier to spot the shopper and defeats the object of the exercise.

Be careful when posting to protect both your own jobs, and to protect the company you are working for.

carolwat

As a concientious mystery shopper I am shocked at your post. The owner of this forum has a responsibility to ensure the content on here isnt breaking the law and as you are happy to do that then I wouldnt blame the owner or any other moderator if there were to choose to ban you. As an ex moderator on another site that has nothing to do with mystery shopping I know the kind of trouble an inconsiderate poster like you can cause to the owner and im sure neither Mrtin or anyone else would thank you for causing trouble for them.

If you feel so strongly about particular companies and feel they are taking the as you put it then dont work for them. Its your choice to take an assignment, nobody is forcing you to do anything you dont want to do. I for one am quite happy to do the hotel jobs and only be reimbursed insead of being paid a fee as I felt the reimbursement of a meal that has nothing to do with an assignment is fee enough. My family had two very nice weekends away thanks to this. I understand some jobs are fairly crappy paid and I choose not to do these. I dont bother complaining about them and naming and shaming as I prefer to spend my time finding jobs I would like to do. As Becles said it wouldnt take much for a company to put two and two together and work out who you are and remove you from their database. They want shoppers who are willing to do a job properly if they have chosen to apply for an assignment regardless of the fee. I think its wrong to choose a job and then do a less thorough job just because you dont think you are being paid enough. If you dont like the fee dont do the job. Leave it for someone who is maybe new to the job and just finding their feet. As for companies being named and shamed well you should be careful noone does that to you then you will find yourself with no fees at all.

All other mystery shoppers I have come into contact with have respect for the job they do and I have never seen anyone speak like you have. Maybe its time you found a job more suited to your requirements.

puddings wrote:

Yes, that's very honest of you.

Can anyone tell me if Martin or MSE will suffer consequences if I break my confidentiality agreement on the forum as that is the only reason that would deter me from naming clients and fees? - they def won't send the heavies round, after all everybody on this forum is anonymous so how would MS companies identify me individually from my posts?

I know there are some shoppers on this forum that take every assignment very seriously, no matter how small the fee, but personally, I go with the theory of "you get what you pay for"... if a ms job has a fee that FAIRLY reflects the time and effort involved in completing the survey, then I'll do the job properly and promptly return a fair and fully commented report.

Nowadays however, there are far more jobs being offered than ever before with either no fee or a tiny tiny amount and to me that's taking the pi#s, so I feel justified in treating them the same way. It seems to be becoming the norm that you accept a motel room for the night or your lunch in a pub instead of receiving a fee. It wasn't like that when I first joined up and companies that are cutting pay deserve to be named and shamed.

Dazzieboo

Although it is kind of you to think about Martin and this forum, you must also think about the other Mystery Shoppers "out there", some just do it for pin money, others for "fun" to get them out of the house, then there are others, like myself, who do this line of work, full time, to earn a living.

With your flippant attitude, you are not only jeopardising your own work, but those of others, people who you have never met, people who rely on this work, if you go around "naming and shaming" clients will be alerted and contracts lost. And as for your attitude of the work, if you really dislike it so much to do a "pay for what you get attitude" whay on earth are you doing this line of work anyway ?. I put as much effort into a GAP job as I do a Service Scan job and when the days come where I think "I can't give a stuff" is the day I give it up.

moxie_2

I've just heard that I passed the TNS test and have been accepted (yippee!). Can anyone tell me how you find out about jobs? Do they email you, or do you have to check their website?

carolwat

Well done Moxie. You will now have to wait for TNS to send you your login details and then you check the jobs online on their website and apply for the ones you fancy.

Goodluck
Carol

moxie wrote:

I've just heard that I passed the TNS test and have been accepted (yippee!). Can anyone tell me how you find out about jobs? Do they email you, or do you have to check their website?

puddings_2

When I first started mystery shopping all jobs had fees and I used to make a full time living from it. Since then, especially it seems over the last twelve months or so, not only have the fees dropped or disappeared but also spending allowances have been repeatedly cut. (eg. A similar job to one that paid me £15.50 in Oct 2003 is now offering only £5, the spend allowance was £10, now £5)
Maybe if you've not been doing it too long, you'll think that the current low fees are normal and quite acceptable - you don't miss what you've never had. When I've asked companies WHY fees have dropped so much, basically they've said its down to market conditions and I take that to mean that as enough people are prepared to do the work for less money, then less money it will be. Maybe the doormat shoppers don't realise the extent to which they are being walked all over. I guess it's the same principle as when immigrants come into the country and take over peoples jobs for half the pay.

I don't want to walk away from work that has been interesting and rewarding in it's time yet unfortunately I know that there's nothing I could do (eg naming and shaming) that will ever change the "market condition" as it is today and so whilst my finger of blame will remain bitterly pointed at the doormat shoppers, I'll decide whether to walk away or stay and put up shut up.

Dazzieboo

puddings wrote:

When I first started mystery shopping all jobs had fees and I used to make a full time living from it. Since then, especially it seems over the last twelve months or so, not only have the fees dropped or disappeared but also spending allowances have been repeatedly cut. (eg. A similar job to one that paid me £15.50 in Oct 2003 is now offering only £5, the spend allowance was £10, now £5)
Maybe if you've not been doing it too long, you'll think that the current low fees are normal and quite acceptable - you don't miss what you've never had. When I've asked companies WHY fees have dropped so much, basically they've said its down to market conditions and I take that to mean that as enough people are prepared to do the work for less money, then less money it will be. Maybe the doormat shoppers don't realise the extent to which they are being walked all over. I guess it's the same principle as when immigrants come into the country and take over peoples jobs for half the pay.

I don't want to walk away from work that has been interesting and rewarding in it's time yet unfortunately I know that there's nothing I could do (eg naming and shaming) that will ever change the "market condition" as it is today and so whilst my finger of blame will remain bitterly pointed at the doormat shoppers, I'll decide whether to walk away or stay and put up shut up.

How long have you been Mystery Shopping ?

I have been doing it almost 10 years, part time for the first 7, then full time for the past 3. When I first started, there were far fewer companies than there are now, these companies had a lot of clients, they all paid a good fee, mileage and parking. Over the years, more companies have cropped up, clients gained and lost and fees reduced, also over the years, especially in the last 2, Mystery Shopping has been heavily advertised as a pin money job, lists have been sold on the internet encouraging more people to start, but the more people start and are happy to do the work for next to nothing, the more the fees will reduce. These people are not doormat shoppers, they are the kind of people who started the job with a low fee, so don't know any better, I feel it is harsh to judge them and imply they should do the job for £**** only, when this amount has never been in the equation. There is no or little point in avoiding the jobs until the fees go up as companies like GAP, FF will always find people to do the job for the low fee they offer.

sanfourche

Hello,

It might be a silly question - but just thought I would confirm so I don't get fined by the tax man!!
Do you need to declare any reimbursements you get for doing a MS assignment?
For example: If I do a restaurant assignment and have a spending limit of £20, and a fee of £5 - do I tell the tax man about the full £25 (and get taxed on it), or only tell them about the £5?

If I only tell them about the £5, do I need to declare anywhere on my tax return that I got reimbursed £20 as well?

I hope this make sense!!