Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys? (Part Two)

smartie12

I've just discovered this thread - brill! I've been doing TNS for a few years now, just signed up to Grass Roots but I have a query about Retail Eyes... it says you must have scanner or fax... is this true?

moneymaker2

Hi Smartie12,

Yes this is true as you have to obtain receipts and then send them via uploaded images through your scanner or by fax.
Although if you do it most places have a fax machine now, so you can fill in your survey and then fax the rest over. I have used both methods and have never had a problem.
Hope this helps. Laura

Timmne

I think so as you need to submit your receipts electronically. For the money you'll make from RE though it's probably worth buying one for ~£25 if you HAVE to have a scanner! I've done loads of jobs for them so far and it's easily paid for a scanner many times over.

carolwat

You dont need to buy a scanner or a fax machine if you have a digital camera. You just take a photo of the receipt and upload it that way. Thats the way I do it for RE and all the other companies I work for.

Mrs_E_Shopper

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Yes, it's a real ripoff, isn't it! I only do it because I like the coffee so much and I can 'pop' in on the way to work (hardly a pop, as they make you stay 20 minutes!!!! :eek:)

They will reimburse only what you spend up to the max £7, plus £3 for travel. The trick is to spend the whole £7 - you are allowed to buy extra things. Buy lunch to take away, chocolate covered cocoa beans (these are £1, so easy to add on if the sub-total says you have underspent), extra yummy pan chocolat and/or overpriced but delicious muffins. I really don't think their food is worth it, and would never buy it normally, but their coffee is the best.

Thanks very much for this. So presumably I can take someone with me and get at least partially reimbursed for their coffee? I didn't want to end up with having to foot the bill myself because TNS refused to pay up. Not that I'm mean (well, maybe there is the fact that after so much mystery shopping I now find it difficult to go out and pay for my own meals!)

jobbingmusician

Mrs_E_Shopper wrote: »

Thanks very much for this. So presumably I can take someone with me and get at least partially reimbursed for their coffee? I didn't want to end up with having to foot the bill myself because TNS refused to pay up. Not that I'm mean (well, maybe there is the fact that after so much mystery shopping I now find it difficult to go out and pay for my own meals!)

Yes, in fact IIRC it says somewhere in the instructions that it is for 1 or 2 people If you take someone else with you, it will help to pass the 20 minutes

I have a friend - another poster on this site - who told me that she took her children with her to one coffee shop (NOT the £7 one). One of her children helped examine the place for her, and found something nasty under one of the chair cushions :eek: :rolleyes:

Timmne

.....I take my girlfriend with me to get the finer detail on the employees - my GF will always remember the detail, even what shoes they were wearing!

smartie12

carolwat wrote: »

You dont need to buy a scanner or a fax machine if you have a digital camera. You just take a photo of the receipt and upload it that way. Thats the way I do it for RE and all the other companies I work for.

Thanks everyone for the info on whether I need a scanner/fax for RE. I've just signed up for my first job with them and will follow carolwat's advice.

Sarahsaver

Timmne wrote: »

.....I take my girlfriend with me to get the finer detail on the employees - my GF will always remember the detail, even what shoes they were wearing!

It's against the T's and C's of all the MS companies to get someone else to do your visit for you, even I suspect if they are with you at the time :rotfl:
Same thing for taking children with you, I have only ever had one job where it specifically asked for a child to be taken to a location as it was relevant to the MS assignment.

jobbingmusician

Sarahsaver wrote: »

It's against the T's and C's of all the MS companies to get someone else to do your visit for you, even I suspect if they are with you at the time :rotfl:
Same thing for taking children with you, I have only ever had one job where it specifically asked for a child to be taken to a location as it was relevant to the MS assignment.

I appreciate this is in jest, but to clarify, you ARE normally allowed to take kids with you, unless it specifically states otherwise. The MS companies would be absolutely exstatic to know of the grot lurking just under the surface in superficially clean venues - just the sort of place kids would think of looking! :rotfl:

(I am childless, so have nothing to gain from this fact! )