Mystery Shopping Thread 25 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

skivenov

I'd be up front and put 'apologies - not recorded'. if in doubt, be honest.

General practice - always expect to be asked what's next door, time in, time out, mos' name and description and how many people in the queue in front of you.

I try to get enough of the neighbouring buildings in the picture to jog my memory if I need it.

Big_Graeme

hayley11 wrote: »

I got one of the RA station jobs, I have to go meet my mum on one of those days so I'll go have a drink while I wait

Which is what those jobs are designed for, they are quick and easy. You're never going to get rich off them but if you are there anyway its a bonus, I'm doing mine while I wait for someone to arrive.

skivenov wrote: »

I'd be up front and put 'apologies - not recorded'. if in doubt, be honest.

General practice - always expect to be asked what's next door, time in, time out, mos' name and description and how many people in the queue in front of you.

I try to get enough of the neighbouring buildings in the picture to jog my memory if I need it.

Totally agree, I note it even if its not needed. There is one company want what was opposite too.

hayley11

I will definitely make a note from now on what is either side

sparklysaver

I can't see the RA station visits this time... maybe I've finally done so many that they've barred me from them. This is what happens when your day job is about 3 minutes walk away. Since they changed the report so you don't have to think of 100 words of explanation for the lack of outdoor seating in a clothes shop, they're fine wee jobs for a free lunch (and some earrings, usually ). I'd far rather do them than any of the MF sandwich shops.

212

Just looking at MSing again. I remember signing up when I was 16/17 and having no assignments because all the newbie ones were pubs/gambling!

Same situation today it seems, but I'm now easily old enough to do!

RE: Self Employment. And as I'm looking at being self employed anyway. I'm assuming income from MS companies is gross? So it's a case of declaring it merely to keep it, as opposed to claiming any tax back?

And I'm not 100% sure about the expenses. If total reimbursement is say £11, including a set fee (say £3) and £8 for a meal. But you spend a total of £13 in the venue. Can you claim a £2 loss or not? Since you got a meal etc. On many occasions, especially pub/meal visits, it would suit the shopper to have the meal/benefit - fee or no fee!

weeg

I've been so quiet recently I actually considered the brief for a scandi furniture shop. As a bonus, at least they no longer seem to require the visit on a weekend (I one when asked told them they would have to pay me 3 figures to get me to visit the shop on a weekend, let alone MS it). Then I read the brief and realised that I still value my time and sanity higher than that fee. Who does these?!

weeg

212 wrote: »

Just looking at MSing again. I remember signing up when I was 16/17 and having no assignments because all the newbie ones were pubs/gambling!

Same situation today it seems, but I'm now easily old enough to do!

RE: Self Employment. And as I'm looking at being self employed anyway. I'm assuming income from MS companies is gross? So it's a case of declaring it merely to keep it, as opposed to claiming any tax back?

And I'm not 100% sure about the expenses. If total reimbursement is say £11, including a set fee (say £3) and £8 for a meal. But you spend a total of £13 in the venue. Can you claim a £2 loss or not? Since you got a meal etc. On many occasions, especially pub/meal visits, it would suit the shopper to have the meal/benefit - fee or no fee!

No, you can't claim a £2 loss - it was entirely your choice to spend that money. Go back and read the first post again for the common consensus on this.

shell_belle

hayley11 wrote: »

Did a job today, nowhere in the notes did it say I needed to check was stores were to the left/right but it's asking for it in the questionnaire! Will they reject the report for this? I've got a receipt and image of the shop front. It's a shopping centre I don't know very well and I haven't a clue what's either side. I only make a note of that if they say I have to

That's caught me out a few times. So what I normally do now is take a pic of the store front and get the shops to each side in or make a note of it. I also Google the store online and see if I can see from the images online. I also get floor plan leaflets for each Mall when I'm there and keep them with my MS stuff. But as I said, I've had this happen too:eek:

superliss

You ever try to negotiate a fee with a MS company and feel they said yes a little too easy? I know my worth and I always try and work out a mileage before I agree a fee but wish I asked for an extra fiver even!

Cybi-Ping

superliss wrote: »

You ever try to negotiate a fee with a MS company and feel they said yes a little too easy? I know my worth and I always try and work out a mileage before I agree a fee but wish I asked for an extra fiver even!

I'm a rubbish negotiator, I always wonder if I could have asked for more.

Did anyone else get the email from MF offering mileage? I've never had one of those before, they can't be getting desperate, surely!?