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

shell_belle

Has anyone else ever had a problem with GeoV not working and then being accused by the MS company of having not carried out the visit at the venue and supposedly doing it from home despite having a variety of other proofs that the visit has been carried out (full descriptions of staff, photos and phone back from staff member)?
I am less than happy as I feel that my professional reputation has been tarnished and I have been accused of fraud!

missymouse

I got an email from a certain company for 1 assignment but by the time I had logged on not even 30 mins later it had gone. Who has time to be sat by the pc or carry phone around every second of the day. I wish the company would offer more than 1 job at a time as there must be loads of people watching out and I had looked earlier in the morning

cupboardie

Are you talking about grassroots? I'm always amazed at how quickly their jobs get snapped up. The jobs are often available for me as i always have my phone on me so i get the email and check straight away. I don't take the jobs though as they pay too little to be worth it (for me anyway)

Big_Graeme

missymouse wrote: »

I got an email from a certain company for 1 assignment but by the time I had logged on not even 30 mins later it had gone. Who has time to be sat by the pc or carry phone around every second of the day. I wish the company would offer more than 1 job at a time as there must be loads of people watching out and I had looked earlier in the morning

If it is Grassroots then read the email, it says thse are jobs added to the system in the last hour. Often there is one or two jobs and the email is sent to everyone in the area, its not called fastest finger first for nothing :-)

Larac

Big_Graeme wrote: »

If it is Grassroots then read the email, it says thse are jobs added to the system in the last hour. Often there is one or two jobs and the email is sent to everyone in the area, its not called fastest finger first for nothing :-)

Yep - have to be very quick with GR jobs. Gone within 2/3 minutes is the norm. I thought their pay for the slappers jobs is OK. Ones not to do are the dept stores ones with umpteen enquiries IMHO.

missymouse

Yes, where's the next level
to go to with mystery shopping after GF and MF?

enevel

shell_belle wrote: »

Has anyone else ever had a problem with GeoV not working and then being accused by the MS company of having not carried out the visit at the venue and supposedly doing it from home despite having a variety of other proofs that the visit has been carried out (full descriptions of staff, photos and phone back from staff member)?
I am less than happy as I feel that my professional reputation has been tarnished and I have been accused of fraud!

This is part of a growing trend by many of these companies to cut corners, make mistakes, then expect shoppers to pick up the tab. The only possible response is to make it clear the job has been completed correctly, demand payment, and tell them legal action will follow if payment is not received. And be willing to follow-up on that threat. Shysters, very nearly the lot of them.

Big_Graeme

shell_belle wrote: »

Has anyone else ever had a problem with GeoV not working and then being accused by the MS company of having not carried out the visit at the venue and supposedly doing it from home despite having a variety of other proofs that the visit has been carried out (full descriptions of staff, photos and phone back from staff member)?
I am less than happy as I feel that my professional reputation has been tarnished and I have been accused of fraud!

I had to explain to React why I couldn't get an accurate GPS location when in a major shopping centre once, I try and avoid anything that has to have GeoV code.

MysteryMan00

enevel wrote: »

This is part of a growing trend by many of these companies to cut corners, make mistakes, then expect shoppers to pick up the tab. The only possible response is to make it clear the job has been completed correctly, demand payment, and tell them legal action will follow if payment is not received. And be willing to follow-up on that threat. Shysters, very nearly the lot of them.

I've never had to go as far as threaten legal action. I wouldn't do it as an early stage response. And I'm sure that's not being suggested.

I've only had to be really firm on one job. One section of the report was ambiguous as to which part of the experience it wanted describing - so I erred on the safe side and gave them more than (as it turned out) they wanted. After some to-and-fro I was told that apparently the client has rejected the report because of this. The solution, of course, was just to delete the additional narrative (if it mattered so much!) - after all, the tasks had been correctly performed and written up.

I explained my confusion and suggested that if they wanted to withhold payment on this basis that they explain there issues and why I hadn't met the brief in detail. I think this sounded like too much hassle (and they probably knew their client was being silly) so they paid.

No legal threats, no bad feeling generated - firm but reasonable and measured responses that escalate as the push back continues.

In this case, I didn't need to come on heavier. Unfortunate if anyone gets to the point that they have to. If I had to resort to threatening the law then, for me, the relationship is over as the trust and all reason (on their part - at least IMO) must have gone.

Miss_Terry_Shopper

missymouse wrote: »

Yes, where's the next level
to go to with mystery shopping after GF and MF?

I would suggest looking at the list of agencies on Page 1 of this thread and registering with a couple that take your fancy.

There is no hard and fast rule as to which companies constitute the "next level".

Good luck