Mystery shopping thread 26 *please read the op first**please no client names or fees

cfp28342

Fairly new to this and have some questions about the train jobs. I know I could ask the company but am loath to do so in case it gives the (perhaps correct) impression I can’t follow instructions!

There are a couple of questions in the survey along the lines of “Did you ask x” where x is something I doubt most people would ask when purchasing a ticket. X is also not something that is mentioned in the instructions. Where they say “did you ask” are they implying that you are expected to ask?

If you pick up more than one job for the same station is it fine to do them at the same time? Think this may already have been discussed on here but couldn’t find it. My reading of it is that it’s fine so long as the purchases don’t place you in more than one location at once if you used the tickets! What’s confusing me slightly is that you have to give timing points and these would be misleading if you do more than one job at the same time.

Big_Graeme

cfp28342 wrote: »

Where they say “did you ask” are they implying that you are expected to ask?

Yes you are expected to ask.

manutd99

Yeah might give it a go as the fee is quite good. Much more than most others mystery shops.

MysteryMe

I asked that Q about the those jobs a few pages ago cfp28342 , the forum user who kindly replied said that it was something that was covered in the briefs in the past and some assignments you had to ask and others you did not. That forum user still asked the question to be on the safe side.


There is no mention of it for the assignments I did so decided I was not going to ask and just ticked the "no" box and said why in the text box.


They had been approved for pay. I found the report form had a few questions which were not applicable to the scenarios I had so am mined to think that you only need to ask now if it specifically instructs in the brief.


TBH I would not treat a "Did you ask" Q as meaning you must ask, especially if there is no mention of it in the brief and you know their are several different scenarios as there are in the those jobs. If the Q was worded "when you asked for XYZ what was the response" then that implies you are expected to ask to my mind. I guess the MSC will be the place to get the definitive answer, they wont mind and it is a valid question to ask of them.


I personally wouldn't do two enquiries at the same time for the reasons you have given.

cfp28342

Thanks MysteryMe. I knew I could remember it being mentioned and have now found the original discussion.

I think I will most likely go with “no” too as asking it screams mystery shopper, especially given there is a strong likelihood of being served by the same person more than once at my location!

Gonzo1987

Big_Graeme wrote: »

Holiday time mate, I've found that they make sure you get paid at the right payment date even if it takes an extra day or two to proof read.

Still haven't approved my reports or queried them. I have a shop to do today which we'd have gone to regardless, but I just released my job for tomorrow, I'll not accept anything else until these have gone through I don't think.

missymouse

They are usually quite good, better than the ones who pay a month later. Hope there is no issue with my Tuesday one. On holiday so too bad and no wifi for a while

Moneysaver199

Gonzo1987 wrote: »

Still haven't approved my reports or queried them. I have a shop to do today which we'd have gone to regardless, but I just released my job for tomorrow, I'll not accept anything else until these have gone through I don't think.

Mine have gone through from Tuesday, they were added to my payment yesterday so all seems to be next day for me. Could be annual leave though. If you don't think anything's wrong I wouldn't worry.

Another question, I got an email about travel expenses and then the guy called me. I was in a rush and said if I could reject the job to put it on and I'd read the notes then set the date or reject once I knew more about the job. I ended up rejecting it as it was a very long report, thought it would also be quite a long visit, quite far away and 3 other jobs on that day so would struggle to fit it in. I ended up getting a penalty for it. I also moved 2 other jobs this week, one because I was going to be in that town that day so it made sense to do the 3 in one day (I picked them up on different days and the dates ranges were different). The other I moved because it was that evening and meant another trip to same town which was a bit much (and 2 were food jobs and too much food for me in one day!).

So, I wonder...I've got a penalty for the first one (that I spoke to the guy on the phone about) which seems a bit unfair...and will lose another few points for changes. Does it matter much? I wonder if it's important to stick to original plans. Will it badly affect what I'm being offered? There's not much on other than eye tests just now!
Maybe it's just a quiet time.

weeg

manutd99 wrote: »

Anyone done Car Audits for Helion? Is there loads of hassle as per previous posts?

That's the only company I won't do car shops for, as I didn't get paid for one when the dealership point blank refused to give me a quote. It was one of those ones where what I was asking for was EXACTLY a thing they had in stock, yet I was insisting on a factory order at a higher price.

They knew it wasn't a real sale and wouldn't play ball (why should they?).

Not my fault, but I was out of pocket.

Gonzo1987

Moneysaver199 wrote: »

Mine have gone through from Tuesday, they were added to my payment yesterday so all seems to be next day for me. Could be annual leave though. If you don't think anything's wrong I wouldn't worry.

Another question, I got an email about travel expenses and then the guy called me. I was in a rush and said if I could reject the job to put it on and I'd read the notes then set the date or reject once I knew more about the job. I ended up rejecting it as it was a very long report, thought it would also be quite a long visit, quite far away and 3 other jobs on that day so would struggle to fit it in. I ended up getting a penalty for it. I also moved 2 other jobs this week, one because I was going to be in that town that day so it made sense to do the 3 in one day (I picked them up on different days and the dates ranges were different). The other I moved because it was that evening and meant another trip to same town which was a bit much (and 2 were food jobs and too much food for me in one day!).

So, I wonder...I've got a penalty for the first one (that I spoke to the guy on the phone about) which seems a bit unfair...and will lose another few points for changes. Does it matter much? I wonder if it's important to stick to original plans. Will it badly affect what I'm being offered? There's not much on other than eye tests just now!
Maybe it's just a quiet time.

Hurm these were done before Tuesday! I'll keep any eye.

I move jobs around all the time to fit my schedule I haven't been penalised for those, just the ones I accept and then have to give away - only had 2. I did accept a job via phone, but looked into it further and it didn't make sense, they said it had been assigned in error and had no penalty for it.

The two that are outstanding as shops rather than food and maybe I'll just stick to food instead.