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

ms_night_ryder

Ah well, merchandising season is about to ramp up shortly for the Christmas period.

Also considering doing a few ms for Helion, they advertise a lot in my area, nobody takes them, do they offer premiums? Is their pay random like Gap?

Larac

ms_night_ryder wrote: »

.

Also considering doing a few ms for Helion, they advertise a lot in my area, nobody takes them, do they offer premiums? Is their pay random like Gap?

You need to be careful what Helion visits you pick up. The current wave have you needing to go through a 33 slide training pack, and pass a test before you hit the road. Personally for the fee and the fact that you can lose somthing in the exchange rate if the Euro is down, decided to give them a miss. They pay around 6 weeks after the job is done. The other 'quirk' of Helion as they put up more jobs than needed, so you apply and sometimes you don't get them allocated or given to you too late ie the day before its due.

That is perhaps why Helion jobs 'hang' as frankly they do in my area.

missymouse

I have just received a bill from the IR for just under £100 bill for NI contributions. As far as I know I paid NI contributions through my employer and haven't even earned enough to pay tax. It has typically arrived on a Saturday when I am not able to phone the IR. I have earned very little mystery shopping

I am wondering if they haven't checked out what I have paid through my employer and I haven't yet submitted my tax return for 2014-2015

If anyone has any idea I would appreciate some help.

tbh I wished I had never bothered to register with the IR. It is more hassle than it is worth.

missymouse

I have spoken to the IR. Apparently I need to apply for an exemption certificate from NI class 2 as I already pay through my employer so it should work out. It totally threw me but at least it can be sorted out.

Hope I wasn't too moany

Louisdf

ms_night_ryder wrote: »

Ah well, merchandising season is about to ramp up shortly for the Christmas period.

Also considering doing a few ms for Helion, they advertise a lot in my area, nobody takes them, do they offer premiums? Is their pay random like Gap?

I have never seen them offer premiums. But sometimes if it is the end of the month and they telephone you personally, they will offer travel expenses, but no premiums as such.

samtastic7

why did I accept this visit from AA I thought oh I am close by wont take long.
I find their reports hard to follow and the brand I shopped is for people 60+

Chomeur

bylromarha wrote: »

Anyone else have a good laugh at the emails coming through from TNS?

Since when did Cardiff, Swansea and co fall into the subheading of "Southern England" and not "Wales"? Might explain why they're struggling to allocate them!

They really should sort themselves out. I got myself removed from the TNS panel because I was so sick of them sending me emails for the whole of Southern England. I live in London. Do they really think I'm going to travel to Ipswich just to earn £5 on a mystery shop? Trouble was you couldn't just ignore their emails because ones with relevant information would come through from the same address as the group ones. So I said goodbye.

Larac

Chomeur wrote: »

They really should sort themselves out. I got myself removed from the TNS panel because I was so sick of them sending me emails for the whole of Southern England. I live in London. Do they really think I'm going to travel to Ipswich just to earn £5 on a mystery shop? Trouble was you couldn't just ignore their emails because ones with relevant information would come through from the same address as the group ones. So I said goodbye.

Agree - that its constant emails from TNS and from Bare re their pizza jobs. As you say amongst the TNS emails are the alerts for jobs which may be of interest, so it is hard to ignore them completely. Took myself off the Market Farce mailing list but still get spammed with various jobs - now they are ones I delete straight away.

Miss_Terry_Shopper

MysteryMan00 wrote: »

1) you've shaved off some of your chest hair so you can stick your camera to your chest better

2) you're already driving to the first job of the day when the early email from RA comes through. Youve set off early to make sure you can get to the furthest store away and shop it at 2 minutes past 8.


You know you're not into MS enough when:

1) you work for an MSC but can't spell "mystery"! You know who you are! Actually, perhaps you don't!

And...
When your choice of clothes is determined by the size and shape of the buttons rather than fashion!

MysteryMan00

Miss_Terry_Shopper wrote: »

And...
When your choice of clothes is determined by the size and shape of the buttons rather than fashion!

Yes, I bought one with plain, black buttons to make life easier for myself.

Once I wore boots to a house visit. Had to take them on and off 3 times when going into houses as they didn't have plastic foot covers

Trainers for such visits from that day on!

We live and learn.

I'll add these to the list next time I put it up!