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

moi

koolmummy wrote: »

- how much do they pay?
.....
If I was sent to a restaurant for example, do I always have to go alone or will they pay for hubby to come?

You'll often find that companies don't even pay you a fee for pub/restaurant food visits! They expect you to work & provide a detailed report for them in exchange for a nothing more than a 'free' meal!

Regularly, the spend limit won't be much more than the required purchases for one person (e.g. a starter, main, and glass of wine), but usually you can take a friend and meet the extra expense yourself.

You'll soon see which are taking the mickey by not paying a fee and/or offering a ridiculous spend limit, and which are more worthwhile.

merrymary

Hi, I received an invitation today from TNS. I remembered signing up in december just after I discovered MSE.
I want to know more about this. Did a quick search here but can't seem to find a specific thread.
Can someone please point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance.
Mary x

full-time-mum

wensie wrote: »

Fees can't get disclosed. You will just have to wait and see. But if you have to purchase something you will get a reimbursement.

Maybe we can't disclose the fees, but it varies considerably from company to company, some being more reasonable than others. Some pay a mileage rate and others don't. You'll get to know. Pub/restaurant visits aren't usually more than the cost of the meal. I try not to drive somewhere specifically for a job, that way, the mileage or lack of it is irrelavant.

As for purchases, you often have to return them at a later date so don't forget to factor the extra journey or hanging around time into your calculations. I nearly shopped an electrical store but was going to have to fork out several £100 for a purchase which I then would have to return - I decided that it wasn't worth the hassle. Sometimes, you even have to reveal yourself as an MS at the point of purchase. I've never done this as I think it would make me feel uncomfortable - I guess you can only shop these stores once?!

wensie

full-time-mum wrote: »

Sometimes, you even have to reveal yourself as an MS at the point of purchase. I've never done this as I think it would make me feel uncomfortable - I guess you can only shop these stores once?!

It's not as bad as you think although the first time was very daunting. You get used to it though and you can visit the sites again after a certain time. I've been to the same shop twice now.

koolmummy

Thanks for the info - I gues I'll just wait and see, I'm quite excited!

josie

wensie wrote: »

It's not as bad as you think although the first time was very daunting. You get used to it though and you can visit the sites again after a certain time. I've been to the same shop twice now.

Yes, I've done this one a couple of times at the same store. Both times they've been really nice when you hand over the letter of authorisation to say you're a mystery shopper and just say "That's fine, thank you" and are polite about it. After all, if you think about it, it's in their interests to still carry on being polite! You've got a report to write!

wensie

josie wrote: »

Yes, I've done this one a couple of times at the same store. Both times they've been really nice when you hand over the letter of authorisation to say you're a mystery shopper and just say "That's fine, thank you" and are polite about it. After all, if you think about it, it's in their interests to still carry on being polite! You've got a report to write!

Exactly. If they would get stroppy it would end up in my report. They even told me that it's nice to have a "new face" for a change as they started to know the former shopper by their name. :rotfl:

Becles

I've done some reveals where you have to be approached in a shopping mall and go through a credit card sign up, then just as they ask you to sign the form, you have to say you are the mystery shopper.

The best one was a lady who was brilliant and did everything perfectly. When I said who I was, she said "whoo-hoo another voucher for me" and explained if they get a good report, they get a gift voucher. It's nice knowing staff get rewarded for good service.

The worst was a lady who didn't do some important bits. At the end she looked really sad and said I was the only person who had spoken to her all day. She asked if she did ok, so I had to lie and say yes, then ring the company and report her once I was out of earshot I felt really awful after that one.

jobbingmusician

My funniest ever reveal was where I had to do covert video shopping. The video machine arrived about half an hour before I had to leave for the shop, so I didn't exactly get much chance to practice. The brief was very stern, saying that the company would not pay me if I didn't get the face in the frame for at least 75% of the time.

Does anyone manage to do this?

Anyway, at the end of the visit I revealed myself and the assistant, who had been very good, asked if he could see the tape. We both killed ourselves laughing at the fine shots of the ceiling. He offered to do the shop all over again, and for a split second I was tempted! But even though he'd done well, I couldn't have falsified it.

The story had a happy ending as I was paid. And a funny ending - I over-compensated on the next visit and got a visit's worth of crotch shots instead of ceiling shots. I think they paid me for the entertainment value on that one!

I've practised a bit more since then, and am now a lot better at getting the face in frame......:p

Becles

Practise, practise, practise is the best way with covert video. My fave one was a camera set in a t-shirt. I knew the camera was between my boobs, so as long as my boobs were pointing at the person, then I knew I had them in shot The ones in handbags are harder as the bag can move as you move, so I find you have to hold the strap to keep the bag still, and I feel more awkward doing those.

The worst video shop I did was a purchase and return visit. I'd taped the purchase bit, thought I'd turned the camera off, then used a public toilet. I was horrified when I checked the tape at home, and realised I'd filmed the toilet door and noises of me having a wee :eek: Luckily I was able to rewind the tape and tape over it for my return visit, so the company never knew!