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

Hanax

TractorGirl327 wrote: »

Was it greasy burger or fried chicken?

It was greasy burger!

suzannesuzanne

Hanax wrote: »

It was greasy burger!

Sorry to bear bad news, but this is from the fine print:

6. DO pay by cash. You cannot pay by card or use any vouchers.

I think it's to make it as obvious as possible to the store managers that you are mystery shopping them. Everyone always seems to perk up after I ask for one anyway!

Also, to any RE shoppers out there, does anyone know if RE reimburse you the full reimbursement amount that they list on their site, or only what you spend? Hope someone knows!!

Becles

RE reimburse what you spend.

It's a fine art trying to come in as close to the spend limit as you can

Timmne

Regarding MSing for GAP and the greasy burger shop:

My GF was talking to a member of staff from one of these 'restaurants' the other night (at a family party, not while he was working and she didn't know he worked there 'til he dropped it in BTW!) and he told her all about their mystery shops.

He said that the managers put HUGE pressure on the staff to treat a MSer well, but give no bonuses or benefit of any kind for doing so. The staff therefore all know who the MSers are as the managers go through the CCTV and using the receipt info you give on the reports, find who you are. If you do the dine in shops they give staff (and make them memorise!) your description, and if it's a drive through they do the same with your car description and number plate.

Also the managers brief the staff that anyone ordering a meal and asking for a receipt IS a mystery shopper.

As I have a funny number plate, my GF asked this lad if he recognised mine and he said "Yes! that's one of them!"

So basically everybody (without exception apparently) who has MSed a site once should prepare for their next visit (if not the first) to be excruciating!

I have now decided to stop shopping any crappily paid jobs for GAP as I can't be bothered to go through such a farcical 20 minutes again - knowing full well that the staff know exactly why I'm there and what they should do. I want to write GAP an email telling them how I feel but if they knew I'd had indirect contact with a member of burger shop staff they'd probably chuck me off their list all together.

I like to think I'm not a mega-serious MSer and I don't consider it to be a profession, as such because anyone can do it. I do however have a bit of pride in what I do and enjoy being able to make a difference with my objective reports - I just think this is totally pointless with this particular company....

Rant over - but thought I should share with you all; I'm sure there are one or two of you who would probably rather not MS a company when they're being made to look like a bit of a t!t at the centre of a cabaret!

suzannesuzanne

Thanks for this info, it's so interesting!! I always KNEW that the greasy burger staff knew something - didn't realise the lengths they go to to ID shoppers! Some stores make me feel very uncomfortable with their constant watching, cleaning around me, getting the cleaner to speak to me, waiting by the door as I am about to leave to open it for me (and only me!!). I've told GAP that asking for a receipt makes it's obvious that you're a shopper but they don't care at all.

Timmne wrote: »

Regarding MSing for GAP and the greasy burger shop:

My GF was talking to a member of staff from one of these 'restaurants' the other night (at a family party, not while he was working and she didn't know he worked there 'til he dropped it in BTW!) and he told her all about their mystery shops.

He said that the managers put HUGE pressure on the staff to treat a MSer well, but give no bonuses or benefit of any kind for doing so. The staff therefore all know who the MSers are as the managers go through the CCTV and using the receipt info you give on the reports, find who you are. If you do the dine in shops they give staff (and make them memorise!) your description, and if it's a drive through they do the same with your car description and number plate.

Also the managers brief the staff that anyone ordering a meal and asking for a receipt IS a mystery shopper.

As I have a funny number plate, my GF asked this lad if he recognised mine and he said "Yes! that's one of them!"

So basically everybody (without exception apparently) who has MSed a site once should prepare for their next visit (if not the first) to be excruciating!

I have now decided to stop shopping any crappily paid jobs for GAP as I can't be bothered to go through such a farcical 20 minutes again - knowing full well that the staff know exactly why I'm there and what they should do. I want to write GAP an email telling them how I feel but if they knew I'd had indirect contact with a member of burger shop staff they'd probably chuck me off their list all together.

I like to think I'm not a mega-serious MSer and I don't consider it to be a profession, as such because anyone can do it. I do however have a bit of pride in what I do and enjoy being able to make a difference with my objective reports - I just think this is totally pointless with this particular company....

Rant over - but thought I should share with you all; I'm sure there are one or two of you who would probably rather not MS a company when they're being made to look like a bit of a t!t at the centre of a cabaret!

xarjia

hey guys .


I am a mystery shopper and it can be a lot of fun but be prepared to allocate a bit of time to do the job and filling in the survey Q's. Some of the jobs I have done which earned me £10, I had to fill in over 50 questions which took over an hour. With the company i work for, you have to answer the survey Q's within 24 hours, so it does takes time to go to the job, do the job and then come back and answer the Q's immediately.

Apart from the time thing, I really enjoyed it as you do get free food and drink if you pick the right ones .

have fun.

xxx

leila1

Phew! The race is finally over, no more running between sites and web sites! A nice couple of weeks off!
Happy Xmas Everybody.:beer:

Timmne

suzannesuzanne wrote: »

I've told GAP that asking for a receipt makes it's obvious that you're a shopper but they don't care at all.

I think this is the issue - I've had them on the phone a number of times asking me to do particular branches of greasy burger and I've declined as I suspect they know who I am - it's not worth the uncomfortable visit for the pittance they pay, even with maximum premium!

Their reply is "it doesn't matter as the shop hasn't said anything to us" - which roughly translates as "greasy burger is a massive contract for us and we'd rather fill the assignments up than actually tell the company how pointless the Mystery Shops are"!

I keep getting international phone calls (always GAP) and ignoring them - at the minute I can't be 4rsed to tell them exactly why I don't want their crappy greasy jobs anymore!

newmoneysaver_2

I know a shift manager (I don't do the burger shops BTW!) The managers bonus is dependent of the MS reports. If they get a bad report they don't get their bonus, which is why the question everything in the hope of increasing their scores and hence getting their bonus.

They know the times the shoppers can visit, how many they have a month, that they order a medium EV meal only, and of course they ask for a receipt. They know what they are looking for hence the shows. Usually the managers are only on the shopfloor during the MS visit times.

keith234

im going to give this a go! wish me luck!