Anyway, I used to be a GM at McDonalds and the corporation hired an outside copmpany to "mystery shop" us every month.
Let me tell you that it is a hug deal.
Each month, every store would make a point to get the best score and we get rewarded for good scores.
When I was at McDonalds, I'd say I would catch about 85% of the mystery shopper.
After a while, our company kinda figure out the habits and timeframe of these "Mystery Shopper"
I've always been intriqued by these "mystery shoppers".
We get such a big bonus from a perfect shop that I often feel like approaching one of these shoppers and bribe them some money for a good shop.
I know they don't get much for doing these shops and I don't think they realized how important these shops are to me(us).
Fast foward and I'm no longer at McDonalds, so last night I go to one of this "mystery shopping" company and filled out a so-called application. This is the same conmpany that is employed by McDonalds.
Took me about 20mins late last night and I answered truthfully to everything which would make me excluded from fast food and full service restaurant.
To my surprised, I got approved by the morning.
They gave me an ID/password and I was free to pick places to "mystery shop".
Damm, I wished I had lied cause I can't pick fast food as an option.
I figured I couldn't cause they asked for my SS and they can easily look up my work history.
So here I am, classified as an "indepedent contractor"
My choices were pet stores, wireless, tire shops and retail stores.
Wireless pays $9 to ask a few questions.
Tire pays $12 to take some pictures.
Pet pays $20 to do some audits.
Retail pays $20 to ask questions, buy stuff and return them.
You can do up to 4 per day.
So I picked the retail place.
I'm suppose to ask a bunch of questions, then buy a computer and then return it.
Lots of work for $20 huh ??
I picked 3 in one day to make it worth while still I have to return 3 freakin computers.
They tell me not to open the computers.
I wished I lied so I can do fast food.
I think they pay you $10 + the cost of food.
At least I get to eat for free and get paid $10.
INstead of me typing out the whole thing, I will copy what I emailed to the SHOP.
I also emailed the same thing to corporate.
They've been emailing me that my shops are ovrdued.
To whom this may concern:
On Monday the 15th, I first went to the Office Depot on 7687 S.ORANGE
BLOSSOM TR. to do my first assignment.
The first CS I talked to was Alex and he was very helpful.
Afterward he guided me to a GeekSquad tech named Jon who was even more
helpful.
Everything was great and I was about to check out.
This is when problems arise.
I had to wait 5 mins for a manager to show up. I think she had to put in her
code so they can ring the computer up.
Then, the printer got jammed and it did not produce a receipt for me.
Waited another 2 mins for the same manager to fix the problem.
Her name was Stacy.
She didn't seem that interested to help me solve the problem. Seems like she had more important htings on her mind.
She produced a receipt for me that was not a legitimate receipt.
This one receipt onlt shows the computer price...no tax no credit
information.
I repeatedly asked her for a real receipt.
I guess she didn't understand why I needed a letigimate receipt and she was
getting an attitude.
She then went off to the computer and did another printout on a 8x11 paper
but not a REAL receipt.
I've been waiting around 25mins in the customer service line now and I'm am
getting furious as a customer.
Finally I feel like I was not able to complete my shop without a REAL
receipt so I asked for a refund.
This is when the manager's(Stacy) attitude turn for the worst.
I gave her my credit card and she handed right back to me and said "You're
done thank you"
I got angry at this point.
I asked for some type of paper showing me I got a refund or my transaction
was void...not a "You're done thank you" and just expect me to leave.
After she handed me another 8x11 paper showing my voided transaction I left
and told them who I was...
I told them the "shop" was perfect until it was check out time.
I guess the manager then realized why I repeatedly asked for a real receipt.
I repeatedly asked for a legitimate receipt for a few reason.
1) To show I was there.
2) To complete my shop and get paid
3) And this is the most important reason...To return a $660 computer.
I told the manager who I was because I was never going to be a mystery
shopper there again and since I can't complete my shop, I had to let them
know the bad customer service I was getting.
At this point I was so angry that I did not go to the other 2 Office Depot
on my list.
I felt like I wasted 40 minutes, gas and toll money and I didn't get any
accomplished except raising my blood pressure.
I, in fact called the Office Depot and asked to talk to the store manager
and was told to give my name and phone number and he would call me right
back.
Its been 2 days and he hasn't done so which speaks very highly of how this
Office Depot value customer service.
Finally, its alot of work for a $20 fee to buy a $600 computer and returning
it on a different day.
Add in the complications I recieved during my shop, I'd have to rethink if I
am a suitable candidate for future "mystery shopping"
Let me tell you that it is a hug deal.
Each month, every store would make a point to get the best score and we get rewarded for good scores.
When I was at McDonalds, I'd say I would catch about 85% of the mystery shopper.
After a while, our company kinda figure out the habits and timeframe of these "Mystery Shopper"
I've always been intriqued by these "mystery shoppers".
We get such a big bonus from a perfect shop that I often feel like approaching one of these shoppers and bribe them some money for a good shop.
I know they don't get much for doing these shops and I don't think they realized how important these shops are to me(us).
Fast foward and I'm no longer at McDonalds, so last night I go to one of this "mystery shopping" company and filled out a so-called application. This is the same conmpany that is employed by McDonalds.
Took me about 20mins late last night and I answered truthfully to everything which would make me excluded from fast food and full service restaurant.
To my surprised, I got approved by the morning.
They gave me an ID/password and I was free to pick places to "mystery shop".
Damm, I wished I had lied cause I can't pick fast food as an option.
I figured I couldn't cause they asked for my SS and they can easily look up my work history.
So here I am, classified as an "indepedent contractor"
My choices were pet stores, wireless, tire shops and retail stores.
Wireless pays $9 to ask a few questions.
Tire pays $12 to take some pictures.
Pet pays $20 to do some audits.
Retail pays $20 to ask questions, buy stuff and return them.
You can do up to 4 per day.
So I picked the retail place.
I'm suppose to ask a bunch of questions, then buy a computer and then return it.
Lots of work for $20 huh ??
I picked 3 in one day to make it worth while still I have to return 3 freakin computers.
They tell me not to open the computers.
I wished I lied so I can do fast food.
I think they pay you $10 + the cost of food.
At least I get to eat for free and get paid $10.
INstead of me typing out the whole thing, I will copy what I emailed to the SHOP.
I also emailed the same thing to corporate.
They've been emailing me that my shops are ovrdued.
To whom this may concern:
On Monday the 15th, I first went to the Office Depot on 7687 S.ORANGE
BLOSSOM TR. to do my first assignment.
The first CS I talked to was Alex and he was very helpful.
Afterward he guided me to a GeekSquad tech named Jon who was even more
helpful.
Everything was great and I was about to check out.
This is when problems arise.
I had to wait 5 mins for a manager to show up. I think she had to put in her
code so they can ring the computer up.
Then, the printer got jammed and it did not produce a receipt for me.
Waited another 2 mins for the same manager to fix the problem.
Her name was Stacy.
She didn't seem that interested to help me solve the problem. Seems like she had more important htings on her mind.
She produced a receipt for me that was not a legitimate receipt.
This one receipt onlt shows the computer price...no tax no credit
information.
I repeatedly asked her for a real receipt.
I guess she didn't understand why I needed a letigimate receipt and she was
getting an attitude.
She then went off to the computer and did another printout on a 8x11 paper
but not a REAL receipt.
I've been waiting around 25mins in the customer service line now and I'm am
getting furious as a customer.
Finally I feel like I was not able to complete my shop without a REAL
receipt so I asked for a refund.
This is when the manager's(Stacy) attitude turn for the worst.
I gave her my credit card and she handed right back to me and said "You're
done thank you"
I got angry at this point.
I asked for some type of paper showing me I got a refund or my transaction
was void...not a "You're done thank you" and just expect me to leave.
After she handed me another 8x11 paper showing my voided transaction I left
and told them who I was...
I told them the "shop" was perfect until it was check out time.
I guess the manager then realized why I repeatedly asked for a real receipt.
I repeatedly asked for a legitimate receipt for a few reason.
1) To show I was there.
2) To complete my shop and get paid
3) And this is the most important reason...To return a $660 computer.
I told the manager who I was because I was never going to be a mystery
shopper there again and since I can't complete my shop, I had to let them
know the bad customer service I was getting.
At this point I was so angry that I did not go to the other 2 Office Depot
on my list.
I felt like I wasted 40 minutes, gas and toll money and I didn't get any
accomplished except raising my blood pressure.
I, in fact called the Office Depot and asked to talk to the store manager
and was told to give my name and phone number and he would call me right
back.
Its been 2 days and he hasn't done so which speaks very highly of how this
Office Depot value customer service.
Finally, its alot of work for a $20 fee to buy a $600 computer and returning
it on a different day.
Add in the complications I recieved during my shop, I'd have to rethink if I
am a suitable candidate for future "mystery shopping"