UPDATE: Anybody here a "Mystery Shopper" ??

[spacelord]

I only get one every 3 months or so these days. I was getting one every month or 2 for a while.. its dwindling.

 

[ScottAD]

CTrain I know exactly what you mean on the importance of Mystery Shops being graded well. I use to manage a Burger King, Five years was store manager for three. We had a few outright tell us they were doing a shop. Rather odd but well that's what happened. When the GM or DM came around I was always on the look out. Had times where I would be scanning parking lots around us. We were on a very busy boulevard and a car lot was across the street. Very easy to hide there and watch Drive-Thru time's etc.

Still sounds fun I never thought of considering doing mystery shops before.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Where exactly can one apply to this? Poor college student + free food ftw!

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Saffleur
CTrain I know exactly what you mean on the importance of Mystery Shops being graded well. I use to manage a Burger King, Five years was store manager for three. We had a few outright tell us they were doing a shop. Rather odd but well that's what happened. When the GM or DM came around I was always on the look out. Had times where I would be scanning parking lots around us. We were on a very busy boulevard and a car lot was across the street. Very easy to hide there and watch Drive-Thru time's etc.

Still sounds fun I never thought of considering doing mystery shops before.

Yeah, its a big big deal at McDonalds.
There are time periods where the Mystery shoppers can shop us and during those periods, we are on the prowl for them.
It was fun for a while trying to catch these shoppers but as the month went on and still no shop, we started getting weary.
After 3 yrs, I just got sick of the whole mystery shop altogether.

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Where exactly can one apply to this? Poor college student + free food ftw!

You must be at least 20.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Where exactly can one apply to this? Poor college student + free food ftw!

You must be at least 20.

damn, then I have to wait another year .

 

[ScottAD]

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Saffleur
CTrain I know exactly what you mean on the importance of Mystery Shops being graded well. I use to manage a Burger King, Five years was store manager for three. We had a few outright tell us they were doing a shop. Rather odd but well that's what happened. When the GM or DM came around I was always on the look out. Had times where I would be scanning parking lots around us. We were on a very busy boulevard and a car lot was across the street. Very easy to hide there and watch Drive-Thru time's etc.

Still sounds fun I never thought of considering doing mystery shops before.

Yeah, its a big big deal at McDonalds.
There are time periods where the Mystery shoppers can shop us and during those periods, we are on the prowl for them.
It was fun for a while trying to catch these shoppers but as the month went on and still no shop, we started getting weary.
After 3 yrs, I just got sick of the whole mystery shop altogether.

Yep it sure does get annoying after awhile. I don't think I'll ever work in fastfood again though.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I'm not, but I *could* be a Ricola mystery cougher..

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Saffleur

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Saffleur
CTrain I know exactly what you mean on the importance of Mystery Shops being graded well. I use to manage a Burger King, Five years was store manager for three. We had a few outright tell us they were doing a shop. Rather odd but well that's what happened. When the GM or DM came around I was always on the look out. Had times where I would be scanning parking lots around us. We were on a very busy boulevard and a car lot was across the street. Very easy to hide there and watch Drive-Thru time's etc.

Still sounds fun I never thought of considering doing mystery shops before.

Yeah, its a big big deal at McDonalds.
There are time periods where the Mystery shoppers can shop us and during those periods, we are on the prowl for them.
It was fun for a while trying to catch these shoppers but as the month went on and still no shop, we started getting weary.
After 3 yrs, I just got sick of the whole mystery shop altogether.

Yep it sure does get annoying after awhile. I don't think I'll ever work in fastfood again though.

Me neither but all my friends are still in the business so its hard to get away.

 

[Slew Foot]

I used to shop but the pay isnt worth the time invested for the most part. From the description of CTrain's contracts, it looks like he singed up with shopnchek.

 

[SVT Cobra]

1300 Zulu Time
Location: Chili's, 340 Northeast Drive, Paulo Alto CA.
Sunday

I park my red Honda civic, used but still new looking, perfectly discreet among the many in the parking lot, with a faint layer of dirt along the bottom that would be noticably smeared if anyone tampered with it, and head to the main doors. My choice of atire for this mission is blue jeans, a grey fleace pullover and black sneakers with an old black baseball cap pulled low over my head sporting the local pro football team. Comfortable and functionable. I walk towards the door purposely slowing down to let a group in the parking lot enter before me. I slip in behind the group, shadowing a taller male, this hiding myself from the only known security camera in the inner doors. As I pass through the outter doors I give the hostess a polite nod without actually showing her my eyes and head to a table near the bar, dimly lite as usual. I grab a newspaper and begin reading the sports page while keeping an eye on the football game on the big screen. 1 PM was choosen for this reason. Mildly packed, and an execuse for dining alone, the first shift is almost over, workers want to get home. The waitress appears and I order a beer on draft and a round of buffalo wings. I keep my eyes on the paper, only the top of my forehead showing as I order. I glance around slowly pretending to look for my forks and knives and confirm that I have two exits in site and my back is to a corner. The kitchen to my left is shoruded by a group of sports fans at the bar. Time to make nice. The waitress comes back and I thank her and offer a smile. I order: A burger and fries, nothing to hard, nothing to simple, and should be done in a quick amount of time. I hand her the menu's with my left arm, an excuse to glance at my watch. The game begins and I watch it intently, striking up a conversation with a man near me. I tell him I used to work for the team at their training complex and mention the names of a few of the team doctors that I read on the internet this morning. He seems interested and I ask him where he works. My food comes in time. I ask for the ketchup, careful to not the footing on the floor and any slippery spots as I head to the next table to grab the bottle. I eat in due time and decide I am satisfied with my meal. Then I proceed to switch tables "to get a better view of the TV" to a table that was previously occupied. It is still dirty, and I take a half full bottle of beer and pull it in front of me. No one notices, and the overworked waitress comes out and looks confused. She goes to her computer to see who was sitting where. I hit the built in universal remote on my watch which instantly turns off the TV during a crucial drive. The customers begin to get into a loud uproar while any Chili's workers around including the bartender look at the TV trying to see what happens. I make my run for it. I get up non chalantly heading for the restrooms, walking with a slight gait as if I had one beer too many and then made a sudden turn off to the out door eating area and into the parking lot. With a squel of my tires and not one ounce of sweat shed on my stone cold face I was gone. One meal eaten, one beer drank, no evidence, no check paid. I laugh as I roll off into the night and pull onto the freeway heading to the next town. My map shows a TGIF's Friday's near. I change my baseball cap to a red one and head North. The wind from my open windows laughs along with me. I am a Mystery Shopper.

 

[chrisms]

Your post made my brain hurt.

 

[SirWoj]

An alcohol check mystery shop at a grocery store after the clerk gave me a hard time about writing from a different perspective...

Sailing the seven seas is a tough job. So when I received word from the king that he had a dirty little job for me on land, I jumped for it. A true pirate must accumulate land and favor to become famous, so I set sail for the Port of Chester in New Amsterdam, a place you call New York in the New World. A long sea journey lay ahead, but my crew and the parrot on my shoulder were ready for the challenge.

Now the King told me to infiltrate the great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company and find out if they allowed young people to purchase grog and flaunt the laws of the government. As I am a pirate I really don't care for laws and such, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So, disguising myself as a landlubbing weenie, I approached the store.

It was a dark and stormy night. The fact that the store was not rocking back and forth shocked me. I felt confident that my peg leg would not slip out from under me because the parking lot was free of trash. The lighted sign of the store shined like the north star that guided my ship home after the great storm at the Barrier Reef. The shopping carts were packed neatly in their pen, like all the gold my crew found on Gilligan's island. The sales ads hung in the window as motionless as the sails on a motionless ship on a motionless sea when there isn't any motion. The entry vestibule was clean and free of trash, but it felt almost like walking the plank. I did not notice any associates loitering in the parking lot or in front of the store, probably because they were afraid of the big pirate approaching them in an ill fitting polo shirt and chinos. With a parrot. And a peg leg.

The inside of the store was clean, well lit and without any dangerous spills. And if I did end up taking any dangerous spills with my peg leg, I would sue, as my aunt is a lawyer. The products were well stocked and properly marked. I also am properly marked with the tattoos of a pirate who has sailed the seven seas and visited the most dangerous spots on Earth. The music volume was proper and I did not notice any offensive smells. After years at sea one does learn to ignore offensive smells. I did not hear any security announcements. Funny since I expected somebody to alert the other shoppers to the presence of a pirate in their midst.

The employees were in what seemed to be proper dress and on the sales floor. As a pirate I would prefer a uniform of weapons and striped shirts, but I know these landlubbers like their novelties and niceties. Let them enjoy these things while the real men go to sea. The employees did not observe the ten foot rule as I passed by. Actually in the pirate world the ten foot rule means one must keep ten feet between them and me, or else my parrot will insult them mercilessly. The employees were busy at their tasks though. Their tasks included not going to sea and fearing how much of a manly pirate I am. I did not notice any managers on the sales floor or by the registers, and that is a good thing, since pirates despise authority figures.

So after all of my toil, I was refused a purchase of alcohol! But, Mr. Ahab O'thedeep, you are a great and gnarly pirate, why didn't you take the grog and raze the town? Aye, I must be a gentleman when it comes to the King's mission, so I quickly removed myself from the establishment, boarded my ship and left the forsaken town. Now, as my crew and I slink away, I dream of my improved influence with the King and my chances of marrying his beautiful daughter. Aye, life is good.

Umm.. excuse me, my name is Charles, and that big pirate O'thedeep is my uncle. I had to type all of his rantings on my computer, or else he would sink my house. With cannons. Even though I like i Iowa. Anyway it is really hard to read words that are written in blood, but I finally did it. I was pretty upset to find that I had to rewrite the entire story, but I was ready to do it. To save my house from pirate attack. In Iowa. But unfortunately, somehow the dread pirate found out that his orders did not come from the King, but from a mystery shopping company. And this brought down his whole house of cards. No pirate glory, no influence with the King, no King's daughter, and worst of all, no pension. Last I heard he went crazy and razed Havana. May we pray he never returns to the Port of Chester in New Amsterdam.

 

[StevenYoo]

i do mystery shopping gigs for restaurants and catering halls.

it's nice to get a free meal every now and again

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
I used to shop but the pay isnt worth the time invested for the most part. From the description of CTrain's contracts, it looks like he singed up with shopnchek.

Ding ding ding !!! Good guess.
A few people asked me for the company and some have been approved already.
Fast food places will only pay $7 or $7.50.

 

[Coquito]

I signed up for a few a little under two years ago. Once I was approved, I had to fill up my profile with qualifications in order to actually get jobs. To be qualified for most jobs, I would need to go through some reading comprehension multiple choice. Long, page length paragraphs, followed by a page of diagrams &/or pictures. At least 40min if I rushed. If you didn't get a perfect score, you didn't qualify, & had to do it again from the beginning. Some jobs require you to call & ask questions, which is easier, but then you have to call back twice. They can negate your pay if you don't follow their instructions exactly, get conflicting results, or you fill out the reports suspiciously or incorrectly. It wasn't worth the probably $10-20, plus leg work. People get suckered in, because they hear people get to go to free, expensive dinners. That almost never happens to anyone, let alone someone just starting. Minimum wage is better time spent.

Even though I gave up on it, I still get the same gym membership inquiries all the way out in long island. They even offered $10 more for the job. I guess no one wants anything to do with that place.

 

[mugs]

Retail could be interesting, but I think I'd have a hard time remembering all the misinformation they gave me

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: mugs
Retail could be interesting, but I think I'd have a hard time remembering all the misinformation they gave me

...and they say they double check timestamps & details in the security video. Anything is grounds to invalidate your job. Who you talked to, when, how did they answer, did they suspect you, after they suspected you, did you continue with the job or abort as taught to? Terrible waste of time.

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Coquito
I signed up for a few a little under two years ago. Once I was approved, I had to fill up my profile with qualifications in order to actually get jobs. To be qualified for most jobs, I would need to go through some reading comprehension multiple choice. Long, page length paragraphs, followed by a page of diagrams &/or pictures. At least 40min if I rushed. If you didn't get a perfect score, you didn't qualify, & had to do it again from the beginning. Some jobs require you to call & ask questions, which is easier, but then you have to call back twice. They can negate your pay if you don't follow their instructions exactly, get conflicting results, or you fill out the reports suspiciously or incorrectly. It wasn't worth the probably $10-20, plus leg work. People get suckered in, because they hear people get to go to free, expensive dinners. That almost never happens to anyone, let alone someone just starting. Minimum wage is better time spent.

Even though I gave up on it, I still get the same gym membership inquiries all the way out in long island. They even offered $10 more for the job. I guess no one wants anything to do with that place.

I totally agree.
After I do these 3 shops, I won't be doing them any more.
Lots of work.
You'll make more money working at McDonalds(no pun intended).
Its just I was on the receiving end and I was intriqued how how it works.

 

[zinfamous]

I posted in the recent mystery shopping thread...

I observed my GF do this for several months, with several companies and at all types of stores. It's ridiculous, and in no way worth the effort that they actually demand of their shoppers. It's actually pretty exploitative, and until the housewives stop competing over these assignments, they will continue to be exploited. Seriously, it's all BS.

 

[CTrain]

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"

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I posted in the recent mystery shopping thread...

I observed my GF do this for several months, with several companies and at all types of stores. It's ridiculous, and in no way worth the effort that they actually demand of their shoppers. It's actually pretty exploitative, and until the housewives stop competing over these assignments, they will continue to be exploited. Seriously, it's all BS.

You're absolutely right.
They have plenty of people wanting to be Mystery shoppers so they continue to exploit.
Think about it, we are all "indepedent contarctors" so these SHOP companies are making out big time.
They aren't liable for any of us.
No insurance no nothing, yet they still pay next to nothing for these shop fees

Not only that, where I used to work, we have cameras for everything.
If we ever get a bad shop, we usually email these guys telling them we spotted the shopper and what they did wrong and have the bad shop thrown away.
If the shop get thrown away, the SHOPPER DO NOT GET PAID.
They will say, you didn't do your job right and won't pay you.
I think its worst than working in fast food.

 

[funboy6942]

Damn I wanna do this, how do you get started? I thought all this was a scam and you never got paid anything, but scamed into paying them into giving you false information. Hook me up, I got all the time in the world to do this and make a few extra bucks on the side
please

 

[freebee]

Thanks to Ctrain I signed up also. I have several advantages over most people though. I have no vehicle/gas/insurance expenses, I have plenty of time, and I shop frequently, eat fast food, and browse retail stores anyway. Its almost like free money.

 

[imported_Mike]

$20 isn't worth the time and gas. Maybe if you were going there anyways. Also, Office Depot doesn't have geeksquad, so I don't know if you went to an Office Depot, or a Best Buy.