The Shop Logs

Yes, I have noticed that I have all the issues from 2005 & none from 2006 posted.
No, it is not a tech. glitch; it is indicative of my life. DH has taken a job 800 miles south of here & I have seen him four times since the start of the year (coincidence? I think not….). I signed up to live with someone, not commute to a marriage, so life is hard these last many months.

So, in July I will relocate and you can expect newletters from Aug-Dec…..you can exhale now….. I know you have been on pins & needles.

I do have some nice ideas and plan on a new layout (along with reformatting this Wordpress - new templates, considering Canvas - any feedback woudl be appreciated!).

I would like to advertise a “Shopper of the Month,” sadly review the MSPA Conf I will be missing this summer, and continue blog excerpts of those that we shop, I’d like to get some media reviews in too, I am not sure what programs/spreadsheets yet - I can def. use more book reviews.

If you have other ideas that you would like to see, let me know before 8/1…..it’s nice to set a deadline again! hahahaha…

This is the one spoiler of the V, these random emails from Ray.
Such emails illustrate his need to get the last word - why email me? This underscores his superior attitude…. ‘cause he is a mod?
*sigh* I don’t remember the exact context of the thread, but it was about how he sometimes goes in & fiddles with your info - hometown - last name. And he does, I don’t like it, but he does it. Here’s what I get for adding my two cents though:

“She had knowledge. She was told to read the rules.

Which, I just enforce.”

Um…okay….whatever Ray. Can we get back to Mystery Shopping topics please?

It happened on Volition the 7th and only a reviving post today brought it back to my embarassment…..

I am smooth……………..PRG must have been watching that like a hawk! Possibly insecure, but able to post I see.

The scam site took my feeds down, thank you very much.
I see they still have Melanie Jordan’s Ask the Coach section up, but she is aware of it and I assume they have reached an agreement.

If you are not reading this at
http://www.shoplogs.com/wordpress
it is stolen.
Response from admin@mystery-shopping-online.com on 4/10:

All you had to do is politely ask me to remove the content and I would have, simple as that.
I simply searched for some relevant RSS feeds and your one was the first one that came up so I included it as it was relevant to the site I was making.
You seem to have a God complex for some reason which is pretty sad, you don’t know me but have already labled me as some m.f thief…..hardly.
The script that I use does not allow one to “give credit” to the author as far as RSS feeds are concerned so there is nothing I can do about it.
I am actually going to post this in our support forum so other people can look at what a prat you really are.
Your feed will be deleted by the end of the week only because you have stated that I may not use your content, not because of the crap that you have posted on your feed lately, in fact feel free to add more as I find it rather amusing…..

The software/script does not allow this because you are stealing. You can copy & paste the old fashioned way - type in the credit, you can sign up for a personal feed otherwise you are stealing. If Terry knew this about the software/script why is it used? Shoudl I assume he contacted the others or is simply waiting to be discovered - there I go applying logic again.
No other fact, or opinion as most of this seems to be matters.

VP of MSPA & Howard Servies Pres. Tom Mills

“Mills, a former manager for Staples Inc., and his partner operate their businesses out of the basement of a nondescript commercial building in Franklin, not far from the Dean College campus.” Hardly a glam sounding job - ease up Scripps!

Service Sleuths’ shoppers average about two or three reviews a month, with the best doing as many as 20. They’re paid about $20 per review, although some get more, and are reimbursed for some expenses.

“You can get burned out” from doing too many reviews, Mills said.

The best shoppers, the ones who go unnoticed by clerks and can write descriptively about what happened while they were in the store, can get reward assignments, such as trips to review Caribbean casinos.

The mediocre shoppers get “deactivated,” Mills said.

“We don’t have the time to teach people not to do some commonsense things,” he said, like taking notes inside a store or pelting waiters with questions. “It’s just not worth it to have us make you a better mystery shopper.”

People don’t get rich being a mystery shopper, he said.

“Getting into mystery shopping because you’re going to get free stuff, that’s just not going to happen,” Mills said. “We know we have a lot of things that aren’t exciting to do. People don’t want to go to the hardware store.”

The job, he said, is good for retirees, mothers looking to supplement the household budget and some professionals.

I had been holding out for an email response before I started my main article, but it looks like it’s a good thing I didn’t hold my breath!

I have two emails out that have not been answered…..and of course I want something from them.

The three emails I sent out about giving things away always get the replies and exclamation points!!!!
Speaking of freebies…..I gave away the three Mystery Shopping books I reviewed:

Debi Sullivan of TX won Mystery Shopping Getting Paid to Shop, by James Poynter

Stephanie Simao of CA won The Mystery Shopper’s Manual, by Cathy Stucker

Avril Matthews of CT won Mystery Shopping Made Simple, by Dr. Ilisha Newhouse

These people are apparently happy to receive my emails……

I have noticed a slight jump in traffic to my UniversalClass.com Eclass on Mystery Shopping so I assume the Smart Money article has hit the newstand.
Anyone seen this yet?
If this traffice keeps up though I may start working on my online classes over going in to the field to mystery shop.

Read my Mystery Shopping Book reviews in October’s newsletter (www.shoplogs.com) and follow the directions for these popular MSing books!

The Mystery Shopper’s Manual (6th edition)
by Cathy Stucker

Mystery Shopping Get Paid to Shop (4th Edition)
by James Poynter

Mystery Shopping Made Simple
by Dr. Ilisha Newhouse

As a side note, although I received an email from Ilisha Newhouse promising a copy of her book, it never materialized.
All three of these books were purchased from Amazon.

I requested several books be sent to me for my October Mystery Shopping Book Review. SO far the only author to reply Is Dr. Newhouse:

“Good day Penny,

I would be delighted to forward you a promotional copy of my book. I will contact the Promotions Department of McGraw-Hill and request that they forward you a copy.

Take care and may peace and love be with you.

Dr. Ilisha Newhouse
Author Mystery Shopping Made Simple - A McGraw-Hill Publication”