The Shop Logs

I recently accepted an offer from Speedmark to survey hours of fast food restaurants. I had completed these shops previously, but one of the locations was ficticious. The company paid me anyway, which I liked.
When I received their most recent email offer asking me to reshop it did include the non-existant shop again.
When I pulled up the specifics, the list actually said “No Such Location.” The next question I have is, since I reported it last time, even though they are assigning it again - - - will I be paid for this “shop?”

Okay I feel better about myself and my fledgling newsletter today!
I received the email from the MSPA asking me to complete the survey on future MSPA conferences (much more scientific than letting shoppers rant on the forums) and felt pretty good that I had asked the right questions on my August/September newsletter.
Clearly we have diffirent audiences, I wanted to hear only from those that did not go to the July conference; they wanted to hear only from MSPA certified shoppers. I would expect my respondants gave cost as a reason more often than shoppers that have already paid for certification.
I appreciated that I was given a choice of the hotel and conference cost question. I replied int he ‘other’ section that $80-95/night was still too high for a multple day conference. If I worked for IBM my response would be different, but they do know what we get paid per shop, don’t they?

Well, check on the newsletter the first of October for my survey results & then we can compare and contrast with anything the MSPA might publish.

Whoever shopped that gasoline shop last month really got this manager spun up - - - thanks.
I thought for a momoent she was not going to let me conduct the shop.
“If you refuse to let me conduct the shop, please write a statement to that effect here and sign; no problem.”

Lucky me she didn’t. But she did give me an earful about what the last mystery shopper said and why couldn’t I answer her? *Carnack (sp?) has left the building*

She demanded my name and my supervisor’s name and their contact information….I left her my first name, last initial (lady not pleased) and the 800 number. No I do not have a name of a person she can contact about why she has not received the results from the last visit. No I do not know why she has not received the results. I am not in charge of billing. (…where was the beer in this place again?)

Yeah I was there earlier this month, but I ain’t gonna bring that up - it was right after they ran outta gas…she doesn’t know I was there, so who else/how many more shoppers are talking to the psycho manager?

I can’t believe this is my first shop for this company and I have to do it twice and get heckled the second time…..

I am a member of Mystery Shopping Central; I was a member of Construct-A-Shop, run by Heather Mitchell, and when they closed Heather refunded my membership and extended me a membership in MS Central. I have been able to look at the program they are running there without any risk and could probably answer questions on it if anyone out there has them.

I recently received a survey request and will post the link here as many of you may wnat to weigh in on some of these items also: https://www.mysteryshoppercentral.com/News.aspx

In the survey I was asked questions about the amount of time I spend on routine MSing function by hours per month. Some innovative ideas came through: hourly rates for shoppers, shoppers bidding on jobs, webcasts with industry experts (I have been interested in podcasting these), and automated invoicing (possible ICA red flag here).

The process of bidding on jobs is facinating I think. Newbies could pruchase experience essentially. Some MS companies could get a good deal, while others would have to increase fees. I wonder what MS Central has up their sleeve on this one….

I would love to get with some one who personally knows the MS professionals to connect me to potential podcast candidates. I admit this has only been a “back burner” idea so far, but this has me excited.

I have used the ole MS Excel spreadsheet for awhile now and might be interested in a program that automatically generates invoices. I can do that myself, but what if they were printed and mailed by someone else x number days after payment due. I would pay for this, a manager for my financial side of the business. I do wonder about MS Central doing it for me, knowing the amount of payment/type of job/company might be an ICA violation.

The survey says the results will be announced September 15th, but I took this on September 18th and I did not notice results. I am sure they are on their way. This could be interesting.

If you have read this blog right along you may remember I had a bonus promised to me that the Mystery Shopping Co. later recanted on…there was a thread on the ‘hefty bonus’ on Volition at the end of April/beginning of May that got me all a-twitter…in April I told you that I was sending in complaints to the MSPA and the NCPMS.

I have applied for their shops the entire time, I did like the shops and of course the pay. Recently I was accepted for two of the fraud shops, not the repair shops for which the origianl dispute arose.

I never received any communication from the MS Co., I noticed they fired/let go a scheduler after the MSPA received my information though…gulp…I kinda hope that wasn’t because of my complaint, all I wanted was $100.

The MSPA sent me an email within a week of receiving my complaint. John Swinburn said:

“We have initiated communications with the company to request that they determine the extent to which your claim may have legitimacy.

Generally speaking, MSPA does not initiate an ethics investigation into a company on the basis of a single complaint such as yours. The reason
for this policy is that there are, in any business, unfortunatel opportunities for miscommunications and misunderstandings between individuals and companies. If we receive multiple complaints about a company for the same types of issues, we then consider launching an ethics investigation.

The fact that you had done a similar shop for the company before the shop for which you expect bonus compensation suggests that there was,
possibly, a misunderstanding between the two of you about new elements of compensation for the new shop. We will leave that matter for Corporate Risk Solutions to assess.

We do take seriously our expectations that members treat the shoppers with whom they deal fairly. We recognize, though, that in the thousands of
communications that take place every day, it is possible for miscommunications to occur. Because we have received no other complaints
about this issue, we must assume for now that it is isolated and does not warrant further action by MSPA. However, as I said, we have initiated
commmunication with the company to request that they reassess your claim.”

I still have not heard from the company and assume no other shopper will be complaining; although some posters from Volition said they would and then decided it was better for them if I was the only a-hole.

I emailed J.Swinburn back asking what the outcome was of his inquiry, no response.

I sent the same materials to the NCPMS at the same time. Having never heard from them, I finally emailed Niccole mid-August asking about the NCPMS process, here is her reply:

“We take complaints on first come - first serve. You have emailed us a complaint and we have not yet
responded - it is because we have not had a chance to review it. “

And I have still heard nothing, but how long has she been working on G3? She may never get around to my complaint.

The BBB has never replied.

I am bummed because according to the written ‘contract’ I agreed to I am in the right. The mistake was on the MS Co. side though and appears to be impossible to enforce. I am someone who has a fulltime job and does not need the money. What about when this happend to some one who is counting on the money for the necessities?

But here I am shopping for them again….. I didn’t think they would rehire me…….I didn’t think I’d want to work for them again…..

I just read a post about Service Intelligence.
I do not shop for them so this is completely second hand information. But it made me do a double take so you get to read about it now.

“I just received an e-mail from SI regarding Hurricaine Katrina’s impact on their community of shopper’s. The VP also stated that while the gas prices are affecting everyone, SI won’t be able to adjust fees due to the fixed contracts with the clients. “

Is it me or is this slightly Elaine - esque (Seinfeld)?

‘We know it is costing you more to do the same work for us, but we’re going to keep paying you the same amount of money. Just wanted to let you know though….in case you thought we were being ignorant, no, we’re just going to see how much crap the shopper pool can sustain.’

I guess I have avoided the cheap Satan for awhile….I was surprised at the Assignment Report Review after I submitted my last report.
I do like the idea of reading the entire report on one page, so book like, seemingly as if the MS Company thinks my IQ is near 100.

Kudos to the ultimate cheap Mystery Shopping Company!
May you live just long enough to fill out my next route!

After the gas stations started running out of gas…they “postponed” indefinately.
After a kind hearted letter extending any deadlines, the scheduler emails cancelling without any explanation.
Now I have to cancel the audit that I had scheduled in the same city as the gas shop & the same strip mall as the second cancellation.

If you have jobs outstanding either finish them up fast or look for the silver lining in the fuel you won’t waste.

Trying out a new company this month, that pays mileage!
Yes, I am back on the mystery shopping roadways. Ban Consult sounds great so far, well, they had me at mileage really. The paperwork comes through the mail, leading me to believe it is a small business, but one that will keep loyal shoppers with a mileage payout!

“From all of us here at xxx to all of you out there” - MS Company
“So from all of us at Aerosmith to all of you out there… ” - Aerosmith, Amazing

This may explain the paltry fee increase “during this difficult time.” The $.50 phone shops are a thing of the past…$1.00 is what they are paying now(again). They were paying that before, but due to the most recent slash they are able to trot this one out again “during this difficult time.”

“…remember, the light at the end of the tunnel may be you, goodnight."- Aerosmith, Amazing
“…we send our warmest regards and best wishes. “-CoRI

I received an email from Evelyn Gledhill at Service Slueths offering extentions on any assignments:

“We know that gas prices are affecting everyone. To try and help our
highest-rated shoppers, we are going to extend the due dates to the middle
of the month for our September shops. We hope that this will allow you
to combine our shops with other shops you may be doing in the same area
or coincide with planned trips. If the due date posted doesn’t quite
fit, please feel free to contact me and we’ll try and work something out.”

While I tried to negotiate with the un HELPful DESK at Shop N Chek to complete an audit they had listed for an area I would be in today, but the shopping window did not start until tomorrow:

“We appreciate the offer, but we do not assign shops here at help desk. If the date you are interested is not offered, we are unable to assist you with a new date.”

I replied asking if a scheduler could be contacted:

“I’m sorry, but the assignment can only be conducted on the dates shown; we cannot add new dates at this time.”

While I was out today I came across a gas station that I was supposed to audit that had no gas! I made the inside purchase (only reimbursed for $.75 and told to pay on debit card, the cashier said I had to purchase more than $1.00 to use a debit card) and she said they had been out of gas since Monday! I called into a scheduler and they told me I would just report it as closed, but Muskegon, MI? No gas?!? When I returned home I now see the company has postponed my other visits until after the holiday weekend.

Here I go again to reschedule & postpone.

I have had the same dose of guilt & helplessness watching the television the last couple days as the rest of the country. Shopping used to be a good way to pass the time and keep myself busy. However I have painted myself into a mystery shopping fiasco due to the surge in gasoline prices.

I picked up four audits in order to get in with a company for which I have been wanting to work. The shops were pretty far flung to begin with so I scouted for some additions to beef up the pay scale. Then two days later I have to fill my tank with $3.19 for regular unleaded, other stations were gouging at $3.48 for the regular. Now I am in a situation, I would like to ask for extentions, but I have four different companies involved and it might be more hassled to coordinate these audits and mystery shops again than to just swallow hard and rationalize the cost as the cost of acquiring a new client……bad taste though at $3.19/gallon and still rising. (gasoline has landed at $3.38 today as I still am debating on the rescheduling issue)

The President doesn’t seem overly alarmed: “‘I would hope Americans conserve if given a choice,’[President Bush] said.” But I worry about an increase in ppg.