Sense to Shop!

Purchase and return shops: take 'em or leave 'em?

2011-02-28T21:29:00.000-05:00

Sometimes shops require you to make a purchase and return it within a specified time frame in order to get credit for the shop. Other shops require an expensive (or maybe not so expensive) purchase with the option to return. I see pros and cons to this type of shop. In my opinion-
Pros:
You have no OOP expense and receive the shop fee.
You may get paid more and/or a bonus as these are often less desirable shops.

Cons:
You are often required to write a 2 part report- 1 part for the purchase and 1 part for the return=more work!
You may be required to do the return the following day- more time, gas, etc.
While it is nice to have no OOP expense, you may be missing out on a "freebie."

Pro/Con??: You may be required to do a little "acting" of a scenario when you do the return (i.e. the reason you did not want the item).

I'll be honest. I did one, yes, ONE, purchase and return and have not done another one. For one, I hate doing returns, in general. Also, I felt like I was not completely believable when making up the excuse as to why I was returning the merchandise. The young salesman seemed so excited to have made the sale and I felt horrible returning it. Also, I was actually tempted to keep the very expensive merchandise (it was an optional return shops). In hindsight, I'm so glad that I did not keep it. The shop fee would not have come anywhere close to covering the cost. The report was more detailed than my non-return shops, therefore requiring more time to do the report. I do non-return shops for another company where I have no OOP expense and get paid the same, so for me, it's hard to justify spending so much time on a purchase and return shop. These are just my thoughts. What do you think?

Company Review- Tell Us About Us

2011-02-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

I have done many shops for Tell Us About Us and have had wonderful experiences all the way around. To shop for them, you take a quiz specific to the client to be shopped and then you either self-assign or apply for the shop, depending on the client. They give fast feedback and pay quickly. The shops are very straightforward and the forms are simple. They don't have a large variety of clients but the ones that they do have are very fun shops, in my opinion. The shops I have done are mostly reimbursement but because of who the clients are, I personally think it is worth it. I have also contacted the schedulers and gotten prompt and helpful responses.

Shop scoring by companies

2011-02-23T07:42:00.002-05:00

The issue of shop scoring is a mystery to many shoppers (this one included). The consensus is that many companies grade you in some way. Some do not tell you your score or provide feedback. Others give feedback within a couple of days or even hours of the shop being submitted. Scores are generally based on the timeliness of the report, the clarity of the report, whether the specific shop instructions were followed, and grammar within the report. I always enjoy getting quick feedback letting me know what I did well and any constructive feedback if necessary. Some companies specify that a shopper must keep a feedback of "x" to continue to request shops or "x" to self-assign. Other companies never mention feedback. Do you enjoy getting feedback or think that some scores or arbitrary?

Reader questions: What resources to do you need to mystery shop?

2011-02-22T09:38:00.000-05:00

One of the things I have loved about mystery shopping is that I have been able to make money without much of an initial financial investment. With that said, there are a few things you will need to get you started as a mystery shopper.

The intangible:

Time- You need to schedule a portion of each day dedicated to finding and scheduling shops. This may involve checking forums like volition for feedback on companies, checking your email, and checking job boards. Of course you also have to carve out time to get to the shop location, complete the shop, and write the report.

Good grammar skills- Keep a grammar handbook handy or bookmark a website with grammar tips. Some editors have been known to return reports or reject them due to poor grammar and spelling. Don't let careless errors cost you money!

The basics:

Email/Internet- I can't imagine how you can be a successful mystery shopper these days without access to email and the internet. Companies communicate primarily and, some solely through, email.

A watch- 3 words for mystery shopping: timing, timing, timing! Almost every shop will require you to record, at least, the time you are in and out of a location. Most shops require many timings in between your entrance and exit. Though cell phones with clocks/timers may work for this in some instances, I have had some shop instructions specify NOT to use a cellphone for timing because it may appear to the client that you are distracted (talking on the phone, texting, etc).

Camera- Many shops require specific photos to be taken. Again, a phone with a camera may work for some shops but others do specify that a camera with a higher resolution is needed.

Printer/Fax/Scanner- While I can see how it would be possible to complete assignments without a printer/fax/scanner, I believe having one make life much easier! You may want to print out your shop notes to take with you on an assignment and some companies to require certain documents to be printed and sent back signed. Some companies allow you to mail in receipts but most prefer, and some require, that they be scanned in and emailed back. I have not yet had to use a fax because I use the scan method but I know that some people do not have a scanner and choose to use fax instead.

Recording equipment- This is only required IF you choose to do a shop that requires recording. I am not very knowledgeable about this type of equipment as I have not done any shops that require it. I do know that some companies allow you to rent the equipment from them for the shop and return it.

Welcome MoneySavingMom readers!

2011-02-21T23:49:00.000-05:00

If you have linked over from Moneysavingmom.com, you will probably want to start at the very beginning. Thank you for coming over. I hope that you'll find my blog helpful. Please post comments or questions that you may have about mystery shopping!

When is it NOT worth your time?

2011-02-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

I have gotten many questions and comments about mystery shopping being worth your time vs. just not worth it for the money. This issue is going to differ from one individual to another. This is when you have to decide just how much your time is worth and what you want your personal return on investment (your time, gas, mileage on your vehicle) to be. One simple way to do this is to decide what you believe your time is worth per hour to decide if a shop is worth it to you. If you decide your time is worth $10 an hour and a shop is going to pay $6 shop fee with a $6 reimbursement you see that the "pay" is $12. But you have to factor in how far you will be commuting for the shop (mileage, gas, tolls- which most companies do NOT reimburse) as well as your time to complete the shop and the shop forms. For some of us a free meal is worth a 30 minute report. For others reimbursement alone with minimal to no fee will simply not be worth their time. It is a personal decision but you should decide in some capacity exactly what your time is worth so that you are making the most of your time.

Company Review: Bestmark

2011-02-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

I had heard good things about Bestmark but had not done any shops for them until recently when they called to ask if I would take some shops for them. Since they do primarily automotive shops in my area and my vehicles were due for the services they needed to shop, I agreed to take the shops. Two of the shops were reimbursement for the service only and one of the shops had a nice bonus. Even though two of the shops were reimbursement only, I thought it was definitely worth taking them because they were services I would have to pay for out of pocket otherwise. Their shop instructions were straightforward and feedback was fast. They pay according to their payment schedule. They have plenty of shops in my area that are available to self-assign on their website at any given time. Overall shopping for Bestmark was a good experience and I will do it again.

Reader question: Waiting for a bonus?

2011-01-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

   A reader posed the question to me: "Should I sign up for shops as soon as they are posted online or hold out and wait to see if there is a bonus?"
   There is not a "simple" answer to this question as it varies with the company and your personal preference of how badly you want that shop. If it is a shop that is posted every month and especially if there is a rotation requirement that prevents you from doing it every month anyway then, sure, I'd wait it out and see what happens. Corporate Research International is one company that is notorious for posting a shop for very low pay at the beginning of the month but increasing it to moderate to even high pay by the end of the month.
   I had been taking a particular restaurant shop for Marketforce once a month but didn't pick it up this month simply because I was a little tired of the food at that restaurant :) But when they called me and said they would double the pay- I didn't think twice! So I've now learned I probably won't jump on this shop at the beginning of the month but will wait it out for better pay.
   With that said, if it is a shop you do not see posted often or is especially high paying, you might want to go ahead and jump on it before someone else does. There is nothing like the sinking feeling of knowing you could have had a great shop with good pay but you waited too long and it was taken.
I hope this helps. If anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to chime in the discussion!

Company review- Focus on Service

2010-12-12T09:05:00.000-05:00

Focus on Service is a company that shops a few casual dining restaurants. From what I can tell, they have a limited number of clients but the company is a great one with which to work. One thing I appreciate about this company is they actually have a scheduler call the shopper before the shop to quickly go over the shop and see if there are any questions. This is the only company I've ever had do this. They also send out multiple email reminders about the shop to make sure the shopper isn't going to forget. The evaluation form is straightforward and relatively simple. I received my reimbursement check from this company in less than 30 days. To obtain shops with this company, you sign up on their website and they'll email you when they have shop in your area. With this company, you are going to want to be selective about which shops you accept because (at least with the client I shopped) you are only allowed 2 shops per household per year. This is a company I had a great experience with and highly recommend.

Company review- Mystery Guest

2010-11-13T15:53:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to be writing a positive review for Mystery Guest as they have had some of my favorite shops! I was waiting to get my payments from them to see how long it took them to pay before I wrote my review as I had heard some comments about them not paying very fast. I got my payments in a very timely manner, however, so I have no complaints. The shops are varied and though I do not see shops posted often, I really, really enjoy the shops that they do post. The shop instructions are clear and simple as are the evaluation forms. In my experience, they have not required a lot of detailed narrative and they do not seem to have overly picky editors as long as you follow their instructions and give the information they ask of you. The schedulers have also been great. I had one instance arise where I could not complete a shop on my scheduled date. I called and spoke with a scheduler who easily allowed me to choose a different shop date, no problem. This may be my new favorite company. I'm looking forward to my upcoming shops with them!

Company review- Market Force Information

2010-11-10T23:35:00.001-05:00

One thing I really appreciate about Market Force is that they constantly post new jobs. It is a site that I check at least a couple of times throughout the day if I am able. They have a variety of jobs in my area and the evaluation forms have been simple and straightforward in my experience. This company does not give any feedback on jobs as far as I have been able to tell. This company will offer bonuses for jobs that stay vacant long enough. I also see the many of the same shops pop up for multiple dates in a month so this company has plenty from which to choose. They have been great about paying when they say they will and I have had no complaints with this company. I plan to continue to shop for them.

Company review- National Shopping Service

2010-11-05T15:00:00.000-04:00

National Shopping Service does not seem to have as many shops in my area as some other companies but they have been good to work with. Their pay is fair (in my experience it has been more reimbursement than commission) and they pay when they say they will (the last day of the month). Their schedulers have been good to work with. I have spoken with them over the phone and corresponded by email. They do not send an email for every shop available but they will send one when it is not getting filled. So this is a site to check often if they have shops you want to grab.

Mystery shopping + Family= ??

2010-11-04T13:15:00.001-04:00

My goal for mystery shopping is to add supplemental income without taking a substantial amount of time away from my family. For me, this is working well so far. I usually search for assignments, take quizzes to become eligible for shops, and fill out reports while the kids are asleep and while sitting on the couch with my husband. Additionally, I primarily do "family friendly" shops where I can take the husband and kids along. Of course, some clients specify NO children are allowed to shop with you on a particular shop. Sometimes these may be in a mall where your husband could take the children in another store with him or sometimes you may want to get a sitter for the afternoon. I've actually had several shops that have come up that required me to have children of a certain age with me, so you never know what you might find. At this point for me, I am enjoying "family friendly" shops and do not find that it is taking time away from my family time at all. Anyone else have a comment on this issue?

Company review- Corporate Research International

2010-11-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

I have done several shops for CRI. The positives about this company are:1) Their fast and punctual payment schedule, 2) The ability the shopper has to self-assign all shops, 3) The variety of shops, 4) Straightforward feedback forms.
Probably the biggest negative about this company is the fairly low pay. The interesting thing about CRI is that the shop payments rise throughout the month. So, if you see a shop listed for a very low-paying amount, if you wait it out, you will likely see the pay rise at least a few dollars. In my experience, CRI does the same shops regularly (I see several of the same shop pop up monthly) so if you miss out once, you are likely to see it again later.
When you sign up for this company, you must watch a video and take a quiz to become an auditor. You must also watch videos and pass quizzes for each client you choose to do shops for. That may seem annoying at first but after that you are able to self-assign shops instead of applying and waiting to hear if you receive the shop or not.
CRI gives you feedback on your reports through a rating system. As long as you keep the minimum rating you can self-assign shops. If you have an even higher rating you can accept more shops at one time.
In my experience CRI does NOT email you about specific shop availability, though they do email about commission rises in your area (for shops that may or may not still be available), and occasionally will email about a client that has shops available (though they may not be in your area). So, you need to login frequently to see what shops are available.
Overall, taken into consideration the points I've posted above, I think this is a good company and plan to stick with them.

Company review- Feedback Plus

2010-11-04T12:01:00.001-04:00

I have done several shops for Feedback Plus now and have been very pleased. Their expectations are very clear and in my experience the feedback forms have been relatively simple compared to other companies. They pay very timely twice a month and I find their pay to be on the upper end compared to companies that offer similar shops. They offer a variety of shops in my area and I like that they have the option to self-assign many of them. Overall, I highly recommend them and will continue to do shops for them in the future. Signing up with them is easy and, of course, free!

Mystery shopping terminology

2010-10-05T14:05:00.000-04:00

MSPA- Mystery shopping providers association. The MSPA is the largest professional trade association dedicated to improving service quality using anonymous resources.

Observation- This word is sometimes used to refer to the "shop" or "job" that you will do.

ICA- The Independent Contractors Agreement- A legal agreement that you must sign in order to perform mystery shops.

What IS mystery shopping anyway? And some common myths about mystery shopping.

2010-10-05T12:20:00.002-04:00

What IS mystery shopping?

Mystery shopping is a means for a corporation to measure employee integrity and competence. Mystery shoppers are given specific tasks to do while posing as a "normal customer." These tasks may include timing specific interactions, asking questions, purchasing a certain product, and much more. The mystery shopper then gives their feedback about their experiences, usually by way of survey.

Some myths:

Myth #1- Mystery shopping is a scam.

Truth- There are a LOT of scams out there from people trying to get others to pay to mystery shop. The key is you should NEVER pay a company to LET you shop for them. With that said, I do shops where I receive reimbursement. For example, the company says they will pay me $10 to do the shop plus $25 reimbursement for a meal at a certain restaurant. I am NOT paying the mystery shopping company. I'm paying my bill as usual at the restaurant, sending in my receipt, and the company is reimbursing me. The best way to know if a company is real is to see if they are registered with the MSPA. You can also find ratings with the BBB. Unfortunately, some of the scammers have now started using the names of real, legitimate companies. All of the companies I shop for have warnings on their website describing what these scammers are doing in their name. But as long as you use the rule of thumb of not paying to shop and not doing something like cashing a $1000 check that someone sends you or something like that you should be okay.

Myth #2- If I become a mystery shopper, I can expect to get paid and get free stuff without doing much work.
Truth- Actually, mystery shopping does involve a good amount of work both on the front end as well as after the shop is completed. This work includes tasks such as: watching instructional presentations, taking quizzes to assess your competence about the shop, reading and printing material before the shop, making detailed observations and performing specific tasks during the shop, and submitting quality feedback on the shop.

Myth #3- I signed up with a mystery shopping company and they haven't sent me any information on shops/shops that interest me. I should just give up.
Truth- The key is to sign up with MANY and VARIED shopping companies. Some companies specialize in a particular type of establishment that may or may not interest you. Also, some but not all companies send out email notifications of shops. You may need to check the job postings to find a shop for you.

Myth #4- I have applied to the same shop with the same company five times and have never been accepted. I should give up on mystery shopping.
Truth- You may not always get your first pick of shop! Sure, we'd all like a free meal at our favorite restaurant but you may need to complete some other shops and build up your shopper rating first. Apply to different shops with different companies and you are sure to be accepted for some type of job!

...these are just a few of the myths that jump to mind right now. I will add more as I think of them or asked questions.