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Will my first shop be rejected? Argh!

August 28, 2016 08:01PM
I signed up with a few companies last week (before I found this forum) and did my first shop on Friday. Now I'm freaking out thinking it (a revealed signage audit at a club store) might be rejected because my notes were so brief! It was a survey style report with a place at the end to add additional comments. I didn't write up full paragraphs because I didn't think it was necessary. It was more like bullet points, for example: "Manager was friendly and welcoming. He was receptive to suggestions." There was nothing indicating that it was to be a narrative. It just said "add any additional comments that you think might be helpful".

Ugh, I hope that wasn't crappy. I didn't really have any idea what happens to the report after I turn it in but from reading here it seems the report gets sent as-is to the company.

I have so many questions. So. Many. I'm reading as much as I can to avoid asking the same old thing y'all have answered a hundred times!

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
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August 28, 2016 08:10PM
It depends on which MSC. It is good to write in complete sentences even if you don't have to write a long narrative. I am sure because it's your first report they will be somewhat forgiving, and as long as the required information is there (comment on any "no" answers mainly) I am sure it will be fine. Actually, most reports do get edited before being sent on to the client, so if there are any questions you will hear from the editor, and you should get some feedback on your report from the editor after they are done reviewing it. Welcome to the forum and happy shopping!
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August 28, 2016 08:49PM
Time for a deep breath. What you did is not catastrophic. You may hear from an editor asking for a different format. However, if the form simply invited, but did not require, additional comments, I see no threat to the report's acceptance, even if the editor requests a few changes.

Just a note about "revealed" shops. Many of us do not do them because the nature of many of the industries that we shop is such that employees move from one job to another quite frequently. So, the cashier at Joe' s Burgers that gets a reward from you this month may spot you when you are doing a covert shop at Moe's Burgers and alert the other employees and the manager. Often when a site manager can prove that s shopper was ID'ed. the shopper is barred from future shops at more than one of that client's sites. In extreme cases the shopper may be barred from doing any of that client's shops.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 29, 2016 05:53AM
I had a convenience store shop where I had to buy a smoothie / slushy drink. On the report it asked if the cash register worker was friendly during my visit. Y/N - Explain.

The problem for me was that me and her didn't really interact. Instead, there was a drunk standing in line behind me and wouldn't STFU. (I really wanted to slap him to be honest) He kept ranting and ranting and ranting and @#$%& and raving about how there's "10 rows of 'potater' (his words - not mine) chips, and no one's buying them and you all don't have anything that I WANT!!" The cashier did her very best. Kept a positive attitude, and still kept assisting him even though he was either drunk, high, on drugs, mentally ill or a combination of all. (I'm going to assume a combo).

So I just selected YES then added in comments that "...there was a rude, disgruntled customer behind me who butted in, started ranting about potato chips and gave the cashier a hard time. The cashier maintained a positive, professional attitude and tone and continued to assist the customer, despite his attitude and unruliness. I did not get the chance to interact with the cashier as a result of this customer's behavior."

My shop was approved with a perfect score literally 30 minutes after I submitted it - to my surprise. smiling smiley

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2016 06:24PM by MysteriousLurker.
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August 29, 2016 06:21PM
Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I haven't heard from them yet but I just did it on Friday. I'm busily filling out applications with different companies (starting with the ones suggested in the getting started sticky).

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
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August 30, 2016 01:28AM
Seeing as it's your first shop, and depending on the company, the scheduler may make note with something like 5 out of 10. There were some grammar and incomplete sentence issues. In the future, please complete sentences and paragraphs. Or they may even hit you back asking questions. I am always too detailed and run out of room. Of course, I can also type 140 wpm which makes this input of shops so much more convenient for me when I'm not using a dragon or google voice speak.

MegglesKat
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August 30, 2016 01:59AM
I cannot imagine anyone marking that shop down to a 5! If anything the severe MSCs might mark it to a 9 because they needed to contact her.! If you are having 5s show up for such minor issues, you need to find better MSCs!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 30, 2016 02:14AM
@MysteriousLurker wrote:

He kept ranting and ranting and ranting and @#$%& and raving about how there's "10 rows of 'potater' (his words - not mine) chips, and no one's buying them and you all don't have anything that I WANT!!" The cashier did her very best. Kept a positive attitude, and still kept assisting him even though he was either drunk, high, on drugs, mentally ill or a combination of all. (I'm going to assume a combo).
Or, he could have just been a mystery shopper. grinning smiley
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August 30, 2016 12:10PM
BTW, when should I expect to hear from the company about whether my shop was accepted/rejected, get feedback, etc?

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
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August 30, 2016 12:23PM
Ah - just went to my shopper's board thing and saw that the shop was accepted and rated 10/10. Whee! But I didn't get an email. I just thought to go look at the board. Learning curve!

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
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October 23, 2016 11:28AM
all the companies i have done work for they allow some time back and forth for editing purposes... if there are problems they will contact you and you will have a chance to edit and resubmit

they dont want to reject your report often because it will cost them more time to send another shopper out and often more $$ to get it done quickly

no news is good news...

shopping north west PA and south west ny
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