Thanks for giving idea about the basic needs which is suppose to be have by a shopper

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I just read this forum. Thank you to Flash and all the others for your great advice. I'm about to go shopping for a digital watch so I can keep the time in seconds that is needed. Flash, you mentioned that there's one in Walmart and Kmart, but that post was dated over a year ago.

Have you or anyone else found a watch that you think is great for keeping time and also keeping one from looking at the watch?

I like the way you described doing hitting the watch while opening the door.

I was in my friendly Walmart within the past month looking at watches (mine is gonna go soon, I suspect) and they had the really basic digital stop watch ones with a rubber wrist band and 2 big enough buttons on each side of the face so you could push them on and off easily blind, unfortunately they had a red maroon band and loud baby blue. They were marked down to $8.99. I couldn't see either of them as 'invisible' and I sure don't want to draw attention to my watch. I think the original price on them was up to around $11 or $12. What I failed to mention in earlier posts is that you do want one that you can push a back light on. Critical in dark restaurants or sitting in your car in the dark at a drive through.

I haven't yet had the occasion to use it for a shop, but I bought a DVR. However, I think there are too many bells and whistles on it for me -- I find the indexing, variable speeds, etc., a little too much and I'm concerned I'm going to hit the wrong button at the wrong time! Also, it drives me nuts that the counter counts DOWN instead of up. I thought the device would be really helpful for timing, but when you have to subtract to get the right time, not so much!

To those of you with DVRs, I'd love to get suggestions for brands/models and things you like and/or don't like about the one you have.

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." – Michelangelo Buonarroti

On some of the DVRs you can adjust the timer to count up or count down. Check the manual. Before I got one that could upload to my computer to easily jump around without fast forward or rewind on the actual DVR, I used to make a series of coughs, clicks etc. to mark the beginning of timings. At home when I listened, I could use my stopwatch to measure elapsed time between the sound marks.

So you are timing from the time you join the line until the time your food is delivered with an intermediate timing of when they total your order.

Cough to start when you join the line, you can hear when they total your order and note it from your stop watch while the watch then ticks on through to your "thanks" when you are presented with your order.

As for button control, they are all somewhat different. Mine has a square button on the left of the front that starts/pauses recording and a square button on the right of the front that ends the recording. I make sure it is turned on in the parking lot, push the start as I approach the front door and do a quick visual to make sure the record light is on and not blinking, and tell it the time in. It is easy enough to start earlier and comment about external maintenance issues and stores to the left and right if needed. If it is a short shop I will leave it turned on until I leave and as I am heading for the car, tell it what time I am out, name/description of cashier and anyone else I need. I work on the assumption that greetings and parting remarks are on the recording already.

Where do I find the stores available for my to mystery shop o have everything in order I just don't know where to go to find assignments I would like one asap
-Linda Alawi

You need to sign up with the companies that offer shops. Whether any particular one will have a store you would want to shop is another question. There is a list here of companies to sign up with in the very first post of the very first thread of the Mystery Shopping Company Discussion section of the forum.

Thanks, Flash. I don't think this one has an option to change the counter direction -- at least, there's nothing in the instructions. But in general, I think I'd be better off with a simpler one, anyway. The controls on this one are causing me undue stress! :-)

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." – Michelangelo Buonarroti

If your shop requires you to purchase something, I suggest you check how much money is in your wallet before you go into the shop and then check it again after your shop. That way you can verify you received the correct amount of change during your shop (without being obvious during the shop). Good luck with Mystery Shopping!

Candie
Gold Certified Mystery Shopper, San Diego Area
www.FactsAboutMysteryShopping.com

I always check my change when it is given to me, whether I am on a shop or not. Similarly, if I am making a small purchase and have only a larger bill than necessary (a $10 for a purchase under $5; a $20 for any purchase under $15) I state something like,"I thought I had a $5, but I'll have to pay for that with a $10." Because of that habit I have a whole lot less problem getting shorted because they 'thought I gave them a $5' than my significant other does.

i have a dvr and i love it. it has saved me from forgetting things on a long shop. I have a externa mic that i fasten to my bra and this sucker picks up everything,,,i turn my cell off but pretent like i'm talking to someone while I'm actually recording info..GREAT

Good, Better, Best...Never Rest Till Your Good Is Better And Your Better Is Best!!

Mine is an Olympus ws-300M. It is basically the same model that a couple of big MSCs issue to their shoppers for audio recording. Love it. Fits discretely into a bra (sorry, fellas; you're on your own for this one). Crystal clear sound; long battery life (AAA); direct USB link (no cable needed).

Mine is an iPhone. I have a DVR, but I never use it anymore. The iPhone is the bomb!

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“Making mistakes simply means you are learning faster.”
~Weston Agor

walesmaven, I use the Olympus ws-500M. It's absolutely wonderful. I do the same thing as you. I place it very discreetly in my bra and turn it on while I'm in the car right before I'm leaving the car. It hears everything.

It has a very long battery life also. This unit comes with a rechargeable battery, but that one doesn't seem to last very long, so now I use regular batteries.

Thanks for supplying your model #s. I finally returned the one I'd purchased last night. Just too complicated and I don't need the additional stress of wondering if I'm pressing the correct (or wrong) button! It was a higher number Olympus so perhaps the lower numbered series will be more suited to my needs, and peace of mind!

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." – Michelangelo Buonarroti

nicely, it took me a few times before I understood all the buttons on the 500, but once you get it it's a piece of cake. I also love how small it is.