How many mystery shops have you done question...

I hate the "How many mystery shops have you done?" and the "What other MSC companies do you work with?" questions on new MSC registrations. I'm spending part of the winter registering with other companies that I'm not currently working with since I've decided to up my game this year. There is no option for "I have no idea how many shops I've done but it is north of 100 and south of 1000" and as for the names of other MSCs I'm currently registered with about 40 but looking to get up over 100 by the end of winter.

What do you more seasoned shoppers put on those forms?

Ellie in Ohio - trying to get those ends to meet...

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In your current situation I would say, " have successfully completed more than 100 shops in several industries. The most recent MSCs that I have work for include, but are not limited to: Catatrophic Mystery, Inc, Slow Replays, A More Distant Look, and WorstMark. "

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.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2014 06:30PM by walesmaven.

walesmaven I love those company names

Ellie in Ohio - trying to get those ends to meet...

You forgot MarketFarce, Clear As Mud Evaluations, Unintelli-Shop and Critter Associates.

LOL, thanks to you folks Freebankruptcyman has not made it onto my resume.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

LOL... Disappointment disadvantage? About Butt?

C

---
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

Seriously, you can't make jokes, because you don't know if the person reading it will have any sort of sense of humor at all. So, it seems reasonable to me to put down the approximate number of shops, but it feels a little creepy to name the other companies I've done work for. Am I being silly about that?

Until now, I've dodged it, by just writing that I've done work for several MSCs as an Independent Contractor. I just ran into a company who really really wants to know who else I do work for. The application says coaxingly that there's no limit on the companies you can sign up for....

I just list an assortment of 5-7 companies that I've worked for...I don't list everyone.

.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)

"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei

Can I hijack this thread to start a vote for "most ridiculous MSC name?"
I'm going with "Reality Based Group."

______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Hoju Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can I hijack this thread to start a vote for "most
> ridiculous MSC name?"
> I'm going with "Reality Based Group."

I just posted about "Reality Based Group" on another thread., so I will continue the hijack.

Whenever I picture RBG, I think of a bunch of 20-ish hipsters, wearing plaid and drinking craft beer.

This weird mental image of mine no doubt has zero connection to reality.

(Thread un-hijack.)

Seriously though, I start with the first five companies, more or less alphabetically.

Thus,

"A Closer Look, A Top Shop, Ardent Services, About Face, Applied Feedback, Ann Michaels... and the rest of the alphabet." I will actually write this in the little application block. Hasn't hurt me.

Now, if it is a specialized MSC (video or high-end), then I will name the closest match to the industry they specialize in.

If they are poking around, encouraging you to give them an information dump, I'd be wary. Who has time for that? You aren't being paid to donate that type of detailed information.

One of the reasons that MSCs want to know what other MSCs you have worked for is so that they have evidence that you know that you are free to work for more than one, i.e., that you are aware that you will be an IC. This was stated by several MSC managers at various IMSC conferences, and gave me a whole different take on how the MSCs view this stuff. Their lawyers have them good and scared about this sort of thing.

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.

So, in that case, the answer that I've given so far: "I do work for several companies as an independent contractor", works just fine!

The thought just occured to me, that there was another thread recently, mentioning an occasional scheduler, (I know it's not common!) who would try to bully people into accepting a shop. "What's the reason you can't take the shop? You MUST!" The companies really should be informed of that, because if they want to keep us as ICs, they can't be treating us as employees.

I always write that the information they are requesting is propriatory and I am not at liberty to disclose it.

I have never been denied the opportunity to sign up for a company by refusing to break my IC agreement.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2014 12:49AM by savak.

.Hi to all,,.......I am really new. I did some MS about 10 years ago. How much has it changed since then? Please give me some tips on the reports. Also, tell me how you use a Video and microphone. I really need all the help you will give me

Mary, reading the New Mystery Shoppers section and look at threads concerning the companies you worked for back then if they still exist. With a couple hundred companies the reports are so varied. You can also use the search function to find out more about audio and video recording. Plug in either audio or video and set the search for all dates.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I always just give them a range of shops. Like " I have completed over 200 shops'. If they ask for my experience, I'll list things like fast food, audits, what have you.
But when they ask what other companies I work for? No way I'm telling them that. It is none o their business. I'm not an employee.

Do you really think it's read on the application? I think if you are a novice shopper and can't name the company, then yes, it'll be a flag. I usually state that I've been shopping since 2008, completing on average 50 shops per month. They can do the math.

How can I find out who does certain shops in my area? I would like to know who does the
"Pound Cake Manufacturer" or "Felix Supermarket" "The Big Red Dot" Can anyone help?

Just keep signing up for MSCs until you find them. It's the thrill of discovery--it'd take all the fun out of it if we just told you--like shooting sitting ducks. (Besides, it's against the ICAs that we all signed.)

MAD at Ardent..waiting THREE YRS for pymt still
:x

Due to confidentiality agreements I, respectfully, decline the names of the companies I am signed with. I can, however, state that I am signed with over 200 companies and have successfully completed 500+ shops over a period of more than 3 years.

Thank you for your consideration.

O.o o.O

Happily shopping New England and beyond!!!!!

I tell no mystery shopping companies who my client(s) are, except in the case of one that I gave to the MS Co. to serve my now former client and current pal. My clients do not know each other, unless they agree they want to know of each other. And yes, they usually do, and we pal around a little. I have yet to have ANY MS Co. to agree blindly they want to know about the other MS Co. and be likewise revealed. And finally, a certain MS Co. that itself is my client is obvious, I serve my own entity. I do not hide the fact that I have my own clients from any company I shop for.

"That information is privileged, I don't talk to them about you, and I don't talk to you about them."

That being said, at least one MS Co. I serve at a sufficient level that at least one client know both of us. And at least one of my own clients.... I'm not going there, sorry.

Oh, somewhere in the ballpark of 5100, not counting my own clients....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2014 05:47AM by ap7isback.

I have already encountered one MSC that has a signup process that forces you to either name at least one MSC, or say 'none', which would not be true, either.

Ishmael, try inputting the name of the company you are applying for. See if they notice it, I bet they don't!

There is a posted list of MSC's that you can also copy and past into the box. I think the list is in the Newbie posting area.

iiCyou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ishmael, try inputting the name of the company you
> are applying for. See if they notice it, I bet
> they don't!

Great thought! Unfortunately, it was a pop-up list, so no room for free-form entry. Come to think of it, I should go back and capture the names--list of what that company considers the most significant MSCs.

iiCyou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ishmael, try inputting the name of the company you
> are applying for. See if they notice it, I bet
> they don't!

I wouldn't do that, because they might notice it! If you list the company you are applying for (and thus never done shops for), then you have lied on the form. Not good.

I just got a certificate from MF congratulating me on my 500th shop. I also got one from them a while back for 100 shops. No other company has ever congratulated me for achieving a milestone (and yes, I've done over 100 shops for many companies - been shopping over 23 years).

NOTE: I'm not on the forum every day. If someone comments on my post, I might not reply right away. I've been a shopper since 1991. I've never done any work for a MS company in any other capacity.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2014 04:58AM by niteowl.

I can't believe that anyone reads these applications.....I think that they are run through a 'robo-check' to make sure all the fields are filled in.

I believe this because I have signed up with many companies late, late, late at night....only to receive a 'we're happy to welcome you to the team' email within minutes of submitting the application.

They probably keep stuff on file in case someone comes back to sue them or claim employment so that they can prove otherwise.

I had an independent scheduler contact me asking me to do a job with a new company last Thursday. I signed up Thursday at 10:15 PM, including filling out the 'how many shops have you done/what companies have you worked for' questions. I received my welcome and log in information email at 10:18 PM, emailed the scheduler, and was assigned the job by 10:26 PM. No human reviewed that application....

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