My sense of adventure and lack of preparation finally came together in a learning experience. (sigh)

I am the dolt.

I saw a new (to me) California Tortilla shop that would be convenient for a route. It was $10 pay without reimbursement and a required purchase that would eat up almost all of the $10. But, as many discussions on this board have already covered, sometimes a meal can be a nice filler (either literally, figuratively or sometimes both!) I have done $10 shops without reimbursement for another MSC that I enjoy, because the product is frozen custard and the questionnaire is appropriate for $10. (consider that last comment "foreshadowing"

After scheduling the shop, I got an email changing the required purchase. That should have triggered some research, but I needed to learn a lesson, it seems. The day of the shop, I finally open up the questionnaire. WOW.

83 radio-button / fill-in-the-blank questions
8 narrative blocks (100 character minimum each)
3 discrete timings

I was actually offended for a moment, until I remembered, I AM THE DOLT that took this job. I have never seriously considered flaking on an assignment to make a statement of principle, but if I had opened this up the day it was assigned, I would have gently handed it right back to the scheduler with an apology for "my misunderstanding."

I have done a multitude of shops for this MSC, because their pay has been commensurate with their expectations, the questionnaires have been detailed but again, commensurate, and the variety of assignments is interesting to me. None of that will change--I just won't take one of these for less than $25 in the future, so I am sure I have done my last California Tortilla MS. Kind of a shame, because the food was pretty tasty, if a bit overpriced for what was provided.

Oh, the bill? $10.72. The required purchase was more than $10 before taxes. I had heard of that happening for Fine Dining, but fast food?

OK, I am done. Feel free to lecture me now. :-)

Dear NSSGuy, here is your lecture:

I've made so many mistakes you aren't going to get any grief from me. Remember your tortilla fondly and shop on.

NSSGuy, they say confession is good for the soul. There, now do you feel better, particularly since you were also suitably punished? A lecture would be overkill, for sure! :-)

(heart)

I think we have all been the dolt at one point or another. Thanks for sharing.

I think you've been punished enough!



cease

I'm not sure you qualify as the dolt unless you take the same shop again.

Hopefully, the tortilla wasn't punishment as well.

Ha Ha Ha all of you.

Thank you for keeping someone else from having to be a dolt too.

The whole purpose of civilization is so we don't all have to make the same mistakes; we learn from each other's.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dear NSSGuy, here is your lecture:
>
> I've made so many mistakes you aren't going to get
> any grief from me. Remember your tortilla fondly
> and shop on.

YA, what MDavisnowell said!!!!

Wow that is horrendous! Who would think up a shop with a long report like that, reimbursement only, with a required purchase more than the reimbursement?

I think that shop deserves an email to the scheduler explaining that the $10 reimbursement is not nearly adequate.

I've seen other MSCs or clients require a purchase where the fee and reimbursement won't cover the purchase. I get a huge laugh from the $20 electronics audit shops saying you must make a purchase as proof of your visit and they will only reimburse $1, and they actually say you can buy a pack of gum. Even a pack of gum costs more than $1 these days, and since when do electronics stores sell freaking gum? I don't even want to know what they cheapest item they sell is if you're only getting $1 back.

There's also a well known national clothing line for women (initials AT) where the shop fee is $15 and you must make a purchase. They will only reimburse you for $10 but nothing in the store is cheaper than $20. This client expects shoppers to finance their employee evaluations by being a customer. I did one of these shops only, not realizing there was nothing in the store you could buy for $10.

Live and learn, but most of all, be kind to yourself and no more name calling.

I think you've lectured yourself enough already. Shop on, friend!

The .72 may be an added business expense. Ha! We have all been there.

nycrocks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've seen other MSCs or clients require a purchase
> where the fee and reimbursement won't cover the
> purchase. I get a huge laugh from the $20
> electronics audit shops saying you must make a
> purchase as proof of your visit and they will only
> reimburse $1, and they actually say you can buy a
> pack of gum. Even a pack of gum costs more than $1
> these days, and since when do electronics stores
> sell freaking gum? I don't even want to know what
> they cheapest item they sell is if you're only
> getting $1 back.

I don't know which store you're talking about, but I would expect gum, chips, soda, water to be found up near the counter at the big electronics stores I'm aware of.

I do $10 shops for a certain company that always has tons of them at a nearby super store chain. I can usually snag 3 or 4 shops in different departments and I do them all in one day. The report is pretty easy. I know others might not want to do that, but I don't mind it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2014 01:12AM by spartygirl121.

LOL, you got the best laugh outta me I have had in years.

Don, Las Vegas

What does DOLT stand for ?

nycrocks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've seen other MSCs or clients require a purchase
> where the fee and reimbursement won't cover the
> purchase. I get a huge laugh from the $20
> electronics audit shops saying you must make a
> purchase as proof of your visit and they will only
> reimburse $1, and they actually say you can buy a
> pack of gum. Even a pack of gum costs more than $1
> these days, and since when do electronics stores
> sell freaking gum? I don't even want to know what
> they cheapest item they sell is if you're only
> getting $1 back.
>
> There's also a well known national clothing line
> for women (initials AT) where the shop fee is $15
> and you must make a purchase. They will only
> reimburse you for $10 but nothing in the store is
> cheaper than $20. This client expects shoppers to
> finance their employee evaluations by being a
> customer. I did one of these shops only, not
> realizing there was nothing in the store you could
> buy for $10.


There is one here for a well known clothing store as well that has a $10 fee plus $3 reimbursement. It is in a mall close to my work that I can walk to right after I get off my full time job. I only take these when I want a reason to walk there for exercise (can't talk myself out of it after it is scheduled) or it is bonused. Since they sell teenager clothing (and I am not a teenager lol), I usually will get tank tops for the reimbursement and wear them under my work shirts when they are slightly too short. the tank tops I like are usually only 1.80 so I can actually get two of them for slightly over the $3.

mariag2000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What does DOLT stand for ?

It's a dolt, with emphasis.

Wouldn't a dolt be someone who didn't learn the first time and did it again? Just my 2 cents.

Ishmael Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mariag2000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What does DOLT stand for ?
>
> It's a dolt, with emphasis.


TOO LATE!!! It's right there in capital letters, so the rule that I just made up states that it must be acronymized. It stands for Dumb Old Looney Twit. I have called myself that many times. I hope it will be much less in the future. Live and learn!

PS-- I have no lectures for you whatsoever, NSSGuy.

You shouldn't make fun of old people LadyAcappella.

nycrocks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've seen other MSCs or clients require a purchase
> where the fee and reimbursement won't cover the
> purchase. I get a huge laugh from the $20
> electronics audit shops saying you must make a
> purchase as proof of your visit and they will only
> reimburse $1, and they actually say you can buy a
> pack of gum. Even a pack of gum costs more than $1
> these days, and since when do electronics stores
> sell freaking gum? I don't even want to know what
> they cheapest item they sell is if you're only
> getting $1 back.
>
> There's also a well known national clothing line
> for women (initials AT) where the shop fee is $15
> and you must make a purchase. They will only
> reimburse you for $10 but nothing in the store is
> cheaper than $20. This client expects shoppers to
> finance their employee evaluations by being a
> customer. I did one of these shops only, not
> realizing there was nothing in the store you could
> buy for $10.


As a retail store, how desperate do you have to be for revenue to resort to hiring MSCs to provide customers??
I avoid these, or if I think the fee and distance are good, I make a purchase and then after the shop is submitted, return the item.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You shouldn't make fun of old people
> LadyAcappella.


Old people can make fun of old people if they wanna. (...a really old rule that I just made up!)

minuet00 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow that is horrendous! Who would think up a shop
> with a long report like that, reimbursement only,
> with a required purchase more than the
> reimbursement?
>
> I think that shop deserves an email to the
> scheduler explaining that the $10 reimbursement is
> not nearly adequate.

The fee is adequate depending on your situation in life. If you are either a Senior or a student and the money runs out before the month does, you may look at the questions and trade the report for crossword puzzles to occupy your time. Some seniors go to the mall just to be with other people for free without a shop, it has nothing to do with mystery shopping, just companionship. They get a meal and something to fill the many empty hours and keep their mind active like doing crossword puzzles.

Usually I know the size of the report from doing the shop repetitively but sometime they change the requirements. Then there is always "the first time factor" when the scheduler claims in their invitation that it is an "easy shop". If the shop is on the boards more than a day without being taken experienced shoppers are passing it by, it is NOT an "easy shop". I do not buy a new car the first year it is offered and I do not take a mystery shop the first time it is offered. I let someone else step in it and check their shoes.

I think all novices have done the IKEA shops. If the report is an IKEA size report I contact the scheduler and advise the scheduler that "easy" is not an hour report and we did not have a "meeting of the minds".

Sounds like an Intellishop venture; hope you got your "Hero Citation" and it was suitable for framing!!

I hear the "Hero Citation" lasts for 3 months, then must be returned for a newer more complicated one.

mariag2000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What does DOLT stand for ?


Just ask Mr. H.Simpson, DOLT !!!