Bestmark shop opportunity in cosmetics

Hi Shoppers,

I'm in need of friendly guidance here. Today I got my first opportunity from Bestmark. And I must say I'm completely taken
back. It's in cosmetics. Now any of you women out there know you can't buy anything in cosmetics for $5.00 anymore. I mean nothing! They will reimburse up to $5.00. Really! Am I delusional or are they? Or am I not understanding this Mystery Shopping gig?

Sure could use some advice on this situation.

Shopper in waiting

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If it is the one i am thinking of, you need to make a purchase in the cosmetic store...perhaps a nice nail polish or lip gloss?

If it is a cosmetic counter...i know some have sharpeners for eye liner pens...

I suspect it is the first option though. You can always reach out to them and discuss with them the shop and see if they have any suggestions.

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I can tell you this, I found it hard at a "certain famous cosmetics store" to purchase anything. It was not required to purchase but I noticed the prices were a bit high....

How is your supply of cotton eye make up remover pads, cotton balls, orange sticks, nail file? Finger nail decals? There is usually an impulse display of cheap things near the check out.
By the way, it isn't unusual that the reimbursement doesn't completely cover the required purchase.

The store has a huge variety of products and you will be able to find something. Try the travel sizes or some of the store brand eyeliners, etc.

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The store I am thinking she has does not have travel size or a huge selection. Nothing under $5 for sure.

This can be difficult. One time I had a cosmetic shop at the airport. The cheapest thing in there was mascara- at $25! I don't do cosmetic shops anymore.

I did a shop like this at a cosmetic counter in a department store at the mall. The cheapest thing I could find was lip gloss at $18.

My advice would be to not take these jobs unless you are a user of high end cosmetics, are planning a purchase and would consider the reimbursement as a discount on something you already want to buy. Otherwise it is lost money - especially if you have to buy a regular item at an inflated price.

If the job is highly bonused then maybe, but otherwise just pass on this type of job.

The Bestmark cosmetic shops in my area are at a drug store chain that is not CVS

. It would be fairly easy to find something for $5. I was just in another large cosmetic chain store that is usually a free-standing store, not in a mall store---and they had a bunch of their brand cosmetics on sale for $1. I got some fun eyeliner colors

. If it's the more upscale chain known for their powder, $5 isn't enough. I've done those for another MSC and they have a good reimbursement program.

Based on the timing of the OP, I figured it was a store I saw for the first time yesterday. It is huge and they have options in virtually every price point from "drugstore" brands to higher end. It sounds like the same one RIMS is describing except I would not consider them a drugstore.

I agree with Boutique.

I look at these type of shops like coupons, you are getting a $5 off coupon. That is if you are able to spend over $5 and get reimbursed.

I think those shops are only worth it if you are already a customer of that store.

Check with the scheduler if you are interested.

Sounds like they're expecting a book to be written for that $7 and a tube of lipstick.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

Nail polish remover, nail polish, nail file - really anything with nails you can usually find for under $5 and you can actually use them.

I saw these shops on Tuesday - they had a different scenario every day. I would have grabbed them all if I didn't have to make a trip every day or was in that area but, alas, they are all gone now. They always have coupons - 20% off or $3.50 off of $10. You can easily find something to buy. I'm just wondering how horrible the report may be. I've done one of their drugstore chains with the $15 fee and $1 reimbursement. Repetitive, redundant, long report.

Thank you all for your input. Frankly I just don't see this as worth my time. $5.00 reimbursement and $7.00 for the job. Don't get me wrong I realize you have to start somewhere but I'm thinking between the paperwork and the gas it's just for me.

Although if they were to let me know the name of the store and it was on my way to something else I might reconsider. Perhaps doing two shops of this kind close to one another while I was out and about anyway might make it worthwhile. One thing for sure I'm not going to chase my tail.

When it comes to asking about a bonus. If they're to cheap to pay a decent amount for the shop I'm thinking there is no way they would consider a bonus. Or am I wrong about that? Should I always ask them for a bonus if the pay is low? So many things to learn about this industry.

I really appreciate the advise from experienced shopper's

It is definitely for someone who frequents the store to use as a discount. Why don't you contact them and ask the name?

Just did my first one. The store had a nice clearance rack and I got a body spray for $3 and the store brand eyeliner was on sale for $1 so I got 2 of those. There are a lot of little items you could get for $5 or less. The report was OK, nothing too bad but more involved than $5 re and $7 fee deserves.

Normally I would immediately delete the email because of the low fee/reimbursement. OTOH, I spend a small fortune in that store and thought it might be wise to recoup some of the money. The shop itself only took around 10 minutes and I spent both the fee and reimbursement. The report took me about 20 minutes. With two locations less than five miles away, if the shops continue I could at least cover 20% to 25% of what I spend in an average year.

I completed one of these over the weekend; they're very quick in-store, as you are required to interact with just one associate regarding a specific scenario. I actually really enjoyed it because the associate with whom I interacted was extremely knowledgeable about the product I inquired and she shed some light on product details I wouldn't have otherwise thought about (differences in ingredients between brands, consumer reviews, etc.). Items available to purchase are as low as $1, and the report was straightforward and doesn't take long to complete. If there were more in my area I would definitely pick them up! For those of you worried about the purchase of a product, why don't you just return it?

I did one last week, and would gladly do one again. It was very quick, (you are required to spend 10 minutes in the store). Cotton balls, Q tips, nail polish remover, tweezers, you name it, there are plenty of items to find that are useful and cheap. You can even get a shampoo or conditioner. I spent more than the reimbursement and fee, but I shop there all the time, so just considered it like a big $12 off coupon. Funny thing, you have to do it on a certain day only, and I went the DAY BEFORE! Ooops. But was happy to go again the next day as it is close and a store I do frequent. Report is not bad. Really would far rather do this one than the $14 groceries. I actually am dropping some I signed up for, because of the time frame, 4 to 8:00 only. Now there you are required to be in the store 30 minutes, have observations and interactions on 8 employees, plus count how many are working in total, and you have to ask specific and in my opinion, often stupid questions. Uh, you know I have always wondered what the difference between red and brown potatoes is.........................

Recently lost your spouse and they did all of the cooking and shopping you wouldn't know the difference between a red and brown potato.

I'm pretty sure y'all are talking about a store where I purchase my make-up. I've signed up for lots of MSC's, but haven't found them yet and I'm still hoping too. Since products or the store name hasn't been named, can someone please tell me which MSC to sign up for? I'm not being lazy and I've done tons of research. I just haven't come across this one yet. Oh, and I'm signed up for BestMark. I'm guessing another MSC reps them in my area of the U.S.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2015 08:47AM by MelNel525.

The thread is from last summer. I don't recall seeing these assignments for at least a couple of months. They were through Bestmark so either the client wasn't shopped the last quarter of 2014 or the assignments went too fast. It was the first time I had ever seen them shopped so it may have been a pilot program.

I did it, there was a $5 reimbursement and I got 2 eyeliners for $1 each and a $3 body spray. This was all on the clearance rack.

Everything in my area is automotive and not for the vehicle make that I own.

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Bestmark shop opportunity in cosmetics

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