David Price,

Thank you for posting. I'm going to respond in a bit different way than the others as not to repeat their great advice, but to hopefully augment it.

"Time, time, time, see what's become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities
I was so hard to please **"

I complete a range of 10-35 shops a month part-time around a full-time job and other responsibilities and many days I wonder where all the time went. I have signed up for more than 100 MSPs and get perhaps 60-100 emails daily and sometimes a text or phone call. I find time to search job boards and peruse the forums for information and sometimes give back there as well. But I sometimes wonder if MSPs /schedulers get it. Where does all my time go?

Why did I get 41 different emails on one day from the same scheduler about 41 different jobs for the same client in my area? That's where my time went. So, I sent an email to her superior and the emails got much less in frequency for a time, then bumped up to sometimes 10-20 a day. I then spent my time to create a filter so that all emails from that MSP now go to a folder I don't look at much, unless I have time, which is not often.

Why did I actually respond to an email that listed a job from a scheduling company listing a job I was interested in but the job board for the source MSP did not have it listed. I'll spend my time telling you don't use a scheduling company unless they have 100% control of the job board. That scheduling company's emails now go to my "Only if I have time" folder.

Why did I open an email that said, "$Bonus$," or "Quick and Easy shop," or, "Photo Guidelines have changed. They are now easier!" and discover there was no bonus, or the bonus was spread out amongst a dozen shops, or it really isn't quick and easy, or the photo guidelines are the same as they have been for more than a year. Am I really hard to please, or is it just that I don't have time in the day to do everything I want?

Why did I let a shop grade of 9 get to me? "Your shop for XYZ has been reviewed. You received a grade of 9 because of various spelling and grammatical errors." $)%&@!!! It was your website's imbedded spellchecker that failed to catch these spelling 'errors' and for those few sentences in the report, my grammar was probably just fine. A long time ago, I gave up reviewing the saved copy of the shop for such errors because I did not find the cited problems. If you want shoppers to improve, give them meaningful feedback. I'm aware different MSPs have different reporting requirements, but I am not able to read your minds. If you want me not to use contractions, tell me and I am glad to take the time to please.

Social media??? Yeah, sure. The lack of privacy there is exactly why I tell all my family, friends and co-workers that I mystery shop. So when I am out and meet someone who knows what I do they can go to the store employee and say, "Hey Sue! Do you you that guy? He is a mystery shopper. Do you think he is mystery shopping you right now?" Yeah. I trust everyone to keep their mouths shut. Especially the ones that are constantly gossiping about other people. Please tell me you recognize sarcasm.

As you can tell, most of what I am saying comes down to my time. Please recognize that your best shoppers are also the ones that take the time to become great shoppers. But they have only so much of it. Respect their time with communications. One email per day for any shop project is enough. Put the key details in the email header. For example, for a furniture store you might say, "Furniture store shops available due August 6-13." If the shop has variations, put it in the header. For example, restaurant shops could be lunch or dinner. Let me know in the header. If a bonus is available list the amount in the header. The more you make my time be more productive, the more likely I will see and respond to the message. If you waste too much of my time your emails get sent to my version of purgatory and rarely, if ever, get viewed.

David, thanks again for taking the time to be a better company by asking these questions here. My responses are a few that rise to the top of the list for me. If there is one or more of your questions that you want better responses to than folks provide in this thread you might consider re-posting them in individual threads.


** from A Hazy Shade Of Winter, Simon and Garfunkel.

My shop fee for that one was a whopping $10, I think.

This was years ago, and I think the client switched MSCs. I am pretty sure they are with CI now. They now have good reimbursements too. Fee is still low, LOL.

ShopperFun99 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, thanks, BBird, I do that now, I check the
> menu before going on the shop to see if the
> reimbursement is doable.
>
> I did not know they pay $90 in bonuses. That's
> good to know. Sure would like to know what
> company, but that's ok if you cannot reveal it
> here. The reason I wrote that I overlooked fees
> is because they are usually in the zero to $20
> range, sometimes a whopping $30 (and I am being
> sarcastic here). They are so low that I don't
> even pay attention to it. Instead, I concentrate
> on the reimbursement amount. But wow, $90 in
> bonus if you email the scheduler ! I should try
> that next time.

DPRICE: Did you not asked these same questions almost a year ago? I remember because I wanted to know what shops you had in my area so I renewed my registration. and found out that I was already signed up with you.

Apparently the new postors this year did not answer you last year. and became long winded when given you a response. If the questions are still the same that you are asking then NOTHING has change from last time from your LLC.

So are you really looking to improve from position with SHOPPERS or are you just trying to look like you care? All it takes is one MSC to raise "sub"standard shopper's fee. You want to be the best, then show us, the Shoppers, where you want to begin. Begin where we feel is lacking. This is my suggestion

I can't find any prior post made on this subject by OP. Can you provide a link to it?

ShopperFun99

We do offer a good amount of fine dining shops. You may just be in an area where we only have 1 or 2.

Any time something like that comes up, please contact us and let us know. We try to always stay on top of the menu and prices so no matter what the requirements are, the reimbursement is able to cover the requirements in the guidelines and also give the shopper a comfortable selection of the menu to choose from. We'd never intentionally set it up to where you can only order the cheapest item on the menu. Hopefully that was an older issue that got resolved. Sometimes some of our clients will raise prices and the shoppers will be the first to let us know. When they do, we are always happy to review our reimbursement limits and change them to make them more comfortable.

Sojo917-I started working with Customer Impact just under a year ago, so it was not me who you are thinking of. To my knowledge, no one at CI has posted a thread like this on Mystery Shop Forum. You might be mistaking us with a different company.

Continued thanks for the great responses.

Daniel Price
Customer Impact, LLC
dprice@customerimpactinfo.com

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2014 02:37PM by dprice.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.
>
> That's never going to happen. The "WE NEED
> URGENT!" will always be sent out to 100's of
> shoppers. They can't say "We NEED URGENT SHOPS
> DONE, but this mail is going out to 450 shoppers."
>

I have, in the past, received emails with the "URGENT" in the subject, and in the body it did mention that this was a mass mailing and to respond quickly, or something similar. I can't think which MSC just at the moment, but I remember thinking, 'thanks for stating that'

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for coming to the Forum. I'd like to ask if you show all of your shops to all of your shoppers, or do you hold some off the job board?

Thanks!

Good question Bayberry. We show all of our shops to all of our shoppers. Even if there is some built in restriction that a shopper can't go(whether it be they have shopped that locatoin too recently or anything else), all shoppers see what's available on the board at a given time.

dprice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Customer Impact

> 1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs
> in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there
> any types of contact you absolutely don’t like
> at all?

It depends heavily on the company. If there is a possibility of me accepting an assignment because it is close to me, a text is fine. The same goes for phone calls. I welcome phone calls when I am a regular shopper for that client and the call is to negotiate a fine bonus. I'll more readily accept an assignment if I get a phone call, especially if there is a good offer. Otherwise, emails will do.
>
> 2) How much is too much in regards to emails,
> calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how
> many emails we send out so as to not bombard the
> shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels
> that way.

Only a handful of companies send me too many emails. I wish that more would email me. I seem to drop off their radar if I do only occasional assignments for them. It is very time consuming to go to all their websites. One company calls too much because it's a different scheduler after I've already said no.
>
> 3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter
> accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If
> not, why not?

Absolutely not. I don't want anyone knowing what I do.
>
> 4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you
> are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

I do it only if they are involved in some way with the shop, such as the second diner, the spouse who needs to be there, or they are receiving a package and ought to know why.
>
> 5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers?
> Do you take advantage of referral programs that
> offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who
> complete shops? Why/Why not?

One family member was mildly interested but he didn't follow up. I don't have any reason to refer others unless they live across the country. Then I'd gladly work for the referral fee. So far, no takers.
>
> 6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking
> for purely a monetary value, or are you looking
> for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a
> retail outlet, you like, etc?

It's a little of both, but money talks.

I don't do shops that don't have anything for me, such as a product I had to buy but can't use. Some shops are too specific for me, such as requiring another brand of car for an oil change shop. I like convenience store and grocery store shops because I can usually find something I need. I don't want the shop to have hidden rules that may cause me to be disqualified. I don't like scenarios that out me. I'll go to another county if the bonus is good. I wish that the fast food shops would give me more choices so I don't have to order and taste something I really don't like. I would love to have all my regular activities associated with mystery shops, but it's not going to happen any time soon.
>
> 7) When you think of your favorite Mystery
> shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of
> shops they have available to you? The
> company/employees themselves? The pay?

The ones that communicate are the best. I like an easy website. I like to be able to ask questions if it is an unusual assignment. I like it that the ones that call are quick to let me know if anything has changed in the requirements since last time. I don't like to take myriad tests. I can read. I am well educated and have done this a long time. Having said that, I don't like unpleasant surprises.
>
> 8) What things about mystery shopping companies
> annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be
> scheduling, required dates, editing procedures,
> guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many
> questions here).

I think it is some editors. One argued with me that I had gone to a wrong site because the color of the roof was different. She never considered that the previous shopper might have been the one mistaken. This was way out in the country. The store was on an interstate. The only other similar store was in a small town nearby and it had been closed a long time. I had been there on assignment before without roof color being an issue. It never occurred to me to go to GoogleEarth. It is hard to call a convenience store ("Hello, my friend wanted me to meet her at a store which I think is yours, but I can't find it. Could you please tell me the color of your roof because she said the store has a red roof." because they don't usually give out phone numbers. Another time, the same editor said that I had sent in a picture of the back of the store where it was supposed to be a picture of the side. I explained to her what was on the side of the store (boxes stored) and that the back had a car wash business, but she argued with me. I was dropped from that MSC because of her. I can see the assignments but I am never assigned whereas I used to do many assignments for that company before she came along.
>
> 9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling
> process do you like or dislike the most?

I like it when they are friendly and understanding like I think I am.
>
> 10) What things about editors and the editing
> process do you like or dislike the most?

What I said above, as well as when they want me to explain something that is already explained in the text. I think the other posters have covered most of this issue.

>
> Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE
> specific questions that I’d like to ask as
> well.
>
> 11) Are there any ways we can improve the
> guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see
> the format changed at all? If so, how?

It is nice to be able to browse the paperwork just before a shop, especially if it is an unfamiliar one or I was assigned it days ago. Making it simple is always an asset.
>
> 12) What do you think about the email you receive
> from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop?
> Would you like to see more information, less
> information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you
> actually read it all, etc.?

I usually have no problems with them.
>
> 13) What do you think about the reminder to save
> your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is
> there a way other MSC’s do this that is more
> efficient?

I don't like pop ups but if they save me from losing what I have just put in, they are fine.
>
> 14) Is there something we can do to remind
> shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail
> when their shop is completed but not yet
> finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond
> to our questions regarding pending shops until it
> is too late for the client.

Text.
>
> 15) When something urgent comes up and you need to
> contact someone, is there any method of
> communication we do not offer that you’d like to
> see available?

N/A
>
> 16) What do you think of our report scoring
> system? Are there any changes you would like to
> see made to that system?

N/A
>
> 17) What do you think of the email feedback that
> you receive from the editors once they have looked
> over your report/ Do you think they are too
> detailed? Not detailed enough?

N/A
>
> 18) Is there anything you wish you had known when
> you were first starting out as a mystery shopper
> that a company did not tell you? If so, what?

N/A
>
> 19) If you are registered with CI, would you be
> interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent
> via email once a month from our company
> higlighting any new additions, new shops/clients,
> changes to our system/improvements, and general
> news including links to our weekly blogs?

I probably wouldn't have time to read it.
>
>
>Thank you for asking. I have something I'll email you about when I have more time. Thank you for giving your email address.

Some of these I cannot comment on but here's my input:

1) I prefer e-mail, phone calls/texts are OK if you are in a bind. Please don't contact me if I already declined a request to do a shop via e-mail. I don't mind any form of communication as long as it is not abused.

2) One per day for a series of assignments is enough. There are MSC who send 5-10 e-mails a day about the same assignments. That's too much!

3) No. I recently deactivated Facebook.. it's time wasting and soul sucking if you know a lot of people. I find myself unproductive when I use it. Twitter is used more for my other business in media so I would be reluctant to "follow" or like a MSC company's page. I try to keep the both separate. A lot of the MSC I like don't have a Twitter or Facebook page so I haven't really felt the need to follow any MSC.

4) People ask what I do for a living with two kids, three animals so I tell them. Many people I don't. I have told a couple of folks about MSC when they are looking for a new job or need to make extra money for rent.

5) See answer above. There have been two people I referred. I don't really take advantage of the referral programs because those you refer most often have to complete a shop successfully before you receive bonus money.

6) Depends on how I feel. I look definitely for value-for-time vs minimum wage per hr and the length of the questionnaire. Sometimes I will do reimbursement shops for gas or clothes because who doesn't spend money on that once a month? Great way to save money in the long run if you were going to spend money anyway..

7) Fast payment, type of shops and memorable employees for sure. When I think of my favourite MSC, I know I can depend on my pay being direct deposited every two weeks on the same day. The employee I deal with most is always polite and she seems to enjoy your job. It shows. MSC is reasonable and answers e-mails really quickly.

8) Poor communication. For example yesterday I was waiting for a scheduler to answer me about completing an assignment that day. I sat around and twiddled my thumbs because it was a self-assign shop and I pretty much applied for it right when I got the e-mail. The site kept saying it wasn't available but the job board showed it was still there. The scheduler never responded. The same scheduler never responded in the past to my questions about a location being closed when I got there. I never ended up getting paid for the shop even though I went to the location and it was no longer in business. I think poor communication is the best way you can show someone else you depend on that you don't give a damn about them or their time in general.

9) I think #8 pretty much sums it up. Respect is a two way street. I do appreciate and love the schedulers who go out of their way to help shoppers. Thankfully there are many of them to go around

10) When I don't receive specific feedback about why I got a 8 or 9 out of 10. A scheduler will say, "Not enough detail in final comments sections" and nail me for it when the survey never said it was mandatory. If it was a really bad shop experience then I would have more to say.

11) I'm satisfied.


13) I like it. It reminds me (as well as the Browser tab) how much time I left to save.

14) Again, I do not shop for your company but the best lesson learned is when one has their shop rejected. Then they always remember to keep an eye/hear out..... Sometimes that's all you can do. If someone refuses to read (unless they have a disability of some kind), that's their problem. Just my two cents.

18) I can't honestly think of anything that the MSC didn't already mention.

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

I prefer email. I have my iPhone on me at all times, so I check my email pretty frequently throughout the day. Phone calls and texts may become annoying to me though.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

If you have assignments in my immediate or surrounding areas, then email away. I am registered with quite a few companies, and I won't remember to log in and check them all everyday, so email is useful to me.

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I agree with the other posters. It would be pretty hard to remain anonymous if my Facebook is linked to MSC pages. I don't use Facebook very much at all anyway.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

I do not tell people I'm a mystery shopper partly because you never know who is a blabbermouth. Unless people I trust ask (and they don't) then I really don't say anything.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?


I don't refer people because, well, honestly I wouldn't want them snaking my assignments. It's hard to find a good volume of assignments in my area as it is. Also, I would not want any bad reputation they might get to reflect on me.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?


I am looking for a decent shop fee first and foremost. The free meal or reimbursement at a retail outlet are just really nice bonuses.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

Hmm, I don't have tons of experience with all of them yet, but Second to None and Market Force come to mind as favorites. They seem to have a good number of shops in my area. The shops are easy to complete for both companies, and the reports aren't too difficult either. Most pay a small fee, but when I can get five or more of these shops, it can add up quickly.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be scheduling, required dates, editing procedures, guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many questions here).

Well, I would like to be able to read the entire guidelines before I accept a shop. That way I know exactly what I'm getting into.

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

I prefer to get phone calls or emails.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

I don't mind being bombarded with emails. I created a mystery shopping specific email so it only bombards me when I want it to.

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

No. First of all, it makes remaining anonymous that much harder because all of my friends can see who I like or follow. Second of all, the MSC is usually a national company. What are the odds they shoot off an update that I could even find useful? I would rather just get the email than get excited about an amazing sounding shop being offered only to click the link and find out its 2,420 miles away from me.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

My immediately family over the age of 18 knows. Mainly because they need to be aware in case they hear me refer to myself as a different name.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?

No, but I really should. If MSCs offered better incentives I would. The ones that offer no incentives I wouldn't consider referring people to. Maybe its selfish, but if I am going to help you, a small token of appreciation wouldn't kill ya.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

All of the above, depending on the specific day. Sometimes I do a shop because it is for a place I wanted to try but never got around to it (usually restaurants), others I do because they just sound fun or the reimbursement makes it free or nearly free. And I will always do a shop if the pay is good. Well, except for some audits. Audits are very time consuming and generally not worth the time to me.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

The employees make a big difference. When we have good rapport I will sometimes do them a solid by taking a shop out of my way when they call because of said rapport.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be scheduling, required dates, editing procedures, guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many questions here).

Picky editors. And schedulers that don't communicate well.

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?

Like the most: Schedulers who are willing to work with me. If I am going fifty miles away on Thursday but the last day for a nice shop is Wednesday I appreciate the scheduler that will extend it out. And n the future they are usually the ones I will go out of my way for when they are in a bind.


10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

Quick editors that get straight to the point is what I like the most. What I dislike the most are the ones who mark me down a full point because I forgot an apostrophe.

Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE specific questions that I’d like to ask as well.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see the format changed at all? If so, how?

I really like CI, but some retail shop directions aren't always clear. And some of the requirements are tedious. Pay is usually nice though.

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop? Would you like to see more information, less information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you actually read it all, etc.?

I prefer just a reminder email with a link to a document with the shop instructions on it.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?

Its annoying but seems pretty standard. I would rather it just refresh and auto save for us. Yahoo email and Gmail do it so its more than doable.

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.

Please forgive my caps here, but I want to make sure this is received: DO NOT CALL FROM PRIVATE NUMBERS!!!!!!! I don't answer them and rarely check a voice mail from them. Email is nice, but sometimes I don't check my email because I am taking a few days off for my family. No matter what my wife and kids are my priority. Not an email about a shop that pays me seven bucks. That being said, I understand the time sensitivity of the situation, but often I get the feeling the scheduler doesn't understand our side that family comes first.

15) When something urgent comes up and you need to contact someone, is there any method of communication we do not offer that you’d like to see available?

Haven't had an issue so never looked into it with CI, but an 800 number that is for emergency issues only would be helpful. Kt would be really great if its answered or at least checked every hour or so.

16) What do you think of our report scoring system? Are there any changes you would like to see made to that system?

Seems fair. No major complaints. I have only received 9s and 10s though so I'm happy with that.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?

I am a big proponent of feedback and always appreciate it. The more the better. I want to improve always.

18) Is there anything you wish you had known when you were first starting out as a mystery shopper that a company did not tell you? If so, what?

The reports are more tedious then they let on.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month from our company higlighting any new additions, new shops/clients, changes to our system/improvements, and general news including links to our weekly blogs?

Yes, I would like to know of new clients.

dprice, is CI paying for your Market Research? If yes, great! If not, why??

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

Email. SASSIE needs a way to email shoppers about shops ONLY in their radius to avoid the billions of emails we get buried under like I'm sure you guys do as well.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

See #1

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

It's called secret shopping for a reason, social media is the worst idea ever because you're not secret anymore.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

My family knows, and so do the friends I take to a shop with me but that's it.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?

Referral programs usually have horrible bonus pay that are just downright insulting.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

Just because I'm getting a free meal I don't wanna get paid $0 to do the work of filling out a 1 hour report. It is the monetary value per hour. Also on baseball game shops with all the required stops you have to make you won't even enjoy 1 inning of the game so saying that WATCH A GAME FOR FREE is poppycock because you won't enjoy the game since you're running like a chicken with your head cut off and you're so stressed because if the report doesn't get accepted you are out 200 bucks easy.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

They pay every two weeks like a real job, and they have very short reports.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be scheduling, required dates, editing procedures, guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many questions here).

SASSIE is a horrible system when it comes to scheduling, if there's a date range when I can shop why do I have to pick a certain date. The whole point of mystery shopping is so it's a surprise unless there's multiple shoppers being assigned which shouldn't be the case. Also, how about letting us reschedule the visits within the approved date range so we don't have to bury you guys with more emails.

Also if you want my report in 12 hours after the visit why does it take days for an editor to finally get to the report or for a scheduler to finally assign a shop or answer an email.

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?

See #8. Again its NOT the scheduler's fault, it's the fact that all these platforms SM, Prophet, SASSIE, etc etc just need to be fused into one big one which should let you to see ALL the jobs available on ALL mystery shop companies instead of us wasting our time logging into each one individually.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

If the editor's have an option to leave a real suggestion please do and don't just say random stuff.

Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE specific questions that I’d like to ask as well.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see the format changed at all? If so, how?

I swear most guidelines are horrible and companies just reiterate stuff more than once and at random so you're left scratching your head while you read 10 pages on a very easy dining shop. Beyond Hello does an AMAZING job on just summarizing the flow of the visit, it's not that difficult.

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop? Would you like to see more information, less information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you actually read it all, etc.?

See #11. If the guidelines are listed as a flow of visit what more information do I need. Save everyone the time by giving everything up front.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?

SASSIE is horrible at that, they need to automatically save it on the background like Microsoft Office does nowadays.

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.

No, if shoppers weren't getting bombarded with emails for no reason we could probably see them better, and please don't call using private or unknown numbers.

15) When something urgent comes up and you need to contact someone, is there any method of communication we do not offer that you’d like to see available?

Not really

16) What do you think of our report scoring system? Are there any changes you would like to see made to that system?

All mystery shop companies need to create a universal real chart explaining the scores and they need to stick to it.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?

Tell me what I did wrong, in detail

18) Is there anything you wish you had known when you were first starting out as a mystery shopper that a company did not tell you? If so, what?

That the reports would be ridiculously long.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month from our company highlighting any new additions, new shops/clients, changes to our system/improvements, and general news including links to our weekly blogs?

Sure, more emails, why not.

bestofbothworlds Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dprice, is CI paying for your Market Research? If
> yes, great! If not, why??


bestofbothworlds,

I think they are paying for it through the salary they pay me! This is just one of many avenues we are utilizing to always try and provide the best service possible.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2014 03:39PM by dprice.

BBird, I thought you emailed the scheduler and got the fee raised to $90 before you took the assignment.

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

I prefer email. It's easier for me to get back to someone that way.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

I prefer to receive notices of today's open shops in one neat email. I don't like having my inbox flooded with seventeen postings from one company.

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

I don't because I generally don't follow companies.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

I've told two people, but I just don't feel that everyone needs to know.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?

I have referred one person, but she never signed up.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

I mainly look for the pay for the shop. I'm doing this work because I need the extra money. I also look at the time it takes to do a shop vs. the pay. Two hours of my time isn't worth $5. Some of the surveys for low-paying shops are too involved to be bothered with.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

The pay, the number of shops, the type of shops. I also tend to favor companies that have nice schedulers who don't act like I'm the worst person ever if I need to reschedule. I don't care to be shamed by a scheduler when I have a migraine and can't stand up, let alone go do a price audit.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be scheduling, required dates, editing procedures, guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many questions here).

Some of the requirements for shops are ridiculous for the amount of pay offered. I also hate it when schedulers present a shop as "$35 pay" when it's really NO pay and all reimbursement. My time is worth more than a free pizza, for example.

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?

I've worked with some really understanding schedulers when I needed to reschedule a shop. Life happens and some of us have other jobs, so sometimes things need to be moved around. I really like certain companies that let me reschedule shops on my own through the website. With some others, you email or call and it takes two days to get rescheduled.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

Being marked down for minor grammatical errors, such as missing commas. I do enjoy getting specific feedback about my reports.

Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE specific questions that I’d like to ask as well.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see the format changed at all? If so, how?

I don't shop CI.

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop? Would you like to see more information, less information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you actually read it all, etc.?

I don't shop CI, but I'm happy with other Sassie emails.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?

It would be cool if reports could somehow automatically save.

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.

I think shoppers need to be responsible for this.

15) When something urgent comes up and you need to contact someone, is there any method of communication we do not offer that you’d like to see available?

I don't shop CI, so I wouldn't know. However, there is one company that has a "shop emergency" text number. I've used that before and it's nice.

16) What do you think of our report scoring system? Are there any changes you would like to see made to that system?

I don't shop CI.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?

I don't shop CI.

18) Is there anything you wish you had known when you were first starting out as a mystery shopper that a company did not tell you? If so, what?

No, I feel I was prepared.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month from our company higlighting any new additions, new shops/clients, changes to our system/improvements, and general news including links to our weekly blogs?

n/a

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

ANSWER: I prefer email contact, but I don’t mind other forms of contact.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

ANSWER: I don’t like to receive a dozen emails for the same shop, and I don’t like to receive emails for shops more than whatever range I specify in my profile. CI is fine in that regard. When I get email about shops, I prefer that they tell me up front what and where it is, but some shopping companies email to tell me to log into their site to find out what they have, and then it turns out to be a couple of hundred miles away.

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

ANSWER: I do not use facebook or twitter for shopping.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

ANSWER: Personally, I like food shops, because I like to eat. I will take an occasional retail or service shop if it is someplace I was going to patronize anyway, but I do not shop retail stores or banks or services unless it is something I really want.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

ANSWER: All of the above. Some because of the shops they have available, some because the report is easy, and some few for the pay. I frequently take $10-15 shops for a store I go to often, and I reject $20-25 shops even if I am going to that store the same day, if I’ve done them before and the report is ridiculously complicated for the few dollars.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

ANSWER: I once did a shop and reported word-for-word as required how the greeter greeted me. The editor asked “Did he really say that?” and I responded that he did, and then the editor deducted points because “he had to come back to me with a question.”

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned a shop? Would you like to see more information, less information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you actually read it all, etc.?

ANSWER: I always read the communications after I receive a shop. CI does not clutter me with useless chatter.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?

ANSWER: I appreciate the reminder.

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.

ANSWER: When I get a shop, I write it onto my wall calendar and I also keep the list near my computer so I won’t schedule conflicts. I don’t need a reminder when I have a shop due, but I appreciate that it is helpful to other shoppers, and it does not bother me at all.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?

ANSWER: I try to do the best reports I can, so I am grateful for suggestions and feedback.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month from our company higlighting any new additions, new shops/clients, changes to our system/improvements, and general news including links to our weekly blogs?

ANSWER: Sure. If I don’t like it, I know where the delete button is.

1) Phone contact. I enjoy the personal approach

2) Prefer one email per day, per shop. The exceptions to this is if the shop parameters or payment changes.

3) I dislike facebook for mystery shopping. Something like this could end up causing a shopper to be outed.

4) My family knows and some of my friends. Some of my friends now do assignments.

5) If it is someone outside my shopping area, I will refer them. The only drawback is most companies pay a one-time fee.

6) Money and an enjoyable shop. Money is preferable.

7) The way the schedulers and managers interact with me and treat me.

8) Length of time from shop completion to payment for shops. Petty editors who lower shop ratings without giving an explanation.

9) I dislike receiving 15 emails in a 2 hour window about the same shop.

10) I enjoy receiving critiques and pointers about how I can improve my reports.

I don't understand the complaints about not paying for our responses. If an MSC asks what we'd like them to do to better and differently, and some of the suggestions actually cause changes, it seems to me like we're helping them help us.

Initially I greatly appreciate you seeking input from the shoppers. Every MSC should do that so I applaud you. I am pleased to offer the following and I hope it helps.

1. Rude and very picky editors who complain about something but are not available for the shopper to discuss the editors concerns. Also, the editors who do not give you a report until days and weeks after the shop and expect you to still remember every minute detail, i.e. He said this and I said that. An editor asked me 12 days after the shop to tell him/her exactly what was said, word for word. Give me a break!

2. Schedulers who cannot be contacted when the shopper has a question and do not respond to the message for two or three days or even longer at times.

3. Pay as low as $7, $8, or even $10 when the total time involved is two hours or more because of the distance to travel, the time to do the shop, and the time to do the report. I often feel that many schedulers and even editors have no idea how long some shops take.

4. Long winded survey formats with repeated questions that take lots of time but are totally unnecessary

5.Threats from schedulers that indicate you'll be banned from this world if you don't do this or don't do that. Those threats only anger the shopper and cause him or her to refuse future shops from that company.

I am Rakesh Batra from Delhi-NCR, India. I have recently commenced mystery shopping.

Yes, I agree that posting several emails about job openings is not proper.

Also emails sent out to evry shoper even if He/She is out of the demographic area is also not appreciated. For Example I live in New Delhi, getting email about a shop in Mumbai is not understood.

Never ever share with anyone that you are a mystery shopper. Word spreads.

It looks like all has been said here and maybe this has too. Re: # 10 editors: If you are asking for clarification on a single item or items, please do not insert an additional standardized clause that all "No" answers must be addressed. It causes shoppers to plow through their old reports looking for errors that do not exist. Please remove that clause unless this is an actual problem pertaining to that report.

Hi Daniel,

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

e-Mail or phone. One of either is enough...please to shell me with multiple contacts for the same shop. If I haven't responded, i'm not interested.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

Yes, but only to friends/family that are located out of my territory.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?

Yes, I have referred several over the years. Most referral reimbursements are fee based.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

Pretty much for monetary value, especially the ones that pay by the hour + mileage which is tax free. These are limited, usually direct with the companies, no MSC's. I don't do reimbursement shops, except for my casino runs that reimburse for the hotel room & meals. Why do reimbursement shops that usually have a 45-60 day payment window? Plus considering my fuel cost I'm going to lose money in most cases. I don't get in my car for less than a $20 fee.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?

Types of preferred shops: Grocery stores, major dept. store chains and of course, the pay!

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?

The ones that respond quickly.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

The ones that focus on the big picture and aren't gramatically challenged. I don't like the nit pickers...if they tell me I scored an 8 it should be for something that matters or that I overlooked, not because I left out the employees height or weight.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see the format changed at all? If so, how?

Most MSC's guidelines are pretty clear.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?

I don't have any reports that take 30 minutes or more to complete, If I run into a MSC that does, I'd drop them immediately.

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.

If I don't respond to a request for clarification or additional information, I don't deserve to get paid.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?

Both.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2014 08:24AM by snarf47.

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there any types of contact you absolutely don’t like at all?

I prefer email, text and phone in that order. Texting and phone calls should only be done if a shop is urgent. I'm not always in a position to answer my phone so a text is best if you absolutely must get a hold of me.

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how many emails we send out so as to not bombard the shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels that way.

I feel one email per shop is enough, and another email if anything about the shop changes (extended deadline, bonus, new location opens up)

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If not, why not?

No, because it's invasive and I don't use facebook much anyway. I don't need people to know I'm mystery shopping, and I don't need your company to know more about my personal life than I gave you when signing up.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

Close friends and family, yes, because I often take them to mystery shop dinners and the like, and they need to know that I'm working while there and to let me lead the discussions (I've had too many shops invalidated because my guest ordered the wrong thing and then I ended up not getting paid). Otherwise, I don't think it's really relevant to the discussion so people in my extended circle do not know, not because I'm embarrassed, but simply because it doesn't often come up.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers? Do you take advantage of referral programs that offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who complete shops? Why/Why not?

Occasionally I have, mostly when I brag about getting high-end dinner or hotel stayovers and people express jealousy. I don't think I've ever used a referral program, though.

6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking for purely a monetary value, or are you looking for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a retail outlet, you like, etc?

I don't see mystery shopping as a primary or even secondary income. I will go out of my way to do a mystery shop, even if it doesn't give me more than the reimbursement if I would enjoy doing it- a free movie, a nice restaurant, a nice hotel stay, etc. I guess I'm a "lifestyle" shopper in that regard. Aside from that, I will take on some mystery shops I may not enjoy if they pay well and I will be in the area: I will not, say, travel to another state to go to a mall to evaluate some store I'd never be in and make a tiny purchase for seven bucks or so, but if I'm in the area and will have time to kill I might pop in and do the shop for some walkin' around money. Because of mystery shopping I've really got into the habit of never wanting to pay for my own food when I'm out and about, so I start trying to book a restaurant mystery shop if I know I'll be in the area ahead of time.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of shops they have available to you? The company/employees themselves? The pay?
Some people complain about them, but I really like Coyle. Their editors can be a bit strict and the reports long, but I really enjoy the restaurants and hotels they give me. As someone who works in publishing and who recently graduated college with an English degree, I have no problem writing long narratives as long as I book myself enough time.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be scheduling, required dates, editing procedures, guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many questions here).
I really resent when MSCs ask me to do something that I feel a normal customer would not do. I hate taking pictures because I look like an idiot and I'm worried about being caught. I hate when I need to go get a manager's name when dining, because that's not something I feel a customer would do unless they have a complaint. I hate when I absolutely must get someone's name from a name tag, and if the name tag's font is small or they're not wearing it, I need to do something stupid like make up an excuse to ask their name. And above all else: MSCs need to understand that not everyone has a car. I'm a New Yorker. I do my mystery shops in New York city, and via public transportation. I am not going to go over the river to New Jersey and pay a massive $13 toll just because you desperately need someone to go eat at a frozen yogurt shop in Fort Lee or something.

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?
Schedulers really need to be able to get back to questions about shops fast, especially when the shop is being performed or near deadline. As a mystery shopper, I'm expected to be "on call" whenever you guys need me to clarify something or you'll bug me on the weekend to do a shop, but it's very hypocritical of you to only be available for contact 9-5 monday-friday. Some schedulers are good about this and will give me their skype or cell-phone numbers, but most of the time schedulers think their off-time is more important than mine.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?
I hate when editors ask me questions about something I put in the narrative, but in another area- you don't need to email me to restate it. I also hate how they often ask me to state the obvious- like if I say "I was greeted with a smile and eye contact" and don't include what they said: that's because they didn't say jack diddly and I didn't put it there.

I work as an editor at a publishing company, and if I needed my authors to restate everything I'd never get my work done. Use a bit of critical reasoning and don't bug me unless something is glaringly missing.

Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE specific questions that I’d like to ask as well.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see the format changed at all? If so, how?

It depends on the shop, really. I haven't done many shops for CI so I can't exactly make a statement one way or the other, though I do think one thing that's important is that in the guidelines you should explain exactly what the client is looking for when they have a location mystery shopped. If a client is primarily concerned with whether or not, say, all guests under 25 are asked for their IDs, let us know that so we don't freak out if we didn't end up getting the name of the person who greeted us at the host podium or something.

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop? Would you like to see more information, less information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you actually read it all, etc.?
All of the pertinent information for the shop should be included in the email: reimbursement amount, time and date, major objectives, even some of the most important questions that need answered, verbatim. It's two clicks on my phone to get to an email for a shop I'm doing, but it's a lot more for me to load up the SASSIE page and the guidelines and I don't always have the luxury of time to check them.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is there a way other MSC’s do this that is more efficient?
Is there any way to have SASSIE just leave us alone? Does it have to log us out after 30 minutes? Can that be disabled?

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized? Sometimes, a shopper will not respond to our questions regarding pending shops until it is too late for the client.
You need to communicate with us not only the deadline for the shop, but the deadline for submission to the client. If I've submitted my shop and I don't hear from you within a few days, I'll probably assume it's good and dandy and not pay attention to it anymore, and won't be on the lookout for emails from editors. If I knew that, say, the shop was due on the 12th for us as a MSC and due for you on the 17th for the client, I will be more vigilant until the 17th.

15) When something urgent comes up and you need to contact someone, is there any method of communication we do not offer that you’d like to see available?
If the company has the money, they really should give editors work phones that can receive text messages so that we can get in contact with them if something urgent comes up.

16) What do you think of our report scoring system? Are there any changes you would like to see made to that system?
I can't really comment to that. I don't think I've ever had a bad score with CI, though in general if I ever got a bad score or even less than 10/10 I'd like to see a breakdown as to why things were decreased.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report/ Do you think they are too detailed? Not detailed enough?
Depends on whether or not a score was perfect or not. If I got a perfect score I don't need my ego fluffed, so you can keep it short. If I got something wrong, you should not only tell me but also how to improve it for the next shop.

18) Is there anything you wish you had known when you were first starting out as a mystery shopper that a company did not tell you? If so, what?
Nothing is coming to mind at the moment.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month from our company higlighting any new additions, new shops/clients, changes to our system/improvements, and general news including links to our weekly blogs?
That would be a great idea.

> 8) What things about mystery shopping companies
> annoy/frustrate you the most? Whether it be
> scheduling, required dates, editing procedures,
> guidelines, etc. (I hope I can help answer many
> questions here).

I want a 24/7 Live Help Desk where my questions and concerns will be answered. If I reach out for help, don't cancel my shop and ignore my emails and phone messages.

Hi Daniel,

How nice of you to be interested in us shoppers and our opinions. I have always found you more than competent and a pleasure to work with, so it doesn't surprise me that you're here trying to find ways to have even better relationships with us. I pretty much have similar answers to the questions you asked except for a few:

I like the 30 minute pop up. It keeps me on track as I try to "beat the clock." When I'm on my 4th 30 min segment, I know I have been running to the fridge too often. I like restaurant shops. My hubby and I go on date nights once a week, so if I don't have a dinner shop, then we have to pay out of pocket. Unless a non-restaurant shop is highly bonused, I find that dining shops are more profitable in general. I noticed most shoppers get annoyed by repetitive requests from schedulers. It doesn't bother me too much. It just takes half a second to delete it. It's not worth my time and energy to get mad about it. I don't like having to study for and take an exam for an assignment where none of the details/pay is revealed prior to the test.

Thanks, Daniel! BTW, you guys have fair and polite editors and ask fair, non-repetitive questions.

dprice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello to all of the great mystery shoppers who
> frequent this board. My name is Daniel Price.
> I’m currently a Scheduler and Special Projects
> Manager with Customer Impact.
[...]
> I’ll start by just listing some questions. You
> don’t have to answer them all, but any and all
> feedback is appreciated.
[...]

I'll play along.

> 1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs
> in your area? Phone, email, text, etc? Are there
> any types of contact you absolutely don’t like
> at all?

I prefer email, but if the shop is bonused I don't mind phone or text.

One thing I hate is any contact about "urgent" shops that either aren't bonused, or the bonus is a joke (bonused $1 or $2 on a $10 shop fee for example). CI has never done this that I remember, but many other MSCs have.

> 2) How much is too much in regards to emails,
> calls, etc? At CI, we try to keep a limit on how
> many emails we send out so as to not bombard the
> shopper, but we realize sometimes it still feels
> that way.

About one email every hour regarding the same shop is the guideline I'd use. The exception being if the bonus has gone up in which case it's okay to email again 15 minutes or so later.

> 3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter
> accounts, and do you follow them? If so, why? If
> not, why not?

I do like/follow some of them. Being in a big city I have this luxury, but I can understand how small town shoppers would consider this a potential compromise of their identity.

> 4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you
> are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

Most of my friends know. My family knows, especially the members that accompany me on shops.

> 5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers?
> Do you take advantage of referral programs that
> offer bonus pay for referring shoppers who
> complete shops? Why/Why not?

So far, no takers on referrals. Believe me, I could use the money...

> 6) What do you look for in shops? Are you looking
> for purely a monetary value, or are you looking
> for the value of a nice meal, reimbursement at a
> retail outlet, you like, etc?

The lower the shopper fee, the nicer the reimbursed item/meal/etc has to be for me to want the shop. As an example, right now I'm getting bombarded with pizza shops for a well-known "discount" carryout pizza shop, being bonused to semi-ridiculous levels. I'm still not taking them because I am just not in the mood for their pizza this week.

> 7) When you think of your favorite Mystery
> shopping company, what comes to mind? The type of
> shops they have available to you? The
> company/employees themselves? The pay?

The pay and the reporting platform. I have grown to like Sassie, have gotten used to Prophet's quirks, and have figured out some of the rather oddball platforms out there. For a while, I grew to hate the platform of a certain gargantuan MSC and took no shops from them.

> 9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling
> process do you like or dislike the most?

Applying for a shop and having no clue why I'm being rejected. I know schedulers can't explain it to everyone but it's frustrating to sit there with 9 or 10 rating and get rejected on prime assignments.

> 10) What things about editors and the editing
> process do you like or dislike the most?

Having to write supporting narrative for N/A answers (yeah, "that client". On no answers, I totally get why a client would want them addressed in the narrative, but the reason for an N/A answer is almost always blindingly obvious.

> Here are some CI Specific questions and/or SASSIE
> specific questions that I’d like to ask as
> well.
>
> 11) Are there any ways we can improve the
> guidelines for our shops? Would you like to see
> the format changed at all? If so, how?

Proofread your guidelines, make sure the client name is changed everywhere when guidelines are copied and pasted. If you have a standard guideline like "only refer to 'partner', 'companion', etc" make sure all the guidelines have this on them.

> 12) What do you think about the email you receive
> from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop?
> Would you like to see more information, less
> information, is it too busy/cluttered? Do you
> actually read it all, etc.?

I try to read it all.

> 13) What do you think about the reminder to save
> your report that pops up every 30 minutes? Is
> there a way other MSC’s do this that is more
> efficient?

Sassie needs a button to just save the report and immediately load it back in. One of the one-off platforms emails copies of the incomplete questionnaires every time I save, which is a nice touch.

> 15) When something urgent comes up and you need to
> contact someone, is there any method of
> communication we do not offer that you’d like to
> see available?

I'd like the ability to text a quick "unable to complete this shop due to (insert reason here), will explain in email later."

> 16) What do you think of our report scoring
> system? Are there any changes you would like to
> see made to that system?

It's one of the better ones, more transparent than that of certain other MSCs.

> 17) What do you think of the email feedback that
> you receive from the editors once they have looked
> over your report/ Do you think they are too
> detailed? Not detailed enough?

Sometimes they are not detailed enough. I was told I missed "a couple of N/A answers" in my narrative without being told which ones they were. (Yeah, same shop for "that client."

1) What type of contact do you prefer about jobs in your area?

email for non-urgent, text or calls for urgent

2) How much is too much in regards to emails, calls, etc?

No more than 1 email per day. And we HATE the ones that just say, "We have new shops in your area."

3) Do you like company facebook pages or twitter accounts, and do you follow them?

No, they're silly and superfluous.

4) Do you make it known to friends/family that you are a mystery shopper? Why/Why not?

Family and close friends only.

5) Do you refer people to become mystery shoppers?

No. They never follow through, and they would cut into my territory. I have a couple of shopper friends that like shops I don't- sometimes I tell them about shops they'd like.

6) What do you look for in shops?

I do a fair amount of reimbursement only (or mostly) but I've noticed a disturbing trend where the reimbursement doesn't even cover what I am required to purchase, let alone a 15% tip. I may get roped into these once, but never again, and we tell other shoppers. Pay commensurate with the work involved.

7) When you think of your favorite Mystery shopping company, what comes to mind?

I like shops that I would patronize anyway, with clear, straightforward instructions. Also, the midnight reporting requirement on dinner shops with alcohol should be extended. If I say something once or twice in a report, that's fine, but some reports make you say it 5 times. It's ridiculous what kind of reports some MS co's want for $10.

8) What things about mystery shopping companies annoy/frustrate you the most?

When you can't ever reach a human being. Conflicting, misspelled, punitively worded and grammatically incorrect instructions.

9) What things about schedulers or the scheduling process do you like or dislike the most?

We all hate having to wait for a shop to be assigned, and it sitting there until the deadline. Once you've done a certain # of shops for a company, you should be able to self-schedule most shops.

10) What things about editors and the editing process do you like or dislike the most?

Hipocrisy-All their instructions and e-mails appear to be written by someone for whom English is a second language; but your reports must be beyond perfection- with crazy rules about what must be capitalized, etc.

11) Are there any ways we can improve the guidelines for our shops?

Most of the guidelines I remember for your company have been reasonably good.

12) What do you think about the email you receive from the scheduler once you are assigned as hop?

I really read it all, so unnecessary info should be expunged.

13) What do you think about the reminder to save your report that pops up every 30 minutes?

Autosave

14) Is there something we can do to remind shoppers to keep an eye on their email/voicemail when their shop is completed but not yet finalized?

Most good shoppers already do this. There should be a notice after submission that you may need to contact, and that the shopper needs to watch for contact.

15) When something urgent comes up and you need to contact someone, is there any method of communication we do not offer that you’d like to see available? No

16) What do you think of our report scoring system? Are there any changes you would like to see made to that system?

I really don't care about my scores as they have been good, as long as I get paid and get new assignments.

17) What do you think of the email feedback that you receive from the editors once they have looked over your report?

It's fine, but usually too vague to be helpful.

18) Is there anything you wish you had known when you were first starting out as a mystery shopper that a company did not tell you? If so, what? No, you just have to have experience.

19) If you are registered with CI, would you be interested in a shopper newsletter that is sent via email once a month

Maybe