Client using MSC for testing their product?

I do a lot of beta testing and testing of new products to the market through various companies that only do product testing. I got an email today from a MSC saying to go buy a product from one of two locations. All you have to do is upload your receipt, use it for 30 days, then provide feedback in only 4 questions about it. This is not a mystery shop. It's a product test. Anyone else find this weird or strange?

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Name of MSC?

I've done these through IPSOS and they've paid, and reimbursed.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

NSS. I just find it strange I guess. I've never seen something like this through an MSC.

I've never seen one like that from NSS, but I'd welcome a change like that. Just curious, are they store brand products, or products sold exclusively at that location. The client may be trying to kill two birds with one stone.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

I don't find it weird at all. There are so many different avenues for an independent contractors. With mystery shopping being one of the larger industries relying on ICs, the companies have large pools from which to draw reliable testers. Think about the variety of assignments we all do now, from merchandising to video shops, product retrievals to exit interviews and overt audits.

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

I originally took that assignment from nss but had to cancel it. Went to the location and The cost of the product was well over the $30 reimbursement.

BBird0701 Wrote:
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> I've never seen one like that from NSS, but I'd
> welcome a change like that. Just curious, are they
> store brand products, or products sold exclusively
> at that location. The client may be trying to kill
> two birds with one stone.

No. They aren't. You can choose between two completely different stores to purchase the product. I think the product company is trying to get their name out there as there is virtually 0 info when you google them.

Bellusion Wrote:
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> I originally took that assignment from nss but had
> to cancel it. Went to the location and The cost of
> the product was well over the $30 reimbursement.

You must have gotten assigned the expensive store. The total for that store is close to $57! Ridiculous for a $30 reimbursement The less expensive one totals $31.97 based on their website if you aren't able to purchase what they want you to purchase. No idea how much that costs though.

It was going to cost $48, the store didn't have the first choice they wanted you to buy. If it was something I would've bought anyway, sure.. but it's not something I would normally buy. I do this to make money (and/or get free stuff), not spend it.. haha. Too bad, was looking forward to a different kind of report.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2014 06:56PM by Bellusion.

I just looked up and signed up for this assignment.

My guidelines state that the shop reimburses $30 if the item is purchased at one location, and $60 if it is purchased at the other.

meaggiej Wrote:
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> Bellusion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I originally took that assignment from nss but
> had
> > to cancel it. Went to the location and The cost
> of
> > the product was well over the $30
> reimbursement.
>
>
> You must have gotten assigned the expensive store.
> The total for that store is close to $57!
> Ridiculous for a $30 reimbursement The less
> expensive one totals $31.97 based on their website
> if you aren't able to purchase what they want you
> to purchase. No idea how much that costs though.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

Yea, I had the one for $30... but the store didn't have the first choice, so had to do the alternative purchases and it would've been $48.

Thanks for the update. I looked at that one last night and it was still $30. Like others, the price check I did told me I would need to spend around $60. Now, less than a day later the reimbursement has gone up and the job near me is gone! Maybe next month!!! I guess I should have called the msc to complain and been the first to know they were raising the reimbursement. There were several other locations already taken at what I assume was $30 so I just assumed some people wanted a 50% discount on the product with a committment to an unknown amount of feedback required.

You can check the prices online. The $30 does not cover it.

I once did a shop for an MSC, for which I had to visit Target six times over a 12 week period and purchase four bottles of two shampoo varieties (2 bottles of each) per visit. I had to give feedback the first time I used each type, but not much. It was done on behalf of a marketing company, and I figured they were trying to establish a sales trend with Target to ensure continued shelf space. Over the 12 weeks, I collected over 20 bottles of shampoo and am still using it, more than a year later.

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The harder I work, the luckier I get.

I have stood at an intersection in a small city counting people wearing seat belts and the number of cars. I will not be surprised at any assignment I come across on a mystery shop job board. LOL

prince Wrote:
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> I have stood at an intersection in a small city
> counting people wearing seat belts and the number
> of cars. I will not be surprised at any
> assignment I come across on a mystery shop job
> board. LOL

Yep. I've donated plasma, given a urine sample, taken pictures of each and every evidence of dog poop in a pet store parking lot, and stated that I was not wearing any underwear but would still like to try on bathing suits.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

I'm doing this one tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what I find when I get to the store.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Did they let you try on bathing suits. LOL

KathyG Wrote:
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> I'm doing this one tomorrow. It will be
> interesting to see what I find when I get to the
> store.

That was me, and yes they did. They gave me this gigantic pantiliner and told me to have at it.

prince Wrote:
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> Did they let you try on bathing suits. LOL
>
> KathyG Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm doing this one tomorrow. It will be
> > interesting to see what I find when I get to
> the
> > store.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

Oh, I don't know if I want to do that one. LOL

BBird0701 Wrote:
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> That was me, and yes they did. They gave me this
> gigantic pantiliner and told me to have at it.
>
> prince Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Did they let you try on bathing suits. LOL
> >
> > KathyG Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I'm doing this one tomorrow. It will be
> > > interesting to see what I find when I get to
> > the
> > > store.

prince Wrote:
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> Oh, I don't know if I want to do that one. LOL
>

It was awhile ago, maybe six years if I remember correctly, and it was a targeted shop for that employee. I don't know why that was the scenario I was given, and I was a little afraid to even guess.

I do remember the phone call I got for it. "So, um, hey, this one's a little...different, but if you're interested, it pays well because of the nature of the assignment." She actually confirmed with me three times that yes, I understood the scenario and was okay performing it.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

JenW Wrote:
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> I once did a shop for an MSC, for which I had to
> visit Target six times over a 12 week period and
> purchase four bottles of two shampoo varieties (2
> bottles of each) per visit. I had to give
> feedback the first time I used each type, but not
> much. It was done on behalf of a marketing
> company, and I figured they were trying to
> establish a sales trend with Target to ensure
> continued shelf space. Over the 12 weeks, I
> collected over 20 bottles of shampoo and am still
> using it, more than a year later.

I did that project also and still have 6 bottles left! I took pictures of the shelf and reported the price.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

I just did the NSS cheaper store tonight and the total bill was $30.28.

I did 2 today and had to buy 3 different products (no gift pack). It came to $34.21 with taxes.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

Lucky you. I went to my target store this afternoon and found out the same thing that others had mentioned...the cost of the three items was more than the reimbursement amount. I took pictures of the price shelf tags and attached them to the original MSC email confirming my job

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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