needed proof of visit.
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While that works for many stores some specifically state no gift card purchases.
That is one reason why geoverify app for your phone is pretty nice. I usually ask if I can take a picture to send my wife.
Always good to check that part of the guidelines. I've found if the MSC isn't reimbursing they don't place restrictions on the purchase, nor should they. One of my favorite uses of the gift card trick was during an office supply store shop that didn't offer a reimbursement. No restrictions on the purchase and the MSC would even accept a return since it was all about a date/time stamped receipt. I was able to purchase a gift card for Lowe's. Guess where I was shopping next
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 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 have never had a shop where you could buy a gift card as your purchase....
I almost always buy a $10 gift card with the $9 reimbursement for Modell's. I have $150 worth of them now for gifts. Never had a problem with that as my purchase.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I buy gift cards at Best Buy all the time. They will let you buy it for any amount and there is no service charge. I sometimes buy one for $0.56 and if they wonder at the amount, I tell them it is a gag gioft for a 56 year old's birthday party. They think that is funny. Or I buy one in January for $1.18 and tell them my son was born on January 18th and I think it is a funny gift, and hope he will also.
I did one shop were I needed a POV, and made a small purchase because business cards were not available, and was not paid because buried in the instructions was a requirement to NOT make a purchase, nor take any photos. I never got an answer as to what was acceptable other than a business card since they had also excluded hand-written names and phone numbers on brochures or circulars.
Be careful when buying gift cards anywhere. Some have upfront service fees, and in most states, the value on them begins to expire after a year.
I did one shop were I needed a POV, and made a small purchase because business cards were not available, and was not paid because buried in the instructions was a requirement to NOT make a purchase, nor take any photos. I never got an answer as to what was acceptable other than a business card since they had also excluded hand-written names and phone numbers on brochures or circulars.
Be careful when buying gift cards anywhere. Some have upfront service fees, and in most states, the value on them begins to expire after a year.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I always put 5.00 on the Best Buy refillable card. The 1.00 reimbursement means a 20% discount. If you do enough of them, it adds up nicely. The MS I do these with states in the guidelines that gift cards are accepted as proof of purchase as long as you have a receipt. it's a win-win.
Put $2 on the Best Buy card. That gives you a 50% discount. I agree, it adds up over time.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
This is great info. It definitely could add up. Probably would need another spreadsheet to keep track. LOL
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
I saw an assignment today for some kind of warehouse that required a gift card purchase. It was out of my area so I didn't pay anymore attention to it.
There are probably as many ways to do mystery shopping as there are shops.
There are probably as many ways to do mystery shopping as there are shops.
Yesterday morning my printer died. Just so happened that I had 7 assignments yesterday at Best Buys, so I bought gift cards at the first 6 then used them to buy my new printer at the last one.
I take a photo of the location whether they ask for it or not and send that to the scheduler. Especially for shop that don't go as expected.
chigirl777 Wrote:
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> Yesterday morning my printer died. Just so
> happened that I had 7 assignments yesterday at
> Best Buys, so I bought gift cards at the first 6
> then used them to buy my new printer at the last
> one.
Not sure who your MSC was, but that doesn't always work. Similar to you,I had five BB's scheduled for one day. I bought gift cards at the first four, then using them at the fifth, I bought some ink.
Next thing I know, I get a warning saying that is not allowed unless the MSC also provides the gift cards. Turns out that really is in their Guidelines that you agree to when you sign up: "Any coupons, groupons or anything of that nature, gift certificates or discount offer not issued by [MSC] cannot be used to pay for shop purchases."
Note this isn't in the dispatch notice. So if you didn't read the entire set of Guidelines when you signed up, or if the Guidelines have changed since signed up, you wouldn't know about this obscure rule.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yesterday morning my printer died. Just so
> happened that I had 7 assignments yesterday at
> Best Buys, so I bought gift cards at the first 6
> then used them to buy my new printer at the last
> one.
Not sure who your MSC was, but that doesn't always work. Similar to you,I had five BB's scheduled for one day. I bought gift cards at the first four, then using them at the fifth, I bought some ink.
Next thing I know, I get a warning saying that is not allowed unless the MSC also provides the gift cards. Turns out that really is in their Guidelines that you agree to when you sign up: "Any coupons, groupons or anything of that nature, gift certificates or discount offer not issued by [MSC] cannot be used to pay for shop purchases."
Note this isn't in the dispatch notice. So if you didn't read the entire set of Guidelines when you signed up, or if the Guidelines have changed since signed up, you wouldn't know about this obscure rule.
chigirl777 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yesterday morning my printer died. Just so
> happened that I had 7 assignments yesterday at
> Best Buys, so I bought gift cards at the first 6
> then used them to buy my new printer at the last
> one.
Not sure who your MSC was, but that doesn't always work. Similar to you,I had five BB's scheduled for one day. I bought gift cards at the first four, then using them at the fifth, I bought some ink.
Next thing I know, I get a warning saying that is not allowed unless the MSC also provides the gift cards. Turns out that really is in their Guidelines that you agree to when you sign up: "Any coupons, groupons or anything of that nature, gift certificates or discount offer not issued by MSC cannot be used to pay for shop purchases."
Note this isn't in the dispatch notice. So if you didn't read the entire set of Guidelines when you signed up, or if the Guidelines have changed since signed up, you wouldn't know about this obscure rule.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yesterday morning my printer died. Just so
> happened that I had 7 assignments yesterday at
> Best Buys, so I bought gift cards at the first 6
> then used them to buy my new printer at the last
> one.
Not sure who your MSC was, but that doesn't always work. Similar to you,I had five BB's scheduled for one day. I bought gift cards at the first four, then using them at the fifth, I bought some ink.
Next thing I know, I get a warning saying that is not allowed unless the MSC also provides the gift cards. Turns out that really is in their Guidelines that you agree to when you sign up: "Any coupons, groupons or anything of that nature, gift certificates or discount offer not issued by MSC cannot be used to pay for shop purchases."
Note this isn't in the dispatch notice. So if you didn't read the entire set of Guidelines when you signed up, or if the Guidelines have changed since signed up, you wouldn't know about this obscure rule.
This MSC does not specify what to purchase; in fact it can be a return receipt as well. Furthermore Best Buy is not the client, it is a brand being sold within Best Buy, so they don't really what you purchase or return, it's merely to have something that shows the time, date, and address of the store.
For that specific shop gift card would work. But for others it will not.
chigirl777 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This MSC does not specify what to purchase; in
> fact it can be a return receipt as well.
> Furthermore Best Buy is not the client, it is a
> brand being sold within Best Buy, so they don't
> really what you purchase or return, it's merely to
> have something that shows the time, date, and
> address of the store.
chigirl777 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This MSC does not specify what to purchase; in
> fact it can be a return receipt as well.
> Furthermore Best Buy is not the client, it is a
> brand being sold within Best Buy, so they don't
> really what you purchase or return, it's merely to
> have something that shows the time, date, and
> address of the store.
myst4au Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I buy gift cards at Best Buy all the time. They
> will let you buy it for any amount and there is no
> service charge. I sometimes buy one for $0.56 and
> if they wonder at the amount, I tell them it is a
> gag gioft for a 56 year old's birthday party.
Yeah, this is another thing that depends on the MSC. No doubt your MSC is okay with it or you would have been called out, but that is not always the case.
E.g., I am doing two BB's this afternoon. Here's what their dispatch form says: "If you choose to purchase a gift card, you must put at least $5 on it."
So it's always worth checking.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I buy gift cards at Best Buy all the time. They
> will let you buy it for any amount and there is no
> service charge. I sometimes buy one for $0.56 and
> if they wonder at the amount, I tell them it is a
> gag gioft for a 56 year old's birthday party.
Yeah, this is another thing that depends on the MSC. No doubt your MSC is okay with it or you would have been called out, but that is not always the case.
E.g., I am doing two BB's this afternoon. Here's what their dispatch form says: "If you choose to purchase a gift card, you must put at least $5 on it."
So it's always worth checking.
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