I've only been doing this for about a year, and I'm not even Gold certified yet, so I don't know all of the ins and outs. Generally, my practice when applying to shop for a new MSC has been to cite things like number of shops I've completed, in which industries I've shopped, how many shops I perform and am willing to perform per month, et cetera. When I get to the parts where they ask me with which other companies I've worked, if any, I list a number but do not specifically name names. I have never been turned down on even one application, so I guess that this works fairly well, but I am just wondering if I am being smart or paranoid.

I always answer the "other companies" inquiry by saying "Alphabet Soup A-Z". We're independent contractors and it's really no one's business who we're working for as long as we aren't loose lipped about it.

I say something like "too many other companies to name, can provide references on request." I have shopped for at least 20 different companies if I remember right, and that's way too many to try to cram into every application (plus, Company A usually does not need to know if I've shopped for Company B, maybe if one is being purchased by the other but then again they should be able to see where they have SSN/name collisions when combining databases).

I have listed the scheduling companies. This shows them that I am connected with many companies without naming them. Then I list all the job types that I will do.

I applied for a pretty desirable shop last month, and didn't expect to get it since I'd never done anything for that company before. They had absolutely no idea who I was. A couple of weeks later the scheduler emailed me asking who I had shopped for before. I replied with a good-sized email listing all the MSCs and types of jobs, and expounded on why I was a good choice for that particular job. Five minutes later she emailed me back saying that I had the assignment--it was too fast for her to check with other MSCs unless she had some of their schedulers on speed-dial or was already used to texting with them.
I'd also like to think that maybe the reason she emailed me in the first place was because I am Gold-certified, and that helped me get my foot in the door; but that's a topic for another thread.
I guess my point is that I don't think it hurts to disclose the MSCs you've worked with. I do list them on the new applications that I fill out.

If they ask me to list a few companies I just list the big ones. I figure they are welcome to get my rating from them, if that's what they want. I'm pretty sure my ratings are high across the board.

I've never listed them. I just don't believe it's relevant. I freely admit to shopping other companies and freely say the type of jobs I've done and that kind of thing, but I won't name names.

you can tell a scheduler that you work for other MSC's but never mention who. I have registered with more than 50 over the past 10 years. In any given year probably do work for about 15.

I was thinking that it gives them an idea of your experience. When you fill out that application, they know pretty much nothing about you except your name, address, and education. They have no idea if you have ever shopped before. By listing some companies, it shows you have some knowledge of mystery shopping. And they may be able to tell from the companies you name if you have some qualities they may need, like narrative experience, for example. I list the ones I have done the most shops for.

Roxie, it depends on the MSC. Most of the companies with which I've registered have long applications which also ask about industries shopped, types of shops performed, MSPA certification, and any other past experience as a shopper. I also know a few things about computer security and hacking, as I have a brother and three friends who are programmers, and let's just say that you typically don't want to have too much information connecting one account to another.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2015 01:08AM by OceanGirl.

I agree with Roxie, though. There's got to be a reason that MSC's always ask who you've shopped with: they want to have an idea about how much experience you have. It could be important if they mostly do a certain type of business and you've demonstrated proficiency with another MSC that handles that same type of client. If you can unroll a list of thirty other companies, it shows you're confident enough in your reputation that they can feel free to pick up the phone and ask about you. I feel like that's better business than responding with "I ain't gonna say."

Maybe, but working with a certain company or x number of companies doesn't necessarily mean it's going to give a really good idea of how your experience would fit in. Most MSCs shop multiple types of businesses and have multiple types of projects. Also, I never just say, "I ain't gonna say." I try to keep it as respectful as possible by stating that I am bound by confidentiality agreements and do not feel comfortable sharing that information at this time. I'm starting to get the impression that maybe I shouldn't be as concerned as I am about MSCs contacting each other to find out I'm registered with them, but on the other hand, some of the contract wording places really strong limits on what you can tell other companies, if anything. Some of the MSCs apparently require authorization before you can share with other MSCs that you are registered with them, and others might outright forbid it. My two favorites both have 'please ask us first' philosophies.

This is true. I'm glad you started this thread because I've been wondering about the topic. Looking forward to more wisdom from the old-timers and schedulers on the forum.

I think that it's simply part of the platform's registration template and that most companies don't review it all that closely, if at all.

When I was new, I said I done work for every company I had ever heard of. Now I just rattle off the first few that come to mind as the closest competitors to my target. I agree that nobody is reading it in most cases. They don't even check to see if you are a real person.

I think Roxie has the right idea when she says, "I was thinking that it gives them an idea of your experience. When you fill out that application," Name throwing can and does work. For example, if you are applying for a hospitality company that requires detailed narratives, saying you have worked for similar companies like Coyle and Ardent says a lot. Because those companies have their unique demands both to get in the door and for their reports, the person reviewing your application will know that you passed their tests of admission and are capable of writing longer narratives to designated requirements. If one is applying for an MSP specializing in banks, saying you work a lot for Ath Power and Harland Clark says you know bank shops. Another name I like to throw out there is Amusement Advantage because they post shopper scores for other schedulers/MSPs to see. For that one, you have to have good scores to brag about though.

Do they read it?

Well, lets just say I give them a chance to read it. Also, if I am applying for my first shop first shop from a company I may have been signed up with for years without previously asking for a shop, I update my profile with facts about my experience to say I am a committed shopper, just haven't hooked up with your MSP yet. I throw names of MSPs that will help show my suitability for the job. If they want to read it, it is there to see and can help me stand out from the crowd.

I agree with OceanGirl. If asked on any application, I state that ICAs prevent me from revealing that information. It has never resulted in the refusal of any application. Whether or not it conveys that I honor my ICAs is unknown.

@oceangirl, I am curious if the MSCs, which have strict disclosure requirements, ask you to list other companies in their application form.

I think it may be a 'trick" question as all the agreements I have seen say you cannot disclose

I used to list several companies. Then I decided to say I work for too many to list which is true. I list the types of assignments I've done.

Your ICA does not usually prevent you from stating you work for a company, it just prevents you from discussing clients or specifics of their work. The companies all know their business. They know who their competitors are working for. All this "super secret! BS" is just that. They all will usually honor ICAs of other companies too. I recently had a discussion with a scheduler about a client they used to work for. I had asked if they were planning on bidding. The conversation got a bit lengthy and I learned that the current company is in a very long contract with the client but they were indeed hoping to get it back eventually. The scheduler never once mentioned the other company by name. I don't mind telling companies who I work for. It's been nothing but beneficial for me.

Edited to add:
Last year I had a trip to a city planned. A particular scheduler knows I do a lot of shops for a particular company and when I sent her an email about where I was going she replied that she had several shops for me that were practically next door to shops I was probably doing for the other company. Yes she put two and two together and got 5. No ICA's were broken and it was beneficial to me.

Edited again to add:
Obviously I do not just run around telling every scheduler I come in contact with who I'm working for where. But the ones I have a relationship with I have no problem telling.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2015 04:56AM by bgriffin.

I was having trouble uploading receipts with one of my companies. Their schedulers and editors were all sending me the same email with basic instructions which I follow, but it still won't work for me. One editor is like "it's your computer" and I reply ,"No, because I can still upload receipts to the other companies I shop for, so it's your software."

@komondor wrote:

I think it may be a 'trick" question as all the agreements I have seen say you cannot disclose

Nope, ICAs generally state that you can't disclose their clients or details about shops (like guidelines or other materials). I have been shopping for almost 15 years now. I do about 300 shops a year, sometimes more...when I fill out applications and am asked about other companies, I usually list as many as the form will allow and it's never been an issue. I don't know if anyone is reading it or not and I don't know if it is helping me get on with more companies or not, either. All I know is that it has never been an issue.

This is from the NDA of one of the companies I shop for: Should you disclose any information to any competitor of XXX or a competitor of our client, you could be held liable for breach of confidentiality. To me the statement is very broad and includes divulging that I do work for any specific company. They really have no way of checking anyway so the question to me is just there because someone that never did shopping put in. All of us started at none at some point and added more and more. The first or second report turned in and they know the quality of your work, that is what counts.

@FrugalCat wrote:

I was having trouble uploading receipts with one of my companies. Their schedulers and editors were all sending me the same email with basic instructions which I follow, but it still won't work for me. One editor is like "it's your computer" and I reply ,"No, because I can still upload receipts to the other companies I shop for, so it's your software."

Depends on how you look at it. It sounds like they have an expectation that you will configure your computer to be compatible with their software. I'd check your ICA to see what is and isn't required by this MSC.

This is actually a very good question. I used to list them, but now I just say that I work with all of the industry leading mystery shop companies and that I have references available upon request. It's never been a problem.

Frugal Cat, I don't know if you have ever tried it or not, but using a different browser can sometimes make a difference. I don't know why that is, but in the past I have had trouble uploading receipts using Internet Explorer but had no issues when switching over to Chrome or Firefox. I also take classes online at a local college, and the website states on the home page that it isn't compatible with certain browsers. Maybe the software for this mystery shopping company isn't compatible with your browser.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2015 02:23PM by JASFLALMT.

I am just signing up for a new msc (new to me, that is).. Their application asks for "Mystery Shop References (companies, contact persons, telephone numbers, email addresses)" This sounded a bit over the edge to me, so I came here to look for an answer. Thanks for the info. This is like having friends at our fingertips. Thanks for all the help.

I was talking with a scheduler at a well known MSC recently and quickly looking at my spreadsheet and trying to find an empty date within the shopping range they had for an assignment and did not speak of other MSC's and used the opposite tact of saying, I'm eating at x on this date and then eating at x on that date.

The scheduler openly said how much they liked shopping one of them and mentioned the competing MSC's name to me. They also identified the second MSC by the restaurant and had an opinion about them as well.

This scheduler is still a shopper as well and still works for the other companies I am. Technically, they broke the ICA, but I don't think that they saw it as an issue as I was already working for the other MSC.

I've often wondered how the whole confidentiality thing plays out when we are having personal conversations with shoppers or schedulers and we all know we work with the same companies on the same projects. I had the same situation with a scheduler who I didn't realize was an independent. We were discussing some specific car shops. I wouldn't use the name of the MSC so she did and told me she schedules for them too. In cases like that we certainly aren't "revealing" anything.