At 63 apparently too old to shop!
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Lisa, it's beyond annoying about those Porsche shops! I could do one locally for $50, but when I see others posted for $125 or $150 for male shoppers only, then I'm extremely reluctant to do one for $50!
I get it that they want the demographic that best matches the typical Porsche buyer. But this shop seems more involved than, say, the Acura shops that pay $50.
Why not offer all shoppers a base of $75 to start with, and if they have trouble getting male shoppers, give a bonus on that? I try not to be sexist in a reverse way, but it sure sounds as if they "think" they can't get a male shopper unless they start at $125/$150, but gee, women will do one for a third of that....
I get it that they want the demographic that best matches the typical Porsche buyer. But this shop seems more involved than, say, the Acura shops that pay $50.
Why not offer all shoppers a base of $75 to start with, and if they have trouble getting male shoppers, give a bonus on that? I try not to be sexist in a reverse way, but it sure sounds as if they "think" they can't get a male shopper unless they start at $125/$150, but gee, women will do one for a third of that....
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Precisely Birdy. The demographics of this industry are changing, but from shoppers to schedulers to editors to even owners, there are still more women. It burns me more to think a woman owned business is offering women a third of the fee they would for a man. And that is just the Porsche shops. Monterey has a base of $35 yet their male only shops go for $150. Here is another way to present those for Monterey. They have a strict requirement for the type and value of the vehicle driven to the shop. Some male shoppers have rented luxury vehicles which obviously comes out of their profit. The MSC could still offer the shop for a fee comparable to those offered to women and include some type of bonus or allowance for renting the required vehicle.
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 wanted to mention this one even though it is not about the fee. Motorcycle shops that do not require a test drive yet women have to be licensed while men do not.
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'm probably older than all of you. I will shop until I drop! I can still ski, think, write narratives. I owned my own business for 35 years, volunteer at the library, take art classes at the senior center, have a grandson 22 years old, drive a car, and have a great credit score. I also graduated from nursing school while I had two children. Read several newspapers daily, and belong to a book club. My experience makes mystery shopping easy! My husband and I have just been honored at Faneuil Hall Market Place in Boston for having to have been one of the first push-carts 1976 for their 40th reunion. Oh yea! I just saw 'THE WHO', they were great!
Because you can wander around the bike places like a ghost for hours if you are a female. You will be ignored. Harley is the only dealer that consistently greet me, and help me. I have bought things for our bikes at 3 different dealerships and they were all very attentive. Maybe too much so, in fact. I went to a Honda dealer to buy a used Honda years ago and was ignored for 1 hour and 10 minutes. I was in the used bike section in the show room, getting on bikes, looking at tags. I already knew which bike I wanted, ( a Silverwing) so I spent a lot of time checking it out. I had the cash in my leather jacket. The staff was busy chatting with each other. I left and went to an independent bike shop, that had some " Scumbag Biker" types inside. I was so P.O'd from the first place I didn't care. I was buying a bike that day. I took the money out of the bank and a day off work, I was buying a bike, da*!n it. They could not have been nicer to me. They brought the bike out side for me, adjusted the shocks down for my short stubby legs, and let me take it for a test ride. All without asking for my license, ID, or anything. I bought the V45 Magna as soon as I got back. The owner even gave me a helmet. I learned a valuable lesson. Some Scum Bag Bikers are the nicest people.
@LisaSTL wrote:
I wanted to mention this one even though it is not about the fee. Motorcycle shops that do not require a test drive yet women have to be licensed while men do not.
"Because you can wander around the bike places like a ghost for hours if you are a female."
Sorry but how does a motorcycle endorsement they are never going to see make them stop ignoring you? I've shopped several of the manufacturer's around here. Glad to say I was never ignored at any of them.
Sorry but how does a motorcycle endorsement they are never going to see make them stop ignoring you? I've shopped several of the manufacturer's around here. Glad to say I was never ignored at any of them.
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.
@EileenS wrote:
RANT: All of a sudden one of my favorite shopping companies has all these age restrictions! Do you know at 63 I am too old to do a shop at a wings restaurant or to do a bakery/sandwich restaurant? Really? I guess wings and a salad (no alcohol to be shopped) for lunch or dinner and a sandwich for lunch at a bakery-type restaurant where women and seniors frequent all the time are taboo for someone so old. Come on!!! This is ridiculous! I can understand a sports bar or Hooters-type place, but someone is getting carried away on demographics (especially when the locations of both aforementioned restaurants are within 1 mile of a very large 55+ community of 8000 homes). Okay, done ranting...maybe I should go take up knitting this afternoon!!! Or wash the dentures I don't have.
I get irritated with these restrictions also. I am 59. Especially since I live in Orlando and most of my shops are in heavily laden tourist areas. People of all ages go in all different places here. Although I did take a popular bar and grill shop because I had never been in one before and wanted to see what it was like. The first MSC did have an age restriction so I could never go. I saw the shop on a second MSC and so I grabbed it. I can say that I now know why there were age restrictions....even at lunch time. However, even there, there was another older couple in the dining room eating....That's Orlando. I won't be going back there. It wasn't for me.
I was crushed a few years ago when I turned egads (60) and my favorite App.... restaurant shops were no longer available for me to shop. I was officially "Over Da Hill". 
That is strange, I'm 71, most of them only kick me when there trying to get it for alcohol or tobacco. Of course I only look 17 still could get by with it.
@EileenS...Your post is a good reminder that mystery shops are not about us (the shopper). Companies hire MSCs to gather information that they consider valuable enough to pay for. Even though we think we know why they do it, the reality is there could be any number of reasons they are open only to specific age groups. Perhaps they've received complaints from people in certain age groups. Perhaps they are trying to increase their market share in a certain age group. Maybe they want to see how their employees treat customers of their same age, vs someone with more authority.
I can certainly imagine a scenario where a younger employee might speak more casually, perhaps be less polite, not worry about using their phone on the job, etc in front of a perceived peer, vs how they might act in front of an older person. Don't take it personally. Of course you're not too old to shop. That shop is just one that's not open to you. Glad we have a place to rant, though. Harmless ranting is great, isn't it?
I can certainly imagine a scenario where a younger employee might speak more casually, perhaps be less polite, not worry about using their phone on the job, etc in front of a perceived peer, vs how they might act in front of an older person. Don't take it personally. Of course you're not too old to shop. That shop is just one that's not open to you. Glad we have a place to rant, though. Harmless ranting is great, isn't it?
@BirdyC wrote:
As far as an unbiased judgement, maybe the MSC's could have us submit photos of ourselves, and they can judge for themselves?
I know of at least two MSCs that DO require photos as part of the profile before they will consider a shopper for assignments.
Kathy G - how was that Porsche shop you did? How much narrative does the report require? They just shot up to $70 here so I'm considering closing out the month with one.
I have found plenty of available shop opportunity's foe senior citizens. I no longer do any business with company with age restrictions.
Shopper 8 has it right. I once got refused at a wings shop, I wrote the scheduler and told her that i was 79 and eat there all the time. The scheduler immediately gave me the shop and have not had a problem since.
Yeah, I am way old at 63 too. As soon as I turned 56 I got stupid and I no longer have good taste or money.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2016 08:04PM by indy101.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2016 08:04PM by indy101.
Hi Eileen,
You should contact the scheduler. I've also been "too old" to shop several assignments, and as the quarter went on, and no one else signed up for those shops, the age limit kept creeping upwards, until I was "young enough" to do the shop.
You should contact the scheduler. I've also been "too old" to shop several assignments, and as the quarter went on, and no one else signed up for those shops, the age limit kept creeping upwards, until I was "young enough" to do the shop.
I'm to old to shop at a clothing store where some of their clothes are a little matronly for me. I don't know what they think 50 year-olds are suppose to be or wear, but apparently, I am not their age group.
I also see a bank shop for $90, but if I speak Spanish, I can get $200. I can speak Spanish but I'm blonde and caucasion. For an extra $110 for the same job, if I could keep from laughing, it would be a pretty entertaining.
I also see a bank shop for $90, but if I speak Spanish, I can get $200. I can speak Spanish but I'm blonde and caucasion. For an extra $110 for the same job, if I could keep from laughing, it would be a pretty entertaining.
I did a Twin Peaks restaurant shop a few years back and loved the food. The next time I saw a Twin Peaks shop available it had an age restriction on it. I asked the scheduler about it and she said she went as far as talking to the owner of Twin Peaks restaurants and he said he did not want any senior citizens shopping Twin Peaks restaurants. I saw in the newspaper not long ago that there was a big fight between two motorcycle gangs at one of the Twin Peaks restaurants in another state. I need to thank the owner of Twin Peaks restaurants for keeping the senior citizens out of such a rough place.
I disagree that you are too old as a matter of fact I would be happy to have mature shoppers in my high demand locations that do more shopping, so do not let them get you down come join me @ A closer Look www.a-closer-look.com
Toni Proper, Scheduler
www.a-closer-look.com
1-888-446-5665 ext. 344
www.a-closer-look.com
1-888-446-5665 ext. 344
I've tried waiving the age restrictions a number of times and have been refused every time.
I'm 63 and my wife is five years older. We go for wings all the time.
I recently saw a nursing home/assisted living shop posted that I am at 70 five years too old to apply for. Actually, I think that I would make an ideal shopper for this type of situation.
@Sybil2 wrote:
You won't accept a shop at a skateboard store at a mall because the client or MSC says that your grandma is too old to shop there? That makes no sense to me.@Akbar wrote:
Shops from such companys have jobs open for "below 40" at Mall and I refuse to do them because my grandma would shop at skateboard stores to buy us new boards or gift cards. The shop is 43 days past due according to website that keeps track.
Sounds to me what Akbar is saying is that he boycotts establishments that age discriminate. Good for him!
I am older than you are and do shops all the time. There is no discrimination as to my age. The only discrimination is when I do not like the shop that is proposed or the small amount of money offered, then I just delete the e-mail.
Call the MSC and present your credentials. So foolish to believe that you cannot do the shop, if you are truly a good shopper and write good reports. Best wishes to you.
Call the MSC and present your credentials. So foolish to believe that you cannot do the shop, if you are truly a good shopper and write good reports. Best wishes to you.
@tproper wrote:
I disagree that you are too old as a matter of fact I would be happy to have mature shoppers in my high demand locations that do more shopping, so do not let them get you down come join me @ A closer Look www.a-closer-look.com
Yes the age limit for most of the shops at a-c-l is 98. I am not quite sure why the 99 ers are banned but more power to them if they can get out and shop.
@anniemaria wrote:
I recently saw a nursing home/assisted living shop posted that I am at 70 five years too old to apply for. Actually, I think that I would make an ideal shopper for this type of situation.
Either the client setting the rules is looking for the children of the potential residents as shoppers or they have never set foot in their establishment to see who lives there. My mom was in a senior place for a few years. I would say of all the places we looked at before she moved the average resident was in their mid 80's. When she was in a nursing home she had a young room mate who was only in her early 70's. She was there because she broke her back but went back home when she recovered. My mom was sharp as a tack until she was almost 95, was able to walk, talk and think.
I will be 81 in a few months and have no trouble finding decent paying shops. I am told I don't look my age , but how young can an octogenarian look? The "under 40's, 50's", etc. don't bother me because I am usually not interested, anyway. I may decide to retire in 25 or 30 years. LOL.
Just throwing this out there- why is it illegal to ask a persons age on an application, but not on these? I understand about demographics, but the only place it really makes sense (to me) is where they are checking compliance for alcohol, tobacco, games, etc.
On a lighter note, I once did a shop for a sport motorcycle (rice rocket). I was required to shop one "for myself," I was 58 and 5'2. So I went in there shopping for myself, and felt like a total idiot when, sitting on any of these bikes, I couldn't even touch the ground! I guess nobody thought of height when they looked at the demos for that one! On the other hand, they could have avoided it if they had just let me "shop" for my child or grandchild.
On a lighter note, I once did a shop for a sport motorcycle (rice rocket). I was required to shop one "for myself," I was 58 and 5'2. So I went in there shopping for myself, and felt like a total idiot when, sitting on any of these bikes, I couldn't even touch the ground! I guess nobody thought of height when they looked at the demos for that one! On the other hand, they could have avoided it if they had just let me "shop" for my child or grandchild.
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