Have you guys noticed lately that it seems a bunch of mystery shopping companies seem to be trying to do away with high bonuses in favor of throwing hero citations at you. I just got this in my email. This MSC needs someone for a motorcross event for TOMORROW! You have to evaluate the entire stadium and they only want to pay you $20. The ticket is $25 which they do reimburse, parking is another $10-$20 which they'll also reimburse. But in addition they want a $100 deposit from you which they'll refund when they finalize your report. So let me see that's $145 going out of my pocket now.....all for $20 I won't see for 3 months. Oh but they're throwing 20 hero citations at you if you'l do it....yea don't care sorry. I can't be the only one that finds this ridiculous. I'm copying and pasting the email cause I truly can't believe it. I've deleted out any reference to the MSC:

"I'm in urgent need of a shopper for a MetLife Stadium event TOMORROW 4/30 and I was wondering if you would be interested in shopping?


MetLife Stadium: Supercross Event
102 Route 120 East Rutherford, NJ 07073

Shop Details:
You will evaluate all areas of the stadium (security, concessions, customer service, restrooms, etc.)

Shop Pay: $20 + $25 reimbursement
Parking is also reimbursed

Special Notes: This shop requires a $100 deposit, which will be refunded when we finalize your report. This MUST be made today, 4/29.

Let me know as soon as possible if you can help us out. I'm offering 20 hero citations to whomever steps in. Thanks!"

I've only seen deposits required when the MSC was fronting the tickets. That makes sense because it prevents someone from taking free tickets and not submitting a report. If you are paying for everything, it is not necessary because they are not going to be risking any money. Are you sure the reimbursement listed is not for concessions? If it is for food and beverage it means you won't be out of pocket for the actual ticket. Still doesn't make it worth it for me.

I find myself hitting the 'delete' as soon as I see 'Hero Citation' because it means 1) nobody in their right mind wanted this job at the pay offered and 2) the scheduling company and/or MSP are unwilling to offer fair pay. So if an email such as the one you quote landed in my email I never would have even opened it to get annoyed with them.

Fronting $100 when it reads the shopper is paying up front is stinky cheese in my mind.

Now as for hero citations, they certainly lose their value if you'll be awarded 20 for completing the shop. It defeats the point of the hero citations. And as a recipient of a couple of hero citations as much as I love seeing them on my records, they don't feed the bull dog. I will admit that they have generated more profitable shops, too bad those shops are no where near my part of the world.

This particular shop would get my 10 foot pole rule.

Hero citation = delete.

And the Best Hero Citation Pejorative Ever Posted on the Forum Award goes to...

@MA Smith wrote:

Hero citations... they don't feed the bull dog.

Did you try writing back and asking for a substantial bonus? The worst she can do is say no.

Yep. Hero citations mean nothing. They do not put food on the table or gas in the tank. Frankly, only a very few MSCs even deal with hero citations. I guess a hero citation and $2.50 might get you a cup of coffee.

I'm back after a break.. what is a hero citation?

must...not...take...the...bait

ahh the $100 deposit special event shops....if its the MSC I am thinking of, they do shops for one of our MLB teams in Chicago...last I heard the questionnaire was very time consuming and long....if it was my favorite team, I would have probably done one by now....but its not....so on the 10 foot pole it goes....

HERO CITATION

Definition: noun – A note on a shopper’s record that positively affects the shopper’s overall rating and indicates to other schedulers that the shopper can be counted on.

[www.intelli-shop.com]

I had to look it up too, thanks for all the clarifications!

HERO CITATION

Definition: noun – important scheduler tool to use as alternative to pay commensurate for work. Synonyms: duping shopper, fooling shopper. See also: Ways to keep profits with the mystery shopping company, where they belong.

@mysteryjcl wrote:

I'm back after a break.. what is a hero citation?

It is MSCs' lingo for a worthless bone thrown to see which suckers will bite.

The $100 deposit shops are good if you want to attend the event. The report is intense, but I've seen some great concerts with excellent seats. When my sons were young, we went to the truck pull..monster truck thing (not a shop) thinking we'd be one of very few in attendance at such an event. Much to my surprise, the only seats available were near the very top row of a packed stadium. There is quite a following for these events. Sure wasn't my cup of tea, but others obviously love it, my boys included. We were covered in dirt by the time it was over, but such is life with little boys. I'm waiting for Barbara Streisand tickets...ha ha...then I'd jump all over the shop and send my $100 pronto. They also offer the same for NFL football games, btw and lots of folks would love them. So, it depends on what the tickets are for. Last summer I took a friend who wanted to see Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney. She loved it. Me...it was fun and worth it to see her enjoyment. We had a blast. She is also a shopper and helped with the requirements. You need to go early and get most of the stuff out of the way. Then you can enjoy the show or game. The deposit is to be sure they don't get stuck giving tickets away with no report coming back to them. Some tickets are very costly.