Discrimiation??

I've only been a mystery shopper for a couple months now. I work with three companies, two of which, I never have a problem with but the third, hasn't accepted any of my 6 applications for shops. My boyfriend shops with the same company and has never had any problems with getting shops from them. I'm wondering if maybe it's because of my ethnicity? I contacted the company to ask if the shops required a specific demographic and I was told that it does not. And it's not just that they assign the shops to someone else, they will remove my application and the shops will still be open with the same dates. I've tried applying multiple times and they will remove me again. I had my boyfriend look over my profile and my application to see if I'm doing something wrong, he said everything looks fine. I've never really dealt with any discrimination issues before so I don't know if I'm over reacting or if this is a real thing.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Or could it be something I'm not thinking of?

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You may well be discriminated against but not for the reason you assume. Many MSCs have a preference for those who have shopping history with them; they shy away from newbies.

Try applying to different types of shops for the MSC (e.g. different clients/different industries). Also try applying for a shop which you can travel to without great difficulty but which is clearly in a different area -- e.g. something clear across town or something an hour's drive outside of town. If you can get one shop completed then you have a history.

In the mean time, try removing your ethnicity from the profile you provide the MSC.

Best of luck.

I've changed my ethnicity but unfortunately, I'm unable to change my name to something more common. When my boyfriend signed up with them he had no trouble getting any shops with them which is why I'm not sure what the problem is here.

Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it.

I would NOT change my ethnicity because if the client wants an X and you get the shop and the video shows a Y performing the shop, the shop could be invalidated. Plus if you indicate you are an X you will not be eligible for any shops that need a Y. Play it straight.

@Rosseau has it absolutely correct, many companies are hesitant to have a newbie shopper take on their first shop unless they know the shop to be non-critical in terms of demands or timings. Some are very clear that you 'must have an 8 or better shop rating' and the platform automatically rates new shoppers at a 5. Take a low paying shop or two that lingers on their board, do a bang up job of it and that will get your rating up where they can see you as a credible shopper.

One other thought, are you and your boyfriend at the same address, using the same phone number for contact? With some companies this can be a flag that a shopper is attempting to beat rotations by registering multiple times.

I'm biracial so my looks are kind of generic and I can pass for either race. The shops all require a rating of 5 and I'm at a 5 as was my boyfriend when he took the same shops as a newbie. However, I think you're on to something with the address thing. We live together and they may be looking at the address as well.

I appreciate your help and your point of view, I didn't even think about the address aspect of it. I'm sure I was just overreacting.

There are a whole lot of things that can contribute to you being treated differently than your boyfriend was when he started. The company may not have had as many reliable shoppers in your area then as they have now so may have been more willing to take a chance on a newbie. The scheduler for the shops may have had more of a 'first come first served' attitude then and there may be either a different scheduler or a scheduler who has grown to dislike newbies because they 'flake' a lot more often than more experienced shoppers, thus making more work for him/her. There is also an aspect that I think comes into play and that is because the industry is so heavily over populated with females, there may be a tendency to give males a try because every MSC seems to struggle to find shoppers who can do the 'male only' shops. Finding male shoppers has been difficult enough at times that I have been asked to take a male along, have him ask the few questions and I stay close so that I can do the write up, the timings, etc.

and as an independent contractor, they are not subject to the same anti discrimination laws as regular employers.

do you and your BF use the same computer/IP? some companies seem to track that and 1 has even been known to make an issue out of having 2 registered users in 1 home.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 04:52PM by jmitw.

First thing that came to mind was having the same IPs. I remember reading a few threads where that was the problem. And Flash was right on about less male shoppers than female and all other stuff.

Yep I agree with Flash, my husband and I have even applied for the same job before and he got it not me. I have a higher rating, 9 (he has an 8) and have over 3x the number of shops with this company as he only shops once in a while. I'm thinking that even though this shop isn't gender specific the client might be happy to get a male point of view whenever they can.

From the number of company reps I've met and interacted with it seems to me that almost everyone in this industry is very open minded regarding things like race. I would be VERY surprised if that were the issue.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

To add to what bg said....The is such a shortage of shopper of color that maný schedulers need you! Client of many sorts want all ethnic and age groups to rotate through their assignments. The key may be that you and your bf need to apply to different MSCs if your computers are on the same ip address. Bty, àt least one client of Imforma insists that every brand be shopped by several ethnic and age and gender groups on every rotation. They would probably be delighted to see you and their shops pay very well.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

OP, since you have not named the client, it would be helpful to tell us which MSC is removing your applications. Seasoned shoppers may be able to give you a better answer once they know which MSC. But do NOT tell us the MSC AND client name; a no-no in the forum and it breaks your ICA.

I agree with the preferred male shopper theory since estrogen dominates the MSing world. Most MSCs and their clients prefer diversity so I seriously doubt that race is playing an issue. I experience more age "discrimination" than sexism or racism. I am too old for many compliance scenarios and apparently too young to test drive a high-end sports/luxury car.

The MSC is Intellishop. However, I think that there are a lot of factors that I just didn't think of. When he worked those shops, we were at a different address about 200 miles from where we currently live. However, he's young and right out of college and I'm an older woman so I see how he would fit more of a diverse category that I would.

So it's not just two people of the same age but different races. While the more likely scenario is gender because of the reasons already stated, the two of you are probably in different age demographics as well. The good news is shoppers of all ages are in demand just not for the same types of assignments.

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.

And here's to you Mrs Robinson......

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I don't think it has anything to do with your race, I think it's because MSC's are desperate for male shoppers and it serves their purposes to give them plenty of work in order to keep them in the business. I can't tell you how many times lately I've seen this one shop posted over and over asking for a male shopper and they cannot fill it, even putting the fee up to much more than what they normally pay, they still can't fill it, there's not enough male shoppers.

Shopping Southern Ontario (Canada) and Western New York (U.S.A.)!

I have found with Intellishop that once they start using you regularly, you are almost guaranteed of getting the assignment if you apply.

@Angel wrote:

I don't think it has anything to do with your race, I think it's because MSC's are desperate for male shoppers and it serves their purposes to give them plenty of work in order to keep them in the business. I can't tell you how many times lately I've seen this one shop posted over and over asking for a male shopper and they cannot fill it, even putting the fee up to much more than what they normally pay, they still can't fill it, there's not enough male shoppers.

So once again, men are getting paid more than women for the same job. Good grief!

Except not. I saw a study recently by two female professors at Harvard that mostly debunked that thought. While true in similar job titles, when broken down and comparing actual job performed and similar experience the margin became very close, less than 1% difference. If I can find the study again I will be happy to send the link.*

*this is not meant to be a political discussion at all, it just brought up something that I had read recently that I found interesting and informative.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

The figure I saw was 5%. Let's also not forget how much more women pay out over the years. Something that is being addressed and corrected as we speak.

@Angel wrote:

I can't tell you how many times lately I've seen this one shop posted over and over asking for a male shopper and they cannot fill it, even putting the fee up to much more than what they normally pay, they still can't fill it, there's not enough male shoppers.

There are plenty of male shoppers. There may not be any male shoppers that want that particular assignment, however.

Perhaps we male shoppers approach assignment requests differently. I think it would be safe to say that there are probably fewer male shoppers who are not looking at the bottom line financially, for reimbursements or pay, when considering assignments. It's my understanding that a significant number of female shoppers participate in mystery shopping without the need to support a household on their earnings.

If you address the issue at the root level (corporate pay differences, social expectations based on gender roles), you may see the pay differential in the open market resolve itself.

I don't think it is your ethnicity. I am a minority and anyone can easily tell that by reading my name. I have been working with Intellishop and I had no problem starting my first newbie shop which paied me $100 when I first started with Intellishop. As many of us mentioned in above posts, there may be multiple factors that you haven't got asssigned the shops you applied for. Again I don't think it was your race. By the way, I have not had any problems getting assignments from other MSCs. Just keep applying and try to apply other type of shops.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 01:14AM by Fenicia.

I agree with the earlier response- it's not your ethnicity it's your shopper history. I broke this barrier with one MSC by emailing the scheduler in addition to submitting an application. I told her that I could 100% complete the shop on X date.
You could also say something like, "I realize I am new to your company and would like an opportunity to prove myself. If there is a hard to fill shop within 50 miles, please consider assigning it to me."

Shopping since 2009
MSPA Gold

OK, I've gotta say it...maybe it's because of poor spelling and writing skills? It's possible...

Ah...For a couple of years I could not get my foot in door with the MSC mentioned above...in the meantime I did a couple of hundred jobs through many other companies. Eventually I got one assignment for this MSC, and ever since, I get most assignments I apply for.
It truly is gaining experience, and performing well to get on their rotation.
It is not discrimination on their part, it is being discriminating...they want to have great shoppers that they know can produce reliably.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 01:34AM by PeninaD.

@jmitw wrote:

and as an independent contractor, they are subject to the same anti discrimination laws as regular employers.

Completely inaccurate. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which covers race discrimination in employment, which is appears is the issue about which the OP is inquiring) covers employees, but not independent contractors.

Silver certified with a PV-500
Shopping Michigan and beyond

what is your ethnicity?

rpretl

What do you pass as?

rpretl

I would not lose any sleep about not working for Intellishop. They are in the bottom 10% of MSCs in my opinion.

When I was a scheduler, 90% of my shoppers were women (restaurant shops only). I never even thought about descriminating. I wanted the shopper who could follow directions and get me a report and receipt in 24 hours.

Yes Marketforce sent my fiance at the time, now husband, multiple invitations to become a shopper. When he finally applied and looked to be accepted, they asked why he was using the same telephone numbers as another shopper. He was over all the time, and we would use the same desktop computer back then. We used my cellphone number because I had purchased an unlimited minutes plan. He never heard back from them. You actually got accepted with the same address as another shopper.

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