Well even with my negotiated bonus today, the audit was the one from "you know where." I do not drink and would never have accepted it had I known that 20% of the items on the list were wine and beer. This is a store that prides itself on its wine selections and there are probably more than 3,000 bottles for sale. They are not arranged alphabetically, but by region they are produced in. There is no info on the pricing sheet about this, so how in the world would I know which brands are Northwest, which come from CA, etc? It was an absolute nightmare. My husband, 19 year old daughter and myself spent 45 minutes in the wine area and were able to locate one or possibly two items. My husband was about to tear his hair out. We also had extensive vitamins and health foods and that department was poorly arranged and we couldn't find anything there either. I have never given up, but I did. I called and left a long message for my scheduler, and have e-mailed TrendSource. I will NEVER do an audit again, no matter what the bonus. She said it was national brands and in my mind I pictured Ragu spaghetti sauce and General Mills cereals. It was a complete waste of our time. I hated every moment of it. The absolute worst assignment with the least helpful information I have ever seen.

Aaargh! I guess they figure that shop will drive you to drink so you will be much better prepared 'next time'. That does sound pretty awful.

Great comment, Flash. I don't know if they will ban me from ever shopping for them again, but frankly at this point, I don't care. On another note, I purchased a $400 designer handbag today for my "sister", and will have to return it soon. I don't like those either, but I liked the pay for this job.

Which reminds me I have an absolutely awful piece of 'wall sculpture' in the back of my car that needs to be returned. Unreimbursed but mandatory to buy something.

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well even with my negotiated bonus today, the
> audit was the one from "you know where." I do not
> drink and would never have accepted it had I known
> that 20% of the items on the list were wine and
> beer. This is a store that prides itself on its
> wine selections and there are probably more than
> 3,000 bottles for sale. They are not arranged
> alphabetically, but by region they are produced
> in. There is no info on the pricing sheet about
> this, so how in the world would I know which
> brands are Northwest, which come from CA, etc? It
> was an absolute nightmare. My husband, 19 year old
> daughter and myself spent 45 minutes in the wine
> area and were able to locate one or possibly two
> items. My husband was about to tear his hair out.
> We also had extensive vitamins and health foods
> and that department was poorly arranged and we
> couldn't find anything there either. I have never
> given up, but I did. I called and left a long
> message for my scheduler, and have e-mailed
> TrendSource. I will NEVER do an audit again, no
> matter what the bonus. She said it was national
> brands and in my mind I pictured Ragu spaghetti
> sauce and General Mills cereals. It was a complete
> waste of our time. I hated every moment of it. The
> absolute worst assignment with the least helpful
> information I have ever seen.


I am guessing that the client is going to open a new store in your area, where they have never had them previously. I got the vitamin list in May 2008 in a TINY neighborhood health food store and I made up every lie I could get away with and still ended with the list half undone after two days. I did a huge number of these for that project as well as the "normal" national ones since then, but I am very clear with them that I will not do those specific lists if assigned due to my status as a regular shopper in the store who never looks for these items as a group. I have also seen others that I do not know standing in the wine section of local markets with the full list open in hand stopping people to ask if they might know where the items are as they "do not drink."

The normal, not opening a new store, lists are repetitive and way easier. I have done HUNDREDS of these. Really. I need cheap groceries, as groceries are VERY costly here.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2010 05:29AM by dee shops.

Oh come on, Flash. Isn't there a wall that needs adorning in your house?

That sounds brutal! Thank you for the details. It gives me a head's up about jobs I probably don't want to accept!

57carol Wrote:
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> Oh come on, Flash. Isn't there a wall that needs
> adorning in your house?

Probably, but not with this junk.

I signed for TWO audits on the same say...what was I thinking. I hate when they don't give proper info. about these jobs. I'm finishing up a merchandising job today, and almost need a medic. I have to lift 120pds of boxes and bring them in for a taste test (hope they fit in my car), after searching high and low to get them. The gas I spent takes 1/4 of my fee and the stress and pain on my hands (I have Arthritis) is unacceptable. Had I known the details of this job, oh no....I am now going to cancel my audits.
Thanks Carol for the info...never again.

Irene, you are more than welcome. And I'm never going to do a "merchandising" job, thanks to what you wrote. I am sure sorry about the pain and stress on your hands. There is no way I could lift anything like that because I have back trouble from multiple car accidents. (none of which were my fault, I feel compelled to add.)

My life is back to normal...I've finished this job, woke up from a bad dream!!

More power to all who merchandise and thank the lord, I'm no longer one of you!!!