Thought I would start this thread as yesterday doing 5 shops on a tight deadline I locked myself out of my vehicle AGAIN! I get so wrapped up with the notes I need to write down or observations I need to make that my keys and I end up on opposite sides of a locked door. Happens about once every 6 months and ONLY when mystery shopping.

Hint--stash a spare key where you can get it rather unobtrusively on the outside of your vehicle. Mine is a key that opens the vehicle door only--will not start the ignition--and is tied onto the frame because the little magnetic key holders that hide under the car seem to get knocked loose and lost for me. Because I don't want a key that starts the ignition, I can get spare keys made cheaply without the computer chip needed for the ignition.

1--For years, I've had a key under my license plate. I drilled the hole in the key larger, lubricated the license plate bolt, and pushed it through plate and key. The hex bolt can be unscrewed with my fingers, so no need for a screwdriver or nutdriver. But this is not just an MS tip. It has saved me countless times.

2--When I get a shop, I write it on a slip of paper that exactly fits in my appointment book, folded in the center. Place, date, address, phone number, landmark on left. I take only TODAY'S shops and clip them in, so as not to get confused. I note very briefly the important things to look for in that shop. Most of the paper is still blank. It's not unusual in real life to pull out your appointment book in a bank or store, and make a note in it. He-he. Much more natural than a notebook, which is unthinkable.

When ready to report, the slip of paper becomes part of my permanent record of the shop, stapled to other notes, business card, receipt, etc. The name, address,date etc are already there in front.

Good subject, Flash. But I learned a lot of my stuff from you!

Should we mention the other thing you use and I bought today?

Certainly. It is no mystery that a digital voice recorder (DVR) can save you a lot of time and grief. In some states I believe it is illegal to record conversations without the consent of both individuals. I believe my state is one of these, so if I ever got caught with the thing I am only recording myself to improve my skills--the background music and voices of people with whom I interact were just incidental (and pigs fly).

There are many grades of DVRs. I started with a little one that had no option for adding a microphone and it did not upload to my computer. The instructions with it were poor translations into English and almost useless. But I could put several shops on it at a time before needing to clear it off to start again.

Disadvantages, placement to record the interaction and still be able to turn it on and off. Difficulty in recovering information without listening to the entire interaction and making notes. No ability to save specific shops with "issues" that were likely to be challenged.

Advantages: If you do NOT use the voice activation feature, you can use your DVR to assist with timings. (Make a cough when you stop in line, listen for your voice to start timing the order, say "Thank you" when you have all the requirements of your order complete, etc.) This allows you to double check your timings with a stop watch at home.

Did the associate just thank you or did they also offer a pleasant farewell? It is all on the recorder. What exactly did the associate say to you? Did they do an upsell? Did they announce your total and the amount of your change? While we note this on site, it is amazing how often you think they thanked you because it was a smile but no words were said.

These days I have moved up to a more sophisticated DVR with a microphone I put in my bra. The cord goes down under my shirt (not tucked in and with a long tail) to a pocket from which I can control the record and pause button. I use this darn thing everywhere now. It goes to even easy shops in case something strange happens, it goes on restaurant shops where I record every table visit with the minutes and seconds and what the visit was about, it went with me to the MDs office when major surgery was discussed because hubby hears what he wants to hear and the 5 page single space transcript of the appointment has the risks and possible rewards clearly stated as well as the expected recovery times--things hubby was surprised at and said "He said that?"

While on the cheap DVR I would need to listen through the entire hour and a half recording in a restaurant to pick up all my timings, with my new one I can upload the file to the computer and easily jump around in the recording to pick up or listen again to information, and using the record/pause button to just record the timings, the entire visit including timings, host, server, manager and cleanliness information is usually a 5 minute recording that I can just scribble down the timings and info before putting in my report. That scribble sheet becomes my "notes" for the visit. (And running off to the bathroom to write down your notes in a restaurant doesn't work for me because you miss who visited the table in your absence, when they visited and what they did/said.)

I didn't say it because it's illegal in some places. But, OK, you're braver than me. Anyway, just got my first one, and immediately learned how to turn off the beep, record, set the time. The sound quality and sensitivity is amazing. I tried an entire conversation with my cat as I walked in and out of the kitchen. Trying it on a job today.

For newbies--I went on Amazon. If you need the USB to your computer, you can get one as low as $60-70, or up to $200, depending on features. The mike jack is important if you want the DVR in your pants pocket. Otherwise you can hide it in a handbag or shirt pocket. I have a lot of upper jacket pickets on my winter jackets. Without USB, I paid about $40, not sure because I had a discount and a gift certificate.

You won't believe this, but with Super Shipping, mine was delivered in under 24 hours.

Just check that when it is turned on the little light showing that it is recording doesn't show through your clothing. A piece of electrical tape over the light on the recorder can help with that, but it means you won't be able to see the light either. On some the mike is on the front and so is the light, so just turning the light toward your body won't help as it also will muffle the mike.

And certainly I use the DVR as a crutch in reporting a job and wouldn't dream of giving them a verbatim blow by blow of the visit. One or two quotes, maybe, but overall the DVR is my memory tool rather than a transcription device.

I bought an external mike for mine for about $20 at Radio Shack. I keep the dvr in a front pocket of my purse and the mike clips to the opening of the pocket with the mike on the inside. It will pick up clear conversation up to about 6-7 feet away. The only time I had issues understanding a person was when I was having a conversation with an associate in the TV department and 10+ TVs were all on. Best investment I could have made-wouldn't be without it.

That shop must have been in Best Buy.

I'm getting mike soon, still learning how to use this. My RS wanted $25 for a mike, and I think even $20 is outrageous. I'll order from one of my computer parts suppliers. Shucks, should have ordered it from Amazon.

Just checked. My Olympus VN 4100 was $33. The VN 4100PC has the USB connection.

I'm a relative newbie. Any other tips out thee?

That shop must have been in Best Buy.

I'm getting mike soon, still learning how to use this. My RS wanted $25 for a mike, and I think even $20 is outrageous. I'll order from one of my computer parts suppliers. Shucks, should have ordered it from Amazon.

Just checked. My Olympus VN 4100 was $33. The VN 4100PC has the USB connection.

I'm a relative newbie. Any other tips out there?

A decent condensor microphone is not going to be cheap, but it will make a world of difference. And if you do the bra number, put a little tissue behind it in the summer so it doesn't get wet from perspiration. As a friend teasingly pointed out, it is easier to use the bra mike with guys 'cause they always are checking out the bosom. But in general when an associate is making eye contact with you their voice projects beautifully to your bustline.

I'm no longer at the age when men go for my inconsiderable bosom, Flash. Don't know what you mean by a condenser mike, but we're not looking for CD quality sound here. Anything intelligible is fine. My computer works with Skype just fine with a $10 mike.

I understand on all counts (unfortunately). The better the mike, the easier it is to catch what was said. My DVR only works with a specific condenser mike which was a bundle. I occasionally check around eBay and Amazon hoping to find a used or reconditioned one. And yes, I use cheap mikes directly to my laptop that work fine, but I rarely talk to the laptop when I'm 6' away from the mike.

Who else has good tips here? C'mon, ladies and gentlemen, everyone's an expert in something!

I just got started Mystery Shopping a couple of weeks ago. I did a few audits, and today I actually did my first real Mystery Shop.

I was worried about being able to remember all the details, so I went ahead and got myself a small DVR like the others above. I was a little worried about the legality, but I did some research and found that I live in a '1 Party' state, which means that only member of a group need be aware that a recording is being made.

The Sony recorder I got (ICD P520) was about $60 and came with computer software. It was really handy for getting exact timings down without having to stare at my watch and take notes.

I've got a couple more ideas to try as well, since I've got a restaurant shop I'm going to tonight. The checklist I have seems pretty exhaustive, and I can see missing things without the ability to take decent notes. (Even with the DVR.)

My first idea I actually stole from Ocean's 11. It's probably overkill on the sneakiness factor, but anything worth doing is worth overdoing. The simple was is to just use a crossword puzzle out of a newspaper or something and take notes on that. There's a fair amount of space to fill up, and it just looks like you're doing the crossword. If you want to get fancy, you could scan in the actually grid or pull one of the internet and stick it into Word and at the bottom of the page type in some or all of the questions on your checklist so you have those to reference.

The other idea I had was to just use my Palm Pilot. Every now and then when I go out to eat by myself, I bring it along just to have something to do. I play Scrabble or Sudoku or something. It wasn't too tough to cut and paste my checklist off the website and into an Excel doc where I cleaned it up, got rid of all the form checkboxes and whatnot, and just left extra lines in between the questions to write down answers.

It's pretty easy to switch between apps, so when the server comes around I can just leave the Sudoko game open and no one is the wiser.

It sounds like you are thinking it through well Badgerman. My personal favorite for paper and pencil notes is to use the order form in the middle of a mail order catalog. These come into the house on a frequent basis, so looking at a page of the Crate and Barrel catalog and then "staring out into space, thinking" while I make the observation and then scribbling it in on the order form works well. I also have no concern about scribbling notes on post it notes to put inside the catalog before going to the job when there are things I know I am likely to forget (such as, was the franchise plaque on the wall? Were the air vents clean?). Those post its can then easily be moved to a fresh catalog. Meanwhile the order form becomes my notes from the job in my file should further questions arise.

You two are very clever. I did the catalog thing today while waiting at a bank, Flash. Do you save the order blanks as your shop archives?

And it was my first day with the DVR, but I screwed it up. At the first donut place the TV was so loud that the clerk's conversation wasn't audible on playback. In the second shop, the radio was blasting, and ditto. Would a mike give me more sound from the right direction, that is, in front of me, rather than from the whole store?

At the bank, I pressed the button twice, pausing the recording. I have to glue a bead onto the buttons so I can feel them in my pocket. I also haven't figured out how to do the digital menus. The recording still said 11:45, the time at which I set it Saturday. My electronic skills stop after computers.

Will study my DVR instruction sheet and try again. :(

About the coffee today, Flash: no, it wasn't drinkable today either, but I had to take a sip of each for the report. I washed it down with Makaibari Flowery Orange Pekoe Tea from the Darjeeling region of India, compliments of my own travel mug. :) :)

Yes, my files have odd bits of paper including the order sheets from the middle of catalogs, take out menus, post-its stapled to something, sheets out of a 3x5 spiral memo pad, freebie grocery list blanks from my most frequent grocery (those are also great for making notes in a donut place where there is that grocery store next door), the flyer stuck under my wiper blade, etc. I figure if I did the same thing every time in the same location I might get figured out. And if there isn't a handy catalog there is always my trusty "How to Compost" book I can stick a file card into to make notes.

Some DVRs have a "directional" or "wide spectrum" option for the mike (I don't think it is 'wide spectrum' but it is something like that). The directional setting works better for shopping. And a plug in mike certainly helps get the recording up where the voices are so sort of drowns out the rest.

I'd love to see more tips and tricks here!
Go, shoppers!

Keep a digital camera in your car. I keep my old one under the front seat. Nobody would get thrilled enough even if they spotted it to break in to steal it because it wouldn't sell for a single drug fix. I pull it out from time to time to recharge and rarely use it. BUT the other day I went to a location that is a going business yet on my arrival was closed because of a power outage on the other side of the state that has tendrils of the network through my area. I took a picture with my old camera of the hand lettered sign on the front door "Sorry, we're closed. No power. Maybe tomorrow." Entered my report with the annotation that the closure was temporary, mentioned the sign and uploaded the picture instead of a receipt. I'm getting paid for the shop. This is not the first time there has been an unexpected closure at a location. I also enjoy the shops that are at an obviously wrong address. I have sent a picture of a few cows grazing in the 24800 block where a McDonalds was supposed to be, but it was not a shop requiring you call ahead to verify the location. When the editor called on that one to make sure I had been in the right place I asked her if they were doing time travel on the cows or the location in terms of being McDonalds. We had a good laugh and I got paid. I was also able to tell her that probably what they meant was the 24800 block of another street but the address was not quite right for the McDonalds there either.

My old camera also serves as a backup if I do something screwball with my new one, which has happened a couple of times thus far.

Good, Flash.

I had the impression that intense heat can damage digital devices. Cars can reach 120 degrees if parked in the summer. I guess I'm wrong on that. (?)

High temps are not good for electronics in general, but I suspect that they are more tolerant these days than they were say 5-10 years ago. Most newer cars are loaded with electronics themselves. And certainly if I fried my old camera it would not be tragic. Frankly I am more concerned about the temperature on the batteries so my spares always travel with me in a baggie in my purse rather than being left in the car. Leaving windows slightly open will help set up air flow out of the car as well while not readily allowing theft or wetting from rain.

Thinking about the car . . . it has the recharger for my cell phone left there. In the console is my "pencil box" that has pencils, pens, paper clips, a small tape dispenser and a pair of scissors. In a dashboard cubby are a couple of scratch pads and a coin purse with a couple bucks and a couple of bucks worth of change (bridges, parking meters). On the floor is a plastic grocery bag for trash. Under the seat is a collapsible umbrella and the camera.

In warmer weather when I am doing a bunch of grocery shops, I throw a cooler in the back seat with a few ice packs from the freezer to keep stuff cool until I get home. If it is really hot I will buy a couple of blocks of frozen spinach that take a long time to thaw but will sure help keep stuff cold (and dinner will be something Florentine). There will also be a few plastic water bottles refilled to keep me hydrated while I am out.

I have a comment and a question (BTW - my first post!)

Question first: Flash - I'd like to hear more about your method to record accurate timings. It sounds like you are marking your recording to avoid listening to the whole thing; is that correct? I hate having to listen to the entire recording just to catch a timing here and there.

Comment: I have become quite dependent on my DVR. I use it mainly for timings, which serves as my justification for any legal issues. I delete all recordings when I feel certain a scheduler/editor will not need additional information.

I had a problem with additional background sounds interfering with my conversations - they are so sensitive, they pick up everything! I found that I would pick up jingle sounds from my purse, swishing sounds from a pocket - no matter how careful I was in trying to position it securely. I liked the bra placement until one day it worked its way free and I looked like I had a third, well... you know.

I finally took an old purse and ran the external mike cord through the strap (mine was a shoulder bag) of the purse, securing the mike to the underside of the purse strap. The recorder stays hidden inside the purse. Just remember to use the hold button, so that STOP doesn’t get accidentally pressed if it should get tossed around – speaking from experience.

Thanks all. I've learned so much from reading message boards.

My DVR and I are inseparable friends by now. I use it for shops and I find myself using it for personal things as well where I really want good notes later of what was actually said/promised/predicted.

Originally I had a cheap DVR that would not accept an external mike. The recordings were often difficult to hear because the recorder was too far away from the action. In a pants pocket there was always fabric swishing noise when I moved. I used to carry it in a zipper pocket in the end of my purse and just inconsiderately plop my purse on the counter with the DVR end facing the associate while I did my interaction. In restaurants I tended to hide the DVR in a carefully emptied and 'reconstructed' cigarette package on the table top with a lighter on top (we are a clean air state so no smoking inside, but old habits are slow to die) where it recorded away throughout the meal. My issue was that if it was an hour and a half meal I pretty much had to listen to an hour and a half of recording to recover the information I needed. For shorter shops (a fast food encounter) it wasn't a problem and I could actually use the recording itself to do my timings at home by making sure there was some verbal "mark" on the recording to show the beginning or ending of an required interval.

I now have a more sophisticated recorder. It is the Sony ICD-MX20, which was the recorder most highly recommended to use with "Dragon Naturally Speaking" voice transcription software. [The voice transcription is still not what it is cracked up to be, but it was the reason for that DVR purchase.] I got the microphone, which goes in the bra and the DVR in the pocket with the wire hidden under an overblouse. Once the microphone is plugged in the only sound recorded is from the microphone, which picks up normal conversation clearly to about 4-5'. In my pocket I can feel the smooth square screen of the DVR a raised middle button and smaller square buttons to the left and right below that. I can insure the orientation of the DVR by touch from those clues. The left button is the record button and pause button. During a restaurant visit, for example, I now use that button exclusively to record what just happened at the table and then put the recorder back on pause. Sometimes I may put the recorder on the seat beside me and a glance lets me know that blinking light means it is on pause and solid light we are recording. The entire recording of an hour and a half fine dining experience is likely to be 5-7 minutes and contains nothing but my notes unless I am required to report on greetings and recommendations beyond the usual requirements.

My DVR came with software to digitally edit recordings on my computer and a cable to connect the DVR to a USB port. This software allows me to select the recording I want to hear (there may be 8-10 of them on my recorder) and play it. It provides a scroll bar so I can readily jump forward or backward in the recording without ever touching the buttons on the DVR. Most usually at home I will grab a piece of paper and a cup of coffee to take my notes off the DVR before putting in the report. A sample of those notes is:

6:55:12 on site
6:56:27 hostess greet no smile 5'5" long brown straight 28 no glasses
6:57:50 seated no table choice offered 6 tables empty menus dirty "Somebody will be with you"
6:58:14 Jenny 5'7" blonde ponytail 35 greet & beverage offer
6:59:40 Drink & appetizer orders in, suggested beer, wine, soda, recommended 3 different appetizers
7:04:23 Drinks & bread
7:12:18 Entree order in, daily specials suggested
7:15:37 Appetizer delivered
7:16:52 Table check & bev refill

And so it will go through the evening. They arrive at the table I note the time, they leave the table, I hit pause to restart recording take a breath so I don't start chattering ahead of the recording, give the time the activity, take a breath and hit pause to stop the recording. I then have a handy little Excel sheet on the computer I made up that calculates elapsed times for me. And luckily my companion can keep a straight face when I look fondly at him, smile and say, "7:16:52 Table check & beverage refill."

Many of us are frequently stuck for a new way to say the same old thing. I had forgotten I had this until I was cleaning out a drawer today. The site is:

[mysteryshoppercentral.homestead.com]

There are lists of positive/negative descriptors and positive/negative phrases. Really helpful when you're in a bind.

Here are a few tips for new shoppers, from a scheduler's perspective. These tips are designed to help you earn the title of "Rockstar Shopper" and make you a shopper who has an edge over other applicants.

-Make sure that the information in your profile on the site is complete and has proper spelling and capitalization. Many clients require that we read those, and I can't tell you how many different ways I have seen "detail oriented" spelled in shopper profiles. Also, if you were a scheduler and you had three people who have no shop history to chose from, which of these three would you choose?

1. Easter Bunny
2. EASTER BUNNY
3. easter bunny
4. easter b

Since all other things are equal, shopper 1 appears to be the most detail oriented of the three. I'm not going to assign a shop to a person who won't give their last name, ever. Give yourself every edge possible!

*********************

- If there are questions on a shop application, be sure that you answer them. Leaving them blank will automatically put you dead last in the running. Here's an example. Say I am scheduling a project for Easter Bunny Bank. The person that does the shop must have a savings account at the bank. I also am required to assign the shopper to one specific day for the visit.

My application question might say, "1. Please confirm that you have an account with Easter Bunny Bank. 2. What day can you conduct this shop?"

Here are my applicants:
1. I have a savings account with Easter Bunny Bank, and I can shop on 4/15.
2. -blank_
3. yes

Now, if everything else is equal, guess who gets the shop? I have had shoppers answer questions with things that have nothing to do with the question at all. I remember one time I asked, "What day can you do the shop" and the shopper wrote in, "Dodge Durango." I have asked, "What year is your vehicle" and gotten, "1/31" as an answer. The questions are important, and have a function.


*********************

Make your communications with your scheduler thorough. Shoppers have to reschedule shops. It's just part of the business. But which email below do you think leaves me with the feeling that I just dealt with a professional?

Email 1: Judith, I just opened the guidelines for my shop that you assigned last week and found that there is a telephone call due the day before the visit. Since the shop is due today, I can't do that. What do I do?

Email 2: Reschedule

Email 3: Why would you assign a shop to me that is due in only 5 days? That's a lot to ask of someone and the location is 30 miles away and my kids are in school so it is really inconvenient. (why did you apply?)

Email 4: Judith, something unavoidable has come up and I have to ask for an extension. I can do the shop first thing tomorrow and submit the report before 5 pm. Would that be ok? (I don't recommend this on the due date of a project- but things do come up).

**********************

Anyway, schedulers are people too, and most of us were just shoppers who turned into schedulers. We're nice people, promise! I hope these examples have given you a smile and a peek into what our lives are like every day and how you can set yourself apart as a super shopper.

Judith wrote:
We're nice people, promise! I hope these examples have given you a smile and a peek into what our lives are like every day and how you can set yourself apart as a super shopper.
...................................................
YOU'RE a nice person, promise. But you don't say and do some of things we've heard and seen elsewhere. Luckily, the nice schedulers are in the majority. A joke or compliment in an email goes a long way.

Re: problems with written in English.

I attended school in an era when good writing was important because writing must communicate, and because it told something about YOU. The emphasis in American schools has changed quite a bit, and you can add to that the influence of the internet and email. Many people today, including many young people, can no longer construct a logical sentence, and are unfamiliar with correct punctuation and capitalization.

I belong to several online groups and forums. What you see, Judith, is just the tip of the iceberg, and pardon the cliche. I wouldn't want to be a shop reviewer, having to slog through pages of this stuff. They have incredible patience, and I hope they're well-paid. LOL.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2008 05:45PM by sneakers.

Joan--

I love that list of adjectives you gave us at [mysteryshoppercentral.homestead.com]

I've copied the positive ones into my clipboard program to be sprinkled into my narratives. My writing is perfect in the technical sense, but boring.

Thanks-glad to be of help. I keep a notebook handy when I'm writing because sometimes a million $ adjective will pop into my head and, by the time I want to use it, it's gone bye-bye. If I write it down, I'll have it available for next time, too. Bugspost (Linda) steered me to that site (and MSF) when I was starting out.

KSSJudith-I thought another MSP scheduled Easter Bunny Bank :) Thanks for the chuckle and the info.

IMHO, more MSers need to take the attitude that this IS a REAL job and, if they work on honing the skills necessary to create professional relationships within MSPs (schedulers and editors), they will be treated as professionals. Courtesy and consideration to all people involved in all aspects of a shop goes a long way.

You're confused. :( KSS does Easter Bunny Bank,SOS does Piggy Bank.

Courtesy and consideration can be learned as we grow older and more mellow, but I think if someone's gone through the school system and still can't write or comprehend written text, s/he may not be motivated to pick it up later. I'm a former teacher. If I get on my soapbox about the American school system, we'll be here for weeks. :)

I've registered with 65 companies, and only a few have asked me to write a short narrative, none on SASSIE. If every company did that, they could weed out those who don't have the necessary writing skills. For any job, there has to be more of a standard than just filling out an application.

Joan, I used the adjective list last night, and scored 10 on all my reports. It works. I just strung all the words together in one long sentence with a period at the end.

Sneakers- You know very well that you're not supposed to list clients and MSPs together. Shame on you. LOL (Boy, we really need some smilies)

Re: The List- I'll have to give that a try. Did you use the negative or positive descriptors?

I almost went into teaching (Eng. major/Music minor) but, a couple of years into college (early 70s), there were so many cut backs in the school districts that I scrapped the idea and ended up working at D-land for 20 years.

Sneakers,

I am grateful when an application asks for a writing sample. But it takes time to read. I think many of the sites just wait for you to do your first shop. If you want to shop with them, take any job, just get on their radar. If you perform well; the second job will come easier.

My second hint; respect yourself. I don't do a $4 shop, not ever. I send a thank you note to a scheduler that calls me and assigns me directly, or one that is understanding that things happen. Short; Thank you.

Draw a map of your day's shops; you will save gas.

Wait until a GPS is on sale, and buy one. You will save gas.

If your schedule permits, do 7 shops on two days rather than 2 or 3 on three days. You will save gas.

Keep impeccable records. List your shops as you do them; you won't miss doing reports. If anyone has figured out a way to tell if you have been paid, I'd like to know. I think they do it scattered on purpose, though my favorite companies are easy to track.

Spend a reasonable amounts of time on these sites; you could be searching for jobs.

Wannabe scheduler/editor