Mystery Shopping Company Discussion

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Shopper's Critique
This summer, they finally got a client in my market, and a store I love, at that. It is the only thing I have ever seen for them for this area. I applied for and got a shop, got a 5/5 rating. I have done 4 more shops since then, all 5/5 rated. I applied for 3 more, and I wait. They have been sitting there in request status a few days now; this has been the case with the others in the past, as well.

I am wondering how you go from requesting shops to getting self-assign status with them. Is it a matter of time? Is it number of shops completed? Does it depend no who schedules your area? Any old hands know?

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: October 15, 2009 11:31AM
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Re: Shopper's Critique
  • Mert
  • Super Star Member
  • Posts:2548
I've done less than 10 shops for them, since May. When I search their available shops, they're displayed either as self-schedule or available for request. The self-schedule are generally apartments. Available for request are entertainment or retail. I have requested one retail shop that was immediately assigned. Possibly, these are differentiated by type from the get go.
Date: October 15, 2009 03:00PM
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Maybe it varies by scheduler, then. I notice they always sit there a few days.
Thanks for the info. They only have the one retail establishment here. Maybe since we are such a small part of their business, we get checked on less often! :-)

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: October 15, 2009 04:10PM
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Re: Shopper's Critique
I've applied for some of their shops here for several months and always been denied. Then finally there was a self-assign shop that I took and after doing it they finally started giving me other shops I apply for. I've noticed sometimes some of their scheduled shops may sit there for a long time and then be moved to self-assign. So watch their site if you really want these jobs.

I think self-assign depends on how they set up the shop, not what your individual shopper rating is.
Date: October 16, 2009 02:15PM
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They never have any shops in my area. I am signed up for over a year and never heard anything.
Date: October 22, 2009 11:39PM
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I was signed up for longer than that, before they ever gt a client that had something here. But it always changes. One of the interesting and yet frustrating things about doing this.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: October 26, 2009 08:41AM
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i find it random, some times i have requested shops and the same day get emails saying they are self assign but when i log in they are stil under request eh
Date: February 04, 2010 06:09PM
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Dee, I feel your rating has to be the top (like 100%). They are very slow at assigning, I wait month after month for the hair salon, and never got it. Distance might be their thing, if they find someone closer, they get it. I used to work for them quite a bit, now the long timely manner in which they assign, makes it impossible for me to schedule with them. I like there jobs, but, they are frustrating.
Date: February 05, 2010 01:19PM
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I have been able to self-schedule but it is random. One month it will be one location that is self-schedule, the next it might be another. My rating is just short of perfect.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: February 05, 2010 03:52PM
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I had to cancel their Mex.restaurant (gave them plenty of time), but after that my rating went to an 88%. I think they lost that client, didn't see it this month. Their easy jobs to self-assign are the mobile phone places. The candy shop and hair saloon are impossible.
Date: February 07, 2010 02:36PM
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We only have one client here for SC.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: February 07, 2010 02:41PM
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Re: Shopper's Critique
Ugh, I'm kinda like jumping around waving my arms in front of them, like hello I'm here.

I did just sign up with them and I had to cancel and then reschedule my first shop with them. I sent them a link to the weather channel site showing that the night my shop was to take place, we actually had a weather warning prohibiting motorists from being on the road except for emergencies. When I completed the rescheduled shop I got a 5 star score which I think is the highest for them.

Anyways, on Saturday I noticed a shop on their board that had a starting date of the 9th. I am going to be in the city the shop is in on the 9th so I requested it. I went to the site today and it still shows my request pending by now they pushed the starting date back to the 14th. It's like um, hi, over here!!
Date: February 08, 2010 08:51PM
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Yea, I feel like that too, sometimes. I am not sure of the processes they use, and why sometimes you can self-schedule and other times you can't, all for the same store, same location.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: February 08, 2010 08:59PM
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Yeah, that doesn't make much sense. It would seem if a client is self assign, it would always be self assign.
Date: February 08, 2010 09:04PM
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I have noticed a pattern with their book store shops, that I can only self-schedule locations which I haven't shopped in about 2 months. It's like they have a rotation on self-scheduling. The locations that I haven't shopped are self-schedule while the ones that I shopped recently are request only. Also, once I schedule one shop, all the others go to request only. Once I complete the shop, the rest go back up to self-schedule.
Date: February 08, 2010 09:05PM
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I did a hair cut reimbursement shop about two years ago.I really loved it. At the same time, they also offered a hair color shop. I could not do the dates that were available. However, I never see anything that is in my area now.
Date: February 09, 2010 11:17PM
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I am just signing up with Shoppers Critique. I did alot of work for them about 15 years ago - before everything was done thru the internet. I actually worked for them in their offices in Florida. I have since moved away and want to start back up shopping. I went to reigistar on-line and they requested my social security number. I have a hard time giving that out - . I called the office but they are closed for the day.

Just wondering if everyone here gave their SS to the online app?
Date: February 10, 2010 05:40PM
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I can't remember if I gave it on the ap, but I know they have it now.
Date: February 10, 2010 06:14PM
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Most Mystery Shopping companies now ask for your SS#. I have given it out to dozens I signed up with. There is no way around it. If you want to work with them, most will require it.
Date: February 10, 2010 06:26PM
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I have done their haircare shops for two different clients. They pay as stated and on time. I especially like that they will pay 100% of the client's "long hair surcharge." I haven't paid for a haircut in years, and have gotten some excellent perms for less than half price.
Date: February 11, 2010 10:21AM
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I have done several jobs for them, both self assign and requested. Most recently I was asked to complete a candy shop for them as their assigned person did not complete the report. I agreed and rushed half hour away to complete the shop. When I returned home one hour and 10 minutes later. I had a message saying "sorry the other shopper completed it after all". The email message was received 5 minutes after the time on my purchase receipt. Sorry, yeah...you called me, could you at least reimburse me???
Date: February 13, 2010 12:59AM
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PUSH it. They called you, and you did the job.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original ideas closer together.
~Georg C. Lichtenberg
Date: February 13, 2010 02:30AM
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Yes, I need to get off my bum and push it. I did do the job. I'm making some more calls. I have already upoloaded my receipt along with the slew of confirmation and apology emails.
Date: February 13, 2010 11:24AM
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They are a good site and they are usually willing to work with you. I have had to cancel or asked for a date to be pushed to a later date and they have always been willing to accomodate me.
Date: February 19, 2010 11:26PM
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I can't believe this. I was actually able to self-schedule and do two shops. After reading the board, I figured I would try.
Date: February 20, 2010 05:34PM
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Has anyone seen their bookstore shops lately? I wonder if they lost the client because I have not seen these shops this month.
Date: February 21, 2010 04:10PM
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Haven't seen them yet this month or last. Last one I did was 12/29.
Date: February 21, 2010 04:28PM
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That probably means the client is gone. They were pretty consistently shopped every month before. Too bad. I enjoyed getting a free book out of it.
Date: February 21, 2010 04:34PM
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Me too. Shoot another MSC I like (most of the time) down the drain. Oh well...
Date: February 21, 2010 04:39PM
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If it is the bookstore I am thinking of, I did one on 1/31 of this year.
Date: February 21, 2010 08:00PM
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