K-Mart
STAY AWAY!! The pay is laughable for the work you do. Never do it unless it hits at least $15.
Kmart is fairly easy. 6 employees plus service desk. No wheelchair. No aisle number and 2 questions for the employees.....
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
They do occasionally require the wheelchair, but I haven't seen that requirement in around 9 months, maybe longer. I also have never seen them ask for the aisle number. Is that a new requirement?
Yeah, it's an easy shop, Read the inrtructions. You only have to look & see if they have scooter available, Easy report $15 buck / 15 min. onsite visit 15 minute report.
Y'all are bitchin' for $30 bucks an hour for MSing????
Y'all are bitchin' for $30 bucks an hour for MSing????
I've done about 10 of the K-Mart shops. Here are my issues with them:
1. None of the employees at my location wear name tags! You have to do all these interactions with employees and get their names, yet none (well, maybe one or two if you're lucky) wear name tags.
2. You are required to ask moronic questions to employees, such as, "Do you have blue light specials?"
3. The amount of work involved does not justify the pay, even at $15. Interacting with several employees, checking the fitting rooms, restrooms, front desk counter, electronics counter, asking questions about layaway and blue light specials, commenting on parking lot, handicap-accessible questions, yadda yadda. Oh, and you get reimbursed like $1 or something for a purchase.
4. This particular msc's software doesn't allow you to save your report. The report is lengthy and it's given me errors in the past and made me start the report all over from the beginning.
1. None of the employees at my location wear name tags! You have to do all these interactions with employees and get their names, yet none (well, maybe one or two if you're lucky) wear name tags.
2. You are required to ask moronic questions to employees, such as, "Do you have blue light specials?"
3. The amount of work involved does not justify the pay, even at $15. Interacting with several employees, checking the fitting rooms, restrooms, front desk counter, electronics counter, asking questions about layaway and blue light specials, commenting on parking lot, handicap-accessible questions, yadda yadda. Oh, and you get reimbursed like $1 or something for a purchase.
4. This particular msc's software doesn't allow you to save your report. The report is lengthy and it's given me errors in the past and made me start the report all over from the beginning.
Issue #1 is easy to solve. In the name block put 'No Name Tag". That flys every time...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> Issue #1 is easy to solve. In the name block put
> 'No Name Tag". That flys every time...
I've done that, and given a description, but it would make things so much easier if the employees simply wore name tags. I worry that the msc will think I forgot to get the names.
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> Issue #1 is easy to solve. In the name block put
> 'No Name Tag". That flys every time...
I've done that, and given a description, but it would make things so much easier if the employees simply wore name tags. I worry that the msc will think I forgot to get the names.
I do a blue light shop almost monthly, generally for $25 or more as bonuses climb. The store I visit never has enough employees to get six interactions, so I will walk the entire store and discuss in narrative how long I was browsing the main aisles and what areas I visited, before encountering an employee. Once it was half an hour. Another time, I was picking up a layaway that I had put away the last time I shopped. I took 20 minutes to get a manager to answer her page to unlock the layaway area. It is never a 20-30 minute shop for me, but it is still easy.
I don't mind doing these at all as long as the pay is around 10 plus. It is really an easy shop. Often times our stores have very few employees working and I can't even get the required number...when that happens I just explain. Other times I can get all I need plus more with little effort.
Liz
Liz
You're lucky, Liz. The K-mart that I evaluate has many employees, the majority not wearing name tags. The place is dirty, old and very little space in the aisles. The handicap-accessible counters are always cluttered and have boxes of stock in front of them. Because I have to explain all negative answers, it turns out to be a very long and time-consuming report, especially for the pay (even when it's bonused).
I did it for 4.00 when I first started out. Now I wait for a hefty bonus. Plus the fact that I get reimbursed for a whole dollar is a joke on top of it.
I live between 2 of them, so they're always on my way no matter which way I'm going. One is directly across the street from a Walmart so is never busy & the other is in a mall on the verge of closing if they don't get a buyer & is also never busy. Most employees wear tags. I've also done price compliance audits at both of them, so I know my way around. They're easy & the reports aren't too bad. The only part of it I don't like is the comparison between them & their 2 main competitors--Walmart and Target. I've never been that impressed with any of them. I look at the $1 reimbursement like a coupon on something I need to buy anyway.
Depends on the KMart. Mine there are never 6 employees in the entire store! It can take an hour plus to find 6 different people and then as stated above who knows how many have name tags. Then if you put any negative comments the report gets rejected. I would skip it.
Reports don't get rejected for negative comments. You must not have none something right. I've done several of these and had a few negative comments and have always received a perfect rating.
They never reject a report for negative comments...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I have made many negative comments without ever getting rejected. But finding 6 employees on the floor is nearly impossible. That can easily take an hour. I just feel like I am walking in circles trying to find another person. Usually I am also the only customer. I am always shocked I am not being followed by security.
I have done several before in a small town nearby for a good bonus, the only issue I have had is like others have mentioned finding enough employees to interact with. I think they require 10 interactions and both times I encountered maybe 5 total employees in the store but I've always gotten good scores and paid. Both times I didn't stay longer than 30 minutes, no sense in wating around for hours in the hopes that other employees will come in.
Triple Platinum Certified - Shopping South Central Kansas
I am still rather new, but even I avoided this one when I how much was involved, and the pay was around $8. I think pay actually went up to about $10.50 as the month drew to an end. It all depends on which MS company you're performing the shop for, I suppose. I will say that I have seen the wheelchair option for the ones I've seen.
Here is my Kmart hints- I did one last week for $14 plus reimbursement.
1) ALWAYS have your shopping list and coupons with you!
2) Make your first stop the customer service desk! Ask how long you have to return something- catch the employees name- boom-1 requirement down.
3) Next stop: jewelry- 99% of the time when you approach that department there is an employee there or one comes over when you get near the counter.
4) Next stop: restroom and layaway- if you pass an employee on the way, detour. But otherwise, you can tick off the restroom visit and possibly find an employee there.
5) Next stop: my size section, then the fitting room. Sometimes I get lucky and there is an employee straightening and one manning the fitting room. Boom- I've been in the store 15 minutes and hit over half the requirements.
6) Next stop: electronics. If you pass an employee, detour, but otherwise there is an employee there at all times, sometimes 2.
7) Now I go into HABA and cleaning and knock a few things off my list. Usually hit an employee somewhere in there, especially before 4.
8) Lastly, checkstands. If I am short 1 employee, I browse through wherever I see one and then checkout. Last week's took me 37 minutes and I got part of my grocery list.
1) ALWAYS have your shopping list and coupons with you!
2) Make your first stop the customer service desk! Ask how long you have to return something- catch the employees name- boom-1 requirement down.
3) Next stop: jewelry- 99% of the time when you approach that department there is an employee there or one comes over when you get near the counter.
4) Next stop: restroom and layaway- if you pass an employee on the way, detour. But otherwise, you can tick off the restroom visit and possibly find an employee there.
5) Next stop: my size section, then the fitting room. Sometimes I get lucky and there is an employee straightening and one manning the fitting room. Boom- I've been in the store 15 minutes and hit over half the requirements.
6) Next stop: electronics. If you pass an employee, detour, but otherwise there is an employee there at all times, sometimes 2.
7) Now I go into HABA and cleaning and knock a few things off my list. Usually hit an employee somewhere in there, especially before 4.
8) Lastly, checkstands. If I am short 1 employee, I browse through wherever I see one and then checkout. Last week's took me 37 minutes and I got part of my grocery list.
~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~* Shoppin' Mama of 4 lovely & unique girls and Nana to Bella, Delilah and Lincoln, shopping in Oregon and parts of Washington
The wheelchair/scooter option has always appeared on the ones I've checked, but I've never used one and never been rejected because of it. I'd feel terrible if I tried one and someone came in who really needed it & none were available. I do pay attention & report any areas that would restrict access according to ADA requirements.
I really like your list of hints, Jaosmom! It's basically the way I've been doing my visits, but you've got it down to a science I'll use in the future.
I really like your list of hints, Jaosmom! It's basically the way I've been doing my visits, but you've got it down to a science I'll use in the future.
Every now and again in the requirements (you know before you self assign), it says it must be shopped by a wheelchair perspective. I almost took one of those when the pay got high enough as it was a few towns over and I didn't think I would see anyone but I didn't end up with the shop.
Liz
cvb42jeb Wrote:
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> The wheelchair/scooter option has always appeared
> on the ones I've checked, but I've never used one
> and never been rejected because of it. I'd feel
> terrible if I tried one and someone came in who
> really needed it & none were available. I do pay
> attention & report any areas that would restrict
> access according to ADA requirements.
>
> I really like your list of hints, Jaosmom! It's
> basically the way I've been doing my visits, but
> you've got it down to a science I'll use in the
> future.
Liz
cvb42jeb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The wheelchair/scooter option has always appeared
> on the ones I've checked, but I've never used one
> and never been rejected because of it. I'd feel
> terrible if I tried one and someone came in who
> really needed it & none were available. I do pay
> attention & report any areas that would restrict
> access according to ADA requirements.
>
> I really like your list of hints, Jaosmom! It's
> basically the way I've been doing my visits, but
> you've got it down to a science I'll use in the
> future.
I am thinking about trying the K-Mart shop this month. Thanks for all the great info. I would not even mind doing the scooter.
Wow Jao--- you are lucky
I have never, ever seen anyone actually working in electronics. Once I had a question and they had to page someone three times. I have only seen someone at the jewelry counter once. Layaway is hit or miss.
There is however always someone stocking women's socks!
I have never, ever seen anyone actually working in electronics. Once I had a question and they had to page someone three times. I have only seen someone at the jewelry counter once. Layaway is hit or miss.
There is however always someone stocking women's socks!
Thanks Jasonmom! The input on how you do your Kamrts was very helpful. It prompted me to try one. I have always avoided them after the bad experience with the Lowes & finding 6 live people! I tried my first one and it went very well. No one even close to the jewelry nor did they come running to it. But I did get all the people I needed & only took be about 40 min. I just did another one yesterday. It was a new store & there was a lot of employees around. But they were going from one dept. to another so it took longer to find a different one. I got a good grade on it (for what it's worth) LOL
I would have two problems with doing Kmart shops in my city:
1. Most of them are located in shitty-town.
2. I am not so sure that I have observed 6 employees actually on the floor in a typical KMart. Finding someone to help me find an item/department is next to impossible.
1. Most of them are located in shitty-town.
2. I am not so sure that I have observed 6 employees actually on the floor in a typical KMart. Finding someone to help me find an item/department is next to impossible.
Lowe's is another story! LOL- I have yet to do one of those during the winter, but now that the nice weather in Oregon has ended, I may have to revise my pattern for that one, too. Basically for Lowe's I make a list on a small piece of lined paper ( I use the little pack of colored lined notes from Dollar Tree). In between the lines of the list, I write the sections I need to hit for my shop. Then I cross off the list and scribble in the info. I park by the garden center doors. If I see employees or a cashier there, I enter there and tick off either an employee interaction or observed cashier. Then I go up and down the 2 main aisles, and usually will hit at least one, if not 2 employees there. I find that before 2pm, there are lots of employees. Appliances always has an employee. I almost always hit my assigned department very first or very last. My record is 32 minutes, and that's with purchasing a few items off my list- longest is 75 minutes- store was shorthanded and I was ready to drop by the time I got out of there. Hint: always look for the older employees. Not only is the service great, but they will pause long enough to chat with you so that you won't have problems reading their nametag!
~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~* Shoppin' Mama of 4 lovely & unique girls and Nana to Bella, Delilah and Lincoln, shopping in Oregon and parts of Washington
I did one KMart and doubt I will do another unless the pay is great! I felt very unwelcome, the employees kept passing in front of me without acknowledging me and I couldn't read their name tag. The only employee to actually talk to me had a tag on a lanyard that was turned around!
Now Lowe's is a store I never had a problem finding employees at. There are six stores that I do on a regular basis and three others that I do occasionally when I am in the area. I always find well over the amount needed for the report.
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