I've been shopping for over 2 years. I've probably done 1000+ shops for at least 20 companies. Last year I signed up with Confero. I haven't done any shops for them but recently signed up for an amusement park. Weeks went by and I never heard anything so I forgot about it. Now I received an email from Confero wanting to know the names of at least 3 msc that I've worked for, as well as a writing sample, and other information.

FWIW, the assignment reimburses you for a ticket, but I'm already a season pass holder to this amusement park, and I had stated that when I applied for the assignment. The pay is $5.

Are they for real?

Very for real. Have worked for them for years. That just means you have not totally filled out your sign up form. No at all unusual.

Why would you apply for the assignment if it did not make financial sense for you? For some shoppers without seasonal passes, the ticket reimbursement and $5 fee might be sufficient.

I only accepted the amusement park after they raised the pay to 2 tickets, parking, $60 for food and a $20 fee. Let others toil to help MSCs; I only work when the conditions are favorable for Bob.

cynb Wrote:
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> Very for real. Have worked for them for years.
> That just means you have not totally filled out
> your sign up form. No at all unusual.


I did fill out the firm completely. They said that their reason was because I'd never completed a job for them.

>Now I received an email from Confero wanting to know the names of at least 3 msc that I've worked for, as well as a writing sample, and other information.

The answer to that is testing your confidentiality agreement with them. If you give them the information about other companies you work for you will leak information about Confero to anyone.

I tell them to look at their confidentiality clause. All the MSP's have them. Then take a look at the MSPA list of members. Most shoppers if they are MSPA certified, work for those members and probably many other MSP's. I would be violating that confidentiality clause if I reveal information regarding other MSP's I have as clients. They rely on me to keep that information confidential.

If I applied elsewhere and another potential client asked me who I worked for and give a writing sample of a shop I performed for Confero, Confero would be upset if I said, "I worked for Confero and I did this that and other things Confero's guidelines and instructions required me to do!

Piled Hip Deep, PHD Wrote:
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> >Now I received an email from Confero wanting to
> know the names of at least 3 msc that I've worked
> for, as well as a writing sample, and other
> information.
>
> The answer to that is testing your confidentiality
> agreement with them. If you give them the
> information about other companies you work for you
> will leak information about Confero to anyone.
>
> I tell them to look at their confidentiality
> clause. All the MSP's have them. Then take a look
> at the MSPA list of members. Most shoppers if they
> are MSPA certified, work for those members and
> probably many other MSP's. I would be violating
> that confidentiality clause if I reveal
> information regarding other MSP's I have as
> clients. They rely on me to keep that information
> confidential.
>
> If I applied elsewhere and another potential
> client asked me who I worked for and give a
> writing sample of a shop I performed for Confero,
> Confero would be upset if I said, "I worked for
> Confero and I did this that and other things
> Confero's guidelines and instructions required me
> to do!

Not a trick question and no blood. We only want to know the names of other mystery shopping companies you've worked with. We may want to contact them for reference if needed.

We do not want you to tell us where you've conducted mystery shops and would not breach client confidentiality.

The project you are referring to was an "incentive" program where you would reward servers who are successful. We usually only assign to experienced Confero shoppers, but on occasion, we do recruit new shoppers for these types of projects.

There is a responsibility factor since you would would be the one distributing prizes.

Please consider conducting other mystery shops for us and be ready to get assignments next summer!

After signing up with area mystery shopping companies when I got into this business, I realized many applications ask the same questions when they require a written answer.....what companies to you work for, what types of shops have you completed, give a narrative of you best/worst customer service experience, why you will be a good shopper, etc. I created a word document with answers to all these questions and any new ones that popped up along the way. Now, applications take no time regardless of how many narratives they want me to do....either in the beginning or later when they request you update your profile.

amie068 Wrote:
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> After signing up with area mystery shopping
> companies when I got into this business, I
> realized many applications ask the same questions
> when they require a written answer.....what
> companies to you work for, what types of shops
> have you completed, give a narrative of you
> best/worst customer service experience, why you
> will be a good shopper, etc. I created a word
> document with answers to all these questions and
> any new ones that popped up along the way. Now,
> applications take no time regardless of how many
> narratives they want me to do....either in the
> beginning or later when they request you update
> your profile.

Lol...

I do the same thing but recently signed up for a company that wanted the best/worst narrative in 60 words or less. My first paragraph of my refined demo sample was 345 words. Gulp

Needless to say there was very little description in that narrative.

The writing samples are just about seeing if you can write a paragraph in English.

Does Confero ever have NON-reveal shops? I don't recall doing any for them. I wonder if "Confero" came from to confer prizes. Hmmm.

They do have some non-reveals. I will only do those. I don't like the reveals.

I LOVE the reveals. It's nice to be able to give a prize and see the face of the employee when you tell them they did a good job. Telling them they didn't do such a good job, not so much fun.

i have a variety of generic writing samples saved for any msc that wants them. That is the best way to go.

I only liked to do the announced reveals that require you to schedule an appointment. I have done a few surprise reveals but those are sometimes awkward.