Anyone done these shops? They are the ones when you call to arrange an event. The pay is good considering you only need to make a phone call. Makes me wonder what the catch is.

I used to do them a number of years ago. It is not the same restaurant chain, or maybe it is, as they most likely migrated over to some other msc I am not signed up with.
When I did them I felt it was decent pay. At the time you needed to have an email address that sounded like it was a business. (not your name @ gmail etc) Figure out your scenerio before you start the call as they will want to discuss numbers with you...numbers of people , dollars of budget, times, room styles, music, microphone availabiltiy and all that stuff. I did not have to go into a lot of detail but needed to sound credible if they asked with a ready backstory.

Thank you, Sandy! I like the fee, but dislike doing phone calls. I think I need a lot of practice to sound credible, so I'm kind of on the fence about applying.

1) Have the imaginary business written down with all the details you may be asked about. If you are having trouble comming up with a scenario, think of a business you actually know and change some details around.
2)Practice by talking to yourself beforehand
3)Find your inner Susan Sarandon or however is your favorite actress

It's really not that difficult. I did one where I had to be planning a personal party. I said my daughter was getting married. I do have a daughter. She was not getting married but she is old enough so picturing her in my mind when I made the call I could answer how I am pretty sure she would want the party to be. For the business one I just used my place of work in my mind. If you ever worked in an office just imagine you are arranging a meeting for your office mates. If you have not but you have a significant other, parent or someone who does just picture those people and what you know about their office environment. I work in a hospital so I just said the docs in my dept were entertaining some visiting docs from another country....They will most likely give you some budget numbers to work with in the job specs. If you look at the restaurant menu prices online before you call you will have an idea of how many you might be able to have with the budgeted $$ the msc is telling you that you can spend. Also, it is much easier to call after hours and leave the message on a machine that you decided not to do it than to call and have to tell someone in person. I think I said the visiting docs decided to put their visit off for now. Daughter could have decided to have the wedding in her fiance's city or some other plausible reason for not going forward.

I've done one too. I had to call and pretend to arrange a business event, and then upload any materials they sent me. I found it to be pretty easy, until my shop was rejected! I was not supposed to ask for a sales manager, but instead just explain my situation, and I would be transferred to one. So I did, and I was transferred to a person who identified herself as working in the sales office. However, I guess she was not the manager (I asked the MSC for clarification on this, and why my shop was rejected, but they never replied). So just a word of caution if this is the same one...somehow make sure you are talking to a manager, not just someone else who works in the sales office.

You were supposed to talk to a SM but not ask for one? And a shopper should make that happen how? Some sort of telekinesis?

Exactly, Lisa. I suppose I could have asked specifically for her title when she answered, and said I would be more comfortable speaking with a manager. But I bet she would've replied that she has the same resources and could help me just the same as the manager. Also, she hit most of the points on the survey (following up within 24 hours, discussing my options, sending me menus, sending me other materials), so it seems to me that the sales department was doing what the company wanted them to do. I feel like if the company wants to target a particular manager, they should provide you a name so you know you're talking to the right one. Needless to say, I won't do these anymore, especially after the MSC wouldn't respond to my request for further clarification.

Thank you all for the good tips! Was the form relatively easy to fill out, i.e. not too much narrative?

I think it's the same shop: I am supposed to contact the sales and marketing manager. I'll keep in mind not to ask for one directly. Thanks for the heads up!


bedenji Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've done one too. I had to call and pretend to
> arrange a business event, and then upload any
> materials they sent me. I found it to be pretty
> easy, until my shop was rejected! I was not
> supposed to ask for a sales manager, but instead
> just explain my situation, and I would be
> transferred to one. So I did, and I was
> transferred to a person who identified herself as
> working in the sales office. However, I guess she
> was not the manager (I asked the MSC for
> clarification on this, and why my shop was
> rejected, but they never replied). So just a word
> of caution if this is the same one...somehow make
> sure you are talking to a manager, not just
> someone else who works in the sales office.

I remember the report being ok. I believe there were narrative sections, but I don't remember it being bad for the pay. You did have to upload everything the sent (about 5-6 items), but again I didn't think this was unreasonable.

Just remember to NOT ask for a manager, but make sure you ARE speaking to one!