Has anyone done a bookstore "Rush Evaluation" for Stericycle? There's one on the job board near me that I'm considering picking up. This is to evaluate a bookstore during the beginning-of-semester rush. What's the shop like?

I'm also a little curious if I'll have trouble getting into the facility or finding a place to park. I don't attend the school where the bookstore is located. Not sure how to find that out unless I call the bookstore directly and ask. And I'm afraid that'll give me away as a shopper.

I have never done one of these shops but most colleges have a map of the grounds on their website. That could help you locate the bookstore.

If your city has good public transportation, you might consider parking somewhere else (like a grocery store or mall) and riding to the site - those places can be madhouses during that week! Parking is a dangerous undertaking.

Lisa4984 Wrote:
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> If your city has good public transportation, you
> might consider parking somewhere else (like a
> grocery store or mall) and riding to the site -
> those places can be madhouses during that week!
> Parking is a dangerous undertaking.


My city has awful public transportation. Not an option here, unfortunately. This bookstore is actually on a satellite campus, so maybe it won't be so bad. Nothing like it would be on a big university campus. If I read things right, the bookstore is located inside one of the campus buildings -- not like the bookstore across the street from the college my daughter attended.

Most campuses have visitor parking spaces that you could use. Otherwise, I'd just plan on parking off-site and walking. You could consider that your exercise for the day :-)

I've done scores of college bookstore shops for two different MSCs. One MSC increased the requirements significantly in the middle of last year, and then supposedly decreased them towards the end of the year. I have not done one since those changes were made, but it looks to be comparable to one and a half Lowe's shops in complexity and reporting time.
I've never had trouble parking. I've used a visitor spot when available, and parked in any open spot when no visitor spots are around. Never been ticketed. Before move-in, they generally don't even check parking. During classes, campus security does check, and I would just apologize if there was any problem. If this "Rush Evaluation" is during move-in, everyone parks everywhere with impunity except at loading bays and hydrants.
Your shop time will be longer during move-in, but that may be part of what they're evaluating.
Check the campus website for a map and move-in/academic calendar.

I've actually done the college bookstore rush over the years and have found it fun. Also keep in mind that some of the college locations that may be deemed harder to reach may also have these locations heavily bonused. I recall doing three locations for $40 each, and two locations for $50 each.

My best advice is to just to go online to the college's website and look for the bookstore icon, since it will post the hours and location. The bookstore location is usually on the site to ensure students either order their books online or go in as a walk-in. There is usually visitors parking within the bookstore area, yet if not, go to the campus security and get a visitor's pass.

Have fun with this shop! I certainly did.

Not worth your time at the current fee of $4.00

I have signed up for 5 and the rate was set at $21. I've done these for several years and they are fairly easy. You should definitely figure out where you are going before you sign up. The location I am doing tomorrow is almost like a regular bookstore, with on-street free parking. It's my favorite location because they cater to non-students just as much as students, so I blend right in.

The other 4 locations are on-campus, but these aren't huge university campuses. The stores vary in size - one is not much larger than a walk-in closet, the others are larger. Free parking is available at each but is very limited. There will likely be plenty of signs on campus directing you to the bookstore, but you can also ask anyone and they'll direct you.

I like these shops because being around college kids is refreshing. Makes me feel younger and more energized for the day.

Super simple shop. But totally not worth the $4. And adults are common site on college campus now.
Take an empty backpack if you have one around the house. Makes you blend easy.

LisaKwaj Wrote:
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>Not sure how to find that
> out unless I call the bookstore directly and ask.
> And I'm afraid that'll give me away as a shopper.


If I need to ask the restaurant some stupid questions prior to a recorded order for the MSC and don't want to be recognized when I call for the official order, I ask a family member of the opposite sex to call and ask all the things that are not on the web site.

Example: beverage choices, soup of the day, deserts they made that day and what the specials are.

When the MSC is recording the call is not the time to freeze up trying to decide what your going to order.

They may not even offer the specials on a to go order without asking.

I have ordered really good stuff to go that would have not been known about if I didn't get someone to make a pre-call for me to find out what is available for that day.

They are asking YOU to do the pre call not a family member.
This is the second post tonight with what might seem like an ok problem solution.
They are not paying another person to do the call.
You must do the report therefore they want you to do the call.

scanman1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LisaKwaj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >Not sure how to find that
> > out unless I call the bookstore directly and
> ask.
> > And I'm afraid that'll give me away as a
> shopper.
>
>
> If I need to ask the restaurant some stupid
> questions prior to a recorded order for the MSC
> and don't want to be recognized when I call for
> the official order, I ask a family member of the
> opposite sex to call and ask all the things that
> are not on the web site.
>
> Example: beverage choices, soup of the day,
> deserts they made that day and what the specials
> are.
>
> When the MSC is recording the call is not the time
> to freeze up trying to decide what your going to
> order.
>
> They may not even offer the specials on a to go
> order without asking.
>
> I have ordered really good stuff to go that would
> have not been known about if I didn't get someone
> to make a pre-call for me to find out what is
> available for that day.

Canadamommy, I don't think Scanman1 is implying that someone does the phone shop for him/her. I think (s)he has a friend or family member call first and ask questions that aren't part of the shop, but might be helpful to know. (S)He's suggesting that I have someone else call and ask if there is parking available and if I'll need any kind of ID or pass to get into the facility. But I'll do the actual pre-shop phone call myself, of course, and only ask the scripted questions. Does that make sense?

This shop pays $21, so they must be the same that you're doing, jonk. I did assign the shop to myself, but the shop window doesn't start until the 10th. I really appreciate everyone's advice -- I'll let you know how it goes!

:-)

These are very simple, and they never manage to get them scheduled in my area until well after the rush, so the store is always dead when I do them.

The shops were reduced to $21 from $22.50 since the end of the fall semester because you don't have to do the web inquiry part this round. I've been doing them since last week, 8 in all and they are fairly easy. For the phone call portion I tell them this is my first semester on campus and need to know where they are located on campus, works every time. Parking has never been a problem, yet. If it's an off campus site, make sure you have quarters for the parking meter. The report is a bit of a pain since there is no save button. I have hit the wrong button on the keyboard and had to start all over again!!!! I did one yesterday and there was nobody in the store and it was the size of a broom closet with only one bookseller.

at my college..the visitor parking was at least a 5 minute brisk walk to the book store!

some colleges do have shuttles..

Yes i do the 2 to 3 times a year. They are preaty easy to do . I only do them when they pay at least $20.00 because they can be time consuming standing in the long lines of students buying books. But report itself is easy to do.

Thank you everyone for all the great info! I ended up doing five of them this week. Like you, I found them to be relatively easy, and didn't have to struggle to come up with things to comment on in the narratives. I only had to pay for parking on one campus, and it cost me $2. Bummer that Stericycle doesn't reimburse for parking, but it's not that big a deal. All in all, I'd do them again.

BEWARE, THEY KNOW YOU'RE COMING! Did one yesterday and two booksellers actually had a conversation about another store that had their "customer service review" yesterday (that was me) and so they are coming, be on the lookout. Little did they know that I, the one standing a few feet away waiting for assistance was there. They (store managers) obviously call each other to give a heads up. And, the bookselller also said they usually call first and come in the same day. Hmmm.....make sure the question you ask about during the pre-call is different than what you ask for in the store. I had the same person for both, dead giveaway.

NEVER EVER for that low fee....I've done them for 40.00 and up......