Is this so unusual?
Keep doing something long enough and it will happen.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
I have had a report declined for a recorded phone shop before - but the call did sound like I was in the middle of a typhoon 
I gathered it was my air conditioning in the car blowing directly into the phone - hahahaha. I also had a Wing shop declined but I ordered 2 adult beverages, one for each of us but drank both. I thought I could get away with it but of course they asked and of course I was honest. They were both my fault and would never blame the MSing company for that. I would love to get a gander at some of these declined reports.
I gathered it was my air conditioning in the car blowing directly into the phone - hahahaha. I also had a Wing shop declined but I ordered 2 adult beverages, one for each of us but drank both. I thought I could get away with it but of course they asked and of course I was honest. They were both my fault and would never blame the MSing company for that. I would love to get a gander at some of these declined reports.
I've only been doing this for a year and a half but no, I have had none declined. I have had some put on hold for more information or for a correction but all were eventualyy accepted. I don't think this is unusual.
i had a pizza shop declined...i don't know why...i never got an email....I had done many before..with all the right pictures..good quality pics, etc.....it happened to be the point when i couldn't tolerate any more pizzas and had stopped logging on....I noticed a year later....every other company has always sent an email/called if there was an issue..apparently with this company--you actually have to check the website (or at least used to 3 years ago)....
another company declined a shop because they wrote the instructions wrong....and even though they worked...it wasn't what they wanted..and they said I should have known that wasn't what they wanted...they did admit it was poorly written and would change it...but I was still at fault.
another company declined a shop because they wrote the instructions wrong....and even though they worked...it wasn't what they wanted..and they said I should have known that wasn't what they wanted...they did admit it was poorly written and would change it...but I was still at fault.
I had a phone shop declined because the associate did not ask me any questions and I tried to ask her some which were? a no no. Thankfully I was only out 5.00.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2015 04:26PM by wozswoman.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2015 04:26PM by wozswoman.
I had a Papa John's shop declined. I was supposed to order a certain size and they were out so I ordered from what they had available. Sucked for me because in the end I had to pay for a pizza for other people (I won't/can't eat that type of thing). I felt it was unfair, since it was delivery only shop and they figure out shoppers really quickly there. I can't get delivery from a different location. So when I called and he said they were out and offered me a larger size for less than the medium I had to think on the spot and just order because otherwise it would be a flake. I contacted the MSP about this and they didn't respond. Filed the report anyways only to have it declined the next day because I ordered the wrong size. No huge deal. That MSP doesn't have much work for me and I only do these shops when visitors are the mood for pizza.
Where are we going... and why are we in a hand basket?
I had a bar and lounge evaluation declined once. I was supposed to arrive an hour and a half before the kitchen closed and order some food at the bar, and their website didn't list when the kitchen closed, just when the bar closed (midnight). So I go an hour and a half before midnight and I'm told by the manager the kitchen's closed. I figured I could try doing the rest of the evaluation anyway and see if I get paid, and get a table. While there I'm told that last call is at 11:15 and I hadn't been to the bar yet (and I have to pay cash at the bar) so I jump up and try to order something only for the manager to be there and insist on charging the drinks at the bar to my table.
It was kind of out of my hands (the bar did not give me enough information on their website and my instructions said not to call them) but I also was pretty much unable to do everything they wanted me to do as part of the report. I wish they'd have reimbursed me but, eh, c'est la vie.
It was kind of out of my hands (the bar did not give me enough information on their website and my instructions said not to call them) but I also was pretty much unable to do everything they wanted me to do as part of the report. I wish they'd have reimbursed me but, eh, c'est la vie.
I had one declined, because I checked in at the wrong time; another declined, because I went on the wrong date.
There were those phone shops for a certain company that will remain un-named, and never forgotten.
I've been doing this sort of work part-time, since early 2008, in about 24 cities and towns.
Haven't had one declined because of doing an overall bad job, unless you count the phone shops, and more people than I have had problems there.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2015 04:20AM by MelanieOR.
There were those phone shops for a certain company that will remain un-named, and never forgotten.
I've been doing this sort of work part-time, since early 2008, in about 24 cities and towns.
Haven't had one declined because of doing an overall bad job, unless you count the phone shops, and more people than I have had problems there.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2015 04:20AM by MelanieOR.
@Misanthrope wrote:
I had a bar and lounge evaluation declined once. I was supposed to arrive an hour and a half before the kitchen closed and order some food at the bar, and their website didn't list when the kitchen closed, just when the bar closed (midnight). So I go an hour and a half before midnight and I'm told by the manager the kitchen's closed. I figured I could try doing the rest of the evaluation anyway and see if I get paid, and get a table. While there I'm told that last call is at 11:15 and I hadn't been to the bar yet (and I have to pay cash at the bar) so I jump up and try to order something only for the manager to be there and insist on charging the drinks at the bar to my table.
It was kind of out of my hands (the bar did not give me enough information on their website and my instructions said not to call them) but I also was pretty much unable to do everything they wanted me to do as part of the report. I wish they'd have reimbursed me but, eh, c'est la vie.
really, you couldn't call? a typical customer might call to see what time the kitchen closed...i wonder what their reasoning was.
@jmitw wrote:
@Misanthrope wrote:
I had a bar and lounge evaluation declined once. I was supposed to arrive an hour and a half before the kitchen closed and order some food at the bar, and their website didn't list when the kitchen closed, just when the bar closed (midnight). So I go an hour and a half before midnight and I'm told by the manager the kitchen's closed. I figured I could try doing the rest of the evaluation anyway and see if I get paid, and get a table. While there I'm told that last call is at 11:15 and I hadn't been to the bar yet (and I have to pay cash at the bar) so I jump up and try to order something only for the manager to be there and insist on charging the drinks at the bar to my table.
It was kind of out of my hands (the bar did not give me enough information on their website and my instructions said not to call them) but I also was pretty much unable to do everything they wanted me to do as part of the report. I wish they'd have reimbursed me but, eh, c'est la vie.
really, you couldn't call? a typical customer might call to see what time the kitchen closed...i wonder what their reasoning was.
I'll be perfectly honest; I didn't imagine the kitchen would be closed. To me a kitchen, let alone a bar, closing in New York City (where I operate) before eleven is a bit weird to me; especially because this was a bar in a hotel. What if I just flew in on a red eye and wanted a snack?
@Lexxycon wrote:
So when I called and he said they were out and offered me a larger size for less than the medium I had to think on the spot and just order because otherwise it would be a flake.
You have to really think on your feet and always have an exit plan to gracefully walk out of any shop.
1. That sounds great! Let me call you back in a little bit and order when (whoever) shows up as I'll share the pizza with my friend. Then contact the MSC first if available. If not abort.
2. Mid sentence hang up, "That sounds gre....." Nobody will call you back, even if they have your number on caller ID.
If it's a pickup order, use a disposable Google voice number and bring a bath towel to wrap the pizza to keep it warm. When you get home, lay the towel out under the pizza box before the photo so they don't have a picture of your table. I have a very unusual tablecloth and it would become apparent when they saw the photo's that it was the same shopper.
I have a whole closet full of mis-matched towels.
Out of over 5,000 shops...
1 declined for a bus being present (even though all passengers were out of the restaurant.) It was the last day of the rotation and I waited until the last minutes of the meal window hoping the bus would leave. Was told that I should have just cancelled.
2 declined for going to the wrong location. Was allowed to go back to one and still get it done.
1 declined as location manager lied to get the report thrown out.
1 declined as a credit card required for gas purchase, but the full serve gas station only accepted credit cards for $10 or more. My car could only hold another $5 in gas (with $3 reimbursed), so I paid the attendant cash.
3 bad luck. 2 my own stupidity. I can accept a rejection rate of just under 0.1%.
There are probably a half dozen more where I caught my own mistakes and redid the shops so as not to risk the rejected reports.
1 declined for a bus being present (even though all passengers were out of the restaurant.) It was the last day of the rotation and I waited until the last minutes of the meal window hoping the bus would leave. Was told that I should have just cancelled.
2 declined for going to the wrong location. Was allowed to go back to one and still get it done.
1 declined as location manager lied to get the report thrown out.
1 declined as a credit card required for gas purchase, but the full serve gas station only accepted credit cards for $10 or more. My car could only hold another $5 in gas (with $3 reimbursed), so I paid the attendant cash.
3 bad luck. 2 my own stupidity. I can accept a rejection rate of just under 0.1%.
There are probably a half dozen more where I caught my own mistakes and redid the shops so as not to risk the rejected reports.
@elcarev68 wrote:
There are probably a half dozen more where I caught my own mistakes and redid the shops so as not to risk the rejected reports.
I have done that. Due to a bad traffic accident, I arrived at the location not leaving enough time to complete the shop within the allotted time frame so I rescheduled for the next day. No cancellation; no rejected report; happy MSC, client and shopper.
I've had shops rejected, by marketforce particularly when the bank shop was well bonused. They excuse they used was that I was a cousin of the branch manager. It didn't seem to matter that I was no related to this person, wasn't from this area and have absolutely no family other than my husband and pets.
I've been shopping over 22 years now with well over 35,000 shops under my belt and rejections have been known to happen.
I've been shopping over 22 years now with well over 35,000 shops under my belt and rejections have been known to happen.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
I've had a couple over the 10 yrs I've been doing this. A couple of McD's, I went at the wrong time for the day, once ordered the wrong item, owned up to both mistakes but still rejected. One airport dining, I forgot to ask the dumb location question because of a big screwup by the location and they wanted to comp my meal. I called the MSC right after and owned up to it, but still rejected.
I was afraid I'd have an airport fine dining (read: big $$$) rejected when I totally spaced and ordered a wine instead of a mixed drink. Fortunately the person next to me did order a mixed drink, and I was able to use that interaction for the upsel. Whew!!
I was afraid I'd have an airport fine dining (read: big $$$) rejected when I totally spaced and ordered a wine instead of a mixed drink. Fortunately the person next to me did order a mixed drink, and I was able to use that interaction for the upsel. Whew!!
I have had two rejected for my own errors... one for ordering the wrong item, (brain malfunction that day), and the other for a phone shop that I just couldn't do right to save my life. I no longer do phone shops....
I have had one rejected because they identified me as the shopper. I was supposed to get a pic of the exterior. In a tiny parking lot, I wasn't able to take it stealthily enough, and they knew I was a shopper.
I've been a shopper for 6 years, and have only had one shop rejected. It was Ritter, and I felt the reason was unfair, so I no longer shop for them. Other than that, no issues.
I love reading the variety of situations for rejected shop reports. Props to those who admitted that it was their fault without unnecessarily bashing the MSC and for explaining what actually happened. It may be unusual for a shopper to never have had a rejected report but from what I can tell, only one or two shops out of triple and quadruple digit shops is an excellent track record.
I've had a McD's rejected because I didn't realize you had to go a bit later for lunch on a Sunday. I got there 5 minutes too early. I then had a bank shop rejected because they knew I was the mystery shopper.
That's about it for having completed thousands of shops.
That's about it for having completed thousands of shops.
There are times when the MSC is at fault....how about the one where the instructions say don't evaluate the bathroom (in the employee only area).....but they actually did what you to go into the restricted area..and the report gets rejected because you didn't evaluate the bathroom.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2015 05:53PM by jmitw.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2015 05:53PM by jmitw.
Of course there are. But some shoppers ALWAYS blame the MSC or the client or the employee or the dog for THEIR mistakes. I thought it was refreshing to read the various stories above.
Yes, kimmiemae. I just saw that one. Just joined the forum and first post right out of the gate is bashing Ritter for THEIR (the shopper's) mistake. Gotta love it!
Lets see, I sat down to do my report and read how many cars infront of me at drive through. I had done the walk in. lol
The time frame was past so I couldn't go back. My report wasn't rejected because I couldn't fill it out, just had to cancel.
I've had a recorded phone shop rejected and I do really try to speak clearly and straight into my phone. I shut off everything in the house. So, I did feel that was a bit unfair.
Overall my mixups are on me. I sometimes don't have the best reaction when things go off track. lol
The time frame was past so I couldn't go back. My report wasn't rejected because I couldn't fill it out, just had to cancel.
I've had a recorded phone shop rejected and I do really try to speak clearly and straight into my phone. I shut off everything in the house. So, I did feel that was a bit unfair.
Overall my mixups are on me. I sometimes don't have the best reaction when things go off track. lol
When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
Alexander Den Heijer
@prince: "I sometimes don't have the best reaction when things go off track."
Be glad because I actually scare myself at how easily I can now, with mystery shopping experience, explain anything away without blinking or losing eye contact.
(heart)
Be glad because I actually scare myself at how easily I can now, with mystery shopping experience, explain anything away without blinking or losing eye contact.
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
over 7 yrs shopping 1000's of shops and 3 I can remeber. Two Phones shops and the other can't remember.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
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