The schedulers as of late of more than just a few, MS companies seem to be extremely lazy in posting shops. It appears that the 'area around 25-50 miles' of the ZIP code for the shop is rarely adhered to hence I am bombarded with WAAAY out-of-area shops.

If I was travelling - whether out-of-town or out-of-state, I would seek the parameters of shops in that location. However, I'm in CA - no where near TX or WA or most any other place. When using SASSIE, the prompt is, "shops in 12345 ZIP code or shops with 25 miles of 12345.

My second 'concern' is the MS Companies that post a shop with no information 'up-front'. I am to logon to the MS website, to determine if I'm eligible, if the shop is in my area, etc. consequently, I do not open the link to their website. I consider MY time valuable and, although I live in a small area of CA, and shops are less plentiful (as opposed to a metro area), I feel it rude (and lazy) to not be up-front with the request. Just say, auto shop in Timbuktu!

One more thing - there are many Chinese Gourmet/Sansei shops posted by a particular MS company that only reimburse and do not pay a shop fee. The shop itself is about $10 in reimbursement. Again, MY time is valuable. Why would I take a shop for no pay?

Does anyone actually do the 'test drive' shops? As a former car salesperson, I can tell you it's a terrible waste of the salesperson's time - and, if the salesperson is any good, you'll have a difficult time NOT purchasing the product. I rarely let an "UP" (new person on the lot) walk away with nothing.

But that's what mystery shopping is about. Evaluating the skills, including the salesman's skill in doing his best to get the sale and then *not getting it.*

And plenty of people are willing to work for food.

if you don't like those shops, don't take them. But don't criticize people who do. this is such a "different strokes for different folks" business it's hardly worth commenting on the things others take that you won't. I'm sure there are shops you do that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

as a car shopper...i would be a very hard customer to sell to.....yes as a real customer I would take test drives...and not buy....

in fact...one time i did a mystery shop.....if i had been a real customer....and really wanted the car....i still would have walked out because of the sales games that were being played.....they were typical sales techniques....but so apparent I almost laughed at them...

I've been seeing "out of my area shops" for 4 years and it does not bother me. I never considered the schedulers as "lazy" for posting them.

You never know when someone will be traveling. i've never done a shop while traveling out of my state but I always look. I did do a few Gigwalks in Oregon once.

A few thoughts:
Maybe there's a bug in Sassie that's not letting them email the correct radius. Have you reported it as a technical problem to any of your ms companies?
I also do not like to work for just food with no fee - I avoid those shops and only take those that have payment with it. To each their own, right?
The shops that get posted on forums or job boards are pretty general since they're targeted to tens of thousands of people and they provide just basic info. To get more detail on the shop, they need you to be registered with their site for their own contractual obligations with their clients. The shops that are emailed to me are typically filtered. I don't get emails for age compliance shops anymore, for example.

I have not had the nerves to do a car sales hop yet. There one dealership within yards of my domicile. I have never bought a new vehicle and just don't think I can pull it off. glad you have fun doing these shops

Why don't you go window shopping for a car, not on a shop, so you can go through the process and have it not be so scary? Just go to one and kick tires, find out about the new bells and whistles they come with these days so you'll be familiar with them and also have some idea of what a salesperson should be talking about so you'll recognize if he doesn't.

Have a friend take you and leave the credit cards, checkbook, and driver's license at home so you can't be tempted by a sales pitch.

But do it at a place you will never shop, not the one you might shop. They remember.

@dspeakes wrote:

Why don't you go window shopping for a car, not on a shop, so you can go through the process and have it not be so scary? Just go to one and kick tires, find out about the new bells and whistles they come with these days so you'll be familiar with them and also have some idea of what a salesperson should be talking about so you'll recognize if he doesn't.

Have a friend take you and leave the credit cards, checkbook, and driver's license at home so you can't be tempted by a sales pitch.

But do it at a place you will never shop, not the one you might shop. They remember.

This is a great idea for all sorts of high end assignments.

Trust me, it's not about being lazy. I have had a lot of luck when I post an email asking for traveling shoppers. It's a method that works on hard to fill locations where the shopper count is low.

@Lainerz wrote:

The schedulers as of late of more than just a few, MS companies seem to be extremely lazy in posting shops. It appears that the 'area around 25-50 miles' of the ZIP code for the shop is rarely adhered to hence I am bombarded with WAAAY out-of-area shops.

If I was travelling - whether out-of-town or out-of-state, I would seek the parameters of shops in that location. However, I'm in CA - no where near TX or WA or most any other place. When using SASSIE, the prompt is, "shops in 12345 ZIP code or shops with 25 miles of 12345.

My second 'concern' is the MS Companies that post a shop with no information 'up-front'. I am to logon to the MS website, to determine if I'm eligible, if the shop is in my area, etc. consequently, I do not open the link to their website. I consider MY time valuable and, although I live in a small area of CA, and shops are less plentiful (as opposed to a metro area), I feel it rude (and lazy) to not be up-front with the request. Just say, auto shop in Timbuktu!

One more thing - there are many Chinese Gourmet/Sansei shops posted by a particular MS company that only reimburse and do not pay a shop fee. The shop itself is about $10 in reimbursement. Again, MY time is valuable. Why would I take a shop for no pay?

Does anyone actually do the 'test drive' shops? As a former car salesperson, I can tell you it's a terrible waste of the salesperson's time - and, if the salesperson is any good, you'll have a difficult time NOT purchasing the product. I rarely let an "UP" (new person on the lot) walk away with nothing.