@jackaroe wrote:
Some Spencer shops also have funky scenarios .
One where you drop money on the counter and leave with the item saying you can't wait for the receipt. ( not quite stealing.)
Then mail the item back to them.
And another where you drop money on the floor and see what the clerk does.
@vlade5394 wrote:
This scenario is not theft when you have permission from the owner of the merchandise to do it. I repeat it is not a crime.
The problem is that the people at the store, including any security personnel and the police, are not on board with the scenario. Because it looks like theft, you could run into difficulties that a LOA may or may not not solve satisfactorily.
Those potential problems are not something I want to deal for $40. I'm not sure any price is good enough for this type of shop.
@AustinMom wrote:
I was interested to see the comparison made between this shop and a grocery shop requiring the shopper to exit the store with unpaid items on the bottom of the basket if the personnel don't see and charge for the merchandise. For me, this shop crosses a line and I deleted without considering it. I do the bottom-of-the-basket scenario with no problems. Putting a wallet inside a purse and attempting to purchase it - no way.
I also agree the pay is far too little for what they want...........IF I were willing to consider it.
@dspeakes wrote:
I brought that up (concealing your own item) but nobody ever said if the guidelines indicated it would be allowed.
@SoCalMama wrote:
I am fairly certain that you aren't shoplifting unless you actually take it outside of the store.
@SoCalMama wrote:
I am fairly certain that you aren't shoplifting unless you actually take it outside of the store. Are you supposed to actually try to take it outside after paying for the purse or are you suppose to "realize" that you have it after you pay, but before you cross the door outside the store?
I saw those for $40. I'm too busy this week, but it's something I would consider doing.
@jpgilham wrote:
I was glad to find this thread as I saw these shops yesterday and I was like "hell no!" I told my husband about it and he was also a "hell no."
@MzRed wrote:
You also have to think about the fact that not every store is going to accept a letter of authorization, no matter what kind of reveal it is. I was doing an Exxon audit, it didn't even have an integrity type scenario to, just an audit. The store manager knew nothing about it. He tried to call one of the numbers, couldn't get through and he refused the audit. That letter of authorization did 0. I'm not saying don't do that Shop I'm just saying be aware of those things before you decide to. Another extremely important point on integrity audits, especially that particular one you described, if that's a local shop for you and that employee ends up getting fired, obviously they will have to have been told why. That could be a bad repercussion for you personally. again, not saying don't do it, just think about those things before you make your final decision.
@CureMS wrote:
see thar's why this forum is so important. i never thought about the jail angle. according to my sister, an attorney, charges would have to be pressed by the stoew. HOWEVER you could spend a weekend in jail. get a mug shot and fingerprints for the police yo have AND miss your deadline. for what i would now charge to do something like this i could take all my extended family on an all expenses paid first class trip to the dominican republic for a week or two.
@jrossetti wrote:
So much terrible and misleading information here.
For jobs like this you are ALWAYS given a way to protect yourself. First of which is these businesses know they get shopped like this. Second is they would come with a letter of authorization. Third, NO MSP is going to give you a job where you will get thrown in jail. Jesus christ. The drama from most of you.
Ive done these in varying ways. A grocery store was having me keep an item on the bottom of the cart to see if it was caught, ive been told to take something from the room and then not tell the front desk when asked, and ive been asked to hide an item inside of another item too.
These jobs are loss prevention jobs and are part of the businesses loss prevention plan. They do this to make sure that their staff are not losing inventory to easily preventable things and this is one of the easiest ways to steal because there are so many places to hide things.
@jrossetti wrote:
@CureMS wrote:
see thar's why this forum is so important. i never thought about the jail angle. according to my sister, an attorney, charges would have to be pressed by the stoew. HOWEVER you could spend a weekend in jail. get a mug shot and fingerprints for the police yo have AND miss your deadline. for what i would now charge to do something like this i could take all my extended family on an all expenses paid first class trip to the dominican republic for a week or two.
There is not a single shred of truth in what you just posted.
No one will go to jail.
No one will be arrested.
No one will get a mug shot and fingerprints.
I smoke a lot of herb, but apparently you all have me beat. We need to talk.
These are loss prevention jobs. Their employees and store managers know they are being conducted. No store or MSP is going to hire someone to do a job that could get them arrested or in jail. Jesus christ. What is WRONG with you guys? You feed off one another with this terrible information and thought process. Holy crap. This is amazing. Ive only ever read about this kind of thing .
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
You go right ahead and do them..... you can risk jail all you want. Yes they are loss prevention but the problem is a mystery shopper is not a hired employee for risk prevention. Explain that one to the local police, letter or not...
You're giving a false argument. There is no risk of going to jail. That's not even a point to take seriously.
Can you find a single shred of evidence to back up someone having gone to jail for one of these kinds of jobs, anywhere, ever?
Now when you can't do that, remember they have been doing these kinds of jobs for a long long time. If there was any realistic chance of this happening you would be able to find it and PEOPLE WHO DO THESE JOBS WOULD HAVE MENTIONED IT. Instead, we're all saying you guys are being riduclous and there isn't any concerns like that.
Let's NOT listen to the people who do them and LETS l isten to the people who are declining them and have never done them. That just doesn't make any sense at all.
Unless you can provide SOME type of evidence that someone could go to jail based I don't understand why you feel this way?
Why not just not do the job. Why pretend like it's because you might go to jail. You're not doing this job because you are uncomfortable with the scenario, not because of "possibly going to jail" because that is non existent.
I have a letter of authorization, the employees are trained, I have a phone number for the business and the store managers are also in the loop. Ive certainly been questioned and asked about things, but once I bust out the credentials or have them talk to their boss I am on the way. Even if the police did show up, or the employee wasn't trained, by the time they arrive (since I haven't run and the staff there can't touch me) ive had enough time to present my information and they can contact their boss and I am on my way.
These are not at all scary and complicated. Pretty easy money.
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