I've haven't done any shops with GFK yet, but was thinking of adding one of their Cell Phone store audits to a rout I'm planning. I haven't done any audits for anyone only mystery shops. The fee is $15.I know it depends on a lot of factors wither or not its worth it for each person, but I don't want to spend 1-2 hours in store, then spend another 1-2 hours doing a report for $15.

There's an app you can use for these audits on your tablet or smartphone which allows you to complete the report as you complete the shop. The average time in store for these are 22 minutes, with most auditors done in under 15.

@Cynthiam wrote:

I've haven't done any shops with GFK yet, but was thinking of adding one of their Cell Phone store audits to a rout I'm planning. I haven't done any audits for anyone only mystery shops. The fee is $15.I know it depends on a lot of factors wither or not its worth it for each person, but I don't want to spend 1-2 hours in store, then spend another 1-2 hours doing a report for $15.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 02:21PM by DanteScheduler.

I've done one audit, and it took about 30 minutes in the store. I didn't use the app, but the entry afterward was quick. I don't remember much, if any, narrative.

Last round my wife did one and the time in store was 12 minutes.

@MPorter3112 wrote:

I've done one audit, and it took about 30 minutes in the store. I didn't use the app, but the entry afterward was quick. I don't remember much, if any, narrative.

Awesome. I have an older smart phone, so i'm not sure if the app will run on it. The survey after was what had me concerned. But it sounds like its not bad. I'm going to go ahead and take the audit. I'm kind of new to mystery shopping and have stayed away from the audits till now. But I thought I'd widen my shopping experience

Personally, I enjoy them. I am not just saying that because I was given 540 of them to schedule total in OH, PA, KY, TN, VA, LA, MS, MT and ND.

@DanteScheduler wrote:

Last round my wife did one and the time in store was 12 minutes.

@MPorter3112 wrote:

I've done one audit, and it took about 30 minutes in the store. I didn't use the app, but the entry afterward was quick. I don't remember much, if any, narrative.

Ummm...wait a minute. You are a scheduler for GFK and your wife does shops for GFK? Not only do I immediately think of conflict-of-interest but, after successfully completing lots of cell phone store audits they only take 15-20 minutes if there are no other customers in the store and enough associates on duty to give you their full attention, which sometimes is a challenge. These audits take an average of 30-45 minutes with lots of reporting time.

You might think it is a "conflict of interest", but my supervisors think otherwise. I'm an "independent scheduler", not an employee. I can even do my own shops if I want. My wife is also an independent contractor; so there is no "conflict of interest".

The store she did was totally void of customers and she used the Rover app.

@parkcitybrian wrote:

@DanteScheduler wrote:

Last round my wife did one and the time in store was 12 minutes.

@MPorter3112 wrote:

I've done one audit, and it took about 30 minutes in the store. I didn't use the app, but the entry afterward was quick. I don't remember much, if any, narrative.

Ummm...wait a minute. You are a scheduler for GFK and your wife does shops for GFK? Not only do I immediately think of conflict-of-interest but, after successfully completing lots of cell phone store audits they only take 15-20 minutes if there are no other customers in the store and enough associates on duty to give you their full attention, which sometimes is a challenge. These audits take an average of 30-45 minutes with lots of reporting time.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 03:01PM by DanteScheduler.

The previous rounds of shops take less than 15 minutes to do and
as Dante said and I can backup, if you are efficent and fast, you can
get these done in 12 minutes or even less. I don't use the app as
I find it takes longer than doing it my way. I can use my camera
snap photos I need, mark down any issues on my spreadsheet I made
and be done very quick. If these take you 30-45 minutes you are doing
something very wrong. Why it matters if there are customers in the store
is beyond me. I take the photos, have someone sign and leave.

But as a note...this new round has more work for the same pay.
There is 6 additional photos required and checking of other product.

I remember when the pay was 18 dollars base and then they lowered
it to 15 because they eliminated checking some things. Now that you
have to check more again...no increase in pay...

I had some waiting time for speaking to the manager and waiting for some customers to be out of the way of my pictures.

@DanteScheduler wrote:

Last round my wife did one and the time in store was 12 minutes.

@MPorter3112 wrote:

I've done one audit, and it took about 30 minutes in the store. I didn't use the app, but the entry afterward was quick. I don't remember much, if any, narrative.

I've done more than a few of these shops for GFK. I'm going to try the app, thanks for that information Dante. As for the shops, I think $15 is OK. I've seen them bonused for $35 or more when they are trying to meet deadline. GFK pays every two weeks so these shops are good for your cash flow. The reports can be tedious sometimes so try not to do more than two of them a day, though I've done three before when they are bonused. Beware, though, because you have to wait 30-40 minutes to be assisted, and some of these stores have long lines. That's why I always arrive the moment the store opens, so I won't have to wait and lose money.

I had an auditor that completed 12 in one day.

@jilummer wrote:

I've done more than a few of these shops for GFK. I'm going to try the app, thanks for that information Dante. As for the shops, I think $15 is OK. I've seen them bonused for $35 or more when they are trying to meet deadline. GFK pays every two weeks so these shops are good for your cash flow. The reports can be tedious sometimes so try not to do more than two of them a day, though I've done three before when they are bonused. Beware, though, because you have to wait 30-40 minutes to be assisted, and some of these stores have long lines. That's why I always arrive the moment the store opens, so I won't have to wait and lose money.

What lines? This is a revealed audit and not a sales shop. I've been in stores that had
15 people in them. Didn't stop me from doing the audit.

@jilummer wrote:

I've done more than a few of these shops for GFK. I'm going to try the app, thanks for that information Dante. As for the shops, I think $15 is OK. I've seen them bonused for $35 or more when they are trying to meet deadline. GFK pays every two weeks so these shops are good for your cash flow. The reports can be tedious sometimes so try not to do more than two of them a day, though I've done three before when they are bonused. Beware, though, because you have to wait 30-40 minutes to be assisted, and some of these stores have long lines. That's why I always arrive the moment the store opens, so I won't have to wait and lose money.

not meaning to get into a pissing contest with a GFK scheduler but...one must take with a grain of salt any favorable comments they make (12 minutes in the store; being able to do 12 shops in a day, etc) as what they are meant to do and that is to entice shoppers to take assignments for GFK.

without specifics (names, dates, times, etc. which I know are against forum rules) I'm afraid that the credibility for those grandiose enticements ring hollow and take them for what they meant to be.

just sayin'

Honestly, I have enough shoppers that want to do these audits that I barely need to promote them. Considering I started with 540 two days ago in 9 different states and have scheduled over 200 of those.

Here's some FACTS-

Fact- Another forum poster confirmed he has done them in 10-15 minutes. If it takes you 30-45 minutes each, maybe you should rethink attempting these audits, as they are most certainly not worth your time.

Fact- The shopper who completed 12 of these in one day is a member of this forum and has completed over 350 assignments for GfK (mostly audits). I have several advanced level auditors I work with. Most of my shoppers enjoy the working relationship we have and we do have fun with it. They call me even when I don't have work in their area; they call me and vent about other companies or anything. I welcome that activity from my established shoppers.

Fact- I pour my heart and soul into this business and always have; be it as a shopper, scheduler, editor, etc. I don't sit and play armchair quarterback. My shoppers who work with me know that I work 16-20 hours per day; I'm very fast to respond and I don't BS them. I am honest about every part of this business and in everything I do in my life.

Fact- I'm usually the one cleaning up the shop boards toward the end of the month, because all of my work is finished.

So, any more "counter-points" you would like to make?

@parkcitybrian wrote:

not meaning to get into a pissing contest with a GFK scheduler but...one must take with a grain of salt any favorable comments they make (12 minutes in the store; being able to do 12 shops in a day, etc) as what they are meant to do and that is to entice shoppers to take assignments for GFK.

without specifics (names, dates, times, etc. which I know are against forum rules) I'm afraid that the credibility for those grandiose enticements ring hollow and take them for what they meant to be.

just sayin'

@DanteScheduler wrote:

Honestly, I have enough shoppers that want to do these audits that I barely need to promote them. Considering I started with 540 two days ago in 9 different states and have scheduled over 200 of those.

Here's some FACTS-

Fact- Another forum poster confirmed he has done them in 10-15 minutes. If it takes you 30-45 minutes each, maybe you should rethink attempting these audits, as they are most certainly not worth your time.

Fact- The shopper who completed 12 of these in one day is a member of this forum and has completed over 350 assignments for GfK (mostly audits). I have several advanced level auditors I work with. Most of my shoppers enjoy the working relationship we have and we do have fun with it. They call me even when I don't have work in their area; they call me and vent about other companies or anything. I welcome that activity from my established shoppers.

Fact- I pour my heart and soul into this business and always have; be it as a shopper, scheduler, editor, etc. I don't sit and play armchair quarterback. My shoppers who work with me know that I work 16-20 hours per day; I'm very fast to respond and I don't BS them. I am honest about every part of this business and in everything I do in my life.

Fact- I'm usually the one cleaning up the shop boards toward the end of the month, because all of my work is finished.

So, any more "counter-points" you would like to make?

@parkcitybrian wrote:

not meaning to get into a pissing contest with a GFK scheduler but...one must take with a grain of salt any favorable comments they make (12 minutes in the store; being able to do 12 shops in a day, etc) as what they are meant to do and that is to entice shoppers to take assignments for GFK.

without specifics (names, dates, times, etc. which I know are against forum rules) I'm afraid that the credibility for those grandiose enticements ring hollow and take them for what they meant to be.

just sayin'

thanks for the information and it certainly seems that you have the best interests of not only GFK at heart but also the interests of those who do the assignments for them which seems to be a win-win.

I have spoken out many times if I believe a fee is really unfair. I understand that without great shoppers, there can be all the work in the world, but it won't get done. The mystery shopping business is a team effort. The shoppers I work with know that I believe we are a team. They are in the field completing the tasks, I provide support as necessary.

The audits are easy, if detailed. I did them without a tablet, pen and the form and my camera. approximately 30 minutes in the store and maybe 15 more to fill out the form online. Since I'll work for $15 an hour all day long, I don't mind taking these without a tablet.
Nothing to be afraid of here.

I use a camera, because I feel that approach is more fool-proof. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes generally. There can be a delay if the salespeople are tied up helping customers because there are some questions that you must ask the salesperson, and they have to sign the form to verify that you were there. I am signed up for several in July. I would do more, but there is now a 6 month rotation period.

@myst4au wrote:

I use a camera, because I feel that approach is more fool-proof. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes generally. There can be a delay if the salespeople are tied up helping customers because there are some questions that you must ask the salesperson, and they have to sign the form to verify that you were there. I am signed up for several in July. I would do more, but there is now a 6 month rotation period.

You no longer have to ask them any questions with the changes.

@techman01 wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I use a camera, because I feel that approach is more fool-proof. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes generally. There can be a delay if the salespeople are tied up helping customers because there are some questions that you must ask the salesperson, and they have to sign the form to verify that you were there. I am signed up for several in July. I would do more, but there is now a 6 month rotation period.

You no longer have to ask them any questions with the changes.

so the store manager or person in charge doesn't have anything to sign off, at all?

they still have to sign. In place of asking the questions, you have to take
6 extra photos.

@techman01 wrote:

they still have to sign. In place of asking the questions, you have to take
6 extra photos.

thanks for the reply but...what are they signing for? that their location was shopped? that x number of pics were taken? do they have to review the pics? etc, etc, etc? i have run into cell phone store managers who have insisted on reviewing each and every pic before they would agree to sign the verification form and in between viewing the pics dealing with customers in the store and it became verrrry time consuming.

It can take 30 minutes if the store is busy, because you have to wait for an employee. You are not supposed to interfere with customer service. I actually had one take 45 minutes a couple of years ago. But that was a rare occurance. I just did one a couple of weeks ago and I will be doing one two weeks from now. I did not hear anything about not having to ask questions anymore. There are usually three questions in the beginning that you'll need to ask, after you introduce yourself.

They are very simple audits. Fifteen minutes is about how long it takes. It takes longer in the store when you use the app., than just making notes on the paper copy, but then you have the advantage of not having to do reports when you get home.

Where the cost comes in is the time and mileage.of driving from one location to another if you are doing a route of several stores in one day.

@christinereed take the new test and read the new guidelines. It's
listed in big lettering: program changes. You cant miss it.

@parkcitybrian dont let managers walk over you. You are in control
of the audit. I flash the pictures quickly and thats it. The fact that
we need to show them the photos is dumb in itself. Someone asked
that very question on one of gfk's conference calls and they stumbled
over answering and didnt have a good reason for it.

@techman01 wrote:

@christinereed take the new test and read the new guidelines. It's
listed in big lettering: program changes. You cant miss it..

Sorry, the audit is over a week away and I've got other audits occupying me this week, so I haven't read the guidelines yet. But I will. I would not.go do the audit without reading the guidelines first

Same with me. I haven't looked at or passed the new test yet, but I will clearly need to. I like the information to be fresh in my brain, so I tend to wait. The first audit is July 1st, so I will pass the test this weekend.

@christinereed wrote:

@techman01 wrote:

@christinereed take the new test and read the new guidelines. It's
listed in big lettering: program changes. You cant miss it..

Sorry, the audit is over a week away and I've got other audits occupying me this week, so I haven't read the guidelines yet. But I will. I would not.go do the audit without reading the guidelines first

How current is this test to see the new guidelines? The last test posted on my site is December 2014. It is now, six months later, is there a new test to take?

The latest guidelines and the corresponding test are found via links in the shop assignment after it is assigned to you. There are new guidelines and a new test for July. Until you pass the test, you can not even see the full survey.

Apparently the new test is out there. You have to take the test to see the guidelines (per Techman01 post------->"take the new test AND read the new guidelines").


----------->GFK..........................when will the new test be available for all shoppers?