Test Shops For No Pay

Test Shops For No Pay - Worth It?

I've been expanding the roster of companies I work with lately because I'd like start traveling and doing routes more. Several of the companies have emailed me back and want me to complete a test shop that I won't be paid for. I haven't done something like that before and I was wondering if it was worth it in general and what other experiences have been. One of the companies even gave me an arbitrary due date without asking about availability.

Silver certified for 11 years and happily shopping Arizona!

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I've never heard of that practice before. A writing sample describing a real or fictional shopping experience is all I've ever had to submit to get work. I have had to do sample animations (with deadlines) in my regular work when applying for jobs, maybe that idea is spilling over to the mystery shopping industry. Those gigs pay a lot more than mystery shopping though.

I think it is a decision you have to make yourself. How much work can you expect to get if you do well on the "test shop"?

proudly shopping in the D.

I would do it if I were positive it was a legitimate company, and if I really wanted to work for that company. That being said, I have not heard of this either. I'd be very cautious.

I signed up with one company that wanted me to do a test shop but I can't remember which company. I would have been willing to take their description of a real shop and write up a sample report for them, but they wanted free labor on an actual shop. I'm wary of getting involved with a company out to get free work. Whatever it is they have to offer, they can have it.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

One of the companies is Five Diamond.

Silver certified for 11 years and happily shopping Arizona!

I haven't and wouldn't complete a real shop that can be used by the MSC and client. Samples are the norm for video shopping. I think most of us have a sample or two on file just like you would keep a sample narrative. Once I was asked to provide a sample video for a specific type of shop rather than my standard sample. They told me the type of business, but did not specify a particular chain or time it should be done, just where and when it was convenient for me. While the retailer was not a client of the video MSC, it crossed my mind it could be submitted to the client as a competitor shop. If I remember correctly, I just gave them my sample retail video from my file.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
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@fyrekittyn wrote:

One of the companies is Five Diamond.

I've taken a handful of jobs from them for the past year and a half. I thought the "test shop" was worth my time and it paid off in the long run. Ended up with some nice upscale dinners and experienced my first upscale hotel shop through them.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

I am curious about the amount of time and money you would have to spend on this "free test shop". This company does some upscale shops that require quite a bit of outlay of cash to be reimbursed. Are they asking you to do something like that and be out of pocket for the experience (night at a hotel, dinner etc), or are they asking for a simple close by retail visit with a shortish report? Something in between?

@sandyf wrote:

I am curious about the amount of time and money you would have to spend on this "free test shop". This company does some upscale shops that require quite a bit of outlay of cash to be reimbursed. Are they asking you to do something like that and be out of pocket for the experience (night at a hotel, dinner etc), or are they asking for a simple close by retail visit with a shortish report? Something in between?

It'll likely be a phone assignment and a test to see how well you react to their report style.

It took less than an hour to complete the assignment.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

This is a phone shop. My biggest annoyance is that I have to use a credit card that won't be charged and that they assigned this to me without asking me anything about my schedule. I've been pretty busy this week.

Silver certified for 11 years and happily shopping Arizona!

Does the test shop require you to cash a check? Don't do it

@fyrekittyn wrote:

I've been expanding the roster of companies I work with lately because I'd like start traveling and doing routes more. Several of the companies have emailed me back and want me to complete a test shop that I won't be paid for. I haven't done something like that before and I was wondering if it was worth it in general and what other experiences have been. One of the companies even gave me an arbitrary due date without asking about availability.

Sounds like they are trying to get something for nothing.

If this is the new trend, maybe we should should start requesting "Test Payments" from each new MSC we sign up with?! You know, to make sure they pay on time and have all the routing stuff worked out in advance....

Beep, beep, beep...wake up dude, you're dreaming again and late for an arches shop....

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2015 03:56PM by msimon-2000.

@fyrekittyn wrote:

This is a phone shop. My biggest annoyance is that I have to use a credit card that won't be charged and that they assigned this to me without asking me anything about my schedule. I've been pretty busy this week.

Your card won't be charged as long as you follow instructions. Basically, setting up an appointment at a later time, so it won't be charged as long as the cancellation is at least 24 hours before the date.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

I completed the test shop and now am waiting to hear back from the company. It wasn't horrific, but I wasn't happy about doing it for free either.

Silver certified for 11 years and happily shopping Arizona!

Unless it's changed, the test shop for 5 D is a just a phone call.

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Test Shops For No Pay - Worth It?

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