What is your favorite type of shop and what type will you never do again?
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It is really funny because the next shop up on my agenda is likely to be my current favorite. So I have a really fun Friday planned. We will go out to lunch at fast casual we like, then go watch a movie that we wanted to see anyway, come home and relax a bit while I write up the first two. Then we go out for an ACL dinner at one of my favorite places. We will get home in time to put the livestock away, fix a pot of coffee and settle down for an ACL report. Now if only I could find a take out bakery shop at the really nice European bakery here (not shopped, sniff sniff) we could finish an already gluttonous and self indulgent day with some lovely pastry to go with that coffee.
I guess I haven't found too many of the "ten foot pole shops", probably thanks to all of YOU at the forum! I hate shops where they argue endlessly with anything negative you have to say.For instance, I just did a quick (or so I thought) liquor audit with many pictures. Even with the pictures and extensive explanation, the MS company was incredulous that the product was being displayed as it was.
They called me FOUR times to clarify, and the last conversation was half an hour. I don't have time for that kind of stuff, so I probably will think twice about taking anything with that company again.
They called me FOUR times to clarify, and the last conversation was half an hour. I don't have time for that kind of stuff, so I probably will think twice about taking anything with that company again.
Kona Kathie
Never say never... I am pretty sure there are better time frames and conditions for certain shops. I will prefer certain shops at certain times and under certain conditions.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Oops. I did not give a 'never again' shop. My 'never again' refers more to companies than to particular shops, so if the client moved to a different company, I probably would do it again. There is almost always a price at which even the worst of shops could become interesting. There is a particular gas station with an exterior building which is the unisex restroom. The porcelain sink was broken roughly in half, I did not step inside because the floor was flooded from the overflowing toilet and included 3D items as well as an overwhelming stench. Maybe $500 would get me to open that door again sometime. Maybe $500 could persuade me to negotiate a car price at the insulting dealership. I never did an IKEA but considering I was in the store and unable to find anyone to assist me when I was just a regular customer, that would be a 'never' rather than a 'never again'.
Favorite shops - anything that pays for airfare for 2 and lots of alcohol.
Least favorite - a burger shop from Sentry (I don't believe that the revised report is that much better) and a furniture shop from Service Check (because they require some many edits, even when I have the info there). Even with a big fat bonus, I promised myself that I would never do these again. Oh, an audit for a yellow gas station that I did for 10 years. I am so over that. Same fee from 2003, really?
Least favorite - a burger shop from Sentry (I don't believe that the revised report is that much better) and a furniture shop from Service Check (because they require some many edits, even when I have the info there). Even with a big fat bonus, I promised myself that I would never do these again. Oh, an audit for a yellow gas station that I did for 10 years. I am so over that. Same fee from 2003, really?
@SoCalMama wrote:
Favorite shops - anything that pays for airfare for 2 and lots of alcohol.
Least favorite - a burger shop from Sentry (I don't believe that the revised report is that much better)
OH NOOOOOO, NOT AGAIN!!!!
proudly shopping in the D.
Favorites are audits, especially the highly bonused ones!
10 foot pole shops include Ikea, crematoriums, and most phone shops. Although, if they were bonused enough I would consider them. As they say, everyone has a price.
10 foot pole shops include Ikea, crematoriums, and most phone shops. Although, if they were bonused enough I would consider them. As they say, everyone has a price.
My favorite shop is a small town filling station.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Yeah I have to say that gas station audits are my favorite type of shop. For several reasons. First, they get routed. I like having a lot of the same thing to do. You can just get in the groove and pretty much be on auto-pilot. I like having pictures to tell the story so I don't have to do a lot of narrative. I can do narrative, but I'd rather not. And here, they get bonused pretty fast and there are so many.
A few years back I was auditing a station down in Bangs (yep, a real place) and I mentioned to the cashiers that it was my 74th birthday and I was having a great day.
Later I was shooting the pumps and a young red neck blue collar type came busting out of the station and hollered at me, "Wait jest a minute, ma'am. I'm a gonna move my truck so you can take a picture o' this 'un."
Now where else can a woman get that kind of attention?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2015 12:11AM by MDavisnowell.
Later I was shooting the pumps and a young red neck blue collar type came busting out of the station and hollered at me, "Wait jest a minute, ma'am. I'm a gonna move my truck so you can take a picture o' this 'un."
Now where else can a woman get that kind of attention?
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2015 12:11AM by MDavisnowell.
@MDavisnowell wrote:
A few years back I was auditing a station down in Bangs (yep, a real place) and I mentioned to the cashiers that it was my 74th birthday and I was having a great day.
Later I was shooting the pumps and a young red neck blue collar type came busting out of the station and hollered at me, "Wait jest a minute, ma'am. I'm a gonna move my truck so you can take a picture o' this 'un."
Can where else can a woman get that kind of attention?
I got sent to audit a place straight out of the 50's awhile back. Way down in the backwoods of Kentucky. I looked it up on google street view and I saw a very old gas station with a bench in front and three old guys sitting on it. Well I got there, went around the bend and yep. 3 old guys sitting in front of the gas station. The same 3 guys. They were everyone of them older than dirt.
In the course of conversation the owner (who was possibly the oldest) invited me back to his house to visit him. But, he said, I better hurry because he has cancer and doesn't know how much longer he'll be around. It's easy to find, his house is right above the post office on a hill.
I"m never going to meet those people in BWW or Smashburger.
The Shamrock in Cottondale, Texas, has rocking chairs out front.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
100 foot pole - any of the for profit colleges
Love - any video food shops
Love - any video food shops
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
If I ever come across a gas station like that with 3 old men sitting out front on the bench - that picture is getting framed and going on my photography wall at home. Now, that's the stuff. 
I don't think there are any I would never do again, though there are a few I wouldn't do without better pay. These tend to be stores in which you have to interact with people in multiple departments, though one was a financial institution in a bad area, and I was uncomfortable with the clientele. I'm not sure if I have a 'favorite' type of shop, though. Each shop is its own unique entity, and there isn't really one industry in which I've had more fun than another. Some of the shops I thought were going to be fun, easy money turned out to suck, and some of the ones I thought would be boring or difficult turned out to be the easiest and most fun. My favorite LOCATIONS to shop tend to require that you make purchases, though not all of them do, but there's also so much to be said for a plain, well-paying audit which requires honest labor and no investment other than transportation money. I really couldn't choose. I like diversity in my shops.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2015 02:41AM by OceanGirl.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2015 02:41AM by OceanGirl.
I'm not crazy about the going into the money stores to pay a bill. I don't mind buying money orders or gift cards, but I don't like the bill paying thing. I've done a few restaurants that only reimbursed half with no fee. I did those to get my foot in the door with the company, but I probably won't do them again unless we really want to eat there or I get a bonus.
Otherwise, I've pretty much enjoyed all of my jobs so far--some more than others, of course. I like the test drives because they pay well. I like the restaurants that reimburse and pay a fee--no brainer there! Right now I'm enjoying seeing how all these places operate and I'm learning a lot about customer service.
Otherwise, I've pretty much enjoyed all of my jobs so far--some more than others, of course. I like the test drives because they pay well. I like the restaurants that reimburse and pay a fee--no brainer there! Right now I'm enjoying seeing how all these places operate and I'm learning a lot about customer service.
My never again shop is the drug test lab. Blah.
In the past, I have done shops at a well known FF taco chain for $15, which was including my meal. Next month's postings are up and the fee is $7.50. That won't even cover the meal. Heck, no. I didn't mind them when they were at $15 though.
I enjoy easy and quick bank assignments. The 10 foot pole: The ice cream emporium with the screaming kids, the employees screaming birthday songs and playing multiple drums under the two story dome echo ceiling and the pounding of my head as I quickly eat the required ice cream and run to the door.
Ten foot pole???? Definitely a new car shop. Never again after tonight. Lol
Favorite? The easy ones that always pay...my bank teller shops, post offices....
Shops I like but hate the reports??? Casinos
Favorite? The easy ones that always pay...my bank teller shops, post offices....
Shops I like but hate the reports??? Casinos
Today I Will Choose Joy!
"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
I've only been doing this a couple of months, but I've got to say my least favorite are the car dealerships. Way too intense. So I don't do them for less than $40. Target apartment shops are a lot of hassle and hard to plan a route around. Plus Ellis reports are the worst. I don't like fast food shops because I don't consider free fast food pay. I always feel I should be paid a lot more than the $5 extra to eat it, so I guess I could do it for $20. My favorite would have to be anything from Second-to-None. Their reports are the best!
I love new car shops! They are so easy for me and I usually come away with valuable information!
Least favorite? - Anything for Cirrus and ANY integrity shops!
Least favorite? - Anything for Cirrus and ANY integrity shops!
Silver certified for 11 years and happily shopping Arizona!
It's funny, after the last group of cell phone shops I did, I swore I would never do one again. Then today, one popped up for $30 with no purchase required...and I took it.
My favorite are grocery shops. Between getting reimbursed and using coupons, I've kept my grocery budget way down.
My favorite are grocery shops. Between getting reimbursed and using coupons, I've kept my grocery budget way down.
I love this thread! It's so interesting to see what people like and don't like. It's most interesting of all to see the explanations from people who love something that someone else just said they hate (and vice versa). I haven't done any car shops yet, but maybe I'll have to try one out just so I can weigh in
My favorite shops were a reimbursed Rx glasses purchase I did a few months ago. Free glasses, woo hoo! Those don't come up too often, though, so generally I usually like the more upscale restaurant shops because I can bring a friend for a free outing.
I guess my least favorite is fast food. I am going to have to slow down on the "Fast casual" ones too, because for the most part the food isn't very high quality. Except Chipotle. I have a soft spot for Chipotle. Actually come to think of it, I probably have several soft spots thanks to Chipotle.
My favorite shops were a reimbursed Rx glasses purchase I did a few months ago. Free glasses, woo hoo! Those don't come up too often, though, so generally I usually like the more upscale restaurant shops because I can bring a friend for a free outing.
I guess my least favorite is fast food. I am going to have to slow down on the "Fast casual" ones too, because for the most part the food isn't very high quality. Except Chipotle. I have a soft spot for Chipotle. Actually come to think of it, I probably have several soft spots thanks to Chipotle.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
what company did you conduct the airline and cocktail shop for?
Least favorite shop for me was a dealership shop. Right on its heels was a price audit of multiple grocery stores I did when I first started.
Favorite shops like SoCalMama are those where I'm reimbursed for airfare. Also, I'm a beer fan so the YardHouse shops are always fun.
There are tons of MSC's that do bar shops, but I don't have any experience shopping airlines. But as for being reimbursed for airfare to do other shops, I've had four companies do that for me. Unfortunately I haven't been quite as lucky as SoCalMama yet in that I've never been reimbursed for more than one plane ticket. That's fine for the shops I have to do solo, but I have had to spend miles to bring my wife along to hotel shops a number of times.
Favorite shops like SoCalMama are those where I'm reimbursed for airfare. Also, I'm a beer fan so the YardHouse shops are always fun.
@madisonj26 wrote:
what company did you conduct the airline and cocktail shop for?
There are tons of MSC's that do bar shops, but I don't have any experience shopping airlines. But as for being reimbursed for airfare to do other shops, I've had four companies do that for me. Unfortunately I haven't been quite as lucky as SoCalMama yet in that I've never been reimbursed for more than one plane ticket. That's fine for the shops I have to do solo, but I have had to spend miles to bring my wife along to hotel shops a number of times.
Ten Foot Pool -- several years ago I did a shop for ATH Power that required me to go through the credit application process until the absolute final step then change my mind. The cashier's eyes burned holes in me. It was a pretty jerky thing to do
My new favorite -- car wash & oil change, fast & easy, I can typically write the report on my iphone while I'm waiting. Also a mouse pizza game chain -- which is good since I have 2 little kids--hard to find shops without getting a sitter
Old fav's -- casual dining take out, fine dining
My new favorite -- car wash & oil change, fast & easy, I can typically write the report on my iphone while I'm waiting. Also a mouse pizza game chain -- which is good since I have 2 little kids--hard to find shops without getting a sitter
Old fav's -- casual dining take out, fine dining
My favorite was a flooring shop where you would listen to the salesperson talk and if they caught all points, then they would receive a $50 gift card by me at the end. Funniest thing was when the salesperson was done, the first thing he said was " I suppose you are not going to buy flooring today?"
The worst shops are the new car shops. The poor salesperson hounds you constantly and you feel drained after 1-hour, never mind being handed off to the sales manager! No more of these.
The worst shops are the new car shops. The poor salesperson hounds you constantly and you feel drained after 1-hour, never mind being handed off to the sales manager! No more of these.
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