Pet Store Price Audits

I am returning to the MS world after a 10 year break and a lot has changed! Viva technology! I have a question about these audits. I received a call from a scheduler this morning wondering if I could do one next week for $20.

She said 90 items and 45 minutes. But I need a buddy to tell the price to over my cell phone and they enter the info into a spreadsheet. So I am splitting the fee and will make $10.

Are these soul sucking? Do you wait for a bonus before accepting? I can't do it next week, but I have a feeling she will call me for November.

Thanks!

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I'm fairly new to MS, but having a "buddy" working with you is something I've never heard of before! I'm very curious to hear what the more experienced shoppers say about this.

I have done price audits before, but not this specific one and I did not have a buddy. I carried a sheet of paper inside a circular and wrote down the prices and then entered them in a spreadsheet at home. Not only was it soul-sucking, but it was so hard on my eyes from reading the tiny print to see which items they wanted priced. These are on my 10-foot-pole list.

Shopper since 2009
MSPA Gold Certified

I've seen them posted but have not done any. They recommend a buddy as it will be faster, so they say. None of my buddies even know I mystery shop. Nope, no thank you!

Thanks, people. It doesn't seem worth it unless the fee goes up. I did a favor for a scheduler last month. 30 minute revealed price audit for $15, so she said. I was lucky to get it done in an hour. Not doing that one again!

Most price audits I have done have been apps on my phone. They really should make this one into a phone thing. The easiest way I can think of is to make yourself a spreadsheet and if your phone has a big enough screen (I have a 6 inch phone) or a small tablet to just fill out your sheet at the store.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.

Actually, I'm seeing a lot more of the audit postings require a smartphone or tablet and that always tells me to stay away (no data plan and no tablet). :}

@jwoolleymn wrote:

I am returning to the MS world after a 10 year break and a lot has changed! Viva technology! I have a question about these audits. I received a call from a scheduler this morning wondering if I could do one next week for $20.

She said 90 items and 45 minutes. But I need a buddy to tell the price to over my cell phone and they enter the info into a spreadsheet. So I am splitting the fee and will make $10.

Are these soul sucking? Do you wait for a bonus before accepting? I can't do it next week, but I have a feeling she will call me for November.

Thanks!

@melijohnson wrote:

I have done price audits before, but not this specific one and I did not have a buddy. I carried a sheet of paper inside a circular and wrote down the prices and then entered them in a spreadsheet at home. Not only was it soul-sucking, but it was so hard on my eyes from reading the tiny print to see which items they wanted priced. These are on my 10-foot-pole list.

I LOVE audits. I purchased a tablet so that I could do them. I make a route and complete them within 1/2 hour or less. I haven't done price comparison or pet audits because you have to search for specific items, and that's what takes so long. I get $15 per shop and sometimes a bonus. I made over $100 one day and went home without having to complete a report!

I did a pet store audit once. Once.

I also did some Trader Joe audits which weren't nearly as grueling to me since I knew the layout of the store very well. I do not think that they are worth the fee, but that is just me.

I've shied away from the audit shops seeing how MSCs strongly suggest the buddy system. No way in hell I'm gonna bother to have someone help me with this for so little money. Actually, it just doesn't seem like much money even if I'm not splitting the fee with my audit lackey. I also had a feeling the audit took much longer than suggested by the scheduler(s).

But, never say never. I might take the plunge eventually, esp. if tablet / phone app submissions become more common.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks

I wouldn't even pay my children such a low rate to help me. These are a joke.

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