What kind of shops do you tend to avoid?
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Which are your favorite food and hotel mystery shopping companies
I just had 3 of those same money transfer shops last week. Once I realized my scenario was asking to do something illegal, I felt really "icky" about doing it. I decided to do the first one before I backed out just so I could at least explain why I couldn't do it.. I got so lucky.. the first one no longer provided that money transfer service. So, I went to the 2nd one - same thing due to new owners. The 3rd one just did not have an agent there that day that was able to do it. I was so happy and decided those shops were definitely going on my "Never " list.
[qwuote="Orange Park Bob"]
There are shops that are just not worth the time required. The one shop that I absolutely refused to do after seeing the guidelines only after it was assigned is a money transfer shop that requires the shopper to ask the employee to do something illegal. That, I am not going to do. I told the scheduler that I wouldn't do the shop, and she didn't give me a "flake".[/quote]
[qwuote="Orange Park Bob"]
There are shops that are just not worth the time required. The one shop that I absolutely refused to do after seeing the guidelines only after it was assigned is a money transfer shop that requires the shopper to ask the employee to do something illegal. That, I am not going to do. I told the scheduler that I wouldn't do the shop, and she didn't give me a "flake".[/quote]
[/quote]@Shari65Gem wrote:
I just had 3 of those same money transfer shops last week. Once I realized my scenario was asking to do something illegal, I felt really "icky" about doing it. I decided to do the first one before I backed out just so I could at least explain why I couldn't do it.. I got so lucky.. the first one no longer provided that money transfer service. So, I went to the 2nd one - same thing due to new owners. The 3rd one just did not have an agent there that day that was able to do it. I was so happy and decided those shops were definitely going on my "Never " list.
[qwuote="Orange Park Bob"]
There are shops that are just not worth the time required. The one shop that I absolutely refused to do after seeing the guidelines only after it was assigned is a money transfer shop that requires the shopper to ask the employee to do something illegal. That, I am not going to do. I told the scheduler that I wouldn't do the shop, and she didn't give me a "flake".
Wait. Is it legal to ask an employee to do something illegal?
Why would a shop ask for that?
@mlzg wrote:
I've decided I'm not interested in doing shops that involve having service done on my car. I have dealt with many shady mechanics and am done with that. I found a little family-owned shop where they are always respectful, fair, and quick. I'd much rather pay for good service than risk having a shady mechanic mess up something in my car.
I've wondered about this myself.
There is an oil change shop at a very popular (I think it's a chain in most states from coast-to-coast, but I could be wrong) auto place that I've been scared to do.
I see very horrible and scary reviews of this place online (at multiple locations). People say they brought their cars in for very simple and routine stuff and got it back messed up (which cost them more money to fix, b/c I think the shop wouldn't acknowledge it). I saw a bunch of these reviews online and it scared me.
We have a family friend who works as a mechanic at an auto shop and whom we have known since he was young. We trust him and he'll do our auto maintenance for a reduced price (maybe 10-20% off a regular shop cost).
It's been tempting to get "free" oil changes for doing a mystery shop, but I've yet to do it. I'm still debating it. I do tend to think people who write online reviews are more often than not the customers who had problems vs. people who had normal or great experiences. But with so many bad reviews at various locations, I worry.
@lateraine wrote:
I don't do car shops because I feel I am taking money out of their pockets. They spend up to an hour or more with me when they could be working with someone who might be buying a car.
I guess I don't see it that way, because if mystery shoppers are observing their strengths and weaknesses and the dealers are getting reports/feedback on their performance, then that ________ amount of time they spend on you could help them improve to do a better job with future customers.
I feel the same with apartment shops, which I actually like. I am just careful about apartments in really bad areas, though. But the principle of taking up an agent's time, knowing you'll never rent, can still be justified if thinking about it from the lens of helping them improve their performance (or checking up that they don't violate laws like with Fair Housing or racial discrimination issues, etc.).
There's value in those experiences for both the shopper and agent/dealer.
I just wish the report narratives didn't have to be so long and the pay was higher, of course!
I need to learn more about this bonus thing you guys keep bringing up and bargaining. I've always accepted shops at list price and never tried to ask for a bonus. I have rejected shops for too low of a pay rate, but I've never tried to negotiate for a better price and I'm thinking I maybe could/should.
@shoptastic wrote:
There is an oil change shop at a very popular (I think it's a chain in most states from coast-to-coast, but I could be wrong) auto place that I've been scared to do.
I see very horrible and scary reviews of this place online (at multiple locations). People say they brought their cars in for very simple and routine stuff and got it back messed up (which cost them more money to fix, b/c I think the shop wouldn't acknowledge it). I saw a bunch of these reviews online and it scared me.
We have a family friend who works as a mechanic at an auto shop and whom we have known since he was young. We trust him and he'll do our auto maintenance for a reduced price (maybe 10-20% off a regular shop cost).
It's been tempting to get "free" oil changes for doing a mystery shop, but I've yet to do it. I'm still debating it. I do tend to think people who write online reviews are more often than not the customers who had problems vs. people who had normal or great experiences. But with so many bad reviews at various locations, I worry.
When I have criticism of the place I am shopping (particularly a fast food shop at a place I enjoy visiting) I remind myself this is *the* reason I do mystery shops. That said, you might want to ask the scheduler on this shop how this would be handled if it were to "hypothetically" happen, and then point to the reviews as evidence it might not be just hypothetical.
Also, it's pretty hard to screw up an oil change. On an oil change shop I did, it was supposedly company policy to refuse to do work on a car with the "check engine" or "service engine soon" lights lit. They still did it, after I pointed out to them that whatever is causing that light to be lit, is not going to improve if the oil is never changed. I can kind of understand why they do it, as they don't want to be the "fall guy" as the last place that touched the car before the light went on according to the customer, but if every shop did this those unlucky motorists would be stuck doing their own oil changes until they could afford to have the "check engine" light looked at.
@DrSquash wrote:
@shoptastic wrote:
There is an oil change shop at a very popular (I think it's a chain in most states from coast-to-coast, but I could be wrong) auto place that I've been scared to do.
I see very horrible and scary reviews of this place online (at multiple locations). People say they brought their cars in for very simple and routine stuff and got it back messed up (which cost them more money to fix, b/c I think the shop wouldn't acknowledge it). I saw a bunch of these reviews online and it scared me.
We have a family friend who works as a mechanic at an auto shop and whom we have known since he was young. We trust him and he'll do our auto maintenance for a reduced price (maybe 10-20% off a regular shop cost).
It's been tempting to get "free" oil changes for doing a mystery shop, but I've yet to do it. I'm still debating it. I do tend to think people who write online reviews are more often than not the customers who had problems vs. people who had normal or great experiences. But with so many bad reviews at various locations, I worry.
When I have criticism of the place I am shopping (particularly a fast food shop at a place I enjoy visiting) I remind myself this is *the* reason I do mystery shops. That said, you might want to ask the scheduler on this shop how this would be handled if it were to "hypothetically" happen, and then point to the reviews as evidence it might not be just hypothetical.
Also, it's pretty hard to screw up an oil change. On an oil change shop I did, it was supposedly company policy to refuse to do work on a car with the "check engine" or "service engine soon" lights lit. They still did it, after I pointed out to them that whatever is causing that light to be lit, is not going to improve if the oil is never changed. I can kind of understand why they do it, as they don't want to be the "fall guy" as the last place that touched the car before the light went on according to the customer, but if every shop did this those unlucky motorists would be stuck doing their own oil changes until they could afford to have the "check engine" light looked at.
Good suggestions to consider, Dr.!
If you can find a good and trusted mechanic, it can save you lots of money potentially from lying auto-shops.
It's sad the industry is known for cheats and dishonesty.
Oh, the same holds true with home repair people! My mom almost got cheated big time with a roof repair that cost less than $100 from a dishonest guy wanting to charge $700!!
We got a second opinion from a friend's trusted repair man and it saved us big time on $$$.
It would be neat to have mystery shops testing the honesty of auto shops and repairmen!!
Depending on your make/model, sometimes you can find the dealership service offers. I trust them generally not to do shoddy work (though they've def. Told me I needed things done that I didn't....). Those were a great gig while I had that car, especially since I'd negotiated for free oil changes when I bought it. I got paid handsomely for oil changes for awhile. Now I've gotten a new car and haven't seen the new brand shopped. I did do one of those chain oil change shops and decided "never again" just because their waiting facilities suck. Lol. The dealership is a much more comfortable way to spend a couple of hours!
Bbb is a lot of work and little money. I avoid return shops and amusement parks.
This was an interesting question. Until I got to thinking about it I never realized that there were a lot of shops I won't do - or at least won't do them unless they are bonused. Here's the abbreviated list: check cashing and related shops, oil change shops & valet parking shops (I have a brand new car), amusement parks, apartment shops, any shop where the instructions are convoluted and/or I have a hard time getting an answer to a question, and reimbursement only (except TRH).
I like car sales shops, bank shops, and photo-only shops with no human interactions required. I also like technology-oriented shops as long as the bonus is good enough. I don't actually mind the grocery shops as I am feeding just me and my dog, so enough grocery shops means I rarely go to the grocery store otherwise. Also because most of the grocery shops I do have a minimum required purchase, so the groceries are not income-taxable.
I like car sales shops, bank shops, and photo-only shops with no human interactions required. I also like technology-oriented shops as long as the bonus is good enough. I don't actually mind the grocery shops as I am feeding just me and my dog, so enough grocery shops means I rarely go to the grocery store otherwise. Also because most of the grocery shops I do have a minimum required purchase, so the groceries are not income-taxable.
IKEA! Grocery unrevealed shops where you have to audit over 50 prices. Auto dealerships with test drives and heavy negotiations. Reimbursement only hotel and restaurant shops...I don't work for food, especially at places where I never eat anyway. Fast food places like Burger King or McDonald's where they serve fake food.
Hi, I just thought your comment was interesting since wireless and bank shops are the ones I do the most. Wireless shops are the easiest. I bank out 7-10 in a day. And bank shops pay the most. $50 to $250 a shop.
I avoid purchase shops that pay less than $20, hotel and vacation shops because they just consume too much time and MOST of them pay crap. the only MSC I know that pays decent for Vacation and hotel shops IS TNS. I also avoid restaurant shops because MOST of them only offer reimbursements. @#$%& I'm not that hungry,
All reveal shops. I prefer to walk in and walk out and report.
@B4bladez wrote:
Hi, I just thought your comment was interesting since wireless and bank shops are the ones I do the most. Wireless shops are the easiest. I bank out 7-10 in a day. And bank shops pay the most. $50 to $250 a shop.
Woah, you do 7 bank shops a day? And at $50 a pop?
How is that possible? Do you live in a giant city?
In theory, that would be true. However, there will always be someone willing to do it at the lower price, so the prices aren't going to go up.
@kcpdad wrote:
if we all refuse to do shops that pay too little, then the companies that hire MSCs will have to offer more money. You have to take into consideration the time spent traveling, doing the shop and then writing it up. How much does it come out to an hour? They pay a pittance because they can get away with it!
What is illegal about the scenario? To be clear, I'm not doubting you. I just don't know enough about the scenario to understand.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2017 02:17AM by fuzzymo.
@Shari65Gem wrote:
I just had 3 of those same money transfer shops last week. Once I realized my scenario was asking to do something illegal, I felt really "icky" about doing it. I decided to do the first one before I backed out just so I could at least explain why I couldn't do it.. I got so lucky.. the first one no longer provided that money transfer service. So, I went to the 2nd one - same thing due to new owners. The 3rd one just did not have an agent there that day that was able to do it. I was so happy and decided those shops were definitely going on my "Never " list.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2017 02:17AM by fuzzymo.
Normally I would avoid the purchase and return shops but tomorrow I have one where it's an exchange so I still get to keep a purchase. I don't like to shop, find something I actually like, and then give it back.
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do 
I don't like the Western Union fraud shops where you have to tell the clerk you won millions$ from a lottery in another country but you need to send them a huge fee via money transfer. I felt and looked stupid and then I avoided doing my regular shopping at those locations after that. I didn't know what it entailed when I took the shop. LOL
Agreed! I signed up for one of these and was so stressed out. I really didn't want to do the shop. Luck was on my side, however, as the location was no longer there! 10 foot pole list!@LeslieKay111 wrote:
I don't like the Western Union fraud shops where you have to tell the clerk you won millions$ from a lottery in another country but you need to send them a huge fee via money transfer. I felt and looked stupid and then I avoided doing my regular shopping at those locations after that. I didn't know what it entailed when I took the shop. LOL
Shops where you're judged and treated poorly, even if you're polite, knowledgeable, and well-dressed.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2017 04:32PM by Shopper9.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2017 04:32PM by Shopper9.
I avoid also when they have your info they will not leave you alone .And bank shops every time you apply for a credit card it goes on your credit report I have excellent credit but to many cards is not good .
@kenglo -- that's a good one. I don't do credit card ones UNLESS they give me a fake SSN to use. I have great credit, and the ones I do apply for are all travel/points related. If they ever incentivize those I would do it, but a random retail or bank CC without a sign up bonus? NO WAY.
Just out of curiosity, what other activities beside mystery shopping are you involved in, if you don't mind my asking?
They called me the other day, wanted me to drive 90 miles one way (180 round trip-3 hours drive time) I asked for $50 incentive, Never heard back from them, then there is the 20 pump station with only a $5 incentive... ha ha ha never again,,,
Shopping Southern Georgia, Valdosta, Waycross, Quitman, Thomasville and North Central Florida I-10 & I-75.
I like the Five Guys shops, the food is a little expensive but the food is good and I usually only eat 1/2 my burger, I always have extra fries to go, I've gotten to be a regular there. once a month or every 6 weeks. Just did my first Jersy Mikes, Looking forward to that one again. The Causal Dining Shops BWW. TR, LS, I consider them a treat. No fee needed as long as my meal is paid, I'm happy.
Shopping Southern Georgia, Valdosta, Waycross, Quitman, Thomasville and North Central Florida I-10 & I-75.
Shoptastic on oil change shops. I did one once at a well known chain.They insisted I had to use synthetic in my car so I could not use the "coupon" which was advertised for about half their regular price. Not only that they charged me $5 extra per quart for the synthetic oil and then more for an extra quart for my small car. I agreed to do it as I had spent time driving over and did not want to waste the trip and also cancel the shop on its due date. My out of pocket bill with reimbursement and having to write a report was about what the total bill would have been where I usually get oil changed. And I started noticing that most ads say they charge only $1 more for synthetic. They did not ask for extra work and if they had I never would have allowed it. But they are on my list of shops not to do.
I like bank and auto shops. They require extreme detail and time on reports but I have found they pay the best. I avoid apartment shops with one particular company as their reports take ridiculous detail, hard to take notes during this type of shops and boring. I take notes during bank shops openly as to bank officers recommendations. My notes don't contain time (those are in car) but substantive statements and recommendations.
I also am very hesitant to do targeted shops, especially phone shops. I get stressed that I won't be able to contact the target. I do phone shops once in a while if I think I can pull off the scenario, but I am very choosy if they are targeted.
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