In 10 years, I've had some spectacular failures. I did a McDonald's shop that was rejected by the client. The MSC paid me in full. I do not know why -- because of my "perfect" record with them over several years (according to the scheduler), because the guidelines did NOT address what happened (my timing was off because of heavy traffic in the McDonald's parking lot -- in the drive thru, I wasn't able to get to the window until 14 minutes after giving my order. I explained in the report and in an additional e-mail to the MSC.); I just don't know. Since the fee was $125, I was quite happy they paid me. Evidently, the client said I should NOT have waited for the other cars to "get in front of my car". Huh?
A few months ago, my photo of a gas station wasn't clear enough. It was rejected, and not paid. Another $125 fee, plus reimbursement -- and the gas station was more than 400 miles from home. Oh, my. Fortunately, I had done a route of 8 gas stations, so the non-pay wasn't the disaster it could have been.
I did one shop, and screwed it up so badly that I could not file a report. I wrote the scheduler, told her what happened, and she cancelled the shop. That was merely $25.
I have failed other shops, too, but have always succeeded in rescheduling and reshopping the assignment, with a successful conclusion.
I don't recall any other instances.
My stance is if I screw up, I'll do what I need to do to make it right -- reschedule, reshop, etc.
I do personally know other shoppers who quit shopping because "I did all that work but didn't get paid for it!"
In both cases, they failed miserably. One girl told me "I don't like ketchup, and I don't eat onions, so I ordered my burger without ketchup and onions" -- and the guidelines clearly state to not ask for any alterations. And the screening questions included one asking "Do you have any reason you cannot order and taste the entree
exactly as it is normally prepared?" and she had answered that she could order it as normally prepared -- but then she did NOT. She asked for no ketchup and no onions! The other case, the shopper admitted she didn't read the guidelines. She failed to stay inside the required 15 minutes after receiving her order. She did the drive-thru part correctly, then went inside to complete the shop. She got her order, and just left. Neither admitted it was their own screwup that caused them to not be paid.
In answer to your question, what other questions should you ask -- read the guidelines! I use a "cheat sheet", even on shops I've done over and over and over. If I have to get a name and description, that's on my cheat sheet. In a big box store, I'll dash to the restroom (often part of the questionnaire, anyway!), and review
my cheat sheet before I leave the location. How detailed a description is required -- and sometimes, I have to go back through the store and find the associate again and see if they are wearing glasses, because I did not note it first time through!
For timings, I use "shopwatch" on my cell phone. Absolutely crucial.
READ the guidelines. If something is not clear, or is confusing, clear it up with the scheduler or MSC BEFORE you go to do the shop. I once got some very confusing guidelines, and e-mailed the scheduler. I got back a perfectly horrid e-mail "I don't have time to answer your questions!" I wrote her that if she didn't have time to answer my questions, I certainly did not have the time to do her shop. I asked her to cancel it, and she did -- and gave me THIRTY flake citations!!!! I have done plenty of shops for that MSC since then, but never another one for that scheduler.