I recently completed a fragrance shop at a high end store where the MSC paid $25.00. The guidelines mentioned that a purchase had to be made, which I found to be okay. The scheduler mentioned that after finishing the survey, I was required to upload the receipt, and then send the purchase to the client's address for a full refund. I've done shops like this before with this MSC, and have never had an issue with the refund process.

During the shop, the sales associate had upsold the product like she was suppose to, yet had ultimately gone beyond my budget due to also having a limited inventory. I reluctantly made a purchase of $378.00, and completed the shop survey the following day.

The hardest part of the shop really arrived in explaining the $378 charge on our credit card. In explaining the guidelines + shop process, my wife smelled the fragrance, and mentioned that it was probably the best that she's ever smelled. She asked if she could keep it, to which I mentioned that I would have to ask the scheduler. After the scheduler confirmed that I had the option of keeping the purchase, I immediately said to myself "Oh s**t." My wife, intent on hearing the scheduler's response, was obviously elated.

I nonetheless told my wife to think about the purchase. I've since hidden the perfume somewhere in my house so that she wouldn't open it just yet, in the event of her changing her mind.

The life of a shopper making high end purchases.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2017 05:41PM by Eric in Tampa.

Haha!

You know the saying, "Happy Wife, Happy Life."

just curious: What perfume is it? Maybe you could exchange it for a smaller bottle?

Must smell really good. I am curious also - what fragrance?

I know how you feel. I once did a shop at a Lazy Boy store pretending I needed a couch. I liked the one so much it is now in my home! Sometimes I wonder if this is what the client is hoping will happen.

Oh, I don't know weather to laugh or cry....keep it for xmas, you have to give it to your wife. I got an 80.00 bottle of Chanel perfume, and it was great...what perfume did you buy, can't imagine...what a guy!!!!

I know you to be the fellow who adores his wife, so am not surprised!

I do believe that some shops are planned with the intention of the shopper keeping the purchase. Especially if it is a shop that has the situation of a no-return shop, partial reimbursement only.

A shop set up that way would artificially drive up the sales numbers, albeit in a small fashion, without much effort on the business' part, and they get a report of how well they do out of it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2017 05:27PM by wintersilke.

hahaha! That was great!

For those that want to know what the fragrance is called (can't give the MSC or the client), I will say that it is a Chanel-type quality brand that is in a bottle larger than one ounce with initials of "L.I.W." The brand is a boutique that has been around since the days of George Washington.

I did a mystery shop at a BMW Motorcycle dealer in 2012. I went back a week later and dropped $9,000 on a bike. 60,000 miles later I'm still enjoying it.

That happened to me when I went to a high end bed store. I didn't even get paid for the shop, but I spent the money (somewhat unhappily) to have the best nights sleep possible.

I did a Rolex shop. I want a new Rolex now( I own an older model).

Well, I had a similar experience but a bit different. My shop was non-purchase. It was women dress and I suppose take some one so that she can try the item in the fitting room. I took my wife and she liked the dress. The price was $80 plus tax (discounted from $120) and my shop paid $40. What could I do? My wife was happy that I took her with me. It was exotic brand (European) she never heard of. She liked it a lot.

@Eric in Tampa wrote:

For those that want to know what the fragrance is called (can't give the MSC or the client), I will say that it is a Chanel-type quality brand that is in a bottle larger than one ounce with initials of "L.I.W." The brand is a boutique that has been around since the days of George Washington.

I've done this shop before but mine was inquiry only. FYI you can name either the client or the MSC. Since you gave the initials of the bottle, the brand is called Creed. My favorite Creed fragrances are Rose Imperiale and Spring Flower.

@calicakes wrote:

I did a Rolex shop. I want a new Rolex now( I own an older model).

I did a Tourneaeu shop and was too scared to go to the Rolex section. I did venture to Cartier. I want a Cartier Tank watch sooooooooooooooo bad now. It's on my birthday list to myself.

I have done 2 PaPa Johns shops the last 2 times and I got shafted I will never do another PaPa Johns shop again I don't care how high the pay is I will not get screwed again always the same old crap pics aren't what they should be or never got them how messed up is that...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2017 06:15PM by MidGeorgiaGirl64.

I'm done with them too. I got some mumbo jumbo about my pics. I took 10 pics and I didn't see anything wrong with them. Its not worth it for me. You can find a coupon online for a pizza for less than 7 bucks.

Eric, that's a small price to pay to keep your wife happy!

@MidGeorgiaGirl64 wrote:

I have done 2 PaPa Johns shops the last 2 times and I got shafted I will never do another PaPa Johns shop again I don't care how high the pay is I will not get screwed again always the same old crap pics aren't what they should be or never got them how messed up is that...

That stinks! I've done over a dozen Papa John's shops with 2 different MSCs and have never had an issue.

Wow, is this what my grandparents were talking about when they complained about having a party line?

I would say that it was a really good purchase.... those kind are worth it....

Wow! That's a lot for some good smelly stuff! I don't normally get swayed by the high end shops. I rather take cruises! And with my budget, I can't do both :-(

Would never do a shop where I had to fork out lots of $$$$. I love some high end stuff but like resales. I also am not too status conscious. Pretty much decided I do not want upkeep on German cars BMW or Mercedes.

@Eric in Tampa. Just checked FragranceX.com I believe the item you have is half the cost at $165. Shipping is free. Imagine the fun you can have telling your wife that you sent it back, and have it arrive in time for Thanksgiving/Xmas.

I thought this story was going somewhere else based on the subject. I had a bad experience that cost me about that much, and highly discourage anyone who might try to do the dental shops you see sometime. Esp from a GA based MSP. I have done two and one was a waste of time, as I was not given the services that would have made the shop beneficial. So I tried again because I needed the teeth cleaned. The second shop a huge waste of money, not reimbursed as promised, got half my teeth cleaned at an exorbitant price, Worst part, I have dental insurance but couldn't file it for the shop, so I just paid OOP for all that.

@wintersilke wrote:

I do believe that some shops are planned with the intention of the shopper keeping the purchase. Especially if it is a shop that has the situation of a no-return shop, partial reimbursement only.

A shop set up that way would artificially drive up the sales numbers, albeit in a small fashion, without much effort on the business' part, and they get a report of how well they do out of it.

I have long suspected this on some 'inventory counting" shops I have done for over a year. $1 reimbursement doesn't cut it to look like an average customer.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2017 08:56PM by MavenMom.

My experience isn’t high end, but I shopped a darling little gardening center and ended up leaving with 5 beautiful fruit/veggie plants in my back seat! Spent more than the shop fee & reimbursement combined, but oh well

I once did an oil change and bought a vehicle at the dealership. Ya mystery shopping can put us on the track to costing money. I still love my vehicle though.

I did the same too. I got my car after completing a car shop. My friend got hers the same way too.