Do new shops make you nervous?

I get legitimately nervous about doing shops that are new to me, especially for MSCs that are new to me, too. Probably because the times I have messed up have been new shops with overwhelming guidelines and I missed something. And ya never know how new MSCs will react when things don't go smoothly.

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I don't get nervous about new shops, but I do know my shops get better the more I shop a particular client.

I like new shops and look at them as a way of expanding my knowledge since I seem to learn something on every shop, whether is mystery shopping related or otherwise.

I get a bit of perormance anxiety before a new shop scenario, even after 12 + years and a ton of shops. From chatting with many other shoppers, here, offline and at conferences, I know that I am not at all unique.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

@walesmaven wrote:

I know that I am not at all unique.

I beg to differ!

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Not really nervous, just jump into it holding nose and take whatever happens., how different can it be after 11 years.

Live consciously....

All the time. I take care of it by reading the guidelines multiple times (the last being in the car right before I go into the building.)

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I get very nervous before doing a new phone shop. They are always recorded and when there's a new client, I take the time to read the guidelines multiple times, take notes so that I don't mess up. It gets easier when I have done the shop multiple times. For instance, those tire shops. I was so nervous before my first one. I have now done about 200 of those, give or take and I sometimes forget I am being recorded.

1st shop anxiety? All the time. It seems it's always paired with a new MSC which is a special bit of hellish contemplation. On the flipside, is the 'done it so many times' I forget I'm shopping and may miss a timing or an observation. Pair that with the "will I make my $$ goal this month" which is always followed by "wow, I can't believe I made so much this month!" I enjoy mystery shopping, but it is a roller coaster!

Oh, gosh. I get nervous even when I do shops that I've personally edited HUNDREDS of times. I know those guidelines backwards and forwards. Heck, I've written some of those guidelines. But those performance jitters still get to me.

Administrative Manager for Shoppers' View
p: 800.264.5677 | e: christinew@shoppersview.com | w: www.shoppersview.com

They all make me nervous!

Susie shopping the Columbus Ohio area and outlying communities.

Yep, I get a bit of the sweaty palms before a new to me shop.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

Nervous, no. Mild test anxiety? Maybe... I do better when I think of these things as tests. Are they weekly quizzes? Midterms? Finals? If I set up study sessions, I learn well and pass my "tests". It's very odd, but true..

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

Definitely a big "yes" here -- after probably thousands of shops in almost ten years.

Yes! I did a new shop yesterday and I was so worried that I would miss a photo or a requirement. I did OK though, so I will be more confident the next time I do that shop.

I get nervous when I hit the Accept button. I dread seeing how much narrative I’ll have to write, or what silly questions I’ll need to ask.

Yes! I did 2 Kroger shops and a Gigi's Cupcakes shop yesterday--all new to me! I was so worried about forgetting something.

I get nervous when I do shops that are out of my comfort zone or that I have a personal issue with. Like the cosmetic shops where someone offers to put makeup on my face! Or when I did the Office Depot computer shop (because it was highly bonused) even though the employees at that location bite bear balls.

I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one. High dollar reimbursement shops really scare me. It takes me a lot longer to get the courage to schedule these, if ever. I'll read the listings, then nah. Next month, read again, no not yet.

One thing guidelines do that ramps up the anxiety is scream things like DO EVERYTHING EXACTLY AS WE SAY OR YOU WILL NOT BE PAID NO EXCEPTIONS IN FACT YOU WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY MESS THIS UP SO DON'T EVEN BOTHER or something like that, lol. Some shops are so specific, what to order, where to sit, etc, and I always immediately go to, what will happen if they're out of X or that section is closed or full. They should *always* include instructions for what to do when you cannot follow guidelines. And not, "email us," because my shop is on Sunday morning in a different time zone and they won't get back to me.

Yep. I'm always nervous at the beginning, even on shops I've done many times. I am even more nervous, though, on new shops or companies, like some have said. Between making sure to follow instructions and trying to make the shop work out, it's nerve-racking. Sometimes the employee makes the shop take a weird turn, and I'm concerned about how to continue to follow the guidelines, which don't cover all scenarios.

Jamie
Editor and shopper

I don't get nervous but when I am doing a visit for the first time I only take 1 visit. This way if the visit stinks - not worth the pay for the amount of work to be done - they only "got me" one time as opposed to getting 5 and having to do them all or turn back 4.

How do you get assigned 5 visits at the same place anyway? Or don't wait times apply to you?

I've wondered if there are people who open multiple accounts to get assigned shops between wait times. Not accusing you of that, SoCalDude. I couldn't understand how some people get so much work when I have to wait months between assignments. Then I was reading a contract and it warned not to open multiple accounts, so some people must be doing it, I gather.

@ShopWhisperer wrote:

How do you get assigned 5 visits at the same place anyway? Or don't wait times apply to you?

I've wondered if there are people who open multiple accounts to get assigned shops between wait times. Not accusing you of that, SoCalDude. I couldn't understand how some people get so much work when I have to wait months between assignments. Then I was reading a contract and it warned not to open multiple accounts, so some people must be doing it, I gather.

Some MSC will let you self-assign more than 1 visit per client. MF allows 2 for some and others allow more. What I am saying is for someone like MF, even though for some clients I can assign myself 2-3+ visits, I only do 1 if it is a new shop and 1 I have not done before. This way I only get burned once - not multiple times - if the shop is a turkey. I have 1 account per MSC - opening up multiple is a recipe for disaster and anyone who has multiple accounts with the same MSC is playing Russian Roulette with 5 bullets. I found a good example of what I am talking about: The MSC that has Blaze (obviously we can't name the MSC) has a million visits per month that have to be done. If I wanted I could do about 7 in my area per month. If I had never done a Blaze before I would only get 1 assigned to me - not all 7. This way if I do 1 and hate it I can walk away without anything to worry about. If I assign 2, 3, 5 - whatever - and I find out after 1 I hate doing a client I am screwed. So assign 1 visit until you know if you want to do more and then do more only after doing 1 and seeing you like it.

Understand. Now?

Yeah I knew what you meant, I just don't see that many opportunites for signing up 5 times. Maybe MF. I am in your general area and there's only one Blaze for me unless I want to drive and drive. You must be in North County?

@ShopWhisperer wrote:

Yeah I knew what you meant, I just don't see that many opportunities for signing up 5 times. Maybe MF. I am in your general area and there's only one Blaze for me unless I want to drive and drive. You must be in North County?

Nope. I am somewhat near John Wayne Airport so you have some idea where I am and once you get out the map you can see how many I can hit in a month if I wanted.

I understand completely and welcome new shops as an opportunity to ward off dementia! Remember the basics. Read and reread the guidelines and the report. Are you at the correct location? Are there blackout dates or specified time frames? Do you need an exterior photo, and if so, must it be taken before or after the shop? Do you need to know what is to the left and right of the location? If it's a purchase, what are the minimum and maximum amounts of the purchase? If it's a purchase and return, how much time must pass before the return? Do you need to check the restroom? Is a business card required? Was the clerk wearing a name tag? Did you ask the required question such as, "Do you sell 100% cotton socks?" Even when you are doing a familiar assignment always check the guidelines as they can and do change from time to time such as a mandatory requirement to GeoVerify.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2017 11:52AM by mom.for.hirehotmail.com.

Yes, I get nervous before a new shop. I actually get nervous before a shop I've done several times. Even if it's familiar I'd hate to forget a requirement and forfeit my payment/reimbursement.

I get nervous when I take a highly bonused shop, even though Im still in my self imposed rotation period, because of the potentisl loss; big $$ makes me nervous. Of course, nowadays and in this work I do not have to worry abour that too much buahaha

It's always been said that I am "different" lol. I rarely don't get nervous because I don't do shops that I would not enjoy anyway. For example, dining out, I only go places that I like going to and with the company of someone that I enjoy. New clothes shops - if it doesn't work out I can keep or return the shop. Valet shops - don't do because I could drop a bit if it is wrong. New home shops - nothing for me to lose other than time and gas and usually I have more than one at a time, so some of the money is recovered. I like seeing new homes and how they are decorated. Car repair shops - I only go in for shops where my car needs the repair anyway. The only time I got a little nervouse was taking an airline flight, where I had to pay up front for the airline ticket. But I know the company, they are very easy to work with, they explained the shop to me to where I felt comfortable with it and it was quite easy actually. But I was a little nervouse with it.

When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou

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