I have a Texas Roadhouse at the bar shop scheduled for tonight. WHAT WAS I THINKING????? I can't start the shop until at least 5 MST and the "Big Game" starts at 4:30 MST. What are the odds that I'm going to have trouble getting a seat? Probably pretty high. I emailed the scheduler this morning to see if I could possibly move it till tomorrow, but I haven't gotten a response. So I'm stuck with what will probably be a madhouse. Live and learn.

Oh on top of that I had 2 IPSOS phone shops today only one of which had to be done today. But they were pretty close together so I decided to knock out both. I got home and did one without a problem. Started the 2nd one and discovered that it couldn't actually be done until tomorrow at the soonest (that dang start date Feb 4/start time of 22:00 hours!!!). It was the first time I'd overlooked that little detail since I started doing these. Again I emailed the scheduler but I'm pretty sure that my shop was for nothing. Again live and learn to pay attention to date details

LOL with you. I think we all have had our little 'oopses'.

They SHOULD have had a block on today to get a valid accurate pic of the restaurant. That really is not a fair view of ANY restaurant today.

Ha had a similar time oops on a five guys late night shop. Particular location open till 4am and I started it around 12am so didnt know which date it would be considered since it occurred on one date but was part of late night on another business date

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2018 12:30AM by Want985.

I once had a shop scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday at Texas Roadhouse. When we arrived, we found out that they CLOSED at 5:00 for Super Bowl Sunday. We couldn't believe it.

@mjt9598 wrote:

I once had a shop scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday at Texas Roadhouse. When we arrived, we found out that they CLOSED at 5:00 for Super Bowl Sunday. We couldn't believe it.

I never heard from the scheduler so I went ahead and did it. It actually wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be so I got lucky. This particular location was going to close at 8:00 tonight!!!! Totally crazy. I don't really understand it.
I just heard from the scheduler on the cell phone shop. The client approved moving the date up to today. So I'm good!!!! IPSOS is really one of the best for that kind of goof up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2018 03:51AM by sassymmmm.

That's great, sassy! Hey, do you not use Mobi Audit app for your cellphone shops? You really should get it. It works with any MSC shops that use Shop Metrics. You can report on your phone app, and it makes it so much easier because when you pull up in front of the store you can open the app and directly upload your storefront photo into the app, and as soon as you are done and pull out of the location, pull into another nearby parking lot and enter the whole report in less than a few minutes and be done with it. Additionally, when you open that app you will be able to see when your start dates are for the shops

Thanks Jasflalmt, I appreciate the heads up on that. I don't really like using my phone to do shops because I have a small screen and it's tough to get things to register on it. I might try it though and see if I like it.

I think we can all relate to this situation. Glad it worked out. I haven't done a belly up bar shop yet, just the dining room. I also agree with Jas about the app. I love using it. Nothing like getting home after a day of shops with ZERO reporting needs!

Robin,

I neither own nor have any intention to purchase a cell; this query is merely from a curiosity standpoint.

In the past, I have completed shops that required up to three hour reports, with the average for the Roadhouse at approximately 45 minutes. Do you use voice activated typing on a phone that permits completion in a parking lot?

Hey Bob,

Good for you on sticking with your principles to refrain from a cell phone. Mostly the shops I am talking about require checking the boxes rather than a lot of typing.

But yes, I do use voice activation from time to time. I am not a huge fan of it for narrative shops because I have to go back and edit it anyway. Sometimes I find myself in hysterics with what auto-correct comes up with!

Someday I hope the voice activated ones are a little more reliable. I've heard Bixby is better than Siri, but I'm still arguing with Alexa. She must think I have an accent.

With respect to mystery shopping I use my cell phone for:

Receiving bonus offers that come in via phone
Verifying those shops received by checking my email on my cell phone.
Using the WAZE app to help me navigate to shops and in real-time avoid traffic issues to save time and aggravation.
The camera apps, including ones with time stamps, to look less conspicuous when taking required shots. (food, exteriors of stores, problems etc)
Stop watch applications
Texting myself information for later review
Entering shop information on the apps
Looking for shops when I am in an area outside of my normal search.

And my newest one .... the city parking meter app! Really nice, it allows me to pay for downtown parking, and update from my phone rather than run down the block with more change. Pretty simple to get a receipt that way too!

Using all of those apps does not even add up to a full gig of data when I'm out and about. So my cell phone bill is about 25 per month (I buy my own phones). I'm pretty happy with Republic Wireless if you wanted to check them out.

Now wait a sec, I only like using apps when there is no narrative. I only use Mobi Audit although I realize there are other apps out there for different MSCs. I just find it particularly useful for the cell phone shops, post offices, and convenience store shops I have been doing over the last year. Like Robin said, it's great to come home and not have to write a bunch of reports!

Hey sassy, if nothing else, it's helpful when you take your photos to have the app open. If it's difficult to enter the rest of the information, just take the photos on the app and save the report, then complete the rest when you get home. Just a few less steps to worry about that way.

Is there a way to find out which shops specifically use the Mobi Audit app? I have done a couple cell phone shops using this app and I LOVE it. I virtually get the report completed sitting in my vehicle after the shop. Then, when I get home I complete a quick review of the report and submit.

Most of the companies who use the Shop Metrics platform have Mobi Audit app capabilities, but not all. If you are signed up with a MSC that uses Shop Metrics, email and ask if they use Mobi Audit.