Ross Sizing Audits
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They reduced the number of items to be counted. I find them worth it but others don't. It may take a few to get used to but once you get the hang of it, they are fairly simple.
Super easy, even at the base fee.
I put the catagories in my phone.
I grab a cart and put a few things in it as I shop. I shoot a photo of the price tag with my phone.
Report takes less than 5 minutes.
I put the catagories in my phone.
I grab a cart and put a few things in it as I shop. I shoot a photo of the price tag with my phone.
Report takes less than 5 minutes.
@SoCalMama wrote:
Super easy, even at the base fee.
I put the catagories in my phone.
I grab a cart and put a few things in it as I shop. I shoot a photo of the price tag with my phone.
Report takes less than 5 minutes.
Thank you for the tips! So, it sounds as if this shouldn't take more than an hour, even for a first timer? Since I have to be near there, anyway, and if it doesn't take more than an hour with report, then it sounds worth at least a try.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
@BirdyC wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
Super easy, even at the base fee.
I put the catagories in my phone.
I grab a cart and put a few things in it as I shop. I shoot a photo of the price tag with my phone.
Report takes less than 5 minutes.
Thank you for the tips! So, it sounds as if this shouldn't take more than an hour, even for a first timer? Since I have to be near there, anyway, and if it doesn't take more than an hour with report, then it sounds worth at least a try.
Just make sure you get the catagories correct. It usually takes me 20 minutes, but I have been doing these since the 1990's. It should take an hour the first time. Before cell phones, I would shoot photos with my digital camera (of the price tags) in the dressing room.
There's usually a sign at the entrance with the manager's name. Don't forget to get it.
I enjoy doing most of the catagories The real tough ones are shoes and lingerie since they are almost always numerous missized items.
The locations by me are always a disaster so they have seemed to take me much longer than what everyone else says. I took a few months off of these and just did one the other day. In and out in 20 minutes. The store had definitely cleaned up their act since the last time I was there.
The guidelines stated that if 7 or more items were mis-sized or placed in the incorrect size area, must provide photo with explanation. I did a sizing audit that included kids shoes one time. Shoes were everywhere, on the floor and misplaced in the wrong size area. I took photo, explained that it was difficult to get correct count because of the disorganization of the shoes. Next time I went to that location, the kids shoes were organized better.
@catgrannyof5 wrote:
The guidelines stated that if 7 or more items were mis-sized or placed in the incorrect size area, must provide photo with explanation. I did a sizing audit that included kids shoes one time. Shoes were everywhere, on the floor and misplaced in the wrong size area. I took photo, explained that it was difficult to get correct count because of the disorganization of the shoes. Next time I went to that location, the kids shoes were organized better.
There are certain categories I generally won't audit without a bonus. Kids' Shoes is one of them.
@jasimon1 wrote:
The locations by me are always a disaster so they have seemed to take me much longer than what everyone else says. I took a few months off of these and just did one the other day. In and out in 20 minutes. The store had definitely cleaned up their act since the last time I was there.
I just had almost identical experiences in a couple of stores. Crossing my fingers that this becomes a pattern.
I did one of these last week. I was stunned how quickly it went. The instructions said " Most of these take 1 hour, but give yourself 2 hrs to be safe". I finished it in 20 minutes. There was only 1 or 2 items in each category. I came home, told my spouse how easy it was, I wonder if I missed something because its so friggen easy. I had infant boys, so I started in the newborn sizes and counted my 100 items. I ended up at 3-6 months. I wonder if I'm supposed to count 100 in each size? I don't know, but I did it the way I thought I was supposed to do it and it took me 20 minutes at the most.
I thought you had to count 100 items in each of 5 categories, so that would be 500 items. Or did I not read the guidelines correctly? It used to be 7 categories, didn't it, before they "streamlined" the shop? I might not be remembering that accurately, but I read the instructions as a total of 500 items.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Yes, 100 items in 5 catagories, total 500 items. My stores must be very organized, because I only found 2 missized items in 2 catagories.
The raised the payout to $17 and lowered the number to count in each category to 100 - they are quick and easy. Heads up if you run into a store that has nothing sized right. Take pictures - more than you need - because the manager will reject the report and say you were never there (yes, happened to me)
good tip, I have been doing these for years and it one of my favorites.
Got an email that they added a $5 bonus to the shop. Now it's $22. Still doesn't seem like enough for what has to be done. Has anyone ever been caught by an associate?
@a171989 wrote:
Got an email that they added a $5 bonus to the shop. Now it's $22. Still doesn't seem like enough for what has to be done. Has anyone ever been caught by an associate?
What do you mean by “caught”? If they ask you if you are the mystery shopper, just ignore them or ask what that is.
The shop requires note taking and photos, sometimes that's not easy to hide. I saw in another post that one shopper had been found out and the associates made it hard to complete the shop. Kind of like sabotage. There is only one Ross in my area and I shop there often so I don't want to burn bridges.
All notes should be done on a smart phone.
I used to do these in the 90's when they were revealed shops. The managers would flip out if they had more than 5 or 7 wrong in a catagory. It was sad/pathetic/weird.
I used to do these in the 90's when they were revealed shops. The managers would flip out if they had more than 5 or 7 wrong in a catagory. It was sad/pathetic/weird.
The shop's guidelines say to print the sheet out and hide it somewhere were employees won't see it and then use a phone to take the pictures. On top of that, we have to look like a real shopper. Seems a bit much. I'm sure practice makes "perfect" but I wonder how many get caught doing that.
I guess you could print out the sheet and take a photo of it on your phone? You'd have to put it in your purse. I dropped my guidelines once somewhere years ago. I don't generally print them anymore for that reason.
I just did one last week. I had my paperwork on a clipboard in the cart, purse over the top. You all are overthinking these. It was so easy. Took me 20 minutes. My store is very organized though.
These are super easy. Lately the stores are much better. Maybe it’s because they had reduced inventory in January. I try to pre-fill some of the input before I go to the store like time in, SKU 4001. All SKUs (the 12 digit number) start with 4001 so you just need to get the 8 digits from one item in each category. I use the note feature on my phone and type time in/manager name/Category and SKU/number counted/number mid-sized and description of mid-sized/Time out. If you find 7 or more take a pic of the rack.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2018 10:00AM by pateruski.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2018 10:00AM by pateruski.
Are you folks checking the sizing and category tag as well as the tag on the clothing of 500 items in 20 minutes? In a Ross?
I chickened out and didn't take one yet. I keep getting asked to do one a 35-minute drive away, still at $17. Nope. I'll try one eventually....
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I have never seen these shops in my area. They sound like a great way to make a few bucks!
Took me an hour when I did it.. going to do one again, we will see if I am any faster.. I doubt I will be! 
I've never taken one of these. A 6' man counting and taking pictures in the women undergarment dept seems a recipe for trouble or at least embarrassment, but I do their Customer Service shops all the time.
A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.
ShoppingDad, you can use the excuse that you're looking for something for your wife/girlfriend without coming across as creepy. I'd bring my small sized clipboard with the categories printed out. I write down the SkU# on the print out sheet and then begin counting. You can also view the monthly categories before accepting the shop. Of course, sometimes I get distracted and start shopping for myself when counting.
I walked out on one of these last night. I stupidly thought it would be a breeze since the store just opened last week. Two of the categories I could find the signs for but none of the products in that category were where they should be. After an hour of searching, I gave up.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2018 12:34PM by jasimon1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2018 12:34PM by jasimon1.
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