I had an email this morning for a shop at a home design fabric store in an upscale neighborhood. I thought about applying until I read the requirements and application. You had to take a time stamped photo of the building both before and after the shop (so you can prove how long you were there), On the application page you had to tell the MSC why you thought you could portray an upscale shopper AND attach a photo of yourself wearing business casual "so we can tell that you know what it means".

Sorry, but I have better things to do than prove myself to any company!

Yes, I saw the same assignment and promptly said, "Nope!" as I hit the delete button. Especially for the pay it wasn't worth it. If it's the same assignment I had, you also had to submit a 30 second video of yourself.

As irritating as I would find those requirements, I cannot help by to ask myself why the MSC/client felt it necessary to put them in place. Similar to some of the high end vehicle shops I've done, I have to wonder if there have been shoppers who have shown up at the location and looked completely out-of-place and totally unfit for said place of business.

I have got to think this is another example of a handful of shoppers' foolishness leading to obnoxious requirements that burn all of us.

What MSC is this?
I think it’s important to realize that not all shoppers are us. They wouldn’t have gone through the hassle of making those a requirement if they hadn’t had a lot of issues in the past. It’s a shame, really.

A fast food shop I'm doing tomorrow: you are to go into the restroom after your visit, not before. Uhm, how do I wash my hands???

A drug store shop requires the purchase of a line of hair products. They want a picture of the destroyed boxes and "Not for Resale" written on the bottles.

I don't find those requirements insulting, especially for an upscale or high-end shop. I wouldn't want to make a video of myself, but dressed in business casual is a legitimate request, I think. Some people think that means blue jeans. I was once asked what I planned on wearing to an assignment, or at least what accessories I'd be wearing (watch brand, bag, shoe type, etc.). You wouldn't go on a Rolex shop wearing a Timex watch or a high-end handbag shop carrying a GAL fake-leather bag!

They're just trying to make sure the shopper can accurately portray the kind of buyer who would actually be shopping in these stores or car dealerships. You may know you'll outfit yourself properly, but they don't know that. Of course, the shop fee has to be worth the extra work.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2018 05:16PM by BirdyC.

Out of curiosity, what did the shop pay?

Twenty dollars.

@7star wrote:

Out of curiosity, what did the shop pay?

I saw that shop and briefly thought about applying for it. I use a similar product to keep scalp eczema in check, but Google says that the required brand doesn't have the same benefit. Too bad-it would have been great to get all that product for free.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

A drug store shop requires the purchase of a line of hair products. They want a picture of the destroyed boxes and "Not for Resale" written on the bottles.

Thanks for letting me know about the shop price. It doesn't sound like something that would entice me. I can imagine the details they want in the report.

You're right. That's the great thing about being an independent contractor-I can pick and choose what I do.

The kicker is that I used to shop in a branch of this store all the time (before it moved to the current location). I don't recall the associates turning their noses up at my business.

@BirdyC wrote:

They're just trying to make sure the shopper can accurately portray the kind of buyer who would actually be shopping in these stores or car dealerships. You may know you'll outfit yourself properly, but they don't know that. Of course, the shop fee has to be worth the extra work.

I saw that hair products shop. I thought that was excessive.

I don't object to the picture and have submitted (especially) for the bar audits and a few others a photo. I have never been asked for a video, and wouldn't go that far. I have to think some shoppers just aren't a good fit, and the company is protecting themselves before hand. Having nothing to be ashamed of look or dress wise and the pay is fair, I do it all, but the video.

@Hoju wrote:

I think it’s important to realize that not all shoppers are us.

I think that's the important takeaway here. We make an assumption that all of the degrading and insulting requirements put upon shoppers are potentially aimed at us, but there's unfortunately a number of shoppers that make this a requirement, and they are most likely not partaking in online discussions about the industry, or how to improve it....or themselves.

This is not just specific to MSing, BTW. A client of mine (in my main industry) took me to dinner last week to tell me how much he appreciated working with me. His words about why he was impressed with me; "When I met you a few years ago, you gave me this while spiel about what you do for me if I used your services, and it sounded great...and then you actually did everything you promised!" When he then told me stories about others he worked with, I was horrified.

I have read many posts about how everyone dress's messy and it doesn't matter.....wrong, first impressions matter. The client can get complaints about the appearance of the shopper, especially at upscale retailers, and frankly (from what I hear) it is embarrassing, what is the big deal, submit a photo once and your done.....

Lol what does dressing 'business casual' have ANYTHING to do with being an upscale shopper. I'm an upscale shopper when the prices are right, but I sometimes go shopping in my sleeping clothes with my cowlick sticking up in my hair.

Because your are representing a company...what you do on your time is fine....LOL

I picked up the hair care shop. I am a Lupus Warrior & one of the symptoms is hair loss. I'm not bald, just thin. One of the products is a hair reqrowth serum for women. The box has to be destroyed and the product has to be marked "Not For Resale". The client does not want the stuff resold on ebay, etc. Still far less ridiculous than taking a picture of oneself in a vest holding up the guidelines. IMO.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2018 08:40PM by janalou.

@OP: How annoying that must have been for you. You, I imagine, are properly dressed for the various situations in your work and personal lives. Properly will depend upon climate, weather, previous and subsequent activities, etc.

So what if some shoppers do not dress as commanded? What if some shoppers are wearing the best they have or can afford? What if they are wearing business casual for their area but this does not look like slacks and button-downs?

What is the absolute worst thing that can happen if some shopper is dressed modestly and is clean but... gasp... quick, someone fetch smelling salts... but is not wearing the demanded outfit?

@Shop-et-al
If the shopper is unable to meet the standards of attire and appearance requested by the client, the shopper should not do the shop. I will sometimes shop new homes that sell for somewhere between $1M and $2M. If I were to drive up in a vehicle held together by duct tape and wearing ill-fitting faded/stained clothes, I would be immediately judged as somebody who could not afford the home - and therefore not taken seriously by the agent. The same would go for shopping at a Ferrari dealership. Etc. At the very least, the shopper would stick out like a sore thumb and be way to memorable.

And I live in the ultra-casual Pacific Northwest: The land of socks and sandals.

When the shopper is in business casual for their area, they are in the standard for that area. This may not match the demanded slacks and button-downs, but somewhere it is credible and the look achieve when attempting to blend in with the surroundings there.

It may be well to remember that some millionaires occasionally go about looking like bums-- because they can. They have no need to do otherwise. They represent real money,and they do not always have to appear in business casual or finer.

Are we too quick to judge others' appearances? Is this a potential liability in an objective process of gathering information?

In my part of the metropolitan area during the day upscale women are more likely to be dressed in their Lululemon or Athleta gym clothes than business casual.

People seem to be taking this personally, and it's not personal. It's not a matter of judging us (each of us individually) by our appearances. The clients of MSCs generally know what their customer demographics are. Of course some people go shopping for high-end cars, homes, jewelry, clothing, etc., in jeans and sneakers (I do when I'm on my own time). Salespeople shouldn't treat them any differently than any other customer (but sometimes they do). Companies do market research all the time and usually have a pretty accurate profile of what their "typical" client or customer dresses like, what kinds of cars they drive, etc. I couldn't do some luxury car shops until I purchased my current car because my other ones were too old or didn't fit with the profile of the company's typical buyer. I think the MSC was correct in barring me from those shops.

Also, "business casual," for example, might vary not only from region to region, but industry to industry. Business casual in one industry might be jeans and a polo shirt, but among the client's customer base it might be Dockers slacks and a button-down shirt or skirt and blouse. If people tend to shop for cars on their lunch hours or right after work, that might be an issue.

I agree that some of the requirements, like having to submit a video, are crazy, but wanting to know if your shopper fits the client's demographic profile isn't a personal insult. I've never had a "demanded outfit" requirement, but have been asked to give an idea of what type of clothing I'd wear and accessories I'd carry on a particular shop. Nobody demands a uniform, I don't think.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2018 11:01PM by BirdyC.

It's not about us judging folks by their appearance. It's about us not sticking out or giving some indication that we are not appropriate shoppers for the given business.

I would argue that MOST millionaires don't wear expensive clothes all that frequently. Most millionaires make their millions through being frugal and saving/investing their money. Yes, many millionaires do shop at Walmart. However, if you walk into a Lamborghini dealership, looking like a slob, you wont' be taken seriously. Frugal millionaires don't buy such items. In the PNW, you could walk into a Bentley dealership or Meier & Frank store in jeans and a tee shirt (provided your clothes fit and are not stained and torn) and be just fine. That might not be the case in other areas. However, you will never stick out wearing business casual. The requirements are in place so as to make sure that we are not particularly memorable and are taken seriously by sales associates.

Most importantly, however, if the client has specific requirements, we must abide by them. If we can't - or don't wish to - we should not take the shop. I have two cars - a 2012 SUV and a 2016 Hyundai. both are in pristine condition and I drive them to my new home shops just fine. However, I was not able to use them for my Lamborghini shop a couple weeks ago. I rented a vehicle to meet the client's standard. It was simply the cost of doing business. Had I not been able to rent a car, I would not have been able to do the shop.

You are right. Demanded may be too strong. So we will say requested. I have spent more time and money in the hunt for requested outfits than the jobs paid. I still could not find a requested top that fit me properly. (I gave up and wore what was comfortable.)

I will no longer do that. If a job requests certain clothing, the pay for the job must be commensurate with the costs of acquiring the requested clothing. Meanwhile, I will continue to dress in the ways that suit me and ignore jobs that require me to wear something that costs more than the job is worth.

I would rather find ways to ensure that people who need clothes have them.

..

I can understand why they want to make sure people know how to look the part. Take a look around when you are out in stores, some people think pajamas and slippers are casual wear LOL

@KathyG wrote:

In my part of the metropolitan area during the day upscale women are more likely to be dressed in their Lululemon or Athleta gym clothes than business casual.

Weren't we talking about business casual for a job, not what woman are wearing in general. Doing errands is one thing, working and wearing business casual is another....

My point was that if I was truly looking to purchase window coverings or upholstery fabric from the 'shopped' store I would be wearing what everyone else in the store was.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

@KathyG wrote:

In my part of the metropolitan area during the day upscale women are more likely to be dressed in their Lululemon or Athleta gym clothes than business casual.

Weren't we talking about business casual for a job, not what woman are wearing in general. Doing errands is one thing, working and wearing business casual is another....

It's amazing what I see people wear in stores like the supermarket, Target, etc. They are wearing crocs, slippers, sandals, pj bottoms. This is winter ! I can understand if someone has a medical condition to wear these but still, i think people can do slightly better.

Respectfully disagreeing. People do not need to do better. They can wear what they want to wear. That is their prerogative. At least they have something to wear. These days, in the good old USA, there seem to be more and more challenges to personal freedom. Why should we try to control other people's apparel, considering that our personal apparel might be one of the last arenas in which we can express anything that is remotely personal? Wouldn't we just participate in opportunities to supply clothing for persons who need it?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2018 02:04AM by Shop-et-al.