A no name brand box of cereal cost under $3. It weighs at least 17 to 23 ounces. That's is one pound or more.

e wrap it in a brown paper bag. I address it. I mail it I interact with the Clerk. He insures my "cereal" package. I observes thw posterboards and forms in the office. He offers me stamps. I say no thank you. I say good bye and he says, "Got milk."


I return home to wrap the next package, to do the next shop.

So funny....

My wife has a daughter in Brooklyn. Poor and going to school. We are always sending he stuff (bowls, kitchen ware, clothing). It's nice to have these shops.
The one thing you didn't mention is searching around for forms of different kinds. On the other hand, waiting in line is starting to get a little dicey with Xmas coming.

I noticed something with these shops on my log. I've done three now. One was a ReadyPost B. That one in the fee column has the fee plus the reimbursement and give my total payment.

The other two were Regular Box A shops. Those just list the shop fee and for reimbursement show $0.01. Does anyone else have that?

I had that too. But once the shop was received it showed the correct total owed me, including fee and real reimbursement.

I did a couple Box A shops, will go check and return.

shop-a-holic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had that too. But once the shop was received it
> showed the correct total owed me, including fee
> and real reimbursement.


That's what happened for me with the ReadyPost, but with the Regular Box A, it still just shows the fee.

I accepted one of these shops and gave the box a test drive on the scale in my local post office. I must say, I was surprised to learn that with just a TINY bit over a pound, the zip code I punched in exceeded the allotted reimbursement! So just a warning to anyone doing these shops, if you're not just looking to defray the cost of something you're really planning to mail, be careful about the weight and distance.

The .01 is there until they read the report and calcalated what you paid. B/c different cost have not been totaled and if you chose or get the Express it might cost a little more than Priority based on where the package is being sent.

I especially like looking at the menubaords. The continuity boards were generally where they were supposed to be (side by side, above the counter, behind the counter) but the Promotional menuboards are all over.

Also look for the Mover's Guide. B/c this is a NO question on the survey. According to the guidelines the Mover's guide "should not be accessible to customers anywhere in the lobby." So I like it when I do find them on the lobby tables.

I am going to my sisters in MD for T-day. So I sending her my DVDs, so she does not have to rent any.

I will start the B-scenarios,later this week. I still have three more Regular shops to do by Thursday. I do two a day.


nicelytwicely: The guidelines indicates the maximum mail cost they will pay and additional fee will apply They also inform you to weigh the package b4 going to the shop. Glabow: The forms are usually on the table in those slotted area. Each PO I go into I take one of each the forms. So I can check them off on the survey. Then I mention that some of the same forms were also behind the counter.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2010 01:33AM by sojo917.

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------
> nicelytwicely: The guidelines indicates the
> maximum mail cost they will pay and additional fee
> will apply They also inform you to weigh the
> package b4 going to the PO.
>

Yes, I know. The package WAS weighed before going to the P.O. where the shop was. My post was to provide a word of caution about weight and zone. If you don't check, it's easy to be surprised. And I was.

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> So I like it when I do find them on the lobby
> tables.

Um, ok.

Does it actually have to be a BOX? Can one use a shipping envelope?

Damselfly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does it actually have to be a BOX? Can one use a
> shipping envelope?


There are two different scenarios. If you are assigned a regular box then, yes, it has to be a box.

The Ready Post envelope isn't strong enough to hold a pound. I send stuff monthly to my daughter and have tried it all. Priority mail is a flat rate, (box included). Hoping to get another close by and get her Channakah gift out, my cost is usually around 10.00, so this has been great for me.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Ready Post envelope isn't strong enough to
> hold a pound. I send stuff monthly to my daughter
> and have tried it all. Priority mail is a flat
> rate, (box included). Hoping to get another close
> by and get her Channakah gift out, my cost is
> usually around 10.00, so this has been great for
> me.


The ReadyPosts do hold a pound. For Scenario B, you have to mail it in a ReadyPost.

I was speaking of the Ready Post envelopes, in answer to the question...they are too weak for a pd., have to get a box.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was speaking of the Ready Post envelopes, in
> answer to the question...they are too weak for a
> pd., have to get a box.


I've used envelopes in all my ReadyPost shops. The packages weighted just over 1 lb. and were just fine. The items were small though, so the envelopes didn't need to be stretched out or anything.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was speaking of the Ready Post envelopes, in
> answer to the question...they are too weak for a
> pd., have to get a box.


I could be wrong, but I don't think any of the boxes are allowed. They give a list of four acceptable ReadyPost mailers. I think three are padded or bubble mailers and one is a tube.

The Ready Post envelopes work fine for 1 lb and up...

I did a bunch of these. I think they are easier than the Maritz ones, because you don't need to get a mailing from Maritz. But I like dealing with Maritz better. Anyway, I have two packages in manilla folders for the jobs, each weighting 1 pound 1 ounce. I do the ready post. Slip them into a ready post package and mail them to myself at work. Works great. But Maritz pays bi weekly and that won't happen with BARE.

I agree on the pay delay with Bare. Still good shops if you can afford to let them pile up...

Re: the box, it's easy. Get the prepaid priority box, then wrap it in plain brown paper. (I use grocery bags.)

Somebody please pm me *who is BARE?* I would love to do these jobs. thx in advance

Bare International.

There's a long list of mystery shopping providers on this forum, with a link to their websites for sign-up. [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Sign up - the more, the merrier.

thanks Mert, appreciate it....

nicelytwicely Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Re: the box, it's easy. Get the prepaid priority
> box, then wrap it in plain brown paper. (I use
> grocery bags.)


That is against post office policy and chances are they will catch you. I had someone send me a package that way via ebay and the post office held onto it and made me pay the difference to retrieve it. I realize if you end up paying priority for it through the shop you have all ready paid that fee so that might work but generally speaking the priority boxes are to only be used once and to only be used as is.

Liz

Traveliz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nicelytwicely Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Re: the box, it's easy. Get the prepaid
> priority
> > box, then wrap it in plain brown paper. (I use
> > grocery bags.)
>
>
> That is against ********** policy and chances are
> they will catch you. I had someone send me a
> package that way via ebay and the ********** held
> onto it and made me pay the difference to retrieve
> it. I realize if you end up paying priority for
> it through the shop you have all ready paid that
> fee so that might work but generally speaking the
> priority boxes are to only be used once and to
> only be used as is.
>
> Liz



I thought that too when I first read that post, but for these shops, we are using priority mail. I don't know then if that is really a violation since she is paying for the priority.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2010 01:03AM by lisams901.

All I can tell you is that I've done this when I HAVEN'T been on a shop. No one has ever told me it was illegal. In fact, a postal worker suggested that I do this just the other day, when it was discovered that the box of magazines I wanted to mail would be less expensive to mail via media mail. As per their suggestion, I returned with the same box, wrapped in brown paper.

I once was reprimanded for using a Priority Mail box turned inside out and told it was illegal. Of course I was not sending the parcel via Priority Mail.

I've done this many, many times, and I'd bet it's a pretty common practice. I guess the bottom line is, proceed at your own risk.