I don't think I want to do these. Email says: For this shop, you will visit an assigned location and go through the process of renting a unit. After being shown the unit, you will make a down payment. After this transaction, you will then reveal yourself as a mystery shopper and cancel. Further information can be found in the guidelines.

I've done this shop. It's fun and easy actually. It's one of the few times you get to reveal yourself, and the employees actually like it too (if they pass)

I also enjoyed this shop! Just like quovatis said, it is actually fun and very easy

I'm glad to hear that I haven't yet broken my 40 year wrong streak!

LOL I was hesitant about it too, then it got bonused

These should be easy. One in my town. Would like to pick up for this weekend and maybe get in early. But bonus?? I think I have to wait to see how long the urban locations sit---I have hopes.

I hate any shop where I can only do 1 of them. What's the point in learning a new set of guidelines and making notes if I can't reuse my cheat sheets and get faster at it??

Have you seen the pay for the managers and assistant managers at these storage rentals? And, a unit to live in is also usually part of the pay, in exchange, and is taxed. I'm sure they LOVE these audits and consider them to be loads of fun. But if there were more than a couple I would do them.

It's an easy shop. I went out to my car, came back in with the letter, and said "There's just one more thing. This is for you. It's a letter from so and so, and this has been a mystery shop." I forget the honcho's name, but the employee recognized it for sure. The point is, drop the name on the letter and you will have no difficulty. They will reverse the transaction without any fuss.

By the way, as of this month I am seeing this shop with a different MSC. They are low-balling it at $10, at least to start, so if it's still with the other MSC in your area you might want to grab it.

I did one of these a few months ago for $40. I wish I could have done more than one. Now I see them with another MSC for $10. I won't do them for that price.

@eclark3 wrote:

I did one of these a few months ago for $40. I wish I could have done more than one. Now I see them with another MSC for $10. I won't do them for that price.

I did the $10 shop with a bonus I don't remember. Now that I know there was a $40 one... TRAGIC.

It's not so great if you have any negative feedback in your report, as you have just shown your ID to the person whose job may be at risk as a result. Case in point: I just did one, which went pretty well. After the revelation letter, the employee said to me, and I quote, 'I hope it went well because if that was your real ID, I know where you live." Hahahahaa. Not funny. The next day, I was in a nearby drugstore buying a soda on my way to some other shops in the region. He was in line behind me and called me by my name, saying, "Got my eye on you, XXX."

Hahahahaa. Gulp.

Very much not an experience I will ever repeat. Keep in mind you have just given your credit card and ID, and that even when they void the transaction you are probably still in the customer database.

Eek, shoshi, that's a bit alarming.

I've tried the scheduler a couple of times and will try to get him in person on Monday. I really think they need to talk to the client and rethink this strategy with the reveal. It appears that it's just a workaround for avoiding a refund. Given that you have to give a real ID, I would much rather have this handled somehow on the back end so that you are not canceling on the spot. Overall, I cannot think of a way to handle a full signup without it compromising my identity.

I give a real ID at apartment shops, but they don't copy it, they just put it in a drawer until the tour is over. Ditto car test drives. Neither of these bother me, especially as the caliber of employee is higher on the ethics/professionalism scale. That is not so at Western Union /Payday Loan establishments or the people I encountered at this storage shop.

Same thing with Western Union transfer /cancel shops - even without a reveal, employees are alarmed by an on-the-spot cancellation. It's not like a retail refund where you might have changed your mind as an impulsive buyer.

I'm not doing any more of either of this type. Dealing with the fallout is too stressful.

I did one, and it was fine, except that the on-site visit took a very long time because the rep was so thorough! The reveal went well; no issues. But I think the base pay for these is way too low. Mine was bonused, and I wished I'd waited until it went up even more!

Not here. In past years I did several apartment shops and car shops, and they have ALWAYS made a copy of the DL at the one's I visited.

@Shoshi99 wrote:

I give a real ID at apartment shops, but they don't copy it, they just put it in a drawer until the tour is over. Ditto car test drives.

I'm considering getting a fake ID.

@JerseyGirlShopper wrote:

Have you seen the pay for the managers and assistant managers at these storage rentals? And, a unit to live in is also usually part of the pay, in exchange, and is taxed. I'm sure they LOVE these audits and consider them to be loads of fun. But if there were more than a couple I would do them.

No, I haven't. How much do they make, or tell me how I can look it up.

I did an un-revealed one. Thought the lady was going to call the cops when she saw me taking a picture of her gate access machine lol.

I scheduled 4 of the non reveal ones: take pictures of the security cameras & gate access. I read the guidelines and canceled all. When you take the pictures you are on their security tapes as taking pictures & if there was any security breech, there you are as the prime suspect.

The one I'm seeing pays about $10 and requires several "discreet" photos of the premises I assume while being escorted around by the storage employee. That one sounds kind of difficult.

I really enjoy shops where I can reveal myself as a shopper. Especially when they do a good job.

Hi Soshi99, I just wanted to offer some information. Even though you may not see people at apartment and car shops (for test drive) when they ask for your ID....when you are test driving the car or touring the apartment, someone else is scanning and/or copying your ID. I know this because I did a test drive at a luxury vehicle dealership and the sales associate told me that they (all dealerships) scan the bar code on the back of your license and they copy it while you are not able to see it being done. Same for apartments.

And I would agree with the storage shops where you "discreetly" take several pictures; those security cameras are recording you (as are the cameras at apartment communities and auto dealerships). All they need is a PI or website they can pay to join and can look up your license tag to get all the info they want.

I have stayed away from these shops since I have learned what they do behind your back with your real ID. I do not want to be in the data base of all these companies that we shop where this is a requirement.

Another thing I have started doing is not giving my real name to any shop, and actually I rarely ever give a last name. I do put in the shop notes the alias I used, if there is a place that only goes to the MSC and NOT to the client. There are just too many desperate people out there or those that have mental issues. There is no reason for them to have my real information. After all, we are MYSTERY shoppers. Letting them know our real name, address, phone number, email, etc. takes the mystery out of it.

I recently did one of these Reveal Storage Mystery Shops and it was Very Awkward. The Shop went well but after I aid for the Storage unit and walked out I had to wait a few monutes and go back in. The employee thought she had done something wrong. When I Revealed that it was a Mystety Shop she was ver surprised and confused. She was a new employee of 2 weeks. It was awkward.

I did a $ 40 shop like this.. No way would I for $10! I beleive the higher pay is due to our identity being exposed.
But, honestly I think any risks are minimal because these facilities have a Manager and an Assistant Manager, You will shop one or the other, I think most employers are using a background check for their managers with keys and, handling the money. I think they're safe enough at $40. I may change my mind if come across a creepy one behind me at the store advising me I'm being watched like the other shopper. Yikes!

I’ve completed one of these the job fee was $50.00. I see them on other company sites for $15.00. It was simple to do. I used my credit card and the charge was reversed immediately. There was not much to the assignment better in pay then the average reveal shop. It was a winner for me.

Couldn't agree more! Didn't think about the license plate/security camera issue. Good point.

These are fun to do. First you do the normal shop. Then turn around to do the reveal with COA letter. Then you can cancel the payment or the shop company will reimburse.

@tstewart3 wrote:

I scheduled 4 of the non reveal ones: take pictures of the security cameras & gate access. I read the guidelines and canceled all. When you take the pictures you are on their security tapes as taking pictures & if there was any security breech, there you are as the prime suspect.

I have done three of them and I did not find them uncomfortable but I did think about being on camera since they have camera's everywhere.