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Did I just make a mistake?

August 27, 2018 02:20AM
This morning I was assigned a shop. I applied earlier this week and got the email this morning that it was assigned to me. It is the day before the shop is due. When I read the description, it simply said that it was an inquiry only shop. When I got the assignment, I read the guidelines and found that it was a shop where I was going to have to bribe somebody. I struggled with that all day. I practiced the lines and tried to imagine me at the window saying those words. I was very worried about performing this shop successfully. Then, I decided to read the report to see what it entailed. I found that I may have to meet with a company representative in two weeks. Well, that did it for me. I felt like I was way in over my head, so I tried to cancel the shop. The system would not let me cancel and I sent an email to the scheduler. I explained that I could not do the shop and why. I "humbly apologized" for this decision.
Now, I am afraid that I have made a huge mistake and will be blocked from taking more shops from this MSC. I have been doing pizza shops and testing shops with them for the past year and would hate to lose them.
Did I make a huge mistake?

Happy Camper


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2018 02:21AM by mskimmysue.
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August 27, 2018 02:25AM
I would be terrified, too. That sounds pretty wild. I hope it works out for you. I think some companies are more forgiving than others. I'm new, so I'm just trying to figure out the basics and hope I don't get banned.

Trying to learn from all of these rockstars.
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August 27, 2018 02:27AM
It's never ideal to cancel a shop, however, you did what you thought was right for YOU. Don't dwell on it and look at shop guidelines more closely in the future - especially ones that have to do with finances. You'll be fine.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2018 02:32PM by Monk-N-Nut.
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August 27, 2018 02:35AM
I did read the description when I applied. It only said it was an inquiry shop. Naive me thought I would be enquiring about fees or guidelines or something like that. I never dreamed I would be enquiring if they would take a bribe!

Happy Camper
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August 27, 2018 03:32AM
i do not know about a mistake, career move, or whatever you may call that. I only suppose that I might know the shop type that you are referring to... I did not like performing the scenario because I felt completely creepy. However, I felt better immediately after the employee politely and emphatically told me 'NO!' and explained their position.

As far as I know, a rep would only need to speak with you if someone accepted a bribe or did anything else that was questionable.

The only way to find out about your status with the MSC is to communicate with someone there. Good luck! smiling smiley

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)
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August 27, 2018 12:43PM
The type of shop that you describe falls into the "cash/revenue integrity" category IMHO. I feel very strongly that MSCs need to let shoppers know, upfront, that that what they will be testing is whether or not an employee accepts or "diverts" cash for their personal gain. Fraud and accepting bribes are well within the realm of what MS may be looking for, but these shops are not for everyone for a whole variety of reasons. I personally do a ton of cash/revenue integrity shops that look for theft or fraud, but not the ones where a bribe is to be offered.

Bad move by the MSC not to let shoppers know before they commit.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 27, 2018 01:15PM
@walesmaven wrote:

... I feel very strongly that MSCs need to let shoppers know, upfront, that that what they will be testing is whether or not an employee accepts or "diverts" cash for their personal gain. Fraud and accepting bribes are well within the realm of what MS may be looking for, but these shops are not for everyone for a whole variety of reasons.

Bad move by the MSC not to let shoppers know before they commit.

Exactly! When the purpose of the shop isn't disclosed in the summary on the job board, and a shopper accepts based on that description, and then the full instructions reveal a "hidden" purpose or scenario, a shopper is, imo, entitled to cancel. Especially if you know you won't be able to perform the job with any degree of confidence or comfort. I think it's better to cancel than to end up with a botched shop.

I've never done this type of shop, but I see the bar integrity and professional testing shops (where you have to cheat). The purpose of the job is stated upfront, and the shopper knows he/she is to look for bartenders pocketing cash. The testing shop summary makes it clear you are to cheat.

I think you did the right thing for you. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable working for a MSC that hid the key point of the shop. There are plenty of MSCs out there and loads of different kinds of shops. If this MSC deactivates you, you'll have more time to sign up with more companies and look for more kinds of shops that appeal to you. But don't assume that you'll be deactivated. I have, and I'm sure many other shoppers (according to other discussions on this board), have cancelled shops after receiving the full instructions, and weren't dropped by the MSCs.

Good luck!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2018 01:15PM by BirdyC.
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August 27, 2018 02:05PM
What did they want you to do?

Based on what you said, I would have dropped it too. This also happened where I found out what I really needed to do after accrpting the shop and I declined to do it. The MSC should be more upfront so you know what you are getting into.
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August 27, 2018 07:24PM
The MSC contacted me this morning and removed the shop from my shop log. Thank goodness!

Happy Camper
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August 28, 2018 12:27AM
I think I've just seen this shop pop up on my job board for what I believe is the MSC you're referring to. The scenario information says, "These are integrity audits to see if (an employee) would be willing to make a fraudulent transaction." It goes on to say that there are different specific scenarios.

But the lead-in does state that these are "inquiry only" shops. I wonder if they added the above language based on shoppers dropping them like hot potatoes once assigned.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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August 28, 2018 12:38AM
I also have accepted this job under the preface that this was an "inquiry only" shop (this was months ago). I then received the guidelines and my assigned scenario and did not feel comfortable at all performing it. I explained that to the scheduler and cancelled the shop, they were understanding about it and as far as I know, my score/standing with them did not take a hit. I do understand the importance of these shops, but not my cup of tea
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August 28, 2018 02:46AM
@Lauraphx wrote:

I do understand the importance of these shops, but not my cup of tea
I couldn't do that one, either. I'd do the bar cash-integrity shops, but seeing if someone will take a bribe is beyond my capacity to act and feel comfortable doing it.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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August 28, 2018 02:28PM
Out of curiosity, I tried one of these shops a couple month ago. My scenario was just an inquiry. The guidelines listed all the scenarios. What struck me was how they stated the scenario would not be revealed until after the shopper was assigned. Needless to say, I decided the one shop would be the only shop for this client.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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August 28, 2018 03:22PM
A mean person would enjoy these shops.
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August 28, 2018 03:57PM
@Lauraphx wrote:

I also have accepted this job under the preface that this was an "inquiry only" shop (this was months ago). I then received the guidelines and my assigned scenario and did not feel comfortable at all performing it. I explained that to the scheduler and cancelled the shop, they were understanding about it and as far as I know, my score/standing with them did not take a hit. I do understand the importance of these shops, but not my cup of tea

Technically, this is an inquiry only shop because even if the employee accepts the bribe, the shopper does not give them any money. The shopper offers a bribe but does not pay a bribe. There is an "out" for the shopper. You say that you have to get the money and will come back later, or something like that. You never return regarding the bribe because at that point you have obtained the needed information. You ascertained and verified whether the employee took a bribe or not.

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2018 04:00PM by Shop-et-al.
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August 28, 2018 04:06PM
@Shop-et-al wrote:

@Lauraphx wrote:

I also have accepted this job under the preface that this was an "inquiry only" shop (this was months ago). I then received the guidelines and my assigned scenario and did not feel comfortable at all performing it. I explained that to the scheduler and cancelled the shop, they were understanding about it and as far as I know, my score/standing with them did not take a hit. I do understand the importance of these shops, but not my cup of tea

Technically, this is an inquiry only shop because even if the employee accepts the bribe, the shopper does not give them any money. The shopper offers a bribe but does not pay a bribe. There is an "out" for the shopper. You say that you have to get the money and will come back later, or something like that. You never return regarding the bribe because at that point you have obtained the needed information..

Oh, I understand that "technically" it is an inquiry shop. But like the OP stated, I was also under the impression that you would be making a simple inquiry as to fees, etc. Not roleplaying a bribe or other scenario, the one I was assigned was not a bribe scenero, it involved something else I did not feel comfortable performing. As Lisa said, you don't know the scenario you will get until it is assigned to you. My issue with this is that the MSC would probably be better off giving shoppers a little more detail regarding the shop so we can determine if it is something we even want to apply for. From what Birdy posted, it looks like they have updated the language on the job description, this wasn't the case a few months ago.
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August 28, 2018 05:06PM
I made the mistake of accepting one of those. I was sick to my stomach! I did it but I felt so bad. I will NEVER do one like that again. I was not told before that I had to try to bribe someone! I actually think it is wrong of them to not be upfront about it.
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September 04, 2018 04:06PM
I'm seeing a sprinkling of these bare shops on the Presto app. They are listed as "retail" with a pay rate of $10.00. It looks like they added more info about the shops;

"These are integrity audits to see if an Agent would be willing to make a fraudulent transaction." This is mentioned in the scenario description and certainly helps with my decision to NOT accept/apply for this shop, lol.

There are some in Mexican border towns that offer better pay... $12.00 ???? with what they are calling a fraud scenario involving the purchase of a money order. But it's an inquiry only shop.

Deception by omission. I truly believe a handful of these MSCs intentionally do not prove the guidelines in advance for a reason.
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