I had two $25 bank shops rejected. The guidelines had several scenarios that were a bit confusing and I followed the wrong scenario..It sucked because during that time money was a little tight for me and I was hoping those two shops would get me out of the hole.

I once had two shops rejected by the same MSC in the same night, because the times overlapped by 2 minutes. I made an error on the end time of the fast food dinner shop that caused it to overlap with the start of the shop at the wireless store - literally right next door in the same parking lot. I was absolutely livid that both were rejected and not just one. I tried to correct the end time on the first show but was told it was too late and that my overlapping reports appeared to be falsified.

Oh, I wonder if this is the same grocery store I refuse to go to anymore because they only focus on customer service during times that are mystery shopped and the employees outside of that window of time don't care at all.

@FrugalCat wrote:

My favorite was when I had a supermarket shop rejected because I did not evaluate one of the departments (seafood.) The instructions state that if you are at the counter for a specified time period (usually 2-4 minutes) and are not helped, you skip that section. Well, all the employees were clustered around a sample table (Boar's Head had some cheese cubes and deli meats on display) and they all ignored me when I asked if someone could help me in seafood. So I put this in the report, and I get rejected ( I did the rest of the shop perfectly.)

Wouldn't you think the client would want to know that the staff was so busy eating samples meant for customers that an actual shopper was being ignored? Think again, apparently.

I was doing a phone shop in which I had to call a funeral parlor and talk about cremation. Now in my family we have used cremation. We have a funeral. The ashes are placed in an urn and buried in the family plot. That is how we do it. My shop was rejected because I asked the funeral personnel about cemeteries. It was one of those times when I felt that my shop was rejected for a dumb reason. Apparently I was not supposed to mention cemeteries.

First time should have been your “red flag” wake up all. Most schedulers take the clients side, because they don’t need you. There are thousands of shoppers, so shoppers are expendable.

I had a 96 question plus 13 photos rejected for not having the overall building photo correct
I offered to go back and summit another overall building photo, because I was pretty sure the building had not moved in 12 hrs.
Nope, Rejected. I have not done another one for them although they keep uping the pay

I had one like that.Just knew the target knew. But it wasaccepted. Fortunately I kept co9mmunicating with the scheduler.

I've only ever had one shop rejected. It was a cell phone shop and they claimed I had my phone on me, which was against the guidelines. I 100% never took it out but yes, I'm sure it was in my closed bag (on silent). It was my first and last shop for that company, and I've avoided cell phone shops ever since.

I had a dining shop rejected because we were seated in the bar area instead of the restaurant. I had no idea until I got the check that I was in the bar area. It was especially annoying because it required that we purchase an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert and neither one of us was particularly hungry. $80 down the drain.

And once I had a Five Guys shop and didn't notice it was a phone ahead order rather than the usual order at the counter variety.

I had a shop miles away with anice bonus, but was rejected.I was told the editor called the store and was told they did not have the item I wastoevaluate on. My wife called the store to see if they had, and was told yes.
I also had an audio recording of the shop.Still rejected. So,I rejected them.

I honestly think sometimes when shops get rejected, our report is still used lol.. just a thought.

If just better to give them what they want.

I have had only 1 shop rejected since I started mystery shopping almost 8 years ago. I did an audit of a very, very large gas station that had over 20 pumps and I had to take pictures of ALL pumps. The mystery shopping company told me to take a picture of the missing pump. I went back the next morning and took a picture of the missing pump. I uploaded the picture of the missing pump to my report. The next day I got an email from the mystery shopping company saying my report was rejected because I missed the pump. If a mystery shopping company tells you to take a picture of the missing item and upload it to your report, how could they reject my report??? Mind you I was a newbie and did it in my first year of mystery shopping in 2011, but to me, they should never have told me to go back and take a picture of the missing picture, right? Please let me know what you think.

Wow. There’s a lot of rejection stories. I’ve had a phone shop rejected because I could not understand the person speaking through their strong accent. The company said they could understand the person just fine so I had no comeback because I had only understood about every fifth word. I have stopped doing phone shops where I’m going to hit a English as a second language speaking person. I just can not understand them.

Just remembered I had a shop rejected because I said my dog needed shots when you were supposed to say you came in for “no reason”!!! Seriously. Everyone going to the vet has a reason.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2018 03:33AM by Livingrisky.

I really like this thread -- its more of a tell us you worst rejection story. I've had my share.
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I'm still annoyed by a rejection on a Car Wash project. The job required you to get a "Platinum Plus" Car Wash. The problem was there were two Platinum Plus's -- one that was accepted and the other had interior conditioning was rejected, but both had the same name. The msc did not budge.

I had a BWW's one from a few years ago (not sure if still shopped but this was 2-3 msc vendors from the last one I've seen them use). I completed the report, thought I submitted it. I later received an email notifying me of a late report then 30 minutes later cancelled -- never had a chance to go back into Sassie and see the status. I'm pretty sure the company could see that the shop was filled out with narratives, but they didn't care.

I've had my share of wrong date/times and locations, but those don't sting as much as the ones when you think you did them right.

" I have stopped doing phone shops where I’m going to hit a English as a second language speaking person."

Profile much? Or do you have ESP?

Had plenty of call shops where I could not understand the person on the other line, and they were born in the same town as me. The word "unintelligible" is useful in a narrative, and stating "I'm sorry, I could not understand you" over and over has never gotten any of my phone call shops rejected. In fact, it's gotten the point across to the client. And I've done a couple...thousand phone call shops.

I just had a shop declined because I didn't evaluate the restroom. The business didn't have a restroom. I am pretty new to shopping so I really wish someone could give me a head's up on which companies are going to try not to pay me because it stinks to drive 10 miles out of my way to eat some gross food I would never eat at my own expense and then not get reimbursed and not get paid.

And in the same day - I looked at the clock in my car when I went into a shop. I should have gone by the time on my time phone. My times overlapped two minutes and they declined payment. I may be new at shopping but I am learning their game for sure.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2018 04:11AM by TessyK.

When Norm’s was done by the last MSC that had them I had a shop rejected – one that had about a $20 bonus on top of the $15 fee that also came with it.
My “sin” – I sent an item back. I got a potato that looked gross. I let the server know and they brought another one. That looked even worse. I also sent it back and asked for rice and got it. I wrote this on the report and my shop got rejected because they said shoppers are not to send stiff back because that will make them look like mystery shoppers. Seriously. I said NOT sending it back makes them look like mystery shoppers. They disagreed. So I asked them what I should do if the server were to sneeze on my order. According to the guidelines I am not to send it back because that will make me look like a mystery shopper – even though every customer who had this happen would do it. I am to sit there, not eat my meal or send it back because the server might think I am a mystery shopper is what I asked.
I think they finally realized I was right. The next month they changed the guidelines to read: If something goes wrong and you don’t say something your shop will be rejected. I very kindly let them know what happened to me and how I was out $30 for the meal and about $40 more in lost shopper fees. I said at the very least they should reimburse me for the cost of the meal. They declined. I kept shopping for them because the pay to go to Norm’s was too good to pass up. But from that point on whenever I did a Norm’s and something went wrong that was even close to a guideline violation, I just left it off the report figuring they really didn’t care what happened – they just wanted a nice happy glowing report. That is what they got and I feel 0% guilty about it. FFFF me? NO! FFFF YOU!

I almost did, recently. Plus, I'm new. I went to a certain electronics store who claims to have buys that are best, and I forgot to actually buy something. A receipt was required, and when I reached out via email, "they" said it was ok to go back and get one, so I did. I bought some candy. Later, a nice lady called me on it, and told me to forward that email, which stated I could go back the next day for a receipt. I did that, and am still awaiting the results, but it appears that I might be good.

I, too, did this shop -- once. I, too, was grilled in multiple emails about the order to service time. Over 100 questions, too! NEVER AGAIN.

I was a Drunken Fish and I was supposed to be eating on the second floor where the DJ was and I ate on the first floor I was really mad but once I read it it was my mistake so what could I do the food was still good so whatever my loss.

I was at a pizza place and I was supposed to have me and one other person but they canceled so I went alone since I was told that 2 people was rejected.

@Rho* wrote:

The personal pizza shop where I was asked to re-verify the timing for assembling and baking the pizza. No one else was in line and the pizza was baked in record time. I was told there was no way pizza could have baked so fast. I went back and spoke with manager who confirmed my timings could have been correct. I was not blowing any cover because I will never return there even on my own dime. Pizza is overpriced and not so tasty.

If they would have pulled the video tape, they would have seen your pizza was handed to you in record time.

I did a shop for a payday loan. It was bonused pretty good. I went to the wrong location. Apparently there was another one within less than a mile away from the one I shopped. The addresses were almost identical.

@TerryJane wrote:

I wonder how it can be I can get a excellent rating from all other companies but from this one scheduler have more then one rejection. Could it be the scheduler? Lol

Likely the editor since the scheduler has nothing to do with the report once submitted.

My papa john report was rejected because they did not like the color of the photo??? I sent another photo and they rejected that as well. As a former photographer, I have no idea what they were talking about. Both photos were fine and met their guidelines.

I did a fine dining shop that needed timings down to the second. I received excellent service and delicious food. The perfect birthday dinner for my husband with a $250 reimbursement. What a great night. I had an app record the dinner so I would have all the timings. I used this app for all shops so I wouldn’t miss anything. I checked my recording as soon as we left the parking lot. Tonight, for the first time ever the app failed to record. Oh No! I called the scheduler immediately, and explained what happened. She asked if I could remember the timings. She said she was sorry, but I did not need to write the report. It was an excellent dinner though. I now use both of our phones to record expensive dinner shops.

If they reject my shop because of something out of my control like the weather i do not shop for them again. I a lso ha ve learned that just because a shop is posted does not mean i hsve to spply. If it is to far or if it is food I do not like I do not apply. I like the extra money but sometimes it is not worth it.

I wonder how it can be I can get a excellent rating from all other companies but from this one scheduler have more then one rejection. Could it be the scheduler? Lol

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

@Rho* wrote:

The personal pizza shop where I was asked to re-verify the timing for assembling and baking the pizza. No one else was in line and the pizza was baked in record time. I was told there was no way pizza could have baked so fast. I went back and spoke with manager who confirmed my timings could have been correct. I was not blowing any cover because I will never return there even on my own dime. Pizza is overpriced and not so tasty.

If they would have pulled the video tape, they would have seen your pizza was handed to you in record time.

I did a visit once where there was also no one in line. I ordered my pizza and while they were assembling it one of the employees said to come to the register and pay for it now. When you MS you need to act like a normal customer and so I did it. I paid for the pizza before it was done thus throwing off the time of when I received it. I just noted all of the times and made sure to explain everything to the Nth degree. Visit was accepted only because I spent a good 10+ minutes longer than usual doing it to make sure I covered my.............