1st Shop

Hello I am considering taking 2 shops in the same area not far from where I live. I have read that some shoppers have canceled their assignments after accepting them due to all that was required. My question is being that this will be my first time, will it not be a good idea to cancel the assignment, if I think it is too complicated to do? I don't want to start off in a bad way! One is for an oil change and the other is a retail store. TIA!

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Oil change could be a tricky one for a first shop. There are some required photos that may be hard to get depending on the shop requirements. A better first time shop could be a fast food shop or a cell phone shop. There are different kinds of cell phone shops and ff shops. Marketforce with their who wants a burger comes to mind.

I have not had to take a single photo at any dozens of the oil change shops that I have done for several different MSCs and several different oil change chains. I did a different oil change shop for a chain that started as a mystery shop and then turned into a revealed audit with photos, and it was easy.

I have rarely canceled a shop after seeing what I was required to do. I canceled one recently for an online banking review that required changing browser settings and potentially, taking up to 100 screenshots, all for $15. I told the scheduler that I didn't even know how to change the settings that were required and the amount of work was absurd. the Scheduler agreed with me.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

I remember reading in the forum where someone said a requirement was to take a photo of the service technician while doing the oil change and the comment on how difficult that was. Given that customers are not suppose to be that close.

I am certain that there are many different oil change shops being done in just my area of the country. EAch one is different. I have never had to take a photo of the service technician. Generally, in this area, they work in a pit underneath the car, which would make photographing them nigh unto impossible.

@7star wrote:

I remember reading in the forum where someone said a requirement was to take a photo of the service technician while doing the oil change and the comment on how difficult that was. Given that customers are not suppose to be that close.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Start by reading the shop guidelines. Oil change shops without taking pictures on site a quite simple. Bank teller shops are very simple. Also, we were ALL as nervous as you on our first few shops! You are not alone and we are here to help and advise. We have all been in your shoes.

IF you ever cancel a shop, be sure to do it IMMEDIATELY after getting the assignment and reading the guidelines!!! That will give the poor scheduler a chance to meet HER deadline by assigning it to another shopper. Just APOLOGIZE and tell the scheduler that as a new shopper you are not confident that you can follow the guidelines now that you have seen them.

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.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2019 12:09PM by walesmaven.

Thank you both for responding. I appreciate your responses!

I accepted the assignment for the Oil change with Market Force. This will be my very first shop, I have not leveled up yet because I want to wait and see how it goes with this one. Is this a good idea or should I go ahead and level up with my SSN and banking information now? There are other shops in the area as well but I won't be able to take them until I give more information.

Thank you, I appreciate everyone's feedback :-)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2019 03:28AM by MsDT.

I don't see a risk in giving information to MF to process your payment. It is, however, a good idea to start slowly with a company to see how it works out for you. I try to start with just one of each shop that's new to me before scheduling more of them... but sometimes I'll do a few different shops with a new company if it's one spoken highly of on this forum. YMMV.

Hello, my first 2 shops with Market Force were approved. I'm excited! I did a test phone shop with Call Center QA and I'm waiting to see if I am accepted with their company. I also applied with Second to None and Best Mark. I have heard from all of them except Best Mark. I would really like more phone shops because I am caring for my mom. Thanks everyone!

You are off to a great start ! Enjoy!

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.

Thank you. I was accepted by Call Center QA. I have 4 calls to make. It seems as if this is a marketing tactic with Call center QA though. I will see how it goes! :-)

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