BEFORE ANYONE TRIES TO WORK FOR [] BE WARNED! THEY ARE OUT TO RIP YOU OFF! I AM OUT A COUPLE GRAND.

I heard about mystery shopping from a couple of people. I heard that you got paid to stay in fancy hotels, dine the finest restaurants, ect. I signed up for [] thinking I was going to do that. I was wrong.

After I was accepted to [] I began to search for my first job. I'd never been to New York, so I figured I'd start there. I searched New York, NY and it came up with hundreds of hits. I found a Mc Donalds assignment and I applied for it. I passed the screening test with 100% accuracy.

After I was trained I purchased my round trip ticket (only took Jet Blue, didn't want to get too carried away), and booked a Holiday Inn for three nights (again, I didn't want to get too carried away). I left on a Friday (airport was hetic), journaled my whole experience through the airport.

My five hour Jet Blue flight encompassed me reviewing my training manual (I read that thing good) and reading a good chunk of a Dan Brown mystery.

Anyway, I stayed the night at the Holiday Inn prepared to do my McDonalds shop the next day. I woke up bright and early, did my shop, and returned to the hotel by 2.

Once I was back at the hotel, I bought a ticket to see Wicked (might as well get all of my freebies) and I made a reservation for a famous french restaurant (forgot the name, keep in mind this is all going on my Visa). I enjoyed the food, and the show. Sunday I didn't do much. Ordered some room service and movies on the hotel TV (journaled it all in detail).

Monday I returned back home and logged onto my e-mail. I had a rather nasty e-mail from [] demanding my report saying it was past due (I JUST GOT HOME!). I logged on and submitted it ASAP. When I went to submit my receipts I noticed that there was only room for three. I submitted my airline tickets ($252 all together), my hotel bill, and the show ticket (only because I lost the French restaurant one).

About an hour passes by and I receive another shrude/short e-mail demanding my Mc Donalds receipt (THEY DIDNT HAVE ROOM FOR IT!), so I e-mailed her my Mc Donalds receipt along with all my other receipts (gift shops from the airport, ect).

I got an e-mail back saying that they'd accept the shop even though it was submitted late, and she reminded me that reports were due 8 hours after shops (IT WAS JUST A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER I HAD GOTTEN HOME!). Alright, everything's fine and dandy right? They accepted the shop and I would be seeing my money soon, right? WRONG! Within a week and a half my Visa bills comes. About $1,800 is business related expenses. Where's my reimbursement?

I e-mailed the lady from [] and she said it was on the way and that they send them out once a month. I replied telling her that I had over a thousand dollar bill to pay. Then get this, she replies telling me that they only have me down for $14.58 in REIMBURSEMENTS! WTF?

As it turns out, [] is refusing to pick up my airline tickets, hotel room, and just about every other expense. I'm GOING to get my money, but in the meantime I'm out close to two grand.

So be warned folks. All I gotta say.

References to specific mystery shopping companies removed--Admin

SMH (shanking my head)....what planet are you from!! Or rather how stupid do you think we are?

Either this poster is crazy or he is pulling our leg. Whether crazy or a joke, the idea that someone believed he would rack up expenses for reimbursement for a hamburger shop is too ridiculous to be believed. Because it also mentions both <The MSC> and one of their clients in the same post, I hope our administrator deletes the post.



Mod note: I'm sure glad the mods at the time didn't delete the post! That is hilarious. But I do have to say, it doesn't help the situation any that you go and re-name the MSC. After the mod went all through that post and removed their name multiple times. Tsk, tsk.

Oh it is a good laugh at least! Just about as good as the bank shopper who faxed the info in from the bank.
Maybe we have been at this too long!

I knew my manure boots would come in handy. This guy out to write fiction---oh wait a minute---he already does.

Because of the highly negative title of this thread, it seems to me that it would only be fair to delete or alter the title. although many here (and elsewhere) have legitimate beefs with this company, screaming "FRAUD" is not a joke.

I don't really get why someone would spend this much time writing this all out ... what is the point - but there is no way someone could be this well written and so stupid. I think someone was bored on a Monday night.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2011 04:27PM by MickeyB.

OMG! Can't ... stop...laughing. So sorry if this is true but .... seriously?

This is particularly funny because I have trouble getting gas reimbursed when I travel over 25 miles one way. To think an MSC would reimburse a mini-vacay, flight & hotel for a FF meal shop.... that's just really delusional.

Too funny!!!

How's it funny that I'm out close to two Gs?

These people are swindlers. I've already reported them to the BBB, and I've initiated a charge back on my Visa. If any of these companies want their money, I'm going to direct them to [].

Unbelievable!

Wowsa!! If this was a submission for the Shopper's View creative writing contest, it's got my vote! I laughed out loud!

I wish the OP would come back and explain, tell us that this is a joke.

PeterGills
Can you tell us what in the directions say you will be reimbursed for anything besides the purchase requirement? That for a burger shop would be less then $20.
How did you think anything else IN WRITING would allow a larger reimbursment?

I especially love the part about going to see "Wicked" as he might as well "get all of his freebies". Please come back and talk to us, Peter.

Peter,

I recommend signing up with {}, they always honor ALL reimbursements. Though they are a bit slow to pay, so you're going to lose some money on credit card interest.

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PeterGills
> Can you tell us what in the directions say you
> will be reimbursed for anything besides the
> purchase requirement? That for a burger shop would
> be less then $20.
> How did you think anything else IN WRITING would
> allow a larger reimbursment?

If in fact this is real, and you misunderstood how reimbursements work, I apologize for thinking your post was a joke.

As CANADAMOMMY implies, fees and reimbursements are laid out in each shop's instructions. Not all companies and/or projects offer reimbursement for travel or gas, and if they do, it's indicated. And certainly, there is no company in the world who's going to fly you across country to do a fast food shop! The fine dining and hotel reimbursements you've heard about are true -- but these are for when restaurants and hotels are the clients. Even then, the purchase requirements and reimbursements are laid out.

As nicely as said, I do apologize as well if you thought this was the way mystery shopping worked. You can only get reimbursements for actual assignments, and since your only assignment was McDonald's, and no one authorized any other assignments and therefore reimbursements such as airfare, hotel, etc., you will only be reimbursed for McDonald's. Should you have actually been assigned any of these other shops, you can't just pick your airline, hotel, restaurant, etc. These are all one at a time, usually from several different companies that will assign you a SPECIFIC place and time, and you would have to read each individual instruction guide. No one gets to pick and choose and make up their own itinerary and expect the original MSP to pick up the tab. Please come back and talk with us, Peter.

nicelytwicely Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PeterGills
> > Can you tell us what in the directions say you
> > will be reimbursed for anything besides the
> > purchase requirement? That for a burger shop
> would
> > be less then $20.
> > How did you think anything else IN WRITING
> would
> > allow a larger reimbursment?

One of my friends was talking about mystery shopping. She told me about how she got to stay in fancy hotels, eat at 5 star restaurants, and get paid for it. So I researched some companies and [] seemed the most reputable.

I saw that the McDonalds assignment was only posted for $7.50, I thought it was a bit cheap. But next to the base pay it said "full purchase reimbursement". I e-mailed the help desk asking about the price and they assured me $7.50 was standard for the work, and "full purchase reimbursement" meant THERE WAS NO CAP! THEY'D PICK UP THE WHOLE BILL!

I picked New York because I live on the West Coast and wanted to get the most bang for my assignment. Plus, I'd never been there.

PeterGills Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nicelytwicely Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > PeterGills
> > > Can you tell us what in the directions say
> you
> > > will be reimbursed for anything besides the
> > > purchase requirement? That for a burger shop
> > would
> > > be less then $20.
> > > How did you think anything else IN WRITING
> > would
> > > allow a larger reimbursment?
>
> One of my friends was talking about mystery
> shopping. She told me about how she got to stay
> in fancy hotels, eat at 5 star restaurants, and
> get paid for it. So I researched some companies
> and [] seemed the most reputable.
>
> I saw that the McDonalds assignment was only
> posted for $7.50, I thought it was a bit cheap.
> But next to the base pay it said "full purchase
> reimbursement". I e-mailed the help desk asking
> about the price and they assured me $7.50 was
> standard for the work, and "full purchase
> reimbursement" meant THERE WAS NO CAP! THEY'D
> PICK UP THE WHOLE BILL!
>
> I picked New York because I live on the West Coast
> and wanted to get the most bang for my assignment.
> Plus, I'd never been there.


They meant, full reimbursement for the MEAL from the place you shopped. Sounds like an unfortunate (and regrettably expensive) misunderstanding.

I am so sorry you so badly misunderstood this assignment. $7.50 was the fee, and full purchase reimbursement means that whatever you spend for the hamburger, drink and fries (or whatever you are instructed to order) will be fully reimbursed. I hope you enjoyed your trip. If you had only mentioned in your e-mail to the help desk that you expected travel and hotel along with food and entertainment, you would have promptly been set straight. I am sure it never occurred to them to tell you otherwise, as practically no one would assume these costs would be covered to buy a hamburger. If this really happened to you, I am indeed sorry.

Peter, you should go back to the friend who told you about mystery shopping. Either you misunderstood her or she deliberately misled you. "Full purchase reimbursement" means full reimbursement of the purchase you make doing the shop, NOT a reimbursement of any business expenses you incur doing the shop. The pay for these shops is $7.50. The purchase reimbursement covers a meal at the drive-thru and a meal inside the fast food restaurant. Any expenditures you make to get to and from the shop are your business expenses and they are tax deductible, but they are NOT reimbursed by the mystery shopping company. Typical payment for one of these shops is about $22 (approximately $14.50 reimbursement for the 2 meals and $7.50 payment for performing the shop).

If this is indeed true, then some schedulers will love you since you are willing to travel far distances. But don't let them use you too much.

Most companies have settings that allow you to set distances in search, albeit, some more defined than others. When I'm in my city, I can realistically travel between 3-4 miles, so when I can, I set the default to 5 miles. With this particular company, it works better for me to click the option that allows me to search for work in other cities. When I do that (manually), insert my zip code and set it to 3 miles, I then ONLY get the shops that I'm realistically able to do.

When I travel, I insert the zip code of the area in which I'm going to be and choose the distance I'm willing to go. Some companies allow you to specify only the city and state.

Hopefully, you'll be able to offset this trip's expense somewhat by getting your feet further into this. Some companies (and shops) pay better than others, BTW -- there's a great list of reputable companies on this site, and you can find out information about specific companies by using the search function.

Good luck, Peter. Sorry you had this experience, but I hope you enjoyed your trip to New York!

I did think his imagination was great and his writing intriging, and his sense of humor over the top, but should we all fly to New York for a McD, see a play, stay in a hotel and hope we get reimbursed...I say your on drugs!!

edited to add...you had the "free" weekend, hotel, play, and entire trip to New York...how bout you pay for it!!! Why does the word DELUSIONAL come to mind?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2011 04:24PM by Irene_L.A..

Well, good thing you "didn't get too carried away" and book a shop in Hawaii or Europe.

This seems to be a case where only a little information is a bad thing. Why, on hearsay, would someone take this bit of information (i.e. a friend told me about free trips) and run with it like it was gold, I have no idea. Seems likes an mature reasonable adult would take that bit of info and try to find out more before investing thousands into a shop, especially FF. Most first time shoppers are apprehensive about spending any money for fear of not being reimbursed. If this really happened, I don't think MS is for you. To make it in this business, we have to be on the ball, read all instructions completely (i.e. your shops clearly stated that you must enter the results within 8 hours of completing the shop, not within 8 hours of you returning from wherever you've been) and have a tuned BS-detector.

However, I have a nice bridge to sell. You interested?

Still waiting on the "Gotcha!"

I had to look at my calendar...thought it was April fools day!!!

I sympathize with your dilemma, but you did not do enough research before embarking on your (ad)venture. These kinds of opptys exist, yes, but they are given to shoppers with proven track records, and as others have said, never without specific assignments for the kind of client. YOU misunderstood, and hopefully can offset your losses over the coming year with other shops. I am sure you will not make this costly mistake again.

Make up for his losses with other jobs, I don't think (with due respect) he understands the background of this industry, and just wants "freebies"...no, MSing isn't for him. We actually work for our dinners and hotels stays, if he didn't do ANY research on his first job, the understanding of instructions wouldn't be his work of choice.