Name One Quality That a Mystery Shopper Needs
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I have heard others say that about the Voice Recognition so was wondering. I hated to spend $500.00 for something that is useless to me. The one I checked out was also the Dragon so that was be one of the more popular ones.
I did go to College but had not used my typing and secretarial skills until I started MSing. I did it for a few jobs right after school and decided it was not for me. I HATED sitting behind a desk. I needed to get up and move.
Basically all of my jobs since then have been self-employment. I just decided I enjoyed working for myself more then someone else. I am too independent so it is hard to take orders from someone else. Does that come from being the oldest child in a family????? I would rather tell someone else what to do.
I did go to College but had not used my typing and secretarial skills until I started MSing. I did it for a few jobs right after school and decided it was not for me. I HATED sitting behind a desk. I needed to get up and move.
Basically all of my jobs since then have been self-employment. I just decided I enjoyed working for myself more then someone else. I am too independent so it is hard to take orders from someone else. Does that come from being the oldest child in a family????? I would rather tell someone else what to do.
My previous excursion into Voice Recognition was done around 1996 or 1997 and at that time I spent several weekends attempting to train the software. Dragon is certainly a step up by many orders of magnitude from there and might be useful to someone who really can't type comfortably, but if you have any speed and accuracy with a keyboard the technology still is not good enough. I may try it again in another decade or so, especially if the arthritis in my hands gets much worse. But the DVR I got to go with it is spectacular. I was so impressed with it that I picked up another one as a backup as a refurb on Amazon.com.
dquiring, YES, Is the answer to you question!!!! Me too. My mother is visually impared, and my Dad died when I was 7, she taught me to balance the check book and take care of the house and finances, by 10 I got a cab and did all the grocery shopping by myself, put up the stuff, made sure the house was clean, she was worried people would think blind people were nasty if they couldn't see dirt so she became anal retentive, and I picked up the trait. After working for 10 years waiting tables, and loosing job after job, because my son is SED and always needing me, I stayed home and then most recently working for myself. I need to work on my time, for me and I promise I am my hardest judge. One night I was worried that I wouldn't get the shop turned in on time, and cried for about an hour, while I was typing it in. LOL Now its funny, 2 months ago it was not.
Sneakers, I was looking for a post and noticed yours of the 18th again. I didn't understand your comment about supplies in your socks and your possessions locked up. Please elaborate. Sandra
I had to go to a testing service and fail the test. We were checking for proper security procedures. For security purposes they put your coat and bag in a locker and empty your pockets. So before I left the house I put a tiny pencil and paper inside my sneaker. While checking the restroom, I also took notes and put them back into my sneaker. If your sneakers are too tight for that, you can stick them into a kneesock. Now I use a DVR.
I've never failed a test in my life, and this was embarrassing, as it was for a dental x-ray technician. But the shop was worth the fee.
I've never failed a test in my life, and this was embarrassing, as it was for a dental x-ray technician. But the shop was worth the fee.
Charlene,
What on-site college will do for you is expose you to a lot of different kinds of people from around the country and world, which is an education in itself if you have lived only in one place. When I went to college, I didn't even realize there were bad people in the world. The other thing it will teach you is, if you have good professors, is how to expand your mind.
They say you can't go home again, and you certainly can't go home with the same mindset if you are the first generation to go to college. There are some who play in college and never learn the serious stuff. Learn the serious detail in every class. You'll never know when it will be helpful.
Of course, the military will teach you many of the same things that college will. You will expand your mind, just not academically.
There are also online courses. I have a book that lists the colleges that have online courses and what their specialties are. I think the online courses are cheaper, but a family member doesn't think so. You can take courses toward a degree, or just take what you want to. (As you know, there is the Gold certification with a DVD; so I don't get too far off the topic of mystery shopping.) My birdwatching magazine lists college courses in bird anatomy. My Master Gardener newsletter lists college courses, a couple of which are free, in various aspects of gardening. But back to writing. . . you can also take community writing courses. Some are sponsored by high schools and taught at night to adults. They might have a Community Education department. You can also take such courses at community colleges that are just for fun. Community colleges (two-year colleges) are cheaper than the four-year universities.
When I was in college, people over 65 could take a class 1/4 off. There were several interspersed among the students. As a Katrina victim, you probably not only can get special treatment for entry, but you might get a scholarship. All colleges have scholarship offices. Don't be intimidated by the application (After all, you use forms all day while mystery shopping.). Just ask for help.
There are also books on how to improve your writing skills. They are cheaper than going to college, of course, and you can find them at the library or at used book stores. The biggest mistakes I see on these posts are in spelling. There are community courses for improving spelling.
It's never too late to try, but you may have to take courses outside of the college level in order to find something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. When I went to college, I paid $35 a semester hour (three hours per class, meaning you multiply 35X3) plus fees, but the last course our son took cost $800 including fees. $1,500 lasted me a whole semester and that included food and lodging. Both of us attended state universities which are cheaper than private ones.
Check with your local high school or college about "testing out". (High schools often have college-level courses.) If you know a subject, you can take a test without taking the class. If you pass, you get credit. Some courses are required and some are electives in college. If you take a course or pass a test for something you love that doesn't lead toward a degree, you may get credit for it as an elective (something extra that also counts).
I know a retired man who found out on his first job that high school didn't prepare him for anything. So he bought a grammar book and an algebra book and studied at his kitchen table every night for six months until he was satisfied with what he had learned. He had a very successful career.
I once wrote and sold a magazine article called, "How to Be Smarter". I love telling people about scholarships, the library, etc.
Sandra
What on-site college will do for you is expose you to a lot of different kinds of people from around the country and world, which is an education in itself if you have lived only in one place. When I went to college, I didn't even realize there were bad people in the world. The other thing it will teach you is, if you have good professors, is how to expand your mind.
They say you can't go home again, and you certainly can't go home with the same mindset if you are the first generation to go to college. There are some who play in college and never learn the serious stuff. Learn the serious detail in every class. You'll never know when it will be helpful.
Of course, the military will teach you many of the same things that college will. You will expand your mind, just not academically.
There are also online courses. I have a book that lists the colleges that have online courses and what their specialties are. I think the online courses are cheaper, but a family member doesn't think so. You can take courses toward a degree, or just take what you want to. (As you know, there is the Gold certification with a DVD; so I don't get too far off the topic of mystery shopping.) My birdwatching magazine lists college courses in bird anatomy. My Master Gardener newsletter lists college courses, a couple of which are free, in various aspects of gardening. But back to writing. . . you can also take community writing courses. Some are sponsored by high schools and taught at night to adults. They might have a Community Education department. You can also take such courses at community colleges that are just for fun. Community colleges (two-year colleges) are cheaper than the four-year universities.
When I was in college, people over 65 could take a class 1/4 off. There were several interspersed among the students. As a Katrina victim, you probably not only can get special treatment for entry, but you might get a scholarship. All colleges have scholarship offices. Don't be intimidated by the application (After all, you use forms all day while mystery shopping.). Just ask for help.
There are also books on how to improve your writing skills. They are cheaper than going to college, of course, and you can find them at the library or at used book stores. The biggest mistakes I see on these posts are in spelling. There are community courses for improving spelling.
It's never too late to try, but you may have to take courses outside of the college level in order to find something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. When I went to college, I paid $35 a semester hour (three hours per class, meaning you multiply 35X3) plus fees, but the last course our son took cost $800 including fees. $1,500 lasted me a whole semester and that included food and lodging. Both of us attended state universities which are cheaper than private ones.
Check with your local high school or college about "testing out". (High schools often have college-level courses.) If you know a subject, you can take a test without taking the class. If you pass, you get credit. Some courses are required and some are electives in college. If you take a course or pass a test for something you love that doesn't lead toward a degree, you may get credit for it as an elective (something extra that also counts).
I know a retired man who found out on his first job that high school didn't prepare him for anything. So he bought a grammar book and an algebra book and studied at his kitchen table every night for six months until he was satisfied with what he had learned. He had a very successful career.
I once wrote and sold a magazine article called, "How to Be Smarter". I love telling people about scholarships, the library, etc.
Sandra
Interesting, Sneakers.
I didn't know those two acts were related and both for mystery shopping. I wondered about the testing service. I have worked as a temporary employee for a testing service that develops and grades standardized tests for state schools. They didn't lock up our possessions, but it was a very secure environment, for obvious reasons. I wish I could talk about it, because there are some very interesting things being done now, but I'm not allowed.
Right now, the gas prices keep me from going to that location when they have projects going on.
Someone mentioned liking to do something different all the time. Have any of you used temporary agencies? When I worked for them before, I was called mostly as a secretary while someone was on vacation, so it was predictable and a little boring. That was before computers were so popular. I recently signed on again for a summer job because I can't substitute in school during that time. Last week, a parent called me a jack of all trades. I took an assignment with one of these agencies before summer has arrived because it was so interesting. I had to pretend I was looking for employment at the client's site. They all knew about it. They were using me, as well as others, for practice for their Human Resources Department in interviewing. Afterwards, they talked to us about it.
I was surprised to find out that all verbal answers should have been about things from the last ten years. That means that those of us with long histories are at a disadvantage on job interviews, and perhaps are even discriminated against. Perhaps all of us should apply for "real" jobs from time to time just to stay prepared. Who knows, maybe something will come of it that is just as interesting as what we do now. At least we might have health insurance. (I am so full of digressions. Sorry about that, but I feel like I'm bursting with knowledge. If you are over 50, you can join senior clubs at the local hospital that will give you discounts, such as at a local restaurant or garden supply. My membership costs $25 and I get discounts at the pharmacy and the eye doctor. This prompted me to look on the Internet for other discount cards. Some were free. One of them is better than all the rest for discounts on my medicines.)
Sandra
I didn't know those two acts were related and both for mystery shopping. I wondered about the testing service. I have worked as a temporary employee for a testing service that develops and grades standardized tests for state schools. They didn't lock up our possessions, but it was a very secure environment, for obvious reasons. I wish I could talk about it, because there are some very interesting things being done now, but I'm not allowed.
Right now, the gas prices keep me from going to that location when they have projects going on.
Someone mentioned liking to do something different all the time. Have any of you used temporary agencies? When I worked for them before, I was called mostly as a secretary while someone was on vacation, so it was predictable and a little boring. That was before computers were so popular. I recently signed on again for a summer job because I can't substitute in school during that time. Last week, a parent called me a jack of all trades. I took an assignment with one of these agencies before summer has arrived because it was so interesting. I had to pretend I was looking for employment at the client's site. They all knew about it. They were using me, as well as others, for practice for their Human Resources Department in interviewing. Afterwards, they talked to us about it.
I was surprised to find out that all verbal answers should have been about things from the last ten years. That means that those of us with long histories are at a disadvantage on job interviews, and perhaps are even discriminated against. Perhaps all of us should apply for "real" jobs from time to time just to stay prepared. Who knows, maybe something will come of it that is just as interesting as what we do now. At least we might have health insurance. (I am so full of digressions. Sorry about that, but I feel like I'm bursting with knowledge. If you are over 50, you can join senior clubs at the local hospital that will give you discounts, such as at a local restaurant or garden supply. My membership costs $25 and I get discounts at the pharmacy and the eye doctor. This prompted me to look on the Internet for other discount cards. Some were free. One of them is better than all the rest for discounts on my medicines.)
Sandra
I suppose that what all this that I have been writing means is that a mystery shopper's one main quality is resourcefulness. We have to be resourceful on the job as well as in life.
Sandra
Sandra
For health insurance, try www.freelancersunion.org. They buy at volume discount and offer it to indep contractors of many kinds. There's no fee to join. PBS did a feature on them a few weeks back.
I was an English Major in college, and have no problem with writing skills.But I actually never learned to touchtype because I never needed it much, and when I tried as an adult, I found it agonizing to learn. I got through college typing with 2 fingers, had no need for it the next 40 years, and am typing with 2 fingers again, watching the keyboard. Maybe I'm a little faster now, but speed brings many errors.
What a FASTER shopper needs : knowing how to touch-type.
I was an English Major in college, and have no problem with writing skills.But I actually never learned to touchtype because I never needed it much, and when I tried as an adult, I found it agonizing to learn. I got through college typing with 2 fingers, had no need for it the next 40 years, and am typing with 2 fingers again, watching the keyboard. Maybe I'm a little faster now, but speed brings many errors.
What a FASTER shopper needs : knowing how to touch-type.
When our children were small, we got them a computer program called "Mario Teaches Typing" which taught home row. At least one of our children didn't learn that. He still uses two fingers. I'm not sure why.
Sandra
Sandra
Thanks about the health insurance, Sneakers. I don't know how they can do it for free, but then I don't understand how my bank can give me free photocopies, free faxes, and still not require me to leave more than a dollar in my account between shops.
Sandra
Sandra
The membership to Freelancers Union IS free. They make it up somewhere else, just like any free service. But they are a non-profit agency.
Don't you know your bank makes it up elsewhere, if not from your account? They have fees for everything else and charge interest on loans.Take a look at their profits on the internet when you get a chance. HSBC is even charging me 25 cents now to use my debit card at the supermarket. Multiply that times the millions of customers they have.
Don't you know your bank makes it up elsewhere, if not from your account? They have fees for everything else and charge interest on loans.Take a look at their profits on the internet when you get a chance. HSBC is even charging me 25 cents now to use my debit card at the supermarket. Multiply that times the millions of customers they have.
Usually the store gets charged a percentage 3%-5%...... for using the card. Your bank is banking! LOL Not funny for you though!
They dropped it fast. I shopped an HSBC yesterday as a non-customer, and asked the CSR about such a charge, pretending I had one with Chase. She said the debit card was absolutely free.
As much as we use our banking cards I would be finding out why I was being charged. I hate false advertising, free checking should mean free checking. Not $10 MONTHLY FEE, or a quater every swipe, or how bout this one if you write too mnay checks you fail thier special test and now are paying by the checks you write. I recently opened a BOA account and I really liked the terms, but we qualify for the advantage program, our mortgage is with them, so we are special. LOL They gave us free checks for life, and they are the nice carbon copied. Plus accidental life, online banking, overdraft protection, no banking charges, credit card, which I decided against, but they were a direct link to your acount so ya can't go over and visa/versa for the bank account if ya go over the credit card will cover the charges and/or the balance.
I shopped them while I was opening an account. So far two thumbs up. I had to open an account with a specific bank to do work for SSANET. So far not impressed. I don't think these small banks can keep up.
I shopped them while I was opening an account. So far two thumbs up. I had to open an account with a specific bank to do work for SSANET. So far not impressed. I don't think these small banks can keep up.
Sneakers, Where is everyone at? I got 3 checks today, praise the heavens!!! We have food! LOL I was grocery shopping today at Wal. and a scheduler called from SSANET and needed a shopper for another grocery store, across the way........good times and easy money. I am having a great day, and it makes me real thankful for small things. How are you?
Resolute: constant, determined, steadfast,firm
Reputable: distinguished, celebrated, honorable, trustworthy, honest, worthy,brave, noble
Review: correct, critize, revise, inspect, examine, analyze
Seasoned: tangy, sharp, aromatic, experienced, established, settled, mature, able
Scrutinize: examine, view, study, stare, watch
Self-Control: poise, restraint, reserve, discretion, stability, dignity, constraint
I could keep going, we either need these or have them! Big clap for us
Resolute: constant, determined, steadfast,firm
Reputable: distinguished, celebrated, honorable, trustworthy, honest, worthy,brave, noble
Review: correct, critize, revise, inspect, examine, analyze
Seasoned: tangy, sharp, aromatic, experienced, established, settled, mature, able
Scrutinize: examine, view, study, stare, watch
Self-Control: poise, restraint, reserve, discretion, stability, dignity, constraint
I could keep going, we either need these or have them! Big clap for us
Terrific for you, Kristee. I'm am so glad for you. All our needs are supplied. God does not want us to be poor and without food and essentials. But he also wants us to be rich in other areas also. There is so much abundance for all. We just have to ask and we shall receive them. God is rich and we are his children. We walk with God everyday.
I made pretty good last month. The checks are coming in now. I need to sign up with some more companies and get some more shops.
I went to a drive-in today to do a 2-4 shop. I arrived at 2:01 according to my watch, but their time was only 5 seconds to 2:00pm. I couldn't complete the shop because it was already messed up from the beginning. I'm telling you, I just couldn't believe it. Here I was trying to start on time because I had another shop to do and complete before 4pm. I called the company and rescheduled it for tomorrow. Do you all have problems like this? I called in one I did Saturday and the girl taking the results told me I needed the count of pieces of trash in the landscape area. So today, since it was a revealed shop,I looked at everything and counted the trash. I have to laugh at this because it is so funny what we have to do.
I made pretty good last month. The checks are coming in now. I need to sign up with some more companies and get some more shops.
I went to a drive-in today to do a 2-4 shop. I arrived at 2:01 according to my watch, but their time was only 5 seconds to 2:00pm. I couldn't complete the shop because it was already messed up from the beginning. I'm telling you, I just couldn't believe it. Here I was trying to start on time because I had another shop to do and complete before 4pm. I called the company and rescheduled it for tomorrow. Do you all have problems like this? I called in one I did Saturday and the girl taking the results told me I needed the count of pieces of trash in the landscape area. So today, since it was a revealed shop,I looked at everything and counted the trash. I have to laugh at this because it is so funny what we have to do.
Its ok, Charlene, a couple of years ago there was a shop where you were supposed to take photos of the toilet under the rim. Folks had all kinds of mirror methods to do that one.
www.time.gov gives you accurate time to the second on your computer to set your watch. Similarly you can use the clock on your cell phone for an accurate time as it is updated automatically. If I had been in your situation with my cell time or my recently set watch time showing on or after 2:00PM I would have completed the shop and in the report mentioned the inaccuracy of their clock. Clocks are frequently slow because of short power outages that may not have been long enough to make the time noticeably slow. Time changes that do not get updated on the registers for a few days (or weeks) can also yield a receipt with an inaccurate time.
www.time.gov gives you accurate time to the second on your computer to set your watch. Similarly you can use the clock on your cell phone for an accurate time as it is updated automatically. If I had been in your situation with my cell time or my recently set watch time showing on or after 2:00PM I would have completed the shop and in the report mentioned the inaccuracy of their clock. Clocks are frequently slow because of short power outages that may not have been long enough to make the time noticeably slow. Time changes that do not get updated on the registers for a few days (or weeks) can also yield a receipt with an inaccurate time.
Yeah, what Flash said........I have had ALOT of issues but not that one, thanks for the heads up. What kind of Drive in shop was it? I did a movie shop a couple of weeks ago that involved where I had to name all the previews that played before the movie, if I would have been there by myself I would have been done for. I missunderstood the question and wrote down all the movies that were playing, not the previews. Plus we were taking turns going to the potty and checking. If it wasn't for my fam. I would have botched that job= 30$ 
I like working for Certified, they are anal, but they pay on a very timely fashion, usually about every two weeks.
I like working for Certified, they are anal, but they pay on a very timely fashion, usually about every two weeks.
I did have my watch set to all of the three times, the computer, cell phone, and cable TV time. And I checked my digital watch before I left.
Thanks for that info, Flash. I will surely report that next time. And you are so right about the wrong time on the receipts. Their receipt showed the time three minutes prior to when I started the shop. Plus their response time was 1 sec. and I timed it as 12 seconds. I was going to start over because I told them to cancel the order but they brought out my order unexpectedly. I wasn't timing the carhop yet. Boy, this was really getting botched up. You never know what someone will do to change your shop. This makes two, this week, I had to reschedule.
Thanks for that info, Flash. I will surely report that next time. And you are so right about the wrong time on the receipts. Their receipt showed the time three minutes prior to when I started the shop. Plus their response time was 1 sec. and I timed it as 12 seconds. I was going to start over because I told them to cancel the order but they brought out my order unexpectedly. I wasn't timing the carhop yet. Boy, this was really getting botched up. You never know what someone will do to change your shop. This makes two, this week, I had to reschedule.
I had a shop I was not suppose to start before 4:00 last Friday. When I got there my cellphone said 3:54. I went in anyway and checked out the restroom and things before I ordered. When I went up to order it was about one minute before 4:00. The receipt said I had ordered at 4:15 so no problem with ordering a minute early. I have found out many times I do not worry about the times on the receipts. Most of the Companies realize this and I have never had one come back to me because the receipt said a different time then I was actually there.
I try to make sure that the camera's can see when I check the cell for times, like acting like to beeped or text or something. wow,, thats a very anal company, I try to avoid those, like fast food.....yuck......those drinks you were talking about sound good, I saw those advertised on the tube. I had a week last month where I had scheduling issues and folk not answering the phones in time, before the shop was due and back tracking, it was a mess. Are yall getting the drug testing shops going around for 40$ ? They are only in ATL here, but that would be nice. I can pee in a cup for 40$ all day.
Of course, dquiring, they do pay attention if your reported time is the same as the time on the receipt. I have had an assignment where I had to check out at several registers, and none of them was correct. They weren't even sequentially correct (Register #1 would be later than Register #2 and #3 would be between them, etc.). I mentioned this. Once or twice I have had a register give the previous time after the time changed. I had an assignment cancelled because I was five minutes late checking out. It wasn't the register; I wasn't paying attention.
Sandra
Sandra
I try not to enter the facility in advance of the designated start time. While I assume that for most clients/companies the time is a more general designation than something carved in stone, why tempt fate? If looking in store windows down the mall for that extra few minutes keeps a 30 minute shop and its reimbursements intact, it is worth it. I figure it is in my best interest to never have a time called into question that might in turn raise questions on the validity of other shops and observations in the long run. Always play it straight and it gives you the right to be outraged if the company or client ever questions your integrity. And indeed I have never had a problem with that.
I'm going to wait at least five minutes before doing these kind of shops. I had no idea that they were two minutes behind on the world clock. My husband asked the order taker, if their time was on the moon and that is was, after 2o'clock.
LOL.
LOL.
Oh wow. I've been upgraded from a New Member to an Expert Member. I just noticed.
Congrats, Charlene. You've been an expert all along, anyway.
The time issue depends on the MSP and the editors. Some don't care about a few minutes, and some will disallow the shop for a one minute difference. I lost a bank shop that was 2 minutes early. But I also once got a receipt that was 14 hours off.
The time issue depends on the MSP and the editors. Some don't care about a few minutes, and some will disallow the shop for a one minute difference. I lost a bank shop that was 2 minutes early. But I also once got a receipt that was 14 hours off.
When I did a bank shop for a new msp I had not worked for before, it had to be done after 1pm. I made sure it was after 1 when I got out of the car, did the shop, and left. On the way home, I noticed that the ATM receipt said 12:54. I freaked out because I didn't want to start out on the wrong foot with this company. I shot off an email when I got home, and the scheduler told me that they rarely pay attention to receipt times for any shop because they're never right. Now, if I ever have a receipt with a time that could be questioned, I mention it in the report. Better safe than sorry.
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