What are your favorite tips and tricks for Mystery Shopping?
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I take a photo of my uneaten food (and drink) for restaurant shops, even if not required by guidelines. Also, photos of storefronts.
It trains me to take surreptitious photos without looking self-conscious, serves as a memory prompt, and one never knows when the editors will ask to see it--especially if I have to give something a bad rating.
It trains me to take surreptitious photos without looking self-conscious, serves as a memory prompt, and one never knows when the editors will ask to see it--especially if I have to give something a bad rating.
I take screenshots to mark time on entry, exit and during specific points during the shop. Can be done without looking at your phone and without anyone knowing that you are marking time.
Sure hope that audio recording is not being done in states where the consent of both parties is required by law.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
What do you take a screenshot OF? My curiosity is boundless; how does a screenshot mark time for you?
@willarosen wrote:
I take screenshots to mark time on entry, exit and during specific points during the shop. Can be done without looking at your phone and without anyone knowing that you are marking time.
With the new IOS for Iphone, you can take a screen shot by simply tapping the back of the phone two or three times:
[www.eastlothiancourier.com]
[www.eastlothiancourier.com]
@walesmaven wrote:
Sure hope that audio recording is not being done in states where the consent of both parties is required by law.
Try not to worry much about what others do.
I worry about what others do. I now have to take a location enabled photo when I start and stop a particular convenience store audit. I am sure that is due to what others have done.
Where allowed, pay with coupons, gift cards or credit cards offering cash back rewards. Gift cards for many locations can be purchased discounted on line from places such as Raise.com or from Costco or from Target using their Red Card to get 5% off. This also is the time of year when restaurants and some retailers discount their gift cards--sometimes as much as 20-25%. For those doing grocery shops, Discover is offering 5% cash back on groceries Jan-March.
Can't speak for willarosen, but my screen shots are of my audio recorder (which is legal in my state), showing elapsed time.
@ceasesmith wrote:
What do you take a screenshot OF? My curiosity is boundless; how does a screenshot mark time for you?
@willarosen wrote:
I take screenshots to mark time on entry, exit and during specific points during the shop. Can be done without looking at your phone and without anyone knowing that you are marking time.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
A. I GeoVerify every shop to note my time of entry.
B. I keep an electronic file (Google Keep) with employee names and locations. This is only for recurring shops with long time employees.
C. I put all of my costs on a credit card.
D. I have an EIN, just in case.
E. I transfer photos from my cell to my computer via Bluetooth (a tip I picked up here).
F. I wait until the end of the month to get shops so I can get the best bonuses.
B. I keep an electronic file (Google Keep) with employee names and locations. This is only for recurring shops with long time employees.
C. I put all of my costs on a credit card.
D. I have an EIN, just in case.
E. I transfer photos from my cell to my computer via Bluetooth (a tip I picked up here).
F. I wait until the end of the month to get shops so I can get the best bonuses.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
These are all great. If an employee closely matches the gender/age/hair/height of a friend, I just put that friend's name in my notes. I have a friend named Kevin who as a 5 ft 11, bearded, short brown-haired, mid-30's male resembles an awful lot of bartenders or restaurant managers. It's pretty common for my notes to just read "Mgr: like Kevin."
I have a Chromebook computer and I have an app that allows full page screenshots. After I fill out a report, I screenshot the entire page for my records. It comes out just like the platform that allows you to download the entire report after it is submitted. That way I know what I had written in my report if I am ever questioned by an editor. I love going back reading them later.
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
I write up narratives in a word doc and then transfer to the report. The Word doc goes into a desktop file that will hold 2 or 3 months of such docs. When the newest doc in that file is 6 months old, the whole file goes into trash. No sense in keeping narratives forever.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Ever since I started mystery shopping, almost 20 years ago, I have used 3 x 5 index cards for my jobs. I find them just the right size to record the important info I need to capture. They are not unwieldy like trying to use large sheets of paper and fit perfectly in my pocket. I easily refer to them when I need to refresh my memory on what’s needed and can keep notes on them discreetly. I buy them at the dollar store and at Staples when I used to shop them. When the shop is done I staple the receipts to the card and then file them by month for one year.
The screen shot records the welcome screen of my phone, which has the time and date. You can use the time stamp of photo to get accurate time when you enter, exit, are approached by an associate or receive food, etc. I have my photo setting to mark location as well, which can prove I was at the location at the correct time.
I can text myself notes about the shops. names and descriptions times in and out number of cust and/or assoc etc. Photos of ext or geo verify even if not needed can be helpful. Taking multiple photos on gas audits. You learn as you go to Cover Your Ass (CYA).
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Back when restaurants were open for dining in I always looked up an online menu to check prices before accepting a sit down restaurant job to make sure there was something I liked that fell within the budget for reimbursement. I also check old receipt copies from previous visits as often the dessert and alcohol prices are not on those online menus.
Other tip for holiday gift cards with bonuses :be careful to check on the financial health of your gift card purchases. Last year I bought a $100 gift card for a place I mystery shopped. That place went out of business before I could use it. I am out $100! on just that one.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2020 07:54PM by sandyf.
Other tip for holiday gift cards with bonuses :be careful to check on the financial health of your gift card purchases. Last year I bought a $100 gift card for a place I mystery shopped. That place went out of business before I could use it. I am out $100! on just that one.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2020 07:54PM by sandyf.
@willarosen wrote:
The screen shot records the welcome screen of my phone, which has the time and date. You can use the time stamp of photo to get accurate time when you enter, exit, are approached by an associate or receive food, etc. I have my photo setting to mark location as well, which can prove I was at the location at the correct time.
I like this idea. I tried it out yesterday, but I just took a picture of the store because it helps me spot files quicker when scrolling through pictures.
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