The Federal Government and states all seem to have set up tier systems administering the vaccines with employment categories being part of the criteria. Has anyone heard anything about where mystery shoppers might fall? Are any of the large MSC's discussing this? In California, we're on our phase 1B tier 1 (Educator start this week). Uber and Lyft seem to be somewhere in 1B so might we be considered in that group or maybe 1C?

Hmm. Some mystery shoppers might qualify sooner or later based upon age and other occupations. But all things being equal, I wonder if performing gigs such as age compliance shops or other legally mandated information gathering activities could move a mystery shopper to the top of the list.

Great question! !!!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2021 09:58PM by Shop-et-al.

Dream on, folks !

Vaccine distribution logistics are so challenged right now and mystery shopping is such a small industry, I think the chances of "moving up" a level or two are slim to none.

The vaccination priority is in part about vaccinating those groups that are likely to spread the virus while performing their work duties and people who can't perform their work at home which are both categories that include Mystery shopping. I agree we are a small industry and most likely the MSC's did not send lobbyists to the State but that doesn't mean we don't fit in somewhere on the list when asked (that doesn't have to be about moving up it is knowing where our industry fits).

Bottom of the list if at all.
You’ll get in faster by age.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2021 11:27PM by SoCalMama.

I do understand your point and somewhat agree with it, wwin. The problem remains every group/industry thinks their group is special and should be considered for vaccination based upon its' interaction with the public. Everyone can't go "first" so we should all mask up for the time being. I agree with walesmaven that we should all dream on.

There is no way that I would take a first generation vaccine that was rushed through the FDA process. There are too many unknowns! We have no idea what the long term side effects are.

I volunteered for vaccine trials over the summer (didn't get picked) but the fact that I volunteered was supposed to move me up a group when the vaccine became available. Now I am having trouble getting the first shop, no place is recognizing the email I was sent that states I can get vaccinated with essential workers.

Ok. Here are the Tiers in CA. Who do you want to line-jump by declaring Mystery Shopping an essential job?

Phase 1A
Healthcare workers
Long-term care residents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phase 1B
1B Tier One:
Individuals 65 and older
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
Education and childcare
Emergency services
Food and agriculture

1B Tier Two:
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
Transportation and logistics
Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services
Critical manufacturing
Congregate settings with outbreak risk:
Incarcerated
Homeless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phase 1C
Individuals 50 -64 years of age
People 16-49 years of age who have an underlying health condition or disability which increases their risk of severe COVID-19
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
Water and wastewater
Defense
Energy
Chemical and hazardous materials
Communications and IT
Financial services
Government operations / community-based essential functions

You forgot to include this when you copied the info:
California’s vaccination plan
California is allocating COVID-19 vaccines as they become available to ensure equitable distribution. Initially vaccination was limited to healthcare workers and long-term care residents.

The next to be vaccinated will be individuals who:
Have higher risk for severe disease or death (due to age or other factors)
*Are unable to work at home
Live or work in geographic areas that have been highly impacted
Are most likely to spread disease to other workers or to the public

As well as this from below the info you included:

All vaccination providers should:
Continue vaccinating all persons in Phase 1A
Begin vaccinating persons 65 years of age or older.

Based on available supply, prioritize outreach efforts for Phase 1B Tier 1 individuals as follows:
Age: Those 75 years or older
*Occupational risk exposure: Individuals whose work puts them at higher risk of exposure
Residence in vulnerable communities: As determined by the California Healthy Places Index or comparable local health department knowledge

Knowing where a group is in line is not "line-jumping". A mystery shopper going to 10-20 retail establishments a day every day in my opinion is a higher risk of both catching and transmitting the virus than my 24 year old son in IT (1C) that works from home 90% of the time and is only going to one job site rarely interacting with others face to face. But really it's not about either of our opinions. I found a local phone # to call on Monday to ask.

I’m aware of the tiers and purposes.

If you think that mystery shopping is an essential service, I just can’t help you.

At least one set of laws pertains to accuracy in pricing and other legal situations. "The Weights and Measures Division promotes uniformity in U.S. weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace." (according to usa.gov)

Up for debate: is it essential to find out whether store clerks are selling alcohol too early or to minors? is it essential to find out if posted and charged prices are accurate? should someone care if clerks are selling new comics before the designated time in the middle of the week? does anyone care if we pay too much or too little for mailed or shipped goods? is that filet mignon not even one cent more than the advertised price?

@SoCalMama wrote:

I’m aware of the tiers and purposes.

If you think that mystery shopping is an essential service, I just can’t help you.

Well, phone call was interesting. The person said that had I called a few hours earlier the information would have been different but the state was adjusting the tiers to focus on age instead of occupations after they finish with the curing group, and we should wait for more information. She also said to monitor closely since these decisions seem to be fluid. If things change, mystery shopping would be considered grouped in industries that have high public contact which were previously being prioritized for vaccines.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2021 11:16PM by wwin.

I’m just going to be patient and trust that I’ll be vaccinated when appropriate, probably around mid-April. Not interested in jumping ahead of anyone in 1a-1c. I have multiple income streams and I’m doing OK. Not fantastic, but OK.

@wwin wrote:

Well, phone call was interesting. The person said that had I called a few hours earlier the information would have been different but the state was adjusting the tiers to focus on age instead of occupations after they finish with the curing group, and we should wait for more information. She also said to monitor closely since these decisions seem to be fluid. If things change, mystery shopping would be considered grouped in industries that have high public contact which were previously being prioritized for vaccines.

What's a curing group?

I must say, my Letters of Authorization for my mystery shops SAY it's essential service provider.

Just sayin'.

When I go into 50 stores in 3 different states, even wearing a mask, I am exposed to high risk.

Plus, I'm 74 years old.

It's moot for me, anyway -- I don't have health insurance, and the "local provider" is charging $150 for each shot for the vaccinations (yes, the vaccine is "free"; the provider can charge to cover overhead, expenses, etc.). So, since I don't have $300, I ain't gettin' no vaccine.

Cease - aren't you covered by Medicare? It should pay for the vax

I just have the Medicare that's free; covers hospitalization only.

At this point I am beginning to think that those of us in Los Angeles will be 75 by the time we get the vaccine, even if we are now 49! Just an exaggeration, however I took a look at the process to get a vaccine appt. There are hundreds of places available but you need to click on each individual cvs store or safeway or whatever and then answer a questionnaire and then they show you a calendar that has no dates left. Then on to the next location with the same form to be filled out. The large venues right now are not at all close to where I live and more than half are only offering a 2nd shot. The others, after answering a bunch of questions, tell you they have nothing. So I am right now in Texas and applied to get a vaccine here and was told this morning I will probably be contacted with an appt within 2 weeks. They do not seem to care if I am not a Texan. I am keeping my fingers crossed. At least I am a co signer on my daughter's lease in Texas in case they ask.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I must say, my Letters of Authorization for my mystery shops SAY it's essential service provider.

Just sayin'.

When I go into 50 stores in 3 different states, even wearing a mask, I am exposed to high risk.

Plus, I'm 74 years old.

It's moot for me, anyway -- I don't have health insurance, and the "local provider" is charging $150 for each shot for the vaccinations (yes, the vaccine is "free"; the provider can charge to cover overhead, expenses, etc.). So, since I don't have $300, I ain't gettin' no vaccine.

Everything is free in CA. Just sayin'

A mystery shop company saying you are essential is not the same as the government saying so. As far as weights and measures are concerned I really doubt the government authorities are leaving it up to mystery shoppers to track compliance. The client who hires you thru the msc may be tracking their own compliance with serving alcohol correctly, of whatever they are looking for at nursing homes etc. But I bet in most cases there is a government approved agency whose job it is to check these places officially to make sure they are in compliance and the essential part the msc's are talking about has to do with the location's adherence to whatever contract the location signed with their own company. Basically their own private check to make sure when the govt comes around they will not find infringements. There may be some rare cases where the govt has approved fully trained people who have passed a test that is not 10 questions on a website that you can cheat on.

That is true, sandyf. Even though the compliance checks are legally mandated, mystery shoppers are not the only persons who can obtain the necessary information. If you know it, who else is performing these tasks? (As in, are we cheaper than full-time feds even if we receive large bonuses?)

Personally I have not done anything in mystery shopping where anyone said I was essential. Many of the rules are state rules, not national. I know in nursing homes they have ombudsmen in my state who check for compliance. In bars and restaurants they also have state inspectors. Same with gas stations where the government sends out people to check whether the pumps are working and dispensing the right amts of gas people are paying for and also check the octane rating to make sure it is what is advertised and on and on. I worked in health care at a large hospital. There was no place there for mystery shoppers to do "essential work." Those who come around are usually someone with a background in science, not a short video and a test, Once the government agency finds the company is out of compliance they have to take steps to correct the issue and sometimes get shutdown if it is really dangerous. Yes, the bar might hire a mystery shop company to check age verification, or the fast food might to check temps etc however this is so that when their government inspector comes around they hopefully will have caught the problem beforehand so they do not get closed down or heavily fined.
So, essential to the client, not to the government. But, as I said, there may be some cases. that differ. I would think in whatever ms job you have that says you are essential, if you look on the internet you will find a government agency with trained full time employees going once or twice a year to check what you are pre checking for the client.

@sandyf
Thank you for taking the time to post. It’s astonishing to me that it even needed to be done. You nailed it.

I'm just stating personal experience. I am told to show the "essential services" letter if required, or asked to do so by the manager.

So I do.

But I live in a place where we had no "lock down", or where essential was defined narrowly.

My daughter is a nurse; SHE provides essential services.

I don't think what I do qualifies as essential services.

Um....I'm not paid to think. My opinion is of no importance to the MSC.

If the fed mandates it, it is essential. It is essential because some people will take advantage of anyone at any time. If everyone were honorable and appropriate, no laws would be needed. A pandemic is no excuse for shirking attention to detail, breaking laws, taking advantage of consumers, or otherwise being out of compliance. There is no need to denigrate our tasks. There is a need to understand why the laws that govern some of our work exist at all and need to be observed at all times, regardless or pandemic or other challenging situations.

This in no way alters the value of easily identified essential workers, such as those who provide medical care, food, shelter, and other necessities for human life.

I am confused about your response. Are you saying that if a client of a msc sends you a letter saying you are essential to them it means the federal government thinks you are essential? I am in no way denigrating what you or any other mystery shopper does but just because a client thinks you are essential does not mean you are in the eyes of the govt covid 19 people. . My kids think I am essential but if I got a note from them to take to the vaccine place they might laugh at or with me as they turned me down. .


quote=Shop-et-al]
If the fed mandates it, it is essential. It is essential because some people will take advantage of anyone at any time. If everyone were honorable and appropriate, no laws would be needed. A pandemic is no excuse for shirking attention to detail, breaking laws, taking advantage of consumers, or otherwise being out of compliance. There is no need to denigrate our tasks. There is a need to understand why the laws that govern some of our work exist at all and need to be observed at all times, regardless or pandemic or other challenging situations.

This in no way alters the value of easily identified essential workers, such as those who provide medical care, food, shelter, and other necessities for human life.[/quote]

@Shop-et-al Serious question: On another thread you posted that there is no scientific basis for wearing masks. If that is your stance when scientists and physicians support wearing a mask, why is being at the top of the vaccine (which scientists created and physicians also support) distribution list so important to you?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2021 12:27AM by chiffon cupcakes.

As far as I can tell, all COVID vaccinations are completely free in NJ. I have not heard of anyone being charged in PA or DE either. It would certainly have been in the news.

I legitimately qualified (due to age) in NJ and got my first Moderna vaccination last Tuesday at a County-run center. I am already scheduled for the second shot 4 weeks later. I have similarly youth-challenged friends who received the Pfizer vaccine last week at an NJ State Vaccine Megacenter and have been scheduled for their second shot 3 weeks later. The 15 minutes I spend under observation for a possible adverse reaction was longer than everything else combined. I had some minor soreness in my arm for about 18 hours. I am hoping for a reaction to the second shot so that I will know that my body developed antibodies.

Good luck to everyone who is awaiting their vaccination.