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Should I redo the shop?

October 18, 2022 11:20PM
Hello everyone, today was my first time doing a shop. This was a bank account shop and I didn't even open an account because the guidelines specified if the wait is 30 minutes to just grab proof you were there and leave. I was nervous since it was my first and I tend toward having a bit of social anxiety ( more than a bit actually) and when I reviewed my time from my audio recording I realized that in my acute panic I left 3 whole minutes before the 30 minutes were up! I'm sure, based on the experience, had I waited the actual 30 minutes I still would not have been assisted but I'm worried they'll review footage (it was mentioned in the guidelines they routinely view bank footage of shop visits) and note it so I won't get payed.
I was approved this morning to do the shop but no dates were specified on when I would be performing the shop just as long as it was done by Friday nor did I mention I would be doing it today.
Should I try to redo the shop since I didn't get to open an account anyways, or should I just do the survey, cross my fingers and let the value be the lesson learned alone?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2022 11:26PM by chanchancan2.
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October 18, 2022 11:50PM
What is the time from the time you arrived until the time you left. When did you start the recording? Maybe you were actually on-site more than 30 minutes from the time you opened your car door or walked in the door.
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October 18, 2022 11:52PM
I might redo the shop. It's good practice. Call it your training.
Mystery shopping helped my social anxiety quite a bit.
Over time you'll learn what shops work for you.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
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October 18, 2022 11:52PM
I cannot comment on the time but as long as you were not assigned to a specific day other than today and if the listed start date and end date of the shop as assigned to you includes today you will be okay on the date. Many msc ask you to shop on a very specific date, others give you a range.
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October 19, 2022 12:10AM
You may redo such shop but at the different branch.

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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October 19, 2022 12:30AM
Most bank shops specifically ban doing any recording. Are you sure that the guidelines do not mention this?

Also, no need to repeat at a different branch. People wait and then leave without seeing a banker all the time. You can time the wait and the shop without doing a recording. Just make a note on your phone as to time of entry and time of exit.

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.
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October 19, 2022 12:47AM
I checked several times hoping that was the case too, but no, guidelines also said time starts when you walk in the bank and not before but.. there isn't an actual door since it's inside of a walmart so maybe there's still hope
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October 19, 2022 12:51AM
Glad to hear it's helped your social anxiety some! Wanting to work on my own and get out more is one of the reasons I've decided to do it.
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October 19, 2022 12:59AM
Okay, that makes sense, Thanks! As for the recording I don't intend to make it a practice in the future I was just nervous I'd forget something and wanted it to assist me in the survey just in case. There was no mention of recording in the guidelines, just to 'act natural' lol
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October 19, 2022 03:26AM
Welcome to the forum, @chanchancan2 and congrats on accepting your first assignment! I would suggest going back to the location so that you follow the guidelines thoroughly. I completely understand the social anxiety part - many of us suffer these days (including myself) and situations such as being assigned to a task that you have never performed tend to be magnified so that they seem much worse, in the moment, than they really are, in hindsight. When you revisit, keep a thought in the front of your mind - you are the only person at the location that knows you will be writing a report after you complete the visit. You are there as a customer, and you should expect nothing more than to be treated as a customer. Best of luck to you! smiling smiley

ps...as far as timing - you can text yourself or someone else when you arrive so that you have a referenced starting time. I use screenshots to track time quite often. An app called "Shop It" that costs about $3 will allow you to track timings while looking like you are sending texts. You will find your method as you perform more shops!
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October 19, 2022 03:44AM
If it were me, I would redo, and be relieved that guidelines allowed me to do so. I’m sure you will do what’s best. Welcome to MSing and the forum!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2022 03:48AM by Mert.
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October 19, 2022 03:49AM
Just do the survey, cross your fingers and let the value be the lesson learned. Meanwhile, use that lesson learned and do more shops. Don't waste time on a redo of a shop that might be accepted and paid as is, unless you are asked to redo it. Time is money in this business. After you have done 100 shops, this Walmart bank shop will be only 1% of your total shops and out of your worried mind.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2022 03:50AM by AZwolfman.
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October 19, 2022 12:01PM
I would re-do the shop and, as someone else said, use it as a training experience. It's unlikely the bank would review the recording of your visit, but re-doing it will give you a chance to have the interaction and really "get your feet wet."

I love bank shops, but I will say that this particular shop has a very long report, but don't get frustrated. Pick at it a little at a time if you start to feel overwhelmed by the report. The in-branch part is easy--you'll be fine. The MSC is very helpful, so if you get stuck, contact the scheduler (who I think is the project manager, too) with any questions.

Good luck!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2022 01:04PM by BirdyC.
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October 19, 2022 06:51PM
I would recommend doing several much shorter and less complicated shops to get your feet wet and calm your anxieties and get used to the more common types of things you need to pay attention to on pretty much all shops. This shop you have already done and/or redone by this time. Although the pay may be less on the "easier" shops, or to me the ones without long narratives and listening to hear the sales person speak about many different things, as your first group of shops you will gain confidence quickly with those easy shops. So look for a few fast food or easy retail where the discussion consists mainly of greeting and goodbyes.
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October 19, 2022 10:09PM
I would submit. I would not redo. I think you are making too much about nothing. I often chuckle when I read that companies reading your reports will carefully look at their security cameras to see that you went to the bathroom, sat in the dining room for a full 15 minutes after getting your order, etc. They have better things to do so just submit.
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October 19, 2022 11:13PM
The one and only time, I had my video mentioned to me was because I stood in front of my grocery cart instead of behind it. Didn't seem important enough to review video, but they did.

Still could be fine to submit the report and move on.

@SueW70 wrote:

I would submit. I would not redo. I think you are making too much about nothing. I often chuckle when I read that companies reading your reports will carefully look at their security cameras to see that you went to the bathroom, sat in the dining room for a full 15 minutes after getting your order, etc. They have better things to do so just submit.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
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October 20, 2022 03:51AM
I wouldn't redo. But if I was really worried, and had a good rapport with my scheduler, I might ask them what I should do. There have been a number of times I thought I totally screwed something up, so I contacted the scheduler and was told it's fine and not to worry.
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October 20, 2022 09:12PM
You should also get in touch by email with your scheduler to let him know what happened. Also offer to redo the shop if necessary. By the way, do not ever redo the shop at another location as someone had commented. That would automatically reject your shop and could damage your reliability rating. Just remember, the more experience you gain by doing various shops, your confident increases. Good luck.
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