My Mom shops there and I'll do the shops when she needs to go. I cringe when she buys name brand items I know are cheaper at Walmart. However, some of their weekly sale prices/coupons are better than Walmart. So if you just buy the sale items, it's beneficial.
I've done a bunch of them. However, I will not do them for the base of $10 and $10 reimbursement. Even if Mom wants to go.
Without Mom, it takes me about 30-40 minutes in store and another 20-30 minutes for the report.
Wait and towards the end of the month they will add an additional $10 to whatever they've already increased the pay to, usually $15-20. This makes the shop pay $25-30.
If you shop there normally and end up checking out over the $10 reimbursement, you can look at it as a discount. They really need to increase the reimbursement, especially when one month they added the requirement of an organic produce purchase.
If not, it looks kind of stupid checking out with four items and forgetting something on the bottom of the cart. I put my bags and coat in the cart to block my view of the bottom of the cart. Usually the person bagging will notice the item on the bottom.
I'm pretty sure I've been spotted as the shopper on several occasions as an employee will suddenly come up to me and offer assistance for no reason. I just say I'm doing fine and carry on.
I open the notepad on my tablet and put my employee information and other notes there. Or you can text yourself that information.
The two schedulers I have worked with for the MSC are reachable by phone during business hours. They are employees of the MSC not contractors. They have been truthful in telling me what they can and can't do for me pay wise on these shops, even in the remote hard to fill areas.
It has never hurt to ask for their best offer if I'm going to be in an area I don't normally shop and want to pick one up. It helps build/fill in routes.
Now I hope you don't become my competition, LOL.