I am an older shopper who uses my landline for phone shops. Although I have a trac phone the reception is poor in my home. I use it only for emergencies when I am out.
I recently signed up for phone shops which require a screenshot of a call log from a cell phone.. My landline phone does not have a call list listing times of call. length of calls, etc
I just wrote to the scheduler saying I have taken photos of my landline showing the number called for other companies with no issue but the photo does not have length of call as that was not possible.
She wrote back telling me to "use any method of taking photo" which sounded a bit not what I asked.
I found the shop a bit strange as it requires me to handwrite information on the form which then needs to be screenshot onto the form PLUS the information that was on the form typed into the report- never had a shop with this being required. Seems like double work to me!
YET the guidelines say client is VERY particular and shops not meeting all guidelines will be rejected.
I am at the point for the relatively low shop fee for all the info required to cancel the shops rather than do them and have them rejected. Three calls are required if someone does not pick up first try and I think I may be annoyed by follow up calls if I leave my number and sound serious. The form has a ton of questions as to rates, ten different rates for different services.
I know everyone uses cell phones but I am in my 70s and do not love cell phones.
Thanks for any advice. Would you proceed or cancel?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2025 03:48PM by Fatlady.

I haven’t used a landline in years, but my desk phone at work will show the length of time of the call. Are you able to purchase a landline phone that will show this information on the display? It almost sounds like more effort than it’s worth.

I would maybe ask the scheduler if the shops can be removed without penalty. It sounds like the call log with time and duration is required.

At work, we receive and make phone calls through Zoom. It keeps a log there, but I'm not sure about personal plans. It might not be worth it.

Just asked shops to be cancelled for the shop fee too much required. And if I was told shop not valid due to landline used I would be annoyed

Or maybe Google Voice on your computer with a headset is an option. I haven't tried making outgoing calls with it though.

Do you have home wifi that you can make the calls through with the cell phone?

I'd cancel. It sounds like a definite PITA. I do not like phone call shops anyway.

I just canceled three of these shops that I had scheduled for today. In the mass email sent out it was not listed that you have to have a cell phone, that several screen shots had to be taken for the call log, that you have to print out a form and fill it out with a page full of questions and dollar amounts then scan it back in and submit with the survey, then you may need more than one cell number and they suggest you give out your spouses cell number. Oh, if no one answers the phone, you have to leave a voicemail with your real cell phone number for them to call you back - and you have to be available for the call back. This is a lot of work and to expect us to be available at any given moment is too much. I thought the purpose of being a mystery shopper was that we were a mystery. All the people have to do is a reverse look up on your cell number and they have all the info on you they need. If I remember correctly, this same company does a retail shop - they say is real quick - but it isn't. It is for a large retailer where you have to go through the entire store (every isle) looking for credit card signage, also collect over $100 worth of "stuff", ask an associate for help to try on or to get them to bring up the credit card, then take your "stuff" to the checkout and after they ring it up, get them to talk about their credit card. Then tell them you want to think about it. And it does not come close to covering the amount of time - worse than minimum wage. Why do these MSC's do this? I do not feel guilty or bad at all about canceling when they are not forthcoming with the actual shop requirements. I realize, they can't put the guidelines in the mass email, but they do need to put more than just "fast, easy' shops - because they are not fast and quite frankly not easy when we have to make up info, remember names, use specific word for word scenarios, etc. My other thought about these phone call shops for them - if they want this very specific info - why don't they use the 1-866 line to record every call? We should never have to give out our cell numbers for these single digit pay shops.

My belief is the 1-866 line that records your call is a subscription service that the MSC would have to pay to use.

Why do that when they can get someone to manually record the information for a pittance!

You make a great point. The problem is that a manual recording can have numerous errors and even false information if a shopper forgets to ask all the questions or to write the responses down - completely. It just seems that if the client is this nit-picky about every word and detail, it would behoove them to have recordings. Just a thought. And, I am not bad mouthing the client for what they want done in a shop. If I were the client, I would go with a different MSC who offered recordings if the need was this strong.

@FrostyBubbles wrote:

You make a great point. The problem is that a manual recording can have numerous errors and even false information if a shopper forgets to ask all the questions or to write the responses down - completely. It just seems that if the client is this nit-picky about every word and detail, it would behoove them to have recordings. Just a thought. And, I am not bad mouthing the client for what they want done in a shop. If I were the client, I would go with a different MSC who offered recordings if the need was this strong.

I agree 100%.

100% agree. For the $8 fee they have a LOT OF NERVE. I never did a shop where I had to report on the shop form and also handwrite and up load the notes. The shop guidelines had what I saw as threats that the company would double check the calls to be sure they were made for a whopping $8 fee. They can take a long walk off a short pier!