I was about to self-assign one of MFI's Chinese fast food shop when I saw this:

"I understand the importance of accurate submission of photos with my report. If there are any problems with photos submitted for this shop, I understand that my shopper account may be deactivated."

I've never had problems with photos submitted for these shops but I don't think I am going to risk my MFI account for these shops. Not worth it.

I did two recently and they accepted my iPhone photos - no problem.

They like harsh and booting people arbitrarily. Caution.

I doubt I would have issues with submitting photos but these shops are just not worth it for me to risk my MFI account. I am lucky that I live in an area with many restaurants that serve more authentic Chinese food and often at cheaper prices than this client. There is little incentive for me to do these shops even without the harsh warning.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
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> I was about to self-assign one of MFI's Chinese
> fast food shop when I saw this:
>
> "I understand the importance of accurate
> submission of photos with my report. If there are
> any problems with photos submitted for this shop,
> I understand that my shopper account may be
> deactivated."

Kind of vague and extremely heavy handed, but okay, fair enough.
>
> I've never had problems with photos submitted for
> these shops but I don't think I am going to risk
> my MFI account for these shops. Not worth it.

I have not had any problems with photos or their shops, either. This is not about competent and trustworthy shoppers. MF is threatening, bully-like, including honest, reliable shoppers in the warning. Can this huge MSP not adequately screen and identify? And, do they think the dishonest, give a hoot about answering the screening correctly? We can draw conclusions of incompetence, but the problem is MF's, not ours.

I noticed that warning while perusing potential shops yesterday and thought it a bit heavy-handed too. And I, too, happily bypassed the listing and went on to find two days' worth of shops to do this week for companies I've worked for before who are delighted to have me running all over the state doing shops in small towns nobody else wants to drive to.

I don't need to be constantly patted on the back, but it is nice to be appreciated as opposed to threatened. I expect they'll be begging us to do those shops in a couple weeks if everyone decides to pass them by. It's threat enough to tell us we won't be paid for the shop; deactivating an account over a couple of blurry photos is a bit much. I wonder who the careless shopper is who led them to make that kind of threat.

Many of their warnings in shops are overkill and harsh. I don't think they are talking about blurry photos here. I think they are warning shoppers not to try to use a photo of their food from a previous shop. I've been doing these shops for some time and have had no difficulties.

Well, if THAT's the case, they should deactivate the account, but they don't need to threaten the rest of us over it. I'm sure at least 95% of shoppers do their best to do an honest shop. (At least I hope that's the case!)

Hey, it's not just MFI.

Another MSC posts with EVERY shop that if we copy and paste we will be deactivated. When I write up shops, I don't copy and paste, but I do use the same verbiage for certain actions like receipts, outside lights, etc. I shouldn't have to come up with different ways to say, "All the lights were working."

And they're going to fire me because I said "All the lights were working." on two reports? Good grief.

Yes, many MSCs post warnings similar. Some say it in a rather abrupt way (such as the wording of Market Force's warning, posted above). Others are downright ugly in their warnings: "Don't try to lie. We will know. You can't fool us. We will catch you." It's bolded and typed in red, just to help us understand it a little better, I guess.

Here's one that manages to word it politely, giving a little respect to shoppers:

"READ ME - NEW UPDATE REQUIREMENT
Once you complete the shop and fill out the report, a copy of the receipt is required to be uploaded to your report. ALERT: =MSC name deleted= has activated the DNA alert system for all of our surveys. This system will automatically alert us to any duplicated receipts or photographs that are uploaded to a shop. Please be extra cautious when uploading each receipt and/or photograph and be certain that it is the correct one for the shop you performed. "

niteowl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey, it's not just MFI.
>
> Another MSC posts with EVERY shop that if we copy
> and paste we will be deactivated. When I write up
> shops, I don't copy and paste, but I do use the
> same verbiage for certain actions like receipts,
> outside lights, etc. I shouldn't have to come up
> with different ways to say, "All the lights were
> working."
>
> And they're going to fire me because I said "All
> the lights were working." on two reports? Good
> grief.

Sometimes, some parts of a report maybe alike, especially if it is the same type of shop. You may not be aware of it but they could have exactly the same wording, even if you do not copy and paste.

A few years ago, I had someone in the higher up email me. Since I knew him well as an executive of one of my favourite
MSCs, I did not mind the contact after a few months of the series of mall audits I did. These are well above average shops and I thought I was doing the reports carefully.

He said there was a small part of my summaries that look similar and he just wanted me to be aware of it. I reread my notes and sure enough, when describing how the associate explained the cards, a part did look similar. But I was not aware of it until I was told. There are times when there is just so much you can do to reword some descriptions---most especially, if you are doing a great number of them, in the wee hours of the morning. But I was grateful that he pointed it out to me. And he was very nice about it. I still continue to do a big bulk of that assignment in my area.