Is anyone doing these right now?

Can they really mean you will check 625 items for $16 ???

Yes! They are super easy. They sound intimidating, but simple, simple!

I've always avoided them as it sounds like a heck of a lot of work for $16

Nope- its less than an hour and 6 or 7 minute report at the most. Once you get the hang of them, its 35 minutes! I like them a lot.

35 minutes? It would probably take me an hour just to count to 625

It would be impossible for me to do it in 35 minutes. The fastest I've ever been able to finish is 50, and I have a fairly decent system down ~ at least I think so.

I first count and section off the 125 items, by fives, pushing them all to one end of the rack. This part goes super fast. Then I go back and check sizes. Actually, I section off 130, just in case someone comes along and starts browsing and takes a couple ~ which has happened! Then I write down the one required SKU number from a random item in the sectioned-off batch.

The ease of checking the sizes depends on the type of item. I've found that the sizes on men's items are much more readily obvious then on many women's items. Sometimes, on the women's items, you have to look for really tiny print, and possibly in some really odd places. Most men's items have them emblazoned in large print, right out there, easy to see ~ their pants, especially, often have the tags right on top!

Shoes are my least favorite and most time-consuming.

Of course, after checking each section, I write down the number of mis-sized items. The PITA comes when there's more than 10, and you have to see/state if there's a pattern to it, or just random. It still takes just a few minutes, but you have to stop and think about it, which is annoying to me.

The report truly is only six or seven minutes, too.

So... not counting drive time, you end up with $16 for an hour or maybe a tad more. I have one of these about 5 minutes away, and another 10 or 15 minutes ~ but in an area with lots of other shops. I've also put them on routes, when I have the time; because they're dead-easy and a sure $16/hour.

You just gotta not get interested in looking at items for yourself.

Oh ~ and the paperwork... the bulk of it doesn't change often, so I keep that printed and set aside, and just briefly check to make sure it's the same. The only thing I reprint every time is the forms with the categories that need checking this time.

The locations I've checked have been organized for the most part with the bulk of misplaced items in juniors. Easy $16 and usually done within a route.

I prefer the ms'ing ones...I get to shop for myself, try a few items and return one. The sizing audit sounds too complicated. BTW, I am guilty of putting wrong sizes back on the racks. Oops!

cubbiecat Wrote:
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> The sizing audit sounds too complicated.


It only *sounds* that way.


> BTW, I am guilty of
> putting wrong sizes back on the racks. Oops!

Don't worry ~ you're keeping us in work!

I LOVE them....once you get the hang, they are super fast.....

I've always avoided these and the purchase/returns.....they don't look hard but way too time-consuming for me.

I love these shops but they have not been available in my area at all this year. I used to do 5 or 6 a month. I can do them in about 30 minutes in store and unless the store is a total mess, the reports are fast. Where did the East Coast audits go?

I just did my first one yesterday. Luckily, none of the categories had more than 10 mis-sized units--even shoes. And I was prepared for that after reading older posts about this being a problem area for many.

Some minor problems I encountered were where the rack was so high to accommodate long dresses. After counting about 65 dresses, my neck and arms were so tired that I had to stop and rest. The other was where the men's pants rack was right in front of the dressing room entrance where the attendant could see everything I was doing. Who shops for pants in every size?? Obviously, no one. But nobody approached me. In both of my men's categories there weren't 125 items on the rack, so I had to do junior's as my back-up. At least there were plenty of them so I could finish.

The store is only 5 miles from home in an almost-defunct mall. I wouldn't want to do one every week, but I'd do it again until the mall/store closes.

Originally, I wrote everything down, but here is how I do this and shave time off. I put in to a text message the categoros in the correct order, and then lump them together in my head. If there are 2 mens, I do those one right after the other, always reading a sku# into my voice recorder on my cell first. I also take note of the managers name when I do a store, and then keep it on hand. I then just check to see if its the same manager, and say into my recorder, "name same." Not having to write anything down and doing both categories of the same department knocks time off. and cvb42jeb? Its okay if they see you. They know they are being audited and that it can happen at any time. Only once have I had someone follow me, and I noted it in my report. My average time now is 35-42 minutes.

StormCloud Wrote:
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> It would be impossible for me to do it in 35
> minutes. The fastest I've ever been able to
> finish is 50, and I have a fairly decent system
> down ~ at least I think so.
>
> I first count and section off the 125 items, by
> fives, pushing them all to one end of the rack.
> This part goes super fast. Then I go back and
> check sizes. Actually, I section off 130, just in
> case someone comes along and starts browsing and
> takes a couple ~ which has happened! Then I
> write down the one required SKU number from a
> random item in the sectioned-off batch.
>
> The ease of checking the sizes depends on the type
> of item. I've found that the sizes on men's items
> are much more readily obvious then on many women's
> items. Sometimes, on the women's items, you have
> to look for really tiny print, and possibly in
> some really odd places. Most men's items have
> them emblazoned in large print, right out there,
> easy to see ~ their pants, especially, often have
> the tags right on top!
>
> Shoes are my least favorite and most
> time-consuming.
>
> Of course, after checking each section, I write
> down the number of mis-sized items. The PITA
> comes when there's more than 10, and you have to
> see/state if there's a pattern to it, or just
> random. It still takes just a few minutes, but
> you have to stop and think about it, which is
> annoying to me.
>
> The report truly is only six or seven minutes,
> too.
>
> So... not counting drive time, you end up with $16
> for an hour or maybe a tad more. I have one of
> these about 5 minutes away, and another 10 or 15
> minutes ~ but in an area with lots of other shops.
> I've also put them on routes, when I have the
> time; because they're dead-easy and a sure
> $16/hour.
>
> You just gotta not get interested in looking at
> items for yourself.
>
> Oh ~ and the paperwork... the bulk of it doesn't
> change often, so I keep that printed and set
> aside, and just briefly check to make sure it's
> the same. The only thing I reprint every time is
> the forms with the categories that need checking
> this time.

Sounds like the standee. I avoid those type of shops.

I am scheduled to do this on the 15th for the first time. I am really nervous, tho. Wish me luck!

They are pretty easy & so are the forms. Usually I try to get a couple of locations nearby to make the pay worth the drive

Cheers !


jpgilham Wrote:
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> I've always avoided them as it sounds like a heck
> of a lot of work for $16