GfK Mystery Shopping

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SteveT Wrote:
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> Anyone here used this GfK ??
>
>
> [www.gfkamerica.com]
> loyalty/mystery_shopping/index.en.html

While that's not the log-in address for registered mystery shoppers, yes I've shopped with GfK, when they have something in my area, which is not often. I have had no problems with them. They allow self-assignment, my schedulers are responsive and professional, and reporting is straight-forward. Their pay is generally competitive and is via PayPal within two to three weeks after shop completion.
I love GfK, but they haven't had anything at all in my area in 14 months.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
It's funny, the only shops I'd previously seen have been self-assign, with low pay. This one is much higher, and was direct recruit via email.
They use to have about three clients in my area and I shopped for them weekly, but like Dee, they either lost the clients to someone else, or the clients have stopped shopping, there is nothing in my area for over a year.
Same as everyone else, they no longer have regular shops in my area, however I have done the electronics stores audits for them and I enjoyed them. They are easy and all the schedulars I worked with have been really nice.
Nothing here except for that extensive store audit.Last thing here was the grocery store that STN now has and that pizza shop that I got ripped off on.
I get emails indicating that the opportunities I am seeing are not posted on their job board. Yet I see the same stuff posted on job boards around the various forums. So what gives with this? And the opportunities I am emailed aren't even in my part of the country. Is there some reason NOT to use their own job board???? I just don't get it. I am obviously not 'specially selected' if the same ad appears on this and other forums' job boards!
Having just done my first shop for them, I have no idea how they operate. However, the one I did came via email and required an interview, so I'm sure that's why it wasn't on the board.
Get payment plans in writing. I did a sweet high paying shop with bonuses, but didn't get my whole bonus. I can't complain too much because most of their shops are low paying, but this one was pretty high. It was bonused several times, and I didn't get the last bonus.


Still, the amount you agree on is the amount you agree upon.
I love GFK. getting more strict on dates to do shops. ex...electronics chain store audits can only be done in first 2 wks of month to self assign now. pay is great, follow instructions, no problems
They keep sending me emails about doing cell phone shops, where you purchase a cell phone and then cancel the contract.

I am not comfortable with shops like this.
One of the problems with those is that the need to check your credit before they will enter into a contract for service. So getting the phone and then cancelling it is just a whack to your credit report. I prefer keep my credit report allowable hits for my own personal purposes because you don't get that many hits before your credit score begins falling.
Some of their shop emails confuse me. I know they are a legit company, but their emails sound more like spam than most of the spam I get.
Yes, the current "Gucci" canned email is annoying. It is posted to job boards here and at other forums so it is picked up by Jobslinger.com. Meanwhile when the email hits your mailbox it states "*Please note: These shops are NEVER posted on our job board. The only way to get these shops is by replying to this email.*" Baloney! Their website job board seems to have issues because I NEVER have seen anything posted there, yet my email gets filled with multiple copies of their electronics audit, 'Gucci' and similar. Kinda makes you wonder if their new website is dysfunctional.
I certainly am not signing up for the Gucci shop. I have shopped them for another firm, and although the firm is cheap on the pay, I got it bonused to $50 and did not have to purchase anything let alone tie up $500 and return EXACTLY two days later.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
I received a similiar offer for Gucci, from another Mystery Shop Company. However, they ask that you purchase a handbag for at least $500 and return it. There was no way I would do this.
kittybratt Wrote:
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> I received a similiar offer for Gucci, from
> another Mystery Shop Company. However, they ask
> that you purchase a handbag for at least $500 and
> return it. There was no way I would do this.


I would, because I have shopped that store enough to know that they would take it back, and it is less than a mile from where I live. However, gFK is not even dancing near the $ I require for such a shop. Talk $75 and up, if you want me to play. Others do.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Flash Wrote:
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> I haven't checked, Mr. C, but they may have some
> of the "Manbags" winking smiley


In CA, we call it a "Murse"
In Bama we call it a "Fa* Bag"...winking smiley

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
It's not a Gucci shop, they just use that as an example. This is the shop I did and I'd be happy to do it again when rotation comes up. BTW, the purchase requirement I was assigned (it varies) is more a reflection of the store, not the shop. On the other hand, not touching the cell phone shops with a 10 ft. pole!
nicelytwicely Wrote:
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> It's not a Gucci shop, they just use that as an
> example. This is the shop I did and I'd be happy
> to do it again when rotation comes up. BTW, the
> purchase requirement I was assigned (it varies) is
> more a reflection of the store, not the shop. On
> the other hand, not touching the cell phone shops
> with a 10 ft. pole!


So now we know you covet designer clothes, nicely. :-)

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Actually, not so much, LOL. Let's just say that in a former life, I could occasionally indulge if I stumbled across something I loved -- but those days are long gone!

Seriously, if you can handle the temporary investment on a credit card, it's a good shop. Return is credited very quickly.
Grrr...now they're driving me crazy! I opted out of the phone shop, but that doesn't stop them from sending 3 emails a day about them! They really must be having a hard time getting people to accept them. If there wasn't a credit pull, I'd do it.
nicelytwicely Wrote:
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> Seriously, if you can handle the temporary
> investment on a credit card, it's a good shop.
> Return is credited very quickly.

One of those times when it is critical to know the "Closing Date" of your credit card :^) Since you are required to hold the item for 2 days before returning it and credits generally take a day or more to process than the charge, it would be well advised to use a card that had recently "Closed" for the month so you had plenty of time for the charge and credit to offset before a bill was issued.
Good point if you use a revolving card. I use AmEx for all purchase and returns for this reason.
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