I have a hard time remembering exact times to the second and on these Post Office shops you have to remember multiple times, so I can't just set my timer and forget about it. How do you take notes and not be seen? Also, can someone tell me the App name to do this mobile? I've searched for older posts about this but couldn't find what I am looking for so any tips are welcome! Please? There is pages and pages of instructions-

Can the name of the app be mentioned since it is affiliated with the MSC?

Email the scheduler. I don't know what kind of phone you have, and your scheduler will send you detailed instructions on how to download the app.

I note the time I enter the building. I already have set my phone to stopwatch and begin timing once I join the line. If there is no line then the wait time is 00 minutes and 00 seconds. If there is a line, I hit "lap" once I get called to the counter. You turn around and hit "stop" once you leave the counter. If there is no wait you can look at the lobby table for the forms on your way out. If there is a wait you have plenty of time (even if it's 45 seconds or less) to observe the POP and other things you are supposed to look for. It becomes like second nature after you do a few.

I use Shop IT it's a mystery shop app for all my shops. If you have an iPhone you must touch the screen for a timing but I hear with Androids you can use the volume button for a timing.

I have not done the USPS shop in awhile is there a special app you need to use now? I have always used SHOPIT for all shops.

They have an app you can use to report the shop. I have limited memory on my crap snartphone so never bothered with much that isn't built in, but these mailing shops are so easy nothing other than a simple stopwatch is needed.

I use this app all the time and love it!!

Mobi works with any company that uses the Shopmetrics platform although some companies do a better job than others in terms of setting up the jobs to be entered using the app. I imagine there could be slight differences if you are using an iPhone versus an Android.

I have a Samsung Galaxy and find that I can easily complete USPS shops on it without ever turning on my laptop. Also, the new company has made the timings so much easier.

I complete 50+ USPS shops every month, usually five a day, and have never had an issue. Here is how I go about it:

Before entering the facility I upload a photo of my package and box receipt. I answer the questions regarding purchasing the box.

I have my timer ready to go and I have the shop in question pulled up on my screen set to question number 2. The moment I walk in the door, I tap the "set date and time to now" button. That gives you your first timing. As you are supposed to enter the line immediately, that should also give you your second timing.

The second I enter the line, I hit the start button on my stopwatch app. When I'm called to the counter, I hit the stop or lap button and glance at the total time. It's a good idea to make a mental note of it as I have found that this is the one thing that can go wrong, i.e., a stopwatch malfunction where your timing is lost.

The timing on your stopwatch is your third timing. The time on the receipt is your fourth timing.

From experience I know I leave the facility one minute after the time on the receipt but will glance at the time on my phone to verify as I'm leaving. This is your fifth and last timing.

When I first enter the line I count the number of customers ahead of me and the number at the counter. Depending on the facility, I may jump to those questions and enter the data while I'm waiting.

The rest of the observations take seconds once you have some of these under your belt. I automatically check forms, shipping supplies, and menu boards. I look for a kiosk.

Once done inside, I go to my car and input the shop. It takes 10 minutes and I'm done. I only wish I could do ten of these a day, five days a week. They are my favorite shops due to the short amount of time they take and the fact I have no reports to do at night.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2017 11:37AM by whiterosie.

My hat's off to you, whiterosie, and to all of you who can use apps to enter reports on your smartphones. I'm too "old school" to even ATTEMPT to do that, but you make it sound very easy. I'm envious of your talent. I use a stopwatch app for shops, but would not feel at all comfortable about entering an entire report via the phone. Continued success to you!

I usually enter the report and do the photos using the app, but like to finish the report on my computer because I've noticed the photos are not, what's the word, facing the right way. I fix it on the computer and also like to get the confirmation number that I don't see using the app.

I use a digital voice recorder for the timings and it's easy as pie. Start when on line. Stop when called to counter. Start when at counter. Stop when done at counter. Times are on the voice recorder. plus anything the clerk has to say or offer.

I have a question for anyone who has used a bubble mailer or poly mailer. Have you been reimbursed for it or is the reimbursement only for boxes? Just curious, I've never submitted reimbursement for a mailer, but I could.

MsJudi, I use bubble mailers, which I purchase at the grocery store, and have never had a problem with reimbursement.

@aayaey wrote:

I use Shop IT it's a mystery shop app for all my shops. If you have an iPhone you must touch the screen for a timing but I hear with Androids you can use the volume button for a timing.

I have not done the USPS shop in awhile is there a special app you need to use now? I have always used SHOPIT for all shops.

I also use the Shop It app for shops. I have an Android phone and you can use the volume up button to mark the time. On an Android you can also touch the screen to record times. I just carry my phone in my hand and hit the button to record. Most everyone has their phone out these days, so it does not stand out to anyone. I did one over the weekend, but I did not use the special app. I really like the Shop It app personally.

I also do my report on the app but finish at home. I prefer to edit the photos and save a copy of my report on my hard drive in case there are any issues later.

Is the Shop It app a freebie? I searched for it and several possible apps are coming up.

It is the Mystery Shop-It Timer & Notes. The picture has a green background with a blue box (with a white question mark). I don't recall if there was a charge. If not, they should charge because I don't know how shoppers live without this app. Anyway, you will find it well worth the purchase (if there is a fee), many times over (and you can write off as an expense).

@COMystery wrote:

It is the Mystery Shop-It Timer & Notes. The picture has a green background with a blue box (with a white question mark). I don't recall if there was a charge. If not, they should charge because I don't know how shoppers live without this app. Anyway, you will find it well worth the purchase (if there is a fee), many times over (and you can write off as an expense).

Happened across this discussion - So glad you like the app
There is a free version of the app for iPhone at the moment, but it only allows 5 'shops'... it exists just so users can test it out before buying the full version. The Android version is lagging a little behind iPhone on features and updates... we have a major update 'in the works'. There are just a lot more variables to program around with Android (so many different devices and operating systems) that it makes it more challenging. We've made a lot of improvements to the iOs version, and are really excited about the coming improvements for Android!

The easiest way to find the app on either platform is to search the store for "mystery shopping"... then scroll down. We are usually among the top 5 hits on iOs, and top 12 on Google Play.

We don't have ads, so rely on sales revenue to pay for development costs. We appreciate all of our users !

Can the name of the company be mentioned that is coordinating the Shops? I did a bunch last year and no longer can I find them in my area and I do live in a rather large metro area.....

I use the Shop IT app as well. The entering of the shop is so easy that I just enter it really quick in the parking lot (if it is busy so no one will notice that I stay around for a few minutes) or I go to a parking lot down the street.

I don't do the purchase box as I really don't want to keep track of it as it gets used so many times. I mail boxes of a one pound bag of rice and some newspaper for stuffing. I mail the boxes from my house to my boyfriend in a town one hour away. When I go to his house on the weekend, I pick the boxes up and take all of the stickers off from the old shipment (my old shopping label, the post office stickers, etc.). Normally, I don't even open the box unless the tape needs to be replaced due to stickers not coming off cleanly or in too bad of shape. I just put a new shipping label on the newly blank box and use it for my next shop. I may either shop the post offices in his town to send back to myself at home or I put them in the trunk of my car and shop more the next week around my house again.

@whiterosie wrote:

Mobi works with any company that uses the Shopmetrics platform although some companies do a better job than others in terms of setting up the jobs to be entered using the app.

Are you sure about that? I do shops for Alta Research and Coyle, both of which are in Shop Metrics. I'd love to do some of my Alta Research shops on the phone app but I didn't think it could be done. Forget Coyle. I couldn't imagine writing a narrative on my phone.

Is Alta Research the same as Alta 360? If so, yes I have done shops for them through the app. I will do short narratives through the app but anything longer waits until I get home.