QAMS-- Why so few shops

I haven't done anything for them since Jan 2016. I just went looking as I was looking at shop metrics MSPs and find 9 total shops nationwide. They no longer seem to have the car wash client, the mens beard client, or even the burger client. I did not name the actual clients so no ICA violations. Good news I only did those 3 clients with them and 2 are not where I currently live. No big loss as they were always only filler shops but was just wondering.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More Discussions About Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers (All Companies)

I've only done their candy store client, but that only shows up a few times a year.

They did have some recently where you had to be a member of a specific insurance company and inquire about a vacation. I was getting inundated with emails about it. I guess they had trouble finding shoppers who had this particular insurance company. A month ago I did a fun movie/restaurant shop and was promptly paid. Now I go to the boards and I see nothing in my area.

The car wash client went to a different MSP over a year ago. The report is easier but it's reimbursement only.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

I miss the men's beard client. They were the first place (other than restaurants) I took Hubby mystery shopping.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Hamburger shops were listed today, but there not nearly as many as in the past.

If its the candy shop in the Midwest, thats only once every few months. I just saw a bunch posted for that one.

They used to do the chain of small stores where you could get items for get togethers like birthdays and holiday events in my area, but I see those are now only in the upper Midwest.

Besides the candy stores, I never see many shops from them these days here in the Chicago area.

Silver certified (since 2009) and willing to do shops all around the greater Chicago, NW Indiana, and Southern Wisconsin areas (including airports!.

I personally don't miss the men's shaving shop. I had a difficult time keeping a straight face when they were trying to sell me a $400 razor. I'll stick with my $4 Gillette.

Have they posted any shops today/this month? I don't see any, anywhere. What gives?

Shops through May 15th are posted. There are only 125 available nationwide. Most are for the insurance company. Those are the only ones available in my area. I've never seen the other shops that were mentioned.

I have never seen the insurance ones in my area, but every month like clockwork there are about 6 natural pharmacy ones and 4 movie theater ones. It hasn't changed in over a year. They pay next to nothing, and the movie ones advertise a big reimbursement, but really it's false advertising to me because they have separate "max" reimbursements on tickets and concessions, and both are required for the shop. I did the movie shop once and then realized the popcorn and soda that I had to order cost almost as much as my 2 tickets, but they only reimbursed $6 or so max on concessions. Wish they'd go to just a set amount for total reimbursement and then I'd do another. In the meantime, I have left them for other shoppers.

Just had a bad experience with them as well. Cut my reimbursement claiming I did not order what I was suppose to order. I clearly had completed the shop as assigned and the itemized receipt proved it. When I followed up pointing out (politely) I did complete the shop as instructed and sent another copy of the receipt, I got a vague answer and was dropped from their shopper list! When a company makes unreasonable denials of reimbursement or there are delays in payments, it usually means they are on shakey ground.

Hmmm. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with them. It would be interesting to know which shop you had difficulty with and what the difference was between the ordering requirement vs. what you ordered. I've worked with them since 2010 and they are one of my favorites except that they don't have many clients. In the past, they have had more, so they may be struggling right now. I've done many shops with never a request for clarification, no denied shops, and I've always gotten the full reimbursement. They are one of the MSCs that pays the fastest and I love that. It's a very small company and the woman who runs it awards shopper prizes every month and always sends a personal "happy holidays and thanks for shopping with us" email (to a large distribution list of shoppers) for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays.

I was surpised, I have been doing shops for them for many years - did tons of the party supply shops when they had them. Also did a few shaving shops. I've never had trouble with them before. It was the movie theater shop that I had a problem with - the instructions called for ordering drinks and appetizers in the theater. This was not the first time I did the shop for them and I followed the instructions. Submitted the itemized receipt with the report; my commentary matched what was ordered and served. There were no questions after I submitted the report. Next thing I know I get a message that I did not follow the instructions by not ordering drinks in the theater and my reimbursement was cut according. These are expensive shops to complete, movie, theater drinks and appetizers plus dinner easily adds up to $100+ for two. The shopper pay is only $5, so the reimbursement is important. With the tip, the required drinks and appetizers cost more than $37 and the reimbursement was suppose to be up to $35 for that portion of the shop. When I pointed out that I had indeed ordered drinks and sent another copy of the receipt, I got no reply. I followed up again and got a vague answer about looking into it.

I received an email message a couple of days ago saying shops had been posted, but as of today there is nothing showing for me nationwide. Does anyone see shops available on their board?

Wow. I wish they had that movie theater shop here. I do a movie shop for them with an alcohol compliance requirement. It requires you to try to purchase an alcoholic beverage to see if they check your ID (you must say you forgot your ID), but they do not want you to actually order the alcoholic beverage and they won't pay for it. They reimburse $9 for concessions. I would love to grab one of the shops with drinks, dinner and appetizer. So jealous.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

QAMS-- Why so few shops

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine