SQM
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I have only done airlines shops for them - the US airline, not one of the Canadian airlines they shop for. My experiences have been nothing but very positive. Very professional and friendly staff. Good communications. The website is a bit klutzy, but fine once one gets used to it.
Great company. Are you doing a hotel shop? Not worth the 50% ones, but they occasionally reimburse the whole thing. I've been shopping with them for more than a decade and they are consistent. Shops are simpler than many, and the instructions given are good.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Never had a problem with them.
Always had good experiences with over 50 shops completed with them.
Thanks so much for all of the replies, makes me feel much better! I'm looking at the U.S. airline shops.
Deleted due to my error. Need some sleep.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2018 06:25PM by tstewart14.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2018 06:25PM by tstewart14.
Super easy. First one will take you about an hour to fill out, and it's mostly things you'd notice anyway. There's a long thread SOMEwhere on here all about them, but I'm apparently not very good at using this search feature. Single most important thing is to document that the stewardess instructs and asks the passengers in the exit row for a verbal confirmation that they're able to assist.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Thanks to this thread, I have just applied to SQM. 
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I did the airline shops for 50%, and this was back when you didn't have to do any in-air observations. It was easy, though sometimes awkward because you have to find dumb questions to ask the employees, and it feels weird to insist on checking in with an agent when there are empty machines around.
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points. So I think we're kinda getting ripped off there.
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points. So I think we're kinda getting ripped off there.
"Ripped off": I dunno... I have only just joined SQM, but I am looking at needing to make a trip in June... The ticket will cost roughly $300. If I get 50% reimbursed, it is a $150 shop to me. It would take quite a bit of work to make me feel "ripped off" at $150.....
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
A ton of passengers bypass the machines to check-in with an agent, so that is a non-issue, folks. Why should I care how SQM pays for half of my ticket price?
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
SQM is among my favourite MSCs. As long as you have passed all 9 STEPs, there are various shops available. Have not had any serious problem. Had to cancel shops because of illness and recently, an accident. They had been very understanding.
@walesmaven wrote:
A ton of passengers bypass the machines to check-in with an agent, so that is a non-issue, folks. Why should I care how SQM pays for half of my ticket price?
Why would anyone do that? So, they can be the last person on the plane?
@SoCalMama wrote:
@walesmaven wrote:
A ton of passengers bypass the machines to check-in with an agent, so that is a non-issue, folks. Why should I care how SQM pays for half of my ticket price?
Why would anyone do that? So, they can be the last person on the plane?
Some people prefer to interact with humans. Some people don't realize that one can check in at the machine. Sometimes the line to see the human doesn't exist while the line to see the machine does (I frequently find this is the case at LAX). Sometimes people have bags to check and don't realize that they can go to the machine. Sometimes people have questions to ask that a machine won't answer.
@hotsauce1 wrote:
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points. So I think we're kinda getting ripped off there.
I suspect that those points are given to SQM by the client for the purpose of ticketing shoppers. It might also be the case that the client doesn't pay SQM much, if any, cash & that SQM's profit is (largely) from the $$ shoppers pay them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2018 06:54AM by Rousseau.
@Rousseau wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@walesmaven wrote:
A ton of passengers bypass the machines to check-in with an agent, so that is a non-issue, folks. Why should I care how SQM pays for half of my ticket price?
Why would anyone do that? So, they can be the last person on the plane?
Some people prefer to interact with humans. Some people don't realize that one can check in at the machine. Sometimes the line to see the human doesn't exist while the line to see the machine does (I frequently find this is the case at LAX). Sometimes people have bags to check and don't realize that they can go to the machine. Sometimes people have questions to ask that a machine won't answer.
@hotsauce1 wrote:
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points. So I think we're kinda getting ripped off there.
I suspect that those points are given to SQM by the client for the purpose of ticketing shoppers. It might also be the case that the client doesn't pay SQM much, if any, cash & that SQM's profit is (largely) from the $$ shoppers pay them.
If "check-in" means to talk to the person, that's fine, but I am not going to be the last to board because I did not check-in 24 hours in advance. You do know which airline this is, right?
@SoCalMama wrote:
@Rousseau wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@walesmaven wrote:
A ton of passengers bypass the machines to check-in with an agent, so that is a non-issue, folks. Why should I care how SQM pays for half of my ticket price?
Why would anyone do that? So, they can be the last person on the plane?
Some people prefer to interact with humans. Some people don't realize that one can check in at the machine. Sometimes the line to see the human doesn't exist while the line to see the machine does (I frequently find this is the case at LAX). Sometimes people have bags to check and don't realize that they can go to the machine. Sometimes people have questions to ask that a machine won't answer.
@hotsauce1 wrote:
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points. So I think we're kinda getting ripped off there.
I suspect that those points are given to SQM by the client for the purpose of ticketing shoppers. It might also be the case that the client doesn't pay SQM much, if any, cash & that SQM's profit is (largely) from the $$ shoppers pay them.
If "check-in" means to talk to the person, that's fine, but I am not going to be the last to board because I did not check-in 24 hours in advance. You do know which airline this is, right?
Yes, SQM uses the phrase "check-in" incorrectly. One may check-in online and then go to the check-in counter at the airport to get a boarding pass printed, check baggage, & etc. No one wants to have a bad "bakery number". (That's what my sister calls their boarding numbers them... she likes cookies.)
Right, interacting with a human at the on-site check-in does not preclude on-line check-in to get a good boarding position! Shoppers are expected to show some initiative and imagination to make things smooth and believable, you know!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
The only glitch I had when I did a shop was paying for my ticket with a charge card that did waive the foreign transaction fee. It didn't occur to me that SQM was a Canadian company until it was too late
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
A few days ago I received notice from one of my cards that they no longer charge a foreign transaction fee. There are lists on line of cards that waive this fee. I too was surprised when I booked a hotel in Hawaii thinking that is the US right? Turned out the booking agent was in Switzerland. There was no warning beforehand that was the case. I complained to my credit card company and they paid the fee for me. (Costco Visa).
Yes, they're on the account manager's points. So, if you take a $250 flight, SQM is getting a fee of $125. The airline is losing nothing but a seat. Pretty nice setup.@hotsauce1 wrote:
I notice based on the charges I can see on the receipt, that when they pay for your flights they are paying with points.
You have to decide whether having it on his points is worth it -- you can't take denied boarding, extended layover pay, or any other compensation. You also don't get the points if you have a branded cc. Sometimes worth it, sometimes not.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
I did 4 hotels and they were nice facilities and the report was easy. Im traveling to NY by bus so lets see how that one goes.
Question for you. On a scale of 1-10, how challenging is it to complete the shop successfully as an experienced mystery shopper. Could performing the shop put a damper on a vacation?
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