@spicy1 wrote:
I think that this forum mirrors exactly how this industry is. Most people who work in this industry are under a great deal of stress; the pay does not equate the work. The norms and feelings also mirror retail. Most assignments are set to be fun and casual: buy a trinket for someone else's baby, have a Panda meal, find out about a cell service provider all for a couple of bucks reimbursement and a couple of bucks cash. None of the shops pay enough for the output. I have companies asking me to verify that federal guidelines for banks, wire transfers, real estate contracts, and more for $20 and a truly sizable report. I don't know about anyone else, but when I take a $20 shop I do a $20 report.
@samshopper wrote:
@spicy1 wrote:
I think that this forum mirrors exactly how this industry is. Most people who work in this industry are under a great deal of stress; the pay does not equate the work. The norms and feelings also mirror retail. Most assignments are set to be fun and casual: buy a trinket for someone else's baby, have a Panda meal, find out about a cell service provider all for a couple of bucks reimbursement and a couple of bucks cash. None of the shops pay enough for the output. I have companies asking me to verify that federal guidelines for banks, wire transfers, real estate contracts, and more for $20 and a truly sizable report. I don't know about anyone else, but when I take a $20 shop I do a $20 report.
All valid points!
The very EXACT same thing has happened to me numerous times on these grocery shops. I do as you do, Spicy. Just a sentence or two on how I walked through the particular department twice, even giving the times, and that's it......always accepted. I'm not writing a novella for grocery shops. Report takes 10 min tops, and for the fee, that's as deep a report as they're going to get from me! And I agree, the report does NOT include extra time because of the reimbursement.@spicy1 wrote:
There was a question, on this forum, of how to answer the grocery shop's question when the op did not have an interaction with a Grocery Department Associate because there were no Associates working in the Grocery Department at the time. One forum member's response was that they wrote about a paragraph and a half. Mine was that I wrote, I was unable to locate an Associate working in the Grocery Department during my visit, I checked back at least two times. That report, besides reimbursement, pays $5. I wrote a $5 response. The reimbursement is for doing the shop, the pay is for the report, imho.
@ispyhospitality wrote:
I am the owner of i-SPY Hospitality Audit Services. We are based in Philadelphia and offer our quality assurance mystery shopper service in major cities, including Philly, NYC, DC and Miami. (NOTE: there used to be another ispy, but their company name has changed.)
Most of what I read in online forums, written by anonymous posters, about my company and other mystery shopper companies tends to be negative. I get it ... people do not want to be told they did something incorrectly or did not do a "good" job. They feel "wronged". They feel justified writing about [XXX company] for others to "stay away from" or "avoid".
For potential mystery shoppers, the first thing we do is clearly communicate expectations to meet our high standards. We offer a tryout assignment (and sometimes multiple ones) in which potential shoppers are reimbursed for a completed report.
The following are what we look for in our mystery shoppers:
1. Superior retention and writing skills.
2. Ability to pay strict attention to detail.
3. Follows instructions.
4. Reliable to follow through on committed assignments within 24 hours.
5. NO diet restrictions (food or alcohol).
6. Commit to at least ONE meal per month.
7. Constructive Feedback (does not take it personally). If you do, this will not work out, and please do not apply.
Gathering information over the course of a 90-minute dinner assignment is no doubt challenging. Typing the info out onto a computer is time consuming. This is not simple stuff!
Our clients have high expectations of our mystery shopper reports. Thus, as the owner, I have high expectations of our shoppers -- and communicate this from day one. As the owner of a company, it is incumbent upon me to have clear rules and expectations, and to enforce those rules and expectations to be successful.
I have had wonderful, amazing mystery shoppers work with us for many, many years. They have enjoyed countless dining experiences, and my company has benefitted by their diligent reports that our clients have come to expect. We have had more than a handful of mystery shoppers which we have given many opportunities to that continually did not meet expectations, begged for subsequent chances, and then took to the anonymous online posting route. That's the norm in 2018.
I write this post to open dialogue -- and hopefully not a can of worms! -- between mystery shoppers and the mystery shopper companies they have positive intentions of working with.
I guarantee that for any mystery shopper that adheres to the above list, we will have a mutually beneficial relationship. And unfortunately, to those that do not, our relationship will not last very long.
Sincerely, Marc Kravitz
i-SPY hospitality
@Rousseau wrote:
@ispyhospitality wrote:
I guarantee that for any mystery shopper that adheres to the above list, we will have a mutually beneficial relationship. And unfortunately, to those that do not, our relationship will not last very long.
Sincerely, Marc Kravitz
i-SPY hospitality
A mutually beneficial relationship requires that the shopper receive a benefit to justify the work you want. Two to three hours of work for $15.00? That's a relationship of exploitation not mutual benefit.
Bolderdash...er, balderdash! A meal at which I'm not able to devote full attention to my companion is not part of the equation. It's a required element to the WORK.@jrossetti wrote:
The actual benefit is the cost of the meal + the pay.
Each of us has different needs and goals, and those things are what determine what shops each of us will take.
@ispyhospitality wrote:
6. Commit to at least ONE meal per month.
i-SPY hospitality
@iShop123 wrote:
Bolderdash...er, balderdash! A meal at which I'm not able to devote full attention to my companion is not part of the equation. It's a required element to the WORK.@jrossetti wrote:
The actual benefit is the cost of the meal + the pay.
Each of us has different needs and goals, and those things are what determine what shops each of us will take.
If you're still scheduling, it's customary to note that in your signature.