Many of this company post mystery shoppers work but they ask age from 21 to 26 of age. I have questin for them. Do you know this is a discriminate as older people. SHAME, SHAME

GUSKA,

it is very common for certain types of mystery shopping assignments to have an 'age' requirement. Particularly for 'ID-check' shops where the company wants to know if their employees are checking the IDs of young people who purchase alcohol. YES, it is discrimination, but in some cases there just isn't any other way to do it!

Jacob

I contacted a scheduler and asked if I had someone accompany me to do the tobacco compliance, could I accept these types of assignments. I was given a yes. I have to submit the person's ID, they will not have to register as a shopper.I cannot go in the store with them. I will submit the report based on their experience in the store. We will organize a route, split the pay, and this will enable my niece to earn a few extra dollars.

K, you can do similar things with the game shops with Bestmark where they are testing whether video games are sold to underage customers and I believe there are a couple of other places that do similar things. Similarly there are restaurant shops where alcohol is to be purchased and you need one member of the couple to be between 21 and I think 25 or so to make certain they are carded.

I have "aged out" of a couple of shops I used to do and "aged into" a couple of new shops with my last round number birthday. Schedulers can sometimes also make exceptions about age (where it is not a legal age compliance issue) when they have problems filling a shop.

Most businesses "target" their offerings to a particular clientele. As shoppers we need to either appear to be their normal clientele or have a good facade as to why we are there. If I am shopping a store that only carries children's shoes, I had better either have a child with me to try them on or be purchasing something "for a grandchild" where fit is not critical--such as slippers in a size ? or socks. If what the business is wanting to test is how the child is fitted for shoes, I need to have a child present. I have been allowed to shop men's clothing stores and women's clothing stores that don't carry anything near my size. For these it is always picking up something "as a gift" where precise fit doesn't matter.

There are about 75% of jobs that don't have an age requirement. I am a senior and have no trouble finding work. When those young ones come up, I pass and move on Don't let that trouble you, there are many jobs for you to do where age is no problem. This is the one industry where if you can drive and write a report, you can work till the end. I did the zoo, and brought my friend's 12 year old, and ended up having a fun day. You can always bring your son, grandson, or take a nephew.....

Guska - are you going to file charges?

Good Luck!

Suz

You don't file charges....good luck with that one. The Bar Intrigity shops need you to bring someone under 35 to see if theyt ask for an ID. Restaurant shops doe the same, just bring someone of that age......

Regarding my comment about 'filing charges'...I'm sorry, but I was just kidding, as they say.

I had the same concern when I ran into the same problem a few years back. It p__sed me off! But, as one ms shopper said on this forum, once she talked to the scheduler, she saw that she could do it after all was said and done. My main lesson was: FOLLOW DIRECTIONS....READ THE 'SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS'. for some reason, in the beginning, I didn't. I thought I did, I knew I should..geez! After I completed the report, I would see that I had did it wrong..because of something I didn't read. Then, instead of waiting for them..I would email and tell them what I did wrong. They have always been very understanding. The main thing I saw was that they liked that I just told the truth and didn't try to slide anything by them. There was one job that I didn't get paid for...and I don't believe that I should have.

The whole reason for the shop was to find out if the leasing agent tried to find out from me,the person who may rent from them, where I found the information from..was it Rent.com, was it forRent.com or was it rentguides.com. blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I didn't read that part and told them I was referred to the property by a friend. I knew I wouldn't get paid and that taught me a lesson. I try to use mistakes I make as 'a learning tool' . It works.

Well, now I have talked so much, I have 'dry-mouth' and am sick of myself!

Good Luck!

Suz

I've really learned to take everything with a couple of grains of salt. If I don't like the company, I don't work for them. I used to get so into what every company did wrong or right..and it's a huge waste of your precious energy. I decided to work for the highest paying apartment shops I could find and become an expert at it and that's what I did.

Now I am going to start video taping for them (epms) Here in Northern CA, that pays $60 per job. The report is only 2 pages long, instead of 12 or 13. I love writing, so the report is sort of fun to do (sometimes) But, I wouldn't mind not doing it!!

If there are any video experts out there, doing apartment shops, I would Love to hear from you. Is it really much easier?

Thanks for any input...

Suz

I had a similar embarrassing conversation with a scheduler. I told her she can't say some electronics jobs are only for men, while others are only for women. She explained that they send an equal number of identical shops for men and women to see if the store treats the customer differently. Boy, was my face red! We've been TOO well-educated.

Suz, Good for you. It is important to become "expert" at one field in this business (just my opinion), I do the same with restaurant's, and trying to learn Casino's and Hotels. The pay is great, and your doing what you like. Takes awhile to get there.

I also write a company that wanted an income of $75,000 for a job. Didn't take long and I proved my point, they sent me the job, did it and all's well that ends well. Sometimes they appreciate a little feedback.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2008 01:45AM by shop 4 u.

Shop 4 U - Thanks for your reply...I have a question for you or anyone else who knows about shopping for the casino's and hotels. I looked into applying for hotels when I first started and from what I found out, they didn't pay well. I learned that most don't pay... that getting to stay in a hotel for free is the pay. I don't go for that, so I have stayed away from those because I really want/need the pay. Is this 'not true'? If they pay well, I'd love to do them. In my '2nd life, I was a Meeting & Event Planner, for the State/CA and then I had my own business. However, the old back & hips decided not to work and I just couldn't do that anymore. I know a lot about hotels and the hospitality business.. if I could tie in my shopping with what was my career, I would be one happy gal!

One last thing Shop4U, I didn't understand your last paragraph. I'm sure it's just a typo, but I can't figure it out.. and I am interested! Could you say it again?

Sue

I have heard different things about Hotels. Some pay $40.00, some are reimbursement only. Being I haven't done one, just get a feeling from the forums. They do not pay alot, but, you get away, and meals. They are alot of work, much detail and long reports. It's my next challenge, I want to do one, then will see if I'll continue. I heard that Coyle is the best to work for, as far as doing 4 and 5 star Hotels. I signed up with Regal Hospitality, haven't had a job with them yet. I'm sure you have to start with a 1 or 2 star...not crazy about that. Always looking for something different, no pain, no gain.

Shop4U - thanks! You've given me 2 more companys that I haven't heard of. $40 would be great. It beats the $6, $8 and $12 shops that I don't do anymore. It costs that much in gas for gosh's sake

I'm with you, I always am looking for something new and different.

Sue

I am always getting email notices wanting females between 25-35 to do shops in a partcular area, then right before I hit the accept button it says must be afro american..............I want to file charges too. LOL
I understand why they are looking for certain criteria, I wish I could wear a disguise. I would be intresting to shop in a different shik, just to see if ya really get treated different. I hate the stero typing that goes on, I try to only see people as people, but I live in an area where you apparently need to be part of a "stepford club." And must attend church every time the doors are open. I do miss the open-mindedness of living near a naval/submarine base. I have work to do, I must go. Bye yall.