@MickeyB wrote:
They are offered through better known companies. Some of the largest companies out there offer them.
And the article does ring true for me. Sorry it doesn't for you...
@MSF wrote:
Well then a candid and helpful response would be something like the following:
"What the person in the article describes is not widely available. Only a handful of MSCs offer these types of shops. They are not offered on job boards or through better-known MSCs. The only way to get these jobs is.... They do not have an open application process for new shoppers, so it wouldn't be helpful for me to name them. You may have some success by trying the things I mentioned."
@MickeyB wrote:
Face. Meet Palm. But I did - Intellishop, Maritz, Bare, Marketforce, SQM. The list goes on.... name a company and at some point they have paid some ICA's airfare to do a shop. In 2006 I did a shop for ACL where they flew me to a major city, paid for four nights hotel (two nights at a really nice place, two nights at a budget place) gave me a "shopping budget" and a "dining budget" and gave me a list of five tourist attractions to visit. I was to do all of these activities and report on it for the tourism bureau.
And this information is helpful how?
@MickeyB wrote:
I gave companies that someone that reads this forum might actually have a shot at getting into. While LRA full time consulting might not be for everyone, it might be right for someone. And LQA doesn't only hire FT consultants, they have several part time consultants - just because they are not a right fit for you, doesn't mean they might not be right for someone else. As far as CHC goes - while I personally choose not to work with them, I am the guest on many of their assignments, an arrangement that is far superior to me. It is not my place to tell my friends or colleagues who they should or should not work for.
Liked by: eyelove2shop
@MFJohnston wrote:
So, if I wanted to be offered such a shop, what would I do? First, I would register with MSC's that do offer hotels and other hospitality shops. I would then make a point of doing those shops - especially when I found myself traveling. I would *always* turn in outstanding reports, on time - if not early. I would be extremely responsive to questions. I would be friendly in my contacts with schedulers and MSC owners and might even mention that I hoped to do such a shop some day - at least when it came up on conversation. I would seek out other groups on social media where shoppers and MSC reps gather. I would go to conferences and rub elbows with MSC owners. I am certain, that if I were to do this for two or three years, I would find myself with new opportunities.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
MSF, no need to be an arse.
@MSF wrote:
Not being an @ss at all. Just not keen on someone saying, "Okay, I'll bite, here are some places you can try," when the person knew that none of them are viable and one is even on their ten-foot pole list. Also not keen on said person portraying the well-known burger shop MSC, the MSC that doesn't pay a fee, and others as great sources of these opportunities when they clearly are not.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
MSF, no need to be an arse.
@MickeyB wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@MSF wrote:
@MickeyB, I did say "please" in my initial post. Thanks for tossing out a few names. I had not heard of CHC and LQA.
Nobody wants to work for CHC.
Agreed.
@MSF wrote:
Not being an @ss at all. Just not keen on someone saying, "Okay, I'll bite, here are some places you can try," when the person knew that none of them are viable and one is even on their ten-foot pole list.
Liked by: Msaddict, thedevildog
@MFJohnston wrote:
My point is: You don't have to have resources to build a good reputation in the MSing community. You just need do great work, be very reliable, act professionally, and, at times, take the initiative to make things happen for yourself.
@oteixeira wrote:
There are a lot of us out here doing very good work, reliably, professionally, and have never treated a scheduler with anything other then the utmost respect, and it has gotten us none of the shops that are spoken of in that article.
@MFJohnston wrote:
...at times, take the initiative to make things happen for yourself.
Liked by: MFJohnston
@SteveSoCal wrote:
Well...you are definitely being unappreciative of advice that's given here IMHO, and perhaps not understanding it's value.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@oteixeira wrote:
There are a lot of us out here doing very good work, reliably, professionally, and have never treated a scheduler with anything other then the utmost respect, and it has gotten us none of the shops that are spoken of in that article.
Yes; I think one of the most important parts from MFJ's post is:
@MFJohnston wrote:
...at times, take the initiative to make things happen for yourself.
As a general rule in business, those who take initiative, stand out above others and are personable will do better. It's certainly not a requirement to be a shopper, but this is a freelance industry so personality is a component when interacting with schedulers, and even in emails. I have a habit of interjecting levity into otherwise boring situations at times. It probably makes me more memorable. You don't have to necessarily be an extrovert to be noticed in an community where the majority of the interactions are online.
@MSF wrote:
@SteveSoCal, if I said to someone that there were tons of great internists in town, I would not proceed to name three terrible options, including one that previously had their license suspended for unethical behavior. What would be the point of me giving them bad recommendations? Instead, I would just say that the best internists generally do not accept new patients, unless they are referred by another doctor. A few people essentially did the latter in this thread, which is wonderful, and most appreciated. I do not think the former type of response is wonderful or of value.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
Well...you are definitely being unappreciative of advice that's given here IMHO, and perhaps not understanding it's value.
@MickeyB wrote:
Okay - you win. The lady in this article is lying, and so am I. Mystery shopping is all just fast food and banks. If you are lucky, you might get a high end steakhouse restaurant once in a blue moon, but if you do - prepare to spend like five hours on the report and you won't actually get to order steak - you will have to get chicken. Oh, and you will have to go alone and drink water with your chicken. And you may not get paid.
Liked by: MickeyB, MFJohnston
@Niner wrote:
I still think $50/hr, which would be $75/hr before taxes, is a fair deal for writing about if someone used a pleasant tone of voice, or smiled.
@MickeyB wrote:
A couple of years ago Steve wrote an article about how he MSed his way all the way around the world for $6 (or some small dollar amount) of outlay. Do you still have that Steve? I think it is pretty relevant to this discussion here... and it’s a super fun and aspirational read.