I have done quite a few shops, and almost always score a 10. Once in a while, I score a "9" for no reason that I can ascertain. I hate to bug the editors when I know they must be working at a very fast pace, but I wish they would drop a quick note and let me know why they lowered the score. It will only serve to make their jobs easier in the long run.

This has been discussed many times for various MSCs. It seems the shoppers here fall into two groups.

One that doesn't really care what they get for a score as long as they get paid.

And the other that obsesses over why they didn't get a perfect score.

Lol I don’t even know where to go to find my score so I must be group 1.

Maybe their editor saves their tens for reviews that just blow everything else out of the water. Your reviews are likely very good and technically meet all the requirements, but there’s always that next level.

@ShopperGirly wrote:

I have done quite a few shops, and almost always score a 10. Once in a while, I score a "9" for no reason that I can ascertain. I hate to bug the editors when I know they must be working at a very fast pace, but I wish they would drop a quick note and let me know why they lowered the score. It will only serve to make their jobs easier in the long run.

Steven gives only 9 or lower. Ignore him. I am nearing 1000 shops, and he is the only one that gives me a 9. Editors get paid much less than shoppers. I hate it when he gets to my reports before the other editors. I'm happy when somebody else gets my shops to edit/check. Easy money for them.

Right! I am of the opinion they should get excited when they see my name and pull that report because they know it will be easy.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@ShopperGirly wrote:

I have done quite a few shops, and almost always score a 10. Once in a while, I score a "9" for no reason that I can ascertain. I hate to bug the editors when I know they must be working at a very fast pace, but I wish they would drop a quick note and let me know why they lowered the score. It will only serve to make their jobs easier in the long run.

Steven gives only 9 or lower. Ignore him. I am nearing 1000 shops, and he is the only one that gives me a 9. Editors get paid much less than shoppers. I hate it when he gets to my reports before the other editors. I'm happy when somebody else gets my shops to edit/check. Easy money for them.

My position is summed up with a paraphrasing of Clara Peller, she of the 80s Burger King commercials: "Where's the money.?" I am definitely in group one. Last year, an editor CHOSE to contact me, this concerning a matter she did not understand; I was notified two points would be subtracted from my score.

I like getting 10s. Sometimes I get an 8 or a 9 with an explanation. Sometimes they editors are just WRONG and I have to prove my point because it aggravates me. Sometimes I just get a 9 for no reason at all. I don't like that.

BUT.. I had one editor that I owe alot to because the very first time I did a heavy photo shop, I made a ton of mistakes. She helped me fix it and told me what I did wrong and how to do it better the next time. Because of her, I still do those jobs and I do them well. If she hadn't helped me, I don't think I would still be doing them

@shopperbob wrote:

My position is summed up with a paraphrasing of Clara Peller, she of the 80s Burger King commercials: "Where's the money.?" I am definitely in group one. Last year, an editor CHOSE to contact me, this concerning a matter she did not understand; I was notified two points would be subtracted from my score.

Ha! I think you meant Wendy's, but point taken.

Thank you Dave; you are, of course, correct.

For any mystery shopping company, I hate getting less than a perfect score without any explanation. It is not because I obsess over getting a perfect score, it's because I want to always do the job 100% correctly. I only accept jobs if I feel like I am being fairly paid for my time and effort. Therefore, I always want to do them perfectly. I feel that is my end of the bargain. If I'm given less than a perfect score and not told why, there is no way for me to know what I need to improve on and make sure that the next shop is done perfectly.

I don't mind getting less than a perfect score if I'm told why. Then I can fix it the next time.

It’s so ironic that this industry is centered around giving clients timely feedback… while giving almost none to the contractors who perform the work.

@thunderdeacon wrote:

I don't mind getting less than a perfect score if I'm told why. Then I can fix it the next time.

In Steven's case you would be told, "It's because I have a stick up my butt, and no, you cannot fix it."

@ColoKate63 wrote:

It’s so ironic that this industry is centered around giving clients timely feedback… while giving almost none to the contractors who perform the work.

This forum needs a "Love This" button...

Same thing applies to lack of accuracy in the materials they provide, while demanding accuracy on our parts.

I am in the camp that if I get a grade that pays, then I am pleased.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2023 06:39AM by heywave.

I guess I am in the group that obsesses about my scores. Especially if I'm not told why I am getting a lower score. My score is like my face and social security number; it identifies me in this industry. If I am happy to get a 7 or 8 and am only happy to get paid, then I am lowering my standards. I strive, always, for a 10, and I expect that much of myself each and every time I do a report. My score, to me, says who I am in this industry and what I stand for. So, if you lower my score than what I expect it to be, it would be nice to mention why you did so.

I am always shocked when the criteria to self assign is a score of 5 or above. Who averages a 5? I have occasionally lost a point or even two sometimes for good reason and other times maybe not so good but an average of 5? I mean are there really that many shoppers who can't string together a few sentences on a regular basis?

I am sort of between the two. I don't obsess over scores or worry too much about the occasional point here or there but then I get a 100% on a Coyle fine dining restaurant shop and I am forwarding it to my partner because I am proud of my "good grade". Especially since I am a bit of a perfectionist at times (and predicted an 88% on that one because at some point with the long Coyle reports I am just over it and getting it done). As a teacher, we use a 4 point grading scale (instead of A - F) and 4 is considered the student went above and beyond rather than buying into grade inflation (please explain any grade less than perfect on mystery shops -- I want to tell them not every experience is the best ever).

@CoolMusic wrote:

@thunderdeacon wrote:

I don't mind getting less than a perfect score if I'm told why. Then I can fix it the next time.

In Steven's case you would be told, "It's because I have a stick up my butt, and no, you cannot fix it."

@CoolMusic @thunderdeacon They've said in their videos that you should get feedback with the score and if not ask them to provide feedback, so you can improve.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2023 06:41AM by heywave.

@jazzzyjd wrote:

I am always shocked when the criteria to self assign is a score of 5 or above. Who averages a 5? I have occasionally lost a point or even two sometimes for good reason and other times maybe not so good but an average of 5? I mean are there really that many shoppers who can't string together a few sentences on a regular basis? quote]

Think of new shoppers not seasoned shoppers. Say I took three self assigned shops. I flaked on two of them and got a 10 on the one I did. That gives me an average rating of (1+1+10) 4 which prevents me from continuing to self assign.

It works the same with slightly higher numbers, but eventually, successful shoppers won't have any issues.

Sorry for being dumb. What exactly did Editor do? Do they rephrase what we've stated in the report and then submit it to clients in a more readable format?"

I found something on Coyle website:
An editor’s primary responsibility is to ensure the smooth and timely publication of independent evaluator mystery shopping deliverables/reports. The editor verifies the submissions by performing thorough fact-checks, scoring questions according to standards, writing commentary and narratives, and ensuring all written portions adhere to company standards. Email communication is a must, with phone communication needed occasionally.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2023 02:38AM by xynz.

Anyone have been blocked from Ipsos client (package carrier u.p) or still they having shops for that kind on the platform.
Read you all

Often, my speakwrite capitalizes random words in a sentence. Or writes a homonym that doesn't even fit the context. It will write Manor instead if manner. I usually correct the spelling but if it's just a random capital, with too much trouble to squeeze fat fingers into a small space to change it, I'll leave it there, knowing it'll probably cost me a grade point.

@wrosie wrote:

This has been discussed many times for various MSCs. It seems the shoppers here fall into two groups.

One that doesn't really care what they get for a score as long as they get paid.

And the other that obsesses over why they didn't get a perfect score.

There is a third type. The one who cares about doing a good job, in part so as to maximize future revenue, and cares only about the score so far as it indicates room for improvement. I recently received a 9 from another MSC with the notation that it indicates either that some minor editing was required or that I did not complete the shop as directed. Well, witch? Did I miss some typos or did I misread the guidelines (or did the editor misread them)? Sadly, with some MSCs - including IPSOS - I have come to believe that the scores are arbitrary and if other than a ten likely reflect only the limited language skills or experience of the editor.

@jazzzyjd wrote:

I am always shocked when the criteria to self assign is a score of 5 or above. Who averages a 5? I have occasionally lost a point or even two sometimes for good reason and other times maybe not so good but an average of 5? [...]

In Sassie, 5 is the default score on a shopper who has not completed any scored shop. There is one MSC for whom I have completed 100s of shops and from which I regularly receive personalized praise via email but for which I still have a 5 as it doesn't engage in numeric scoring.

@Rousseau wrote:

In Sassie, 5 is the default score on a shopper who has not completed any scored shop. There is one MSC for whom I have completed 100s of shops and from which I regularly receive personalized praise via email but for which I still have a 5 as it doesn't engage in numeric scoring.

That makes sense...but they likely don't give a minimum score to self assign. But choosing 5 makes it easy for new shoppers if that is the case.

Even though this says I'm new, I've been doing this on and off for about twelve years. I'll generally only even self-assign or apply for a single shop with a new company/new client until I know how they score, reject shops, if I'm doing something wrong, etc. I did one for a company, and they docked me points for doing XYZ, so I went back to the instructions and it CLEARLY said to do XYZ, so now I'm just like, "Nope" when I see those shops because I don't play that game. If I'd messed up, sure, but, don't fault me for doing what I was told. And I don't want to waste my time by signing up for five/six shops, doing them, and getting docked points (or pay) because someone is cranky. I work hard to be accurate and informative. It would be nice if the people "grading" my reports did the same. (FTR, most of the editors/schedulers/etc., that I've worked with have been more than reasonable; this one just irked me).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2023 04:36PM by mysterioso412.

Two examples of an editor's ratings and guidelines that make no sense:

Let's say, for instance that you are doing the red, white and blue shop. This is the brand where some have Pegasus on their brand and they want you to check to see if their brand oil is being sold.
You read the latest guidelines, take the photos they specify and then, when reporting the shop information, some of the photos required in those guidelines are not even requested in the report.

Then, you might get a lower rating for this: In the report's ending, there is this request:
"QSelf_Photo-Please upload a self photo showing your dress attire at the time of the inspection. This photo does not have to show your face, and will not be reported to the client."
Nowhere does it state that a photo of yourself wearing the safety vest. The "Yellow" gas station is specific in asking for that, but not this brand. To take the request literally, you believe they want to see what you were wearing at the time of the inspection. You upload the photo, sans the vest. And so, you get marked lower for not following the guidelines.

Or, in the comment section, you might note that "the restroom was well maintained". For some editors, that sentence is not descriptive enough or is too short. You get a lower rating. Where in the guidelines does it request "more descriptive and longer sentences"?

BTW, yes, I do realize what they are looking for.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2023 05:41PM by French Farmer.

@Rousseau wrote:

@wrosie wrote:

This has been discussed many times for various MSCs. It seems the shoppers here fall into two groups.

One that doesn't really care what they get for a score as long as they get paid.

And the other that obsesses over why they didn't get a perfect score.

There is a third type. The one who cares about doing a good job, in part so as to maximize future revenue, and cares only about the score so far as it indicates room for improvement. I recently received a 9 from another MSC with the notation that it indicates either that some minor editing was required or that I did not complete the shop as directed. Well, witch? Did I miss some typos or did I misread the guidelines (or did the editor misread them)? Sadly, with some MSCs - including IPSOS - I have come to believe that the scores are arbitrary and if other than a ten likely reflect only the limited language skills or experience of the editor.

Which, not witch.

Which one, witch? (That also works well.)

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@Rousseau wrote:

@wrosie wrote:

This has been discussed many times for various MSCs. It seems the shoppers here fall into two groups.

One that doesn't really care what they get for a score as long as they get paid.

And the other that obsesses over why they didn't get a perfect score.

There is a third type. The one who cares about doing a good job, in part so as to maximize future revenue, and cares only about the score so far as it indicates room for improvement. I recently received a 9 from another MSC with the notation that it indicates either that some minor editing was required or that I did not complete the shop as directed. Well, witch? Did I miss some typos or did I misread the guidelines (or did the editor misread them)? Sadly, with some MSCs - including IPSOS - I have come to believe that the scores are arbitrary and if other than a ten likely reflect only the limited language skills or experience of the editor.

Which, not witch.

Which one, witch? (That also works well.)

Perhaps a bit of a Freudian slip as to my feelings for such editors. Perhaps just a typo.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2023 06:12AM by Rousseau.

while not IPSOS, I just got a 9 on a shop because my narratives were very similar in two different reports. I wrote them entirely independently. Sometimes there are only so many ways to say something. Annoying...thanks for letting me vent. You all are the best!

I do hot have a shop log for IPSOS that I am aware of. They only place I see my shops is in the pay report. What am I missing here? Where do you find the "grade"?