May not return item?

I'm new to mystery shopping and recently signed up for an assignment that says I must buy an item and may not return it. What is the reasoning for this and what would stop me from returning the item later especially if I pay with cash? Can I pay with cash?

Thanks!

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Are you being reimbursed for the item? Are there items in the store that you could buy without exceeding the reimbursement amount?

Cash versus credit card should be addressed in the guidelines. If they are not it usually means it doesn't matter. If you have any doubts about the acceptable payment method, your first order of business would be to contact the scheduler to get written clarification.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I've wondered the same thing...but when I put on my 'mystery shopping hat', I personally try to follow the instructions to the letter and not question the motivation. I usually pass on the "can't return it" shops unless there is something available that i would have bought anyway. Additionally, if I return something, that adds more time to the shop and the fee needs to be high enough to make it worthwhile.

Hello Beyoden. If the shop includes the purchase of an item which will be reimbursed, you will have to submit a scan or photo of the receipt. This ties the purchase to the mystery shop.

If you are not allowed to return the item and you do return it anyway, your return transaction may flag as being associated with a mystery shop. What can happen is that you will lose the option of shopping with that mystery shopping company in the future.

I am not saying this will always happen. I'm saying it can happen, and if they are telling you not to make a return, they care. They probably care enough to track it.

As far as the reasoning goes, I can only guess. Say the shop pays $10, and the reimbursed purchase allowance is $6.00. You buy a $6.00 item, which costs the client less than $6.00. Something less than $16.00 is paid out to the shopper.

The client does not want to take back a $3.60 cost item, pay a cashier to process the return, pay a floor person to restock it, and give you $6.00 cash.
This increases the cost of the shop considerably.

It's not worth the risk. It would be better to skip the shop if you find the guidelines unattractive, and concentrate on other jobs the company may offer.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

Thank you all. That was helpful. :-) I probably would have passed but didn't see a purchase requirement or a return policy until after I accepted. Live and learn.

If feasible, consider selling the item on Ebay.

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.

I am with walesmaven on this - there is one chain of stores I love to shop and only because I turn around and put the required purchases on ebay. It always works out to my advantage plus I get paid.

Liz

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May not return item?

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