Im sure everyone has seen these questions at some point before, some opinion, some suggestions, but all appreciative of answers

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1. What is the one thing that trips you up when on a shop? (ie. remembering names, times, checking restrooms, etc...)

2. When you have to choose a time of day to perform a shop (Prophet) how much leeway is acceptable?

3. How come editors don't spell check and proofread when emailing you about your errors?

4. How do you create a relationship with a scheduler? Are you in personal contact (email, phone) that often, or is it just longevity in the business?

5. How many is too many shops in a day? (curious as to personal staminas)

6. How have you successfully gone about researching what company shops (insert your favorite store here)?

7. Do you ever wish you were on assignment, when its your personal time, because the service was SO bad/good you wanted to tell someone about it?

8. What is it that drove you to MSing? Extra $$, shopaholic needing a fix, secret wish to be a PI, unconscious need to share your opinion?

9. Do you take more pleasure in reporting on a really bad situation because you know your report could help fix it or at least call attention it OR a great experience you cant say enough good things about and you want the right people to get recognized?

10. What is the most important "DO..." and "DO NOT..." advice?

11. Have you ever "acted" like a SS (when not on duty) to receive better service ? (check your watch, ask lots of questions, etc..)


Just some random thoughts rollin around in my head...thanks for listening!

jjage Wrote:
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> 1. What is the one thing that trips you up when on
> a shop? (ie. remembering names, times, checking
> restrooms, etc...)

Any unusual requirement. Fresh flowers at the register, whether the video was showing, etc. The 'normal' observations are on autopilot so even when not needed I've got the times, the names, the physical descriptions, the cleanliness, the bathroom condition.
>
> 2. When you have to choose a time of day to
> perform a shop (Prophet) how much leeway is
> acceptable?

That totally depends on the company. The time of day stuff is intrinsic to Prophet. Generally I pick a time that is likely to be convenient to me and most of the time that is right on the money. Obviously the time of shop window in the text guidelines is critical and I tend to go for the later times and if I arrive early I may reschedule to an earlier time before entering my report just to get stuff to jive.
>
> 3. How come editors don't spell check and
> proofread when emailing you about your errors?

One of the great and irritating Mysteries of Life.
>
> 4. How do you create a relationship with a
> scheduler? Are you in personal contact (email,
> phone) that often, or is it just longevity in the
> business?

It is a combination. Longevity in the business doesn't do much in this category as the life expectancy of a scheduler in a job tends to be only a couple of years. At this point I have one who I have worked closely with for several years and our monthly contacts are by email and phone and always business related. Schedulers with whom I have had GREAT relationships in the past have been moved to clients with no presence in my area or have left the business as their companies have been bought out by other companies or have left the business to get a better paying job, etc. You need to develop the relationships at all phases of being a shopper by being cooperative, helpful and reliable, doing it any way you can.
>
> 5. How many is too many shops in a day? (curious
> as to personal staminas)

Personal preference is no more than 5, but it totally depends on the shops involved. Because I use a DVR I am not concerned about forgetting or confusing observations from one site with another, but by the time I have done 5 and gotten home there is the rest of life to deal with and although I am not opposed to doing reports far into the night, it is not my favorite thing to do.
>
> 6. How have you successfully gone about
> researching what company shops (insert your
> favorite store here)?

For me the most productive way has been to keep a list of clients and as I look on job boards, check outside my area to see what clients a particular company is shopping. These I put on my list. Second most productive is to read closely posts to pick up hints about who shops whom. So if I know that Suzy LOVES XYZ company and she is all excited because her favorite company now has ABC client, I will go take a look at XYZ to see if ABC is there in my area or other areas of the country. After a while you will get a sense of what companies Suzy shops.
>
> 7. Do you ever wish you were on assignment, when
> its your personal time, because the service was SO
> bad/good you wanted to tell someone about it?

Yes
>
> 8. What is it that drove you to MSing? Extra $$,
> shopaholic needing a fix, secret wish to be a PI,
> unconscious need to share your opinion?

Retiring early, having my health insurance be outrageously expensive and not in line with my retirement budget. As a shopper, my health insurance is deducted from my 'profitability' of my business before I have taxable income, which is much nicer than simply taking it as an itemized deduction.
>
> 9. Do you take more pleasure in reporting on a
> really bad situation because you know your report
> could help fix it or at least call attention it OR
> a great experience you cant say enough good things
> about and you want the right people to get
> recognized?

My pleasure comes from providing a complete and accurate set of observations. I don't get involved in whether the client location was good, bad or indifferent. Over the years I have seen very few changes or improvements that I would credit to shopping (unfortunately).
>
> 10. What is the most important "DO..." and "DO
> NOT..." advice?

DO be accurate and honest and emotionally neutral. You are there as an observer, not a participant except in observing how you were treated. DO NOT give your opinion unless asked, remember you are an observer of what IS, not what you think SHOULD BE.
>
> 11. Have you ever "acted" like a SS (when not on
> duty) to receive better service ? (check your
> watch, ask lots of questions, etc..)

Yes and no.