My question is, if you mess up with one Mystery Shopping company does it affect all of them. My father passed away and I was out of town, I forgot to let the mystery shoppers company know, therefore, they deactiviated my account. So I'm concern if this will affect the other accounts I signed up for. Thanks for your reply,

I dont think it would affect your MSing with other companies. You might want to email the company and explain to them what happened. I was just in the hosp last month and I thought I was going to get out in a few days, but it was a week, so when I got out, I had a few nasty emails from several companies, but I emailed them and explained to them what happen and they were fine with it.

Question...The most insulting thing just happened. I applied for a Jelwery shop and was told (demographic) you needed to make $75,ooo to do this job. No purchase, dealing with an expensive watch. That is just nuts! Will they ever get that one done. I am going to write the scheduler and call her, see what she says.

Yes, those get done around here routinely. They are looking for folks who can pull off the expensive watch interest without swallowing too hard. There are a number of jobs that are looking for certain income or education levels which match what the client believes is their "normal clientele". I dragged my sweetie through one where he was the customer. He is a collector of fine watches--mostly older ones inherited from his father and grandfather--so he knows enough to talk intelligently about them and would in reality stop in a store such as that to browse though Lord knows he doesn't have the $$ to buy one (nor the lack of respect for his assets necessary to buy one). I just about blew it away because I was wearing my $9.99 + tax watch from Walmart We did manage to make a joke about it with my commenting that the watch was a "BIG PRESENT" from our granddaughter (and no, I have no grandchildren).

This is my third life, in my second life we shopped in those stores. My ex had and still has his own Real Estate business and does nicely. People could inherit money, different senerio's, walk in from the mall and look. I am thinking they want these people with high income to entice them to buy. They just might get a sale from the "shopper". I am waiting to see if they accept my report, or it was another expensive night on my dime.

There have been several shops I have done that I expected the client was "shopping" the MSP for customers among the shoppers rather than the other way around Certainly there are a lot of shoe shops around here that require expensive shoes and are set up as P/R but if you choose not to return the lovely shoes you bought (and not off the sale or clearance rack) it is ok and there is an optional way of dealing with that part of the report. There are restaurants that reimburse for about one person while requiring purchases for two (and buy one get one free entrees are often done down here without being shops). I think my biggest surprise was after doing a ludicrously overpriced mattress shop, whose emphasis was to "determine" that no discounting was taking place, the last half of the report was MY demographics etc. I thoroughly expected the mailbox to begin filling and the phone to start ringing with "special offers" for mattresses. Surprisingly, that has not happened. The Eyeglass shops do more expensive retailers where there is no reason to believe that the quality of the optics is any better or worse than the "optical outlet" joint down the street that is 25% of the price. On the eyeglass shops, some offer a 10% discount through the MSP if you purchase glasses during your visit (but don't use your vision insurance), some of them allow you to use any coupons you can find and even direct you to the client website for $100 off coupons, but they still don't get down to the price of the "optical outlet" down the street.

Funny story about the optical shops. Last time around we took the eye exam one and got boyfriend's eyes examined. He then duly picked his frames and the best price we could get was $275 for one pair, from which they would deduct the cost of the eye exam. So with the 10% MSP discount and reimbursement for the eye exam, the glasses would have been around $190, but they were specific about not mentioning or using vision insurance, though I suspect we could have submitted the bill to them for reimbursement. "Decided" not to buy and ended the official visit with no purchase except the reimbursable eye exam.

Wandered down the mall and came back a half hour later to ask if they price matched their competitors. They did. Using a buy one get one ad and a base price of $79 for "any frame, single vision lens" we got the upgrades wanted and the total came to $135 because they wouldn't reimburse the eye exam with this deal. Submitted it to the vision insurance, which covers up to $250 for exam plus glasses every other year and so were out of pocket nothing for the two pairs of glasses plus eye exam and then got reimbursed $65 for the eye exam by the MSP.

Very Interesting.....I actually did an eye shop, as I needed 2 new pairs of glasses, they ended up costing about what my eye Dr. would have charged, long story, but that made me wonder. We are in a tricky industry. I just received my much awaited shop from a company (you'll know which one), after I did my 10.00 jobs and was promised one for 50 bucks, they had me "on the list". Trick is I have to spend $50.00 and get back 30....I think you have to be addicted to keep on going. This is in my blood and with all the complaints, 1 year later, still doing it. We should write a handbook and sell it.

But you still got $50 of stuff for $20. If you buy necessities (tp, etc.), that's not bad. I always try to get on Cory's "list."

I like Cory alot, he is a nice guy. He has one where you get a free gift card. I might still get that one, this came first. My only daughter lives and works in Chicago. I'll get her a gift card. I just put out so much, it would be nice to get something where I don't have to spend. I hope they have a Gold workshop in L.A., would be more fun than going online to get it. Networking and meeting is better. I'll be in Redondo Beach Friday....going on Mapquest now, bye.....

The gift card has to be used during the shop. Then you get to use whatever is left over at another time. I've done 3 of the gift card shops-hope to see more popping up soon.

They have been popping up...long list came out. Call Cory and get a couple for yourself. I had never heard of Mystery shopping until I saw Shadow Shoppers on The Today show. I'm, well, I can do this, researched myself (alot) and never had a sole to ask a question too, so, out of retirement I come, start a business and enjoy this crazy industry.....smile.

Irene

He must have lost the list that I was added to because of the shops I helped out with
I saw a mention somewhere else about an $80 shop. Haven't seen any of those around here.

With Bestmark? I have gotten the latest and it's what we spoke about...let me know if you find out more, I'll do the same.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2008 06:17PM by shop 4 u.

I think it was a pay with cash shop. Don't remember what forum I saw it on.(Either V or MSF) I'm taking today off for my sanity's sake (and I'm waiting to hear back on some requested shops)-how come you're not out pounding the pavement?


----It was on V and it was a gift card shop!!!!!!!!!!!!! The poster lists her location as MA--------

Since the thread was moved, we should probably end the personal conversation.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2008 06:28PM by JoanG.

Who is Cory? Someone I should know?

Cory is a regional coordinator (scheduler) for Bestmark. Unbelievably nice guy!!!!!!!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2008 04:09AM by JoanG.

Hi all I just wanted to introduce myself. After reading a lot of the post's It apeared to me you people know quite a bit about mystery shopping, Right now I am basically doing Apartment Shops.Right now I have my feet under some other companies to do Viedeo House Shop,CarShops Hotels. If anyone can help me out.I would sure give you a big hoosier thank you