Does anyone know of any software out there for us? I saw one place that looked really good, it was under mystery shopper software, but it has a virus in it.
I do have an excel sheet that I got off from a wonderful member here, but I liked the look of the program that was on the net, but I can't fnd it anywhere else..Also , how do you deal with taking pics of the gas stations? I get really wierd and sometimes mean looks from customers...I know they are thinking I'm a terroist or something, I'm afraid all the time that I'm going to get busted and I can't afford to lose any shops.
thanks in advance
christy

Which piece of software indicates it has a virus? Perhaps we can find the same software with a different link that is clean. The ones that were posted were from as close to the original source as possible and were okay when posted--but that was some time ago.

Any time you are taking photos you need to be aware of what is happening around you. In gas stations the photos are generally taken AFTER you have done the interactions inside (except the restroom), so you will have a good notion of how inspired the attendant is to paying attention to anything. I usually have two resources with me. A cell phone w/ camera and my regular digital camera. I generally use the digi cam in the restroom and usually can do that at the pump as well because most attendants are somewhere beyond caring. I park far enough from the pump when I pull in that even with the cell phone cam I can be far enough way, shielded by the car door, to take the photo. (My phone takes poor quality pix and has no possible adjustments) If ever you are questioned, be prepared to give some baloney. You are taking pictures of a really neat beetle that was on the pump, a friend mentioned she was taking pictures of the sunset. I prefer the bug/grasshopper photo because it allows me to 'follow the flight path' and take a picture of the trash in the landscape, etc. But you won't be questioned, so try to stay discrete.

here is the website...I opened it in word and that wasnt right, now it opens all the time in word with wierd writing I can't understand
[www.shoppersconfidential.com]
. I tried to download the win zip but it still won't work and my virus protector says it has a virus so be careful, I got rid of it it was a doozy.
thanks for your reply it was very helpful

I just checked and ShoppersConfidential is trying to sell you software for $24.95. If you try to download it without payment and open it with whatever, it is unknown what you will get. I was concerned that it was one of the pieces of free software that we had on our list of free and useful software that was virusy.

There really is very little software you need for mystery shopping and it or a reasonable substitute is all available for free from links in the thread here. You have a good working equivalent of the Microsoft Office Suite in Open Office, you of course can open PDF format files with the free Adobe Reader software and the software at cutepdf.com allows saving in PDF format. For photo editing and sizing folks use Irfanview or Paint frequently.

What is that you are needing that you haven't found? Perhaps we can help find it for you!