Narratives
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pants,
Every experienced shopper has been in your shoes. I know that report. For others, the guidelines do ask that your narrative be chronological which ends up twisting the narrative flow into a pretzel in some cases. Some ask that the narrative be in the third person. After 10+ years of MS, I just wrote three paragraphs in first person for a report that I have done, hundreds of time, that requires third person reporting. Sigh. We can but do as the client requires. And, revealed audits will never match the financial and personal rewards of other kinds of (covert) assignments.
Every experienced shopper has been in your shoes. I know that report. For others, the guidelines do ask that your narrative be chronological which ends up twisting the narrative flow into a pretzel in some cases. Some ask that the narrative be in the third person. After 10+ years of MS, I just wrote three paragraphs in first person for a report that I have done, hundreds of time, that requires third person reporting. Sigh. We can but do as the client requires. And, revealed audits will never match the financial and personal rewards of other kinds of (covert) assignments.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I think all of us feel the same way about those disjointed narratives. Writing one following the flow of the interaction is so much easier. As to the rewards of audits versus covert assignments, for me the right audits are far more financially rewarding with much less stress.
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 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.
Pants 32
I have done the same shop. Never again! I was paid $70. I had such a problem with the editor that I swore that if I had the same editor I would never do the shop again. I had to change my narratives so many times that none of them made since to me. Finally I refused to change anything else, was called a liar by the editor, that was it. I complained to the scheduler, who stood up for me. They took out all her remarks, paid me and gave me a 7. I am an experienced shopper. I have done the same type shop with another MSC, no problem. This did not stop me from any other shops.
I have done the same shop. Never again! I was paid $70. I had such a problem with the editor that I swore that if I had the same editor I would never do the shop again. I had to change my narratives so many times that none of them made since to me. Finally I refused to change anything else, was called a liar by the editor, that was it. I complained to the scheduler, who stood up for me. They took out all her remarks, paid me and gave me a 7. I am an experienced shopper. I have done the same type shop with another MSC, no problem. This did not stop me from any other shops.
Are there places where I can find example narratives for different types of assignments? Or is it just stuff I have to learn as I go? It's hard to know what they're looking for when most assignments very specifically ask you not to give any details that would compromise your identity as the MS, but then you get one like this that wants every single detail, start to finish... but not chronologically. 
It is not possible to have them according to assignment type because it will still vary so much depending on the client and the MSC. I have done every imaginable assignment for all sorts of clients and dozens of MSCs and still couldn't give you a lot of hard and fast rules other than address every "no" answer in the narrative and avoid contractions.
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 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 like the assignments that come with examples to read before you perform the shop. I did one last week that had example narratives next to each of the guidelines. Super helpful!
@pants32 wrote:
Are there places where I can find example narratives for different types of assignments? Or is it just stuff I have to learn as I go?
This is something you just have to learn as you go. It would be counterproductive to do sample narratives and post them for general types of assignments, because every company is different and each company prefers its own narrative. Some companies, like Service Check and Customer Impact, have sample narratives in their guidelines to show you what narrative they are looking for in the particular assignment.
Some companies want a lot of details. Others want just the minimum. I once did a shop for ICCDS and did an amazing job on the narrative. I was really proud. Then I submitted - and it said one question not answered. Yep! You guessed it. Although they had not mentioned it in the guidelines, and the question did not note a character limit, after submission it showed that there was a 300 character limit. They only wanted a couple of sentences instead of my 4 paragraphs! Whoa. Talk about wasted time.
In order to keep your identity from them knowing that you are a Mystery Shopper, do not use your real name, you do not have to in most circumstances. Do not use personal references. Only answer the questions that you are asked in your Guidelines or on your form. They MSCs only want short specific answers to all yes and no questions. Never give your opinion, they don't want that. Some of the sample narratives are helpful, but in general it is a learning experience.
Hang in there and try all kinds of different shops from lots of different companies. When you find the ones you like, stick with them. Dont do the ones you dont like. Its trial and error to figure out which is which.
I've done a similar report. I fixed their ass. Just a figure of speech. I numbered and answered each question and made it look like a list. Then, I recapped all of my "No" answers at the end of the narrative box since they needed the no answers justified.
@pants32 We must have had the same editor because it happened to me also!
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