1. Forums
  2. New Mystery Shoppers

Advice on selecting first shop

August 30, 2016 04:34PM
I've successfully signed up for three agencies. Now it is time to select my first job. I want to choose something that I can successfully complete and get a good grade on. I signed up for MarketForce's casual/fast dining. They also have a wireless phone shop. Is that something a brand new shopper can do? I don't want to get in over my head. I recognize that they are going to be judging me, especially on my first assignments and that I need to get my shop score up past 5. Any help is appreciated. Please feel free to PM me. Thanks.
Reply
Log In
x

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

August 30, 2016 04:49PM
Make your first shop the Fast Casual. Critical things for this shop are the time you went in (hours & minutes), letting them prompt you for fries/drink and if they don't then order them, the time between getting your receipt and getting your meal number called (minutes & seconds), staying in the location 15 minutes while you eat your meal, and the time out. Everything else you can put on a cheat sheet on your phone or in a puzzle book you are 'working on' during your meal to make sure you do everything. Pick a table to eat where you can 'be entertained' watching the kitchen and use your trip to get your beverage and condiments to glance at the cleanliness of the kitchen floor.

Easy shop. The questionnaire can be a bit of a bear because of oddities such as if the burger was not 'excellent' it won't accept that it was 'hot' and 'fresh' on the next page, so you just have to play with pairings that work. Don't worry if the cashier name on the receipt does not match the gender of the cashier you had. Otherwise read the instructions and all will be well.
Reply
August 30, 2016 05:00PM
I did a wireless phone shop over the weekend. It was for a huge bonus in an area that NO ONE ever shops. It is very rural there. I did 2 other shops in that town for another MSC so it made for a great day. The wireless shop only took me 12 minutes at the store and 10 minutes to do report. I felt it was super easy as long as you can remember details. You have to remember the first 2 phones that they recommend and several other details. I usually have no problem remembering details, but if you do and your state is a 1 party state you can use several different recording apps to record all the details.
Reply
August 30, 2016 07:05PM
Thanks. Good advise for both shops. I just want to be prepared and do a good job.
Reply
August 31, 2016 11:00PM
It's great to have a caring attitude, that will go a long way. Marketforce is less picky than many other MSCs but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to do your best (as I can tell you will). The cell phone shops aren't hard, but keep in mind that they offer two of them, one which requires the purchase of a new phone or plan with a certain carrier. They also offer a cell phone audit, and I believe you can't do a shop at a place you have audited for quite some time. Good luck and happy shopping!
Reply
August 31, 2016 11:59PM
I'd also recommend the fast casual first. Read the guideiines several times so you know what you are looking for. and be sure to note if you need to order a shake or not.
It seems like common sense now, but also be sure to check the restrooms. That was one thing I've forgotten to do on a shop before (not MarketForce), remembered as I was about to pull out of my parking spot, went back in and checked.
With Market Force fast casual, I tend to have to remind myself to look for an outside garbage can.

MF is a good company to start with. You just won't get ratings or much feedback on your shops like some other companies. Just that APPROVED (hopefully) status.
Reply
September 02, 2016 12:27PM
I just started MS last month. Ive done mostly MF. I started with that fast-casual. If you follow the above advice you will do fine!!! I also do a lot grocery stores which Ive found easy as well. I completed my first cell phone shop at the mall yesterday and that was great! I did the shop then brought my kid to the play area and succesfully reported my shop on my cell while he played! I did double check it via PC after returning home to make sure there were no skipped questions or improperly answered questions but how easy is that? I really like the quickness of reporting with MF.
Reply
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login