@palooka wrote:
Is there a chance that they have higher-end shops and they just haven't opened them up for me to see?
@walesmaven wrote:
What you see on any job boards this late in the month is not at all representative of their most popular assignments! All the really good stuff was snapped up long ago. I would do the shop and look at it as the price of admission to the Job Board so that you can take a look at the early month offerings and also start getting email notices.
Also, many, many MSCs will not let you see their most coveted shops until you have done X number of their lower level shops.
Finally, if you name the MSC (but NOT any of its clients) forum member will be ble to tell you what sorts of shops they see from that MSC.
@Professional Guest wrote:
@palooka wrote:
Is there a chance that they have higher-end shops and they just haven't opened them up for me to see?
This. Yes.
@palooka wrote:
My first shop for Coyle, is couple weeks off, but OMG. 6 hours for a meal!? How?? I looked at some of their sample reports and they were long (75-150 questions), but obviously I don't know how that translates in terms of time. I also saw the hotel stays had multiple long surveys, but still, 16 hours!?
@Professional Guest wrote:
@palooka wrote:
My first shop for Coyle, is couple weeks off, but OMG. 6 hours for a meal!? How?? I looked at some of their sample reports and they were long (75-150 questions), but obviously I don't know how that translates in terms of time. I also saw the hotel stays had multiple long surveys, but still, 16 hours!?
Here's SOME of what you should expect for a Coyle hotel survey "package":
...
One of my recent hotel evaluations had 37 pages of single spaced, 10 pt. font text - just for the narratives. Expect to capture approximately 30-40 images that need to be uploaded, and formatted and labeled to their specifications.
You may also find this thread helpful: www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/6/447295/447633#msg-447633
Good luck with your dining shop.
@palooka wrote:
Thanks everyone!
Okay, so I did the shop. It was not fun. When I "revealed" to the clerk that I was from X client, she immediately jumped on me saying I "didn't let [her] finish." I hadn't even said that she failed to do X (though she did), I had just smiled and introduced myself. Then when I approached the manager (per my instructions) he got super suspicious and confused and was like uh, no, please go away.
Regarding BestMark, if they habitually leave you in the dark about specifics then I'm already done. Mystery shopping is definitely a lifestyle thing for me, or at least that's the goal. The spouse and I are professionals making a good living, we're just trying to keep to a budget. I happen to like food and I enjoy writing reviews.
@eyelove2shop wrote:
one thing I like about them is that they will give you a zip code and the type of establishment. For example one of their clients is a burger place. The description will tell you what level of burger place this is, along with the zip code. It's very easy to google and find out the name of the establishment.
@eyelove2shop wrote:
also, I've done that shop you are referring you and based on what you've written, you did not follow shop instructions. The instructions said to ask for a manager then either present the "award" or ask them a specific question. You did not have to interact with cashier.
@Threemom wrote:
@eyelove2shop wrote:
also, I've done that shop you are referring you and based on what you've written, you did not follow shop instructions. The instructions said to ask for a manager then either present the "award" or ask them a specific question. You did not have to interact with cashier.
My instructions said to observe if a question was asked of other customers and whether you were asked the question. Although a purchase was not required, you were supposed to begin the purchase to allow a chance to be asked the question. A cashier interaction was a requirement, I believe.
@Threemom wrote:
The guidelines were clear about what triggered giving the award and what the photo should be. I don't know if there are different versions of this shop...mine did not ask for a photo of the signage, I just completed a checklist for different types. The cashier interaction checked to see if they mentioned the promo (you could abandon the purchase at that point if desired). If there were signs OR the cashier mentioned the question, you present the award to the cashier and ask to speak to the manager to thank them for participating. My photo was of the employee with the award. In your case, the signs were enough to give the award, plus you would report about whether it was also verbally promoted. Were you making this too hard? I merely said "X sent me in to say thanks and to send them a picture of you with their thank-you note."
"Say cheese", (click), and out the door I went!
@eyelove2shop wrote:
You were supposed to find out if they were participating in the campaign. There were three ways to determine.
1. Look for signage
2. Observe interactions with other customers to see if they were promoting
3. If no customers were present, you could make a purchase to see if you would be asked.
Of course a purchase was not necessary which is why if you did not find any signage or observe any promotion you were to ask for a manager, tell the manager you heard about the campaign and ask if they were participating. Then record the managers response.
I walked up to the register and looked to see if there was signage. After confirmation, I asked for the manager then said i was with blah blah and handed them the award. Once I gave them the reward, I asked if I could take a photo of them with it, when they said no, I just took a photo of the signage on the counter.
@7star wrote:
I've done the shop you talked about. The instructions were fairly clear to me. If there was signage anywhere in the store or on the windows then they are participating, regardless if the cashier asks a customer for a donation. If the store did participate then you ask the cashier to get the manager. You present the award and ask for permission to take a photo for social media purposes for the good cause. I took photos of the signage for proof of participation and of employees. If the store didn't participate then you ask the manager if they are participating and record response.
I've learned from the shops that for me to get paid I need to show proof (via photos, name of employees, etc) that gives me credibility and attention to detail.
@7star wrote:
As long as you got photos of signage and you presented award you should be ok. All the employee interactions with you should have happened at the registers. I hung around the registers to see if the cashiers asked about the donations. I didn't wait in line. I just pretended to be browsing.
We're all learning to do these shops !