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Rejected again - small rant

October 23, 2024 01:24PM
I am a highly experienced secret shopper and I have been trying to apply for a shop at an MSP that is new for me. This is similar to so many that I’ve done in the past, just basically a nearby restaurant shop. It’s frustrating because I keep seeing the shop being posted over and over and I have applied for it several times. It will appear on my list of applications, but then it will later on disappear as though the scheduler is deleting me. The shop has already gone into bonus. I feel like the problem is that I am older, even though there is no age restriction at the high end. This MSP has some other shops posted that I’m really not crazy about doing, but I think I will try and grab one of those to at least get some kind of rating going with them. I think I can mention the MSP as long as I also haven’t mentioned the shop. The MSP is KSS. Anybody have a similar experience?
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October 23, 2024 02:01PM
MS007, first, unless there has been a very recent change, KSS is not a MSC; they merely schedule work. IF there were specific age requirements, that would be the client's condition.

Secondly, your comment concerning applying for less desirable shops is, in my opinion, excellent. According to my philosophy, it is better to try and fail, than to wonder "what if?"

Finally, in this work, age exclusion is a fact; I am 82 and encounter that situation. I completely understand the client's interest in targeting whom they desire. After all, this IS still business!
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October 23, 2024 10:13PM
I had the same thing happen to me. But, I was never rejected. They just didn't reply or deny my application. So, I saw which MSC it was that had the job and signed up with them and went and applied for the same job. I was approved quickly, and I was on my way.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
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October 23, 2024 10:41PM
At least you will be able to do most shops with ACL until you are 98! Once you turn 99, it's all over though.

@shopperbob wrote:

I am 82


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2024 02:51AM by JimmyP.
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October 24, 2024 03:23AM
KSS shops listed on their site are generally also listed on the performing company's site as well. So it's possible that it was already taken on that site.

As for age restrictions, not sure if this what's being referred to, but the Barcelona chain just had their age limit lowered to 50. This comes after Bar Taco lowered theirs to 55 (originally 45). I loved shopping both of these chains and while their target customer may be below those ages, do they really not want the opinion of all customers, especially when they often have trouble filling their shops?
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October 24, 2024 05:36AM
Years ago I did a shop at Abercrombie and Fitch during the time when they had "models" instead of sales associates, loud music and dark lighting. At the time I was just under whatever the age range was for the job so I was able to get it but when I went to do the shop I was the youngest customer in the store. I know they were targeting much younger customers but the day I was shopping there the customers were an older couple visiting Calif and searching for a gift for their grand daughter, another older woman and an older gentleman with his young eye candy male companion who was carrying all the older gentleman's items for him. I thought based on that day they should have been targeting the older people for sure.
It was quite ridiculous. It was so dark it was impossible to read the tags on the clothing. The "models" carried little flashlights with them so they could help the customers read the tags. They could not even read them with their much younger eyes.
It is too bad many establishments are courting a younger crowd since the older crowd as a group has lots more money. (not as individuals though ) but the business owners get to make the rules.
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October 24, 2024 11:43AM
@MS007 wrote:

I am a highly experienced secret shopper and I have been trying to apply for a shop at an MSP that is new for me. This is similar to so many that I’ve done in the past, just basically a nearby restaurant shop. It’s frustrating because I keep seeing the shop being posted over and over and I have applied for it several times. It will appear on my list of applications, but then it will later on disappear as though the scheduler is deleting me. The shop has already gone into bonus. I feel like the problem is that I am older, even though there is no age restriction at the high end. This MSP has some other shops posted that I’m really not crazy about doing, but I think I will try and grab one of those to at least get some kind of rating going with them. I think I can mention the MSP as long as I also haven’t mentioned the shop. The MSP is KSS. Anybody have a similar experience?

If you have the contact info available to you, maybe writing to the scheduler?

I have written a note before with a new to me company or scheduler to let them know my background and experience. I think it has helped every time except for elite csx and it turns out, I'm now glad it didn't!
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