Submitted Reports that are unpaid?????
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They should not be able to, but proof that they did so would be hard to come by. I believe there a probably a small percentage of shops that this does happen to.
since these companies are out to make money i would assume that some do... also their profit margins are quite low like any service buisness...
shopping north west PA and south west ny
Absolutely not! I do not believe the companies I work for have ever done that. I know one never does because I have access to what was submitted to the client and what was not. I often see declined reports sitting in "limbo".
That doesn't mean there aren't a few unscrupulous companies out there that might try this. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that there are some who would. I guess a good gauge is how ethical the company is with other issues and trusting your gut instinct. Trying to prove such a thing would be nearly impossible, though. It would also out you as a shopper and the client would very likely contact the MSP and let them know what happened. They'll share the info with other company owners or schedulers. Most likely they'd want to deactivate you so it would have a snowball effect with little to no reward.
If you suspect this is happening, the best thing to do is not to shop for that company again.
That doesn't mean there aren't a few unscrupulous companies out there that might try this. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that there are some who would. I guess a good gauge is how ethical the company is with other issues and trusting your gut instinct. Trying to prove such a thing would be nearly impossible, though. It would also out you as a shopper and the client would very likely contact the MSP and let them know what happened. They'll share the info with other company owners or schedulers. Most likely they'd want to deactivate you so it would have a snowball effect with little to no reward.
If you suspect this is happening, the best thing to do is not to shop for that company again.
autumnicole Wrote:
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> Are mystery shopping companies allowed to use
> the contents of submitted reports that the mystery
> shopper is not paid for?
They should not, but how could you prove they did or they did not use a report?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are mystery shopping companies allowed to use
> the contents of submitted reports that the mystery
> shopper is not paid for?
They should not, but how could you prove they did or they did not use a report?
Integrity is one of those things that either you have or you don't. But integrity can be persuaded sometimes that things are 'okay', and when that happens something is lost. Some shoppers can be persuaded that shortcuts are ok and I'm sure that some companies can similarly be persuaded. In either case I suspect the rationale is "I have too much invested in this already to throw it away." You figure out over time which companies you feel have integrity and which ones you feel are easily persuaded to take shortcuts, just as companies over time figure that out about their shoppers.
I know of companies that have knowingly paid for shops that both the shopper and the company know can not be used because something occurred during the visit that would identify the shopper and make them useless for future visits. That is integrity.
I know of companies that have refused to pay when a requirement could not be met due to no shopper error. As a shopper, if a requirement is to purchase an X and the store does not sell X and I have verified this on-site by specifically requesting X, I expect to be paid and will file a report of my experience. If I am not paid, that is not a company I will work with further. I did my part, the company sent me on an impossible job. It is those jobs I most frequently suspect get submitted to the client even though I did not get paid.
When I screw up a shop, sometimes I get paid and am delighted. When I am not paid, it is understandable. I hope that there is not someone in the background turning a screwed up shop into a submittable shop but rather submitting it with its warts for the client to accept or reject.
I know of companies that have knowingly paid for shops that both the shopper and the company know can not be used because something occurred during the visit that would identify the shopper and make them useless for future visits. That is integrity.
I know of companies that have refused to pay when a requirement could not be met due to no shopper error. As a shopper, if a requirement is to purchase an X and the store does not sell X and I have verified this on-site by specifically requesting X, I expect to be paid and will file a report of my experience. If I am not paid, that is not a company I will work with further. I did my part, the company sent me on an impossible job. It is those jobs I most frequently suspect get submitted to the client even though I did not get paid.
When I screw up a shop, sometimes I get paid and am delighted. When I am not paid, it is understandable. I hope that there is not someone in the background turning a screwed up shop into a submittable shop but rather submitting it with its warts for the client to accept or reject.
I cringe to think they do...they would then be tempted to find things wrong with reports and not pay, which could get out of hand. Probably some MSC have done this, but to run an upstanding company, I'd hope that would be something never started, in the long run, this effects the integrity of the company and all is lost. I prefer to think this doesn't happen with any of the MSC's I work for.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2011 12:37AM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2011 12:37AM by Irene_L.A..
Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Integrity is one of those things that either you
> have or you don't. But integrity can be persuaded
> sometimes that things are 'okay', and when that
> happens something is lost. Some shoppers can be
> persuaded that shortcuts are ok and I'm sure that
> some companies can similarly be persuaded. In
> either case I suspect the rationale is "I have too
> much invested in this already to throw it away."
> You figure out over time which companies you feel
> have integrity and which ones you feel are easily
> persuaded to take shortcuts, just as companies
> over time figure that out about their shoppers.
>
> I know of companies that have knowingly paid for
> shops that both the shopper and the company know
> can not be used because something occurred during
> the visit that would identify the shopper and make
> them useless for future visits. That is
> integrity.
>
> I know of companies that have refused to pay when
> a requirement could not be met due to no shopper
> error. As a shopper, if a requirement is to
> purchase an X and the store does not sell X and I
> have verified this on-site by specifically
> requesting X, I expect to be paid and will file a
> report of my experience. If I am not paid, that
> is not a company I will work with further. I did
> my part, the company sent me on an impossible job.
> It is those jobs I most frequently suspect get
> submitted to the client even though I did not get
> paid.
>
> When I screw up a shop, sometimes I get paid and
> am delighted. When I am not paid, it is
> understandable. I hope that there is not someone
> in the background turning a screwed up shop into a
> submittable shop but rather submitting it with its
> warts for the client to accept or reject.
I think the majority of MSPs will bend over backwards to make a shop workable. It's easier to work with a lousy report from a shopper than to find a new shopper, schedule it, hope they complete it correctly and turn it in on time, that there aren't any questions that will delay the report to make it acceptable enough for the client. The cold, harsh truth is that there are many, many more shoppers who don't know what they're doing, where the report is likely their first one and they don't know what is expected or understand that this is a business. So it's better to work with what you've got, if at all possible.
The one company I edit for has paid shoppers extra to go back and complete a shop when they've gone to do a shop and no one was there or they waited an excessive amount of time with no assistance given or the report was unsuable because the brand rep was there and was shopped instead of the store associate, but the shopper would've had no way of knowing who it was. Last month a shopper went to the wrong restaurant but thankfully, that location hadn't been shopped yet so we were able to save her report and use it for the other location.
The fact that a company would reject a shop on a minor technicality would raise an alarm for me. It could be that they're extremely strict and will go through the hassle of getting it perfect but I'd pay attention to other experience I had with them and what others have said about their own to decide if they're worth the risk.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Integrity is one of those things that either you
> have or you don't. But integrity can be persuaded
> sometimes that things are 'okay', and when that
> happens something is lost. Some shoppers can be
> persuaded that shortcuts are ok and I'm sure that
> some companies can similarly be persuaded. In
> either case I suspect the rationale is "I have too
> much invested in this already to throw it away."
> You figure out over time which companies you feel
> have integrity and which ones you feel are easily
> persuaded to take shortcuts, just as companies
> over time figure that out about their shoppers.
>
> I know of companies that have knowingly paid for
> shops that both the shopper and the company know
> can not be used because something occurred during
> the visit that would identify the shopper and make
> them useless for future visits. That is
> integrity.
>
> I know of companies that have refused to pay when
> a requirement could not be met due to no shopper
> error. As a shopper, if a requirement is to
> purchase an X and the store does not sell X and I
> have verified this on-site by specifically
> requesting X, I expect to be paid and will file a
> report of my experience. If I am not paid, that
> is not a company I will work with further. I did
> my part, the company sent me on an impossible job.
> It is those jobs I most frequently suspect get
> submitted to the client even though I did not get
> paid.
>
> When I screw up a shop, sometimes I get paid and
> am delighted. When I am not paid, it is
> understandable. I hope that there is not someone
> in the background turning a screwed up shop into a
> submittable shop but rather submitting it with its
> warts for the client to accept or reject.
I think the majority of MSPs will bend over backwards to make a shop workable. It's easier to work with a lousy report from a shopper than to find a new shopper, schedule it, hope they complete it correctly and turn it in on time, that there aren't any questions that will delay the report to make it acceptable enough for the client. The cold, harsh truth is that there are many, many more shoppers who don't know what they're doing, where the report is likely their first one and they don't know what is expected or understand that this is a business. So it's better to work with what you've got, if at all possible.
The one company I edit for has paid shoppers extra to go back and complete a shop when they've gone to do a shop and no one was there or they waited an excessive amount of time with no assistance given or the report was unsuable because the brand rep was there and was shopped instead of the store associate, but the shopper would've had no way of knowing who it was. Last month a shopper went to the wrong restaurant but thankfully, that location hadn't been shopped yet so we were able to save her report and use it for the other location.
The fact that a company would reject a shop on a minor technicality would raise an alarm for me. It could be that they're extremely strict and will go through the hassle of getting it perfect but I'd pay attention to other experience I had with them and what others have said about their own to decide if they're worth the risk.
I worked for an MSC that would call about an answer to a question I had submitted. I basically would tell what I had written and then while they were on the phone they rewrote what I said to make it sound better. If they are going to do that why even ask me about it to start with. The only thing I could figure is they could not change anything but if they asked me about it that was their permission to reword the description.
Deech Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked for an MSC that would call about an
> answer to a question I had submitted. I basically
> would tell what I had written and then while they
> were on the phone they rewrote what I said to make
> it sound better. If they are going to do that why
> even ask me about it to start with. The only
> thing I could figure is they could not change
> anything but if they asked me about it that was
> their permission to reword the description.
I had a company ask me once for the description of the associate or what the sign said in the store. Don't remember which. I emailed them a copy of what I had put in the report and told them the information I sent was what was already in the report. I got a thanks for my quick response and additional information. Ok?
I think sometimes editors miss what was in the report or it might've been explained in a different area than they expected. I know a few times I sent off a request for something only to realize--duh!--it was there already. My mistake.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked for an MSC that would call about an
> answer to a question I had submitted. I basically
> would tell what I had written and then while they
> were on the phone they rewrote what I said to make
> it sound better. If they are going to do that why
> even ask me about it to start with. The only
> thing I could figure is they could not change
> anything but if they asked me about it that was
> their permission to reword the description.
I had a company ask me once for the description of the associate or what the sign said in the store. Don't remember which. I emailed them a copy of what I had put in the report and told them the information I sent was what was already in the report. I got a thanks for my quick response and additional information. Ok?
I think sometimes editors miss what was in the report or it might've been explained in a different area than they expected. I know a few times I sent off a request for something only to realize--duh!--it was there already. My mistake.
autumnicole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are mystery shopping companies allowed to use
> the contents of submitted reports that the mystery
> shopper is not paid for?
I am of the personal opinion that, yes, some do. Personal integrity is important. Personal integrity can also blind you to the fact that others do not have it and that pain in your back pocket might be real.
When you submit your reports to the mystery shop comanies look at it and be sure that it is correct. The time, date and place must be correct. DO read and follow the directions. Do make sure that you have it right. Most companies are honest, and if you feel that you have one that is not, without fraud on your part, post the material issues of your experience here in this forum and ask others views. THEY need to step up to the plate and be more transparent than they are. I have had experiences with a few companies that make me wonder about the company to the point that I contact their local licensing offices to see if they are atually licensed, and if they are not to report them to the state, county, city. Yes, I can be a prick when prodded.
Just do the best job possible in every way at all times. Your name will precede you as to the quality of world that you do. If you do a shop for a c-store take more shots than needed to go t extra mile. Do it right, and then some. Make it hard for the comapanies to find anything wrong with your work. If you are truly defrauded, report them to the other shoppers here so that we can decide for ourselves if we want to learn fom others experience. Just be correct.
Don, Las Vegas
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are mystery shopping companies allowed to use
> the contents of submitted reports that the mystery
> shopper is not paid for?
I am of the personal opinion that, yes, some do. Personal integrity is important. Personal integrity can also blind you to the fact that others do not have it and that pain in your back pocket might be real.
When you submit your reports to the mystery shop comanies look at it and be sure that it is correct. The time, date and place must be correct. DO read and follow the directions. Do make sure that you have it right. Most companies are honest, and if you feel that you have one that is not, without fraud on your part, post the material issues of your experience here in this forum and ask others views. THEY need to step up to the plate and be more transparent than they are. I have had experiences with a few companies that make me wonder about the company to the point that I contact their local licensing offices to see if they are atually licensed, and if they are not to report them to the state, county, city. Yes, I can be a prick when prodded.
Just do the best job possible in every way at all times. Your name will precede you as to the quality of world that you do. If you do a shop for a c-store take more shots than needed to go t extra mile. Do it right, and then some. Make it hard for the comapanies to find anything wrong with your work. If you are truly defrauded, report them to the other shoppers here so that we can decide for ourselves if we want to learn fom others experience. Just be correct.
Don, Las Vegas
AlwaysAngie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Absolutely not! I do not believe the companies I
> work for have ever done that. I know one never
> does because I have access to what was submitted
> to the client and what was not. I often see
> declined reports sitting in "limbo".
>
> AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just curious.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Absolutely not! I do not believe the companies I
> work for have ever done that. I know one never
> does because I have access to what was submitted
> to the client and what was not. I often see
> declined reports sitting in "limbo".
>
> AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just curious.
> They should not, but how could you prove they did
> or they did not use a report?
I submit the failure of any contact indicating any problems with the report combined with a lack of payment is enough to convince me the report was used.
This has happened to me for two shops completed on the same day. When I chased the payment a month or two later, they said I failed to do something (memory fails here, it was two or three years ago). So, I posted to the forms and named the MSC. Funny thing is, they phoned me several times in the months after that asking me to do more shops for them.
No #%$*#@ way.
> or they did not use a report?
I submit the failure of any contact indicating any problems with the report combined with a lack of payment is enough to convince me the report was used.
This has happened to me for two shops completed on the same day. When I chased the payment a month or two later, they said I failed to do something (memory fails here, it was two or three years ago). So, I posted to the forms and named the MSC. Funny thing is, they phoned me several times in the months after that asking me to do more shops for them.
No #%$*#@ way.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
jersey07032 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AlwaysAngie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just
> curious.
I wasn't very clear in that post but the post below, but I did post an explanation down below. I edit for some companies. When checking for certain shops or seeing what was exported, I can see what did not get released to the client, including a few fraudulent shoppers I caught.
Vlade, I've got to agree with you. If there's a problem, any legit company will always contact the shopper to try to get the issue fixed. Or they'll contact the shopper and explain why the shop had to be declined. They're not hush-hush about it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2011 04:02AM by AlwaysAngie.
-------------------------------------------------------
> AlwaysAngie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just
> curious.
I wasn't very clear in that post but the post below, but I did post an explanation down below. I edit for some companies. When checking for certain shops or seeing what was exported, I can see what did not get released to the client, including a few fraudulent shoppers I caught.
Vlade, I've got to agree with you. If there's a problem, any legit company will always contact the shopper to try to get the issue fixed. Or they'll contact the shopper and explain why the shop had to be declined. They're not hush-hush about it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2011 04:02AM by AlwaysAngie.
I cannot say for sure,but I suspect that a company that I did a few reports for , rejected them and then used them. They asked me do additional reports without reviewing the one's that I had already done in a timely manner.When I spoke to the scheduler she said I know it's short notice but could you do this for us tomorrow and by the way we haven"t reviewed your other shops yet. I didn't get paid and I didn't get the bonuses. Hind sight is 20/20. I should have followed my instincts and waited until they had reviewed the first 2 shops. The whole ordeal smelt a little fishy. I would not do a shop for them again.
I love editors...LOL I get messages about mistakes I make in some reports and then get kudos for a perfect report the next time. And visa versa. My writing doesn't change. But the editor's opinion does. I was in editor at point in my life and I think I have a pretty good grasp. My biggest pet peeve is using gender free pronouns "The associate gave me THEIR full attention." What in the world....As for whether "rejected" reports are used after they are fixed up....I have my suspicions. :-)
AlwaysAngie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jersey07032 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > AlwaysAngie Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > > AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just
> > curious.
>
>
> I wasn't very clear in that post but the post
> below, but I did post an explanation down below. I
> edit for some companies. When checking for certain
> shops or seeing what was exported, I can see what
> did not get released to the client, including a
> few fraudulent shoppers I caught.
>
> Vlade, I've got to agree with you. If there's a
> problem, any legit company will always contact the
> shopper to try to get the issue fixed. Or they'll
> contact the shopper and explain why the shop had
> to be declined. They're not hush-hush about it.
AlwaysAngie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jersey07032 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > AlwaysAngie Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > > AlwaysAngie: How do you have access? Just
> > curious.
>
>
> I wasn't very clear in that post but the post
> below, but I did post an explanation down below. I
> edit for some companies. When checking for certain
> shops or seeing what was exported, I can see what
> did not get released to the client, including a
> few fraudulent shoppers I caught.
>
> Vlade, I've got to agree with you. If there's a
> problem, any legit company will always contact the
> shopper to try to get the issue fixed. Or they'll
> contact the shopper and explain why the shop had
> to be declined. They're not hush-hush about it.
I had one this summer that was accepted by the MSC, and they did not pay me. They did not tell me anything was wrong. They just did not pay and did not respond to subsequent inquiries. From other postings on this forum, I am pretty sure that this is business as usual for them.
ackwired Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had one this summer that was accepted by the
> MSC, and they did not pay me. They did not tell
> me anything was wrong. They just did not pay and
> did not respond to subsequent inquiries. From
> other postings on this forum, I am pretty sure
> that this is business as usual for them.
When someone does this find out what is goung on. Ask here if others have had ths experience of askinbg about a specific shop and no response.
The best way to get roaches off the counter is to turn on the bright lights. dON'T LAMBLAST THEM. jUST TELL OTHERS WHAT HAPPENED AND ASK IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILIAR EXPERIENCES.
Don
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had one this summer that was accepted by the
> MSC, and they did not pay me. They did not tell
> me anything was wrong. They just did not pay and
> did not respond to subsequent inquiries. From
> other postings on this forum, I am pretty sure
> that this is business as usual for them.
When someone does this find out what is goung on. Ask here if others have had ths experience of askinbg about a specific shop and no response.
The best way to get roaches off the counter is to turn on the bright lights. dON'T LAMBLAST THEM. jUST TELL OTHERS WHAT HAPPENED AND ASK IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILIAR EXPERIENCES.
Don
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