How in the world.....would you you complete a 100 item audit covertly?

:^) I hear you.

Some folks take pictures with cell phones, some folks use DVRs and "talk to themselves" in the store. Not a shop I would undertake except, perhaps, in a large grocery store. But even then it would need to pay well for the significant amount of time in store and reporting.

Pretty easily, depending on the kind of store, and your familiarity with it.

Thank you, Flash, for the useful info! Without a plan, it's not that easy.

I can get out in under 30 minutes with two lists (and permission to do both at the same time.)

I never see any of the covert audits. The ones I see/do are always announced and a manager has to accompany you.

lisams901 Wrote:
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> I never see any of the covert audits. The ones I
> see/do are always announced and a manager has to
> accompany you.


Ugh. If that is the one I did for MFI last summer, mine was a nightmare and I will never do that again. :-) Gimme audits of HP ink, toners, printers and photo paper any old day. And grocery audits.

dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lisams901 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I never see any of the covert audits. The ones
> I
> > see/do are always announced and a manager has
> to
> > accompany you.
>
>
> Ugh. If that is the one I did for MFI last
> summer, mine was a nightmare and I will never do
> that again. :-) Gimme audits of HP ink, toners,
> printers and photo paper any old day. And grocery
> audits.


Yup, the MFI ones. Most of them have been fine, but I've had really nice managers to work with.

Most of my managers on the MFI have been good to deal with or could be whipped into shape with a few out of place items being added to the list of problems.

lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dee shops Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > lisams901 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I never see any of the covert audits. The
> ones
> > I
> > > see/do are always announced and a manager has
> > to
> > > accompany you.
> >
> >
> > Ugh. If that is the one I did for MFI last
> > summer, mine was a nightmare and I will never
> do
> > that again. :-) Gimme audits of HP ink,
> toners,
> > printers and photo paper any old day. And
> grocery
> > audits.
>
>
> Yup, the MFI ones. Most of them have been fine,
> but I've had really nice managers to work with.


Mine was horrible. It took over 3 hours and changed personnel several times. Just getting checked in and out took too long. Their readers stopped working several times, and we went on a wild goose chase after many items. Can you spell, poorly managed store? I know to avoid this one like the plague. For here. For me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2010 08:18AM by dee shops.

dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Mine was horrible. It took over 3 hours and
> changed personnel several times. Just getting
> checked in and out took too long. Their readers
> stopped working several times, and we went on a
> wild goose chase after many items. Can you spell,
> poorly managed store? I know to avoid this one
> like the plague. For here. For me.


That does sound like a mess. I wouldn't be in a hurry to do one of those again either then.

This is my first chat on this forum; So "HELLO EVERYONE", Iv been reading the posts about covert audits. I signed up for my first night mirror and it took forever to compleat. The store was not stock well so finding the 50 items was a joke. This took 2hr what a waste of time. I smiled instead of crying knowing I have another covert to go and finish. About half the way to the next covert my classic car stopped running! I felt my heart sink when I reached for the cell but it was at home! After walking forever and then being towed home I was finally able to reach the "shop". I heard nothing until I went to log in and check on my upcoming night mirrors I already signed up for. BUT instead it says- YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. It tells me to check the statusinquiries@**********. I entered this and went no where! This was my first job for this company. I feel like a door was slammed in my face with no reply. I really wanted to work for this company but if seems hopeless now. Any input is appreciated. I hope everyone here has a wonderful day.

Coco puff, these are just general comments and please do not think that they are directly aimed at you and also I'm not sure which company you had an issue with.

Imagine you were running a company and had 800 shoppers already, 400 of whom were as reliable as clockwork every, 200 were reliable 90% of the time, 100 were reliable 75% of the time and 100 were "iffy" but in areas where you needed shoppers. Imagine that you get 100 new shopper applications per week. You really would like to replace your 100 "iffy" shoppers and you know you will always need reliable and mostly reliable shoppers because shoppers come and go. So you have to give jobs to new shoppers in hopes of finding new ones that will work out. But you don't need to have 400 reliable, 200 90%ers, 150 75%ers and 150 "iffy". First jobs become an indicator of what category the shopper will likely fall into in the long run. There is not much point, as a business, in spending further time with those who don't get it done and get it done with at least minimum competence.

We all know that accidents happen, people get sick, people forget and people change their minds. Most MSPs complain bitterly about those who either fail to communicate or communicate unclearly--just as shoppers complain about the same thing with companies. When sh*t happens, try your darndest to get through to SOMEONE/ANYONE at the company to let them know honestly what is going on. They will have little tolerance for the excuse-every-time folks, but most of them do recognize that sh*t happens and many of them will give you a second chance. Needless to say, if you are in their 400 clockwork shoppers you will be given a lot more understanding than if it is your first shop. They already know you are one of their valuable resources.

Did one. Did lousy time wise. Looking to do another to fall in line with expectations. It's not about the money anymore.