1. Forums
  2. Mystery Shopping Company Discussion

Customer Service Perception- Charging an application fee.

May 11, 2010 02:58AM
I just thought I would let everyone know that they are charging a $2 application fee, which they only mention when you finish filling out all your info:

Customer Service Perceptions charges an administrative processing fee of $2 to each shopper applicant. This is in response to the high volume of shopper applicants we are receiving and the increase in administration costs associated with the process. This fee in nonrefundable and does not insure that you will be accepted for inclusion in our shopper database, but that your application will be reviewed and considered for inclusion. Also know that inclusion in our database does not guarantee you will receive an assignment, but that you will be considered for assignments that do become available in your area. Customer Service Perceptions DOES NOT have shops in all areas, but as our clientele expands, so does the areas in which we shop.

Administrative Processing Fee should be sent to the following address and received by Customer Service Perceptions within 10 days of shopper's application date. If fee is received after 10 days, shopper will need to complete the application again.

Customer Service Perceptions
Attn: Application Processing
PO Box 87
Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
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.

May 11, 2010 03:34AM
My reaction to that behavior is very negative. They may be getting lots of applications, but they should rejoice rather than decide to charge fees. I have not heard shoppers singing their praises about what a wonderful company they were to work with, so my reaction would be to keep even my $2 in my pocket. I DO NOT PAY TO SHOP.
Reply
May 11, 2010 03:46AM
I got that message when I logged in to apply. I toggled right back out. If they truly have "a high volume of shopper applicants," they probably don't really care about losing one fish but this fish slipped the hook and swam away. They'll do without this shopper. I don't pay to shop either.
Reply
May 11, 2010 08:26PM
This has got to be one of the more disappointing developments I have ever read in the world of Mystery Shopping.


A database of shoppers that is large, varied, and diverse is nothing but an asset to a company. That an organization fails to see this -and in fact sees it as a liability and/or processing expense (and then tries to pass it on to the actual shoppers/people in the database) - well, I question their business sense.

Woops - I originally read this as Customer Perspectives/Judi Hess (which surprised me, because I have always really respected that company) but now I get it - it is Customer Service Perceptions... not a company that I have ever worked for... still very disappointing though that any company would do this.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2010 08:36PM by MickeyB.
Reply
May 11, 2010 08:33PM
It would appear not only short sighted, but I would add that to me, it makes them look extremely under-capitalized! I just find it hard to believe that a company charging fees to candidates has shoppers beating down the door to get in and pay them $2 on a maybe. If they cannot staff their business to appropriate levels without taking money from shoppers....well, to me, it is a HUGE red flag.

**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Reply
May 11, 2010 08:38PM
dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would appear not only short sighted, but I
> would add that to me, it makes them look extremely
> under-capitalized! I just find it hard to believe
> that a company charging fees to candidates has
> shoppers beating down the door to get in and pay
> them $2 on a maybe. If they cannot staff their
> business to appropriate levels without taking
> money from shoppers....well, to me, it is a HUGE
> red flag.

Good point and totally agreed. Even if I was registered with them as a shopper before this stupid $2 fee, I wouldn't work for them for just that reason.
Reply
May 12, 2010 11:23AM
What Dee and Mickey B said!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Reply
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login