Why would a client use two different MSC's?
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skylit19 Wrote:
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> In my searches for restaurant shops I ran across
> one company that shops Applebees in an area that I
> used to live, but not where I live now. After
> some more research I finally found the company
> that shops that restaurant where I currently live.
> Why would a client use two different MSC's?
Different MSCs have better and larger number of ICs in some areas than others, is my educated guess. I've seen that before also. May depend on if the MSing is regionally based or nationally monitored.
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> In my searches for restaurant shops I ran across
> one company that shops Applebees in an area that I
> used to live, but not where I live now. After
> some more research I finally found the company
> that shops that restaurant where I currently live.
> Why would a client use two different MSC's?
Different MSCs have better and larger number of ICs in some areas than others, is my educated guess. I've seen that before also. May depend on if the MSing is regionally based or nationally monitored.
I am currently shop a client that uses 3 different MSC's. I shop the same location for all three. Go Figure...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I have been told that Chase Bank is so large that they use 3 companies.
Sometimes there are two distinct assignments with different guidelines, and one msc outbids another, so two msc's shop the same client, but both assignments have slightly different criteria.
Jiffy Lube is an example of this...
FYI: Applebees--The franchisee who has the greater NYC tri state area does not participate in any shops, but many others do elsewhere..too bad for me.
Also, it seems that most clients only sign a one year contract with their msc and you will see many of them switching to another msc thereafter.
Jiffy Lube is an example of this...
FYI: Applebees--The franchisee who has the greater NYC tri state area does not participate in any shops, but many others do elsewhere..too bad for me.
Also, it seems that most clients only sign a one year contract with their msc and you will see many of them switching to another msc thereafter.
Larger companies use more than one mystery shop company.
Sometimes there is a corporate client who hires an MSC to test standards across the entire brand, and regional or individual clients may hire another MSC to 'keep the staff on their game' for when the other shoppers come through. It's common practice.
I did an upscale restaurant for a hotel chain this month and had it offered again by an MSC that represents the restaurant chain.
Many reasons why this can happen.
I did an upscale restaurant for a hotel chain this month and had it offered again by an MSC that represents the restaurant chain.
Many reasons why this can happen.
Here there are "wings" restaurants shopped by two different companies. One does the corporate stores and is unrevealed. The other does franchise stores and is unrevealed and then you reveal after you pay and present a gift card IOU for the server that suggestively sells appropriately.
Yes, Buffalo Wild Wings uses two msc's...
The thing about this that really stumps me is the disparity in fees. I sometimes do a banking shop, which pays relatively well, sometimes VERY well. I just saw the same bank listed with another MSC, and the fee is 50% less than the company I usually do it for. We're talking $30-35, as opposed to $17 (and the last time I did it for the regular MSC, it was bonused to $50). And, to boot, I looked at the form, and it's waaay more involved. Both have narratives, but this one is even longer, and the questions are incredibly redundant!
The disparity in fees between 2 msc's generally reflects the cheapo pay scale from one msc to another, simple, honest answer. This is why any client who switches to super cheapo Corporate Research International will result in a guaranteed decreased shop fee to an amount bordering on the offensive, if not plain absurd. When I saw their shops posted for a video rental paying .50, I thought it was an early April Fool's Day joke.
As another example, assisted living shops formerly paying $40.00 with primo Solutions, now pay $90.00 with another msc...
As another example, assisted living shops formerly paying $40.00 with primo Solutions, now pay $90.00 with another msc...
I investigated more thoroughly, and it's actually not as bad as I thought...well, sort of. The "new" company also has a higher-end version of the shop, which looks like it pays $30. But still, it's not worth the extensive narrative and form. Not to mention, it's the same amount of work, regardless of how much money your character has to deposit! And, of course, there's a chance that the higher-end banking form is even MORE extensive!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2011 03:21PM by nicelytwicely.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2011 03:21PM by nicelytwicely.
There is one big regional home builder that is famous for calling MSC A and asking them to have 5 video shops assigned and done within 48-72 hours. When MSC A cannot make those arrangements, the builder repeats the process with MSC B, and so on. The funny part is that all of the video shopping companies have virtually the same roster of trained, experienced video shoppers. And, most, or all, of the best video shoppers are booked farther than 48 hours in advance. So, that builder often ends up finally getting one of the second or third tier video shoppers or a complete newbie. I have personally had to turn down the shop when it was offered by MSC A, because I was booked. Then, I had an unexpected opening when it was offered to me by MSC B and I felt obliged to decline the shop because I had had to decline it for MCS A. (Seemed the right thing to do, since no one wants to encourage this builder to try to play off the MSCs against each other.). Next day, it was offered to me by MSC C! I chatted with a couple of my video shopper colleagues and found that each of them had similar experiences and had made the same decision that I made on those occasions.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
The other possibility is a franchisee contracting with one, but the national brand contracting another. I know for a fact that in my area, one restaurant chain's franchisee has contracted one company to evaluate service & experience, but the national chain has contracted a different company to audit branding, signage & promo material.
The audits are revealed, and a shift manager called their head office to verify whether she should sign the papers or not. The exec that I spoke with actually said "Oh, you're with XYZ Company. That's who the head office uses, we actually contract with someone different."
The audits are revealed, and a shift manager called their head office to verify whether she should sign the papers or not. The exec that I spoke with actually said "Oh, you're with XYZ Company. That's who the head office uses, we actually contract with someone different."
The branches of the restaurant might be owned by different franchisers, and they owners may be chosing the shopping companies.
"Evolve thyself and lose all hate...." Orphaned Land
I was actualy wondering about that. I noticed a company out there called Mystery Shopping Canada Employment Agency (please don't confuse with Mystery Shopping Canada Inc.) But back to the Agency they advertise alot of clients that already have a different MS company hired. I thought that the Agency was a SCAM. I honestly didn't think that clients hired more then one MS Company to work for them (but from the messages above) they must. But I still think the Agency is a SCAM because they want the MS to pay a fee. I go by the old rule of thumb never pay to shop.
Amusingly enough there are two MSPs that are shopping the same site near me. Staff turnover is quick enough that a 30 day rotation would be fine to stay anonymous. One has a 90 day rotation, the other a 60 day rotation. Between the two I will be visiting virtually monthly. . .
I am doing a Hyatt reveal and know another MSC does Hyatt hotel monthly.
The reveal means I can't do an overnight at this one, but I'm surprised to see two MSC's doing this one hotel. I guess nothing is a surprise anymore.
The reveal means I can't do an overnight at this one, but I'm surprised to see two MSC's doing this one hotel. I guess nothing is a surprise anymore.
Live consciously....
Sometimes a company is being purchased and the buyer has to be sure that they have all the facts. Expense on the front end is better than loss on the back end. Sometimes the sales never happen. Shoppers are the most valuable resource for potential buyers of a company. It's all about money.
I remeber a local chain that got shopped by two different MSC, Tim Hortons (this was years ago though.) While I woked there I found a MSC that shopped there. I was a PT/MS at the time and I let them know I work for Tims. We were mystery shopped it was a reveal/reward shop I was the employee who recieved the reward. Well it wasn't the company who I already knew worked there. That company has since closed its doors. I cannot find them, maybe they were bought out as mentioned above!!
I once had a goldfish named Sam....well the next morning I had to start calling him/her Samantha. I feel your pain. LOL!
Did he turn out to be pregnant? I remeber buying a male calico cat from a local pet store but turns out he was a she then she went to an it because we got her fixed. The Vet told us it's also impossable to get a male calico because they don't breed. That's why calico is not an official cat breed.... But how did our topic change so drasticly??
Perhaps it was just a 'pregnant paws' before resuming the conversation.
Pets are good. It really dosen't matter what kind of pet a person owns. That person is helping someone samrter than themselves. _ Rich
That is what Sam/Samantha taught you? Smart fish.
Flash, the fish was probably smarter than me. When we are not always the smartest, we learn so much. When we are smarter than the fish, we have nothing to learn from the fish.
Applebees closed down many L.A. shops having a couple left that are no longer shopped....as for fish, I had one once until he/she slipped down the drain, never got over that one. MSC's get new clients when they do the job for less and the loss is passed onto the shopper!
Live consciously....
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