Has anyone ever done these. I have two to do this weekend for a company I have not yet worked for and they will not send me my info until 24hrs before? I like to read and prepare ahead of time so I am comfortable but this company works differently.
Also, I have to dress in business casual? How strict are they about this?

The shop instructions and certification tests are posted on their site.
The dress code is what it is...

I did not see any instructions. It says available 24hrs prior to the shop. Maybe I am missing something?

Nevermind. Now can access my info. Thanks!

Hmm, the dress code?? I haven't read the directions yet.

For each additional requirement of an MSC, I increase my fees; business casual is an extra $5. One picture to verify my presence is acceptable, but multiple pics or scans, all of which require time and/or the possibility of an error invalidating the job, start at an extra $5 and escalate. When my fee requirements aren't acceptable to an MSC, I don't receive the work; so be it. As long as there're shoppers willing to work for very little, very little is what they'll be paid.

The dress code was one reason that put me off from accepting these shops from this particular company in fact. Otherwise they are a very serious and reliable company whom I love to work with on many other programs.

I'm annoyed by this shop. It was first listed a month or so ago...I signed up for both of the ones in my town. Then the client kept delaying the start date. Finally the MSP removed those shops from everyone's list and said that they would be reposted when the client was ready to go. Well, when they were reposted, I missed them. I wish the MSP would just have left them on my assignment list and let me know when the client was ready for them to be done.

yo quiero taco .belle!! i live in erie PA and would love to do some of these... any hints would be wonderful!

Jeese, I guess I get to burst your bubble. No food involved in this one...

I get to spend $2 on mine : ) How generous!

The 2 Duckies is a means of getting a receipt to prove you were there.

HKWC I sent you a private message please respond thank

Where as it is a reliable company to work with, it is also one of the poorest paying companies when it comes to their shop rates.

Don't let the company's reputation amongst shoppers fool you. This is one of the most over-rated companies out there.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2011 11:58PM by mystikwizard.

mystikwizard,

which would you say are the best?

Diva

Divadannica Wrote:
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> mystikwizard,
>
> which would you say are the best?
>
> Diva


I work am signed up with CRI, National Shopping Service, Trendsource, and Service Intelligence. I did work for Market Force until one day I could no longer select shops from them (got the boot after meeting my quota of shops evidently).

I work full time so I rarely do Mystery Shopping anymore. However, of those companies, I find that I like CRI the best. Where as people complain about their low rates, and granted they are pitiful when they start out ... they go up to very decent amounts very quickly. $15-$20 for Fuel shops (plus Fuel compensation) ... $20-$50 for bookstore shops ... $15 for craft shops ... etc.

They aren't the friendliest, but if you don't need to interact with them much and just do your job and be low maintenance, then they are fantastic to work for. However, as you can see, it is the rate of pay that is most important to me, as opposed to a company who is "nice" and "easy to get along with".

Service Intelligence was great to work for, once upon a time, but their rates have dropped tremendously and are no longer very profitable to work for. Their bonus amounts are nothing spectacular, like they used to be.

NSS was fine, as well. However same situation ... their bonuses are no longer very generous.

Trendsource, I used a lot for Business Verifications. However, if you don't have a lot in your area and simply are judging them on Mystery Shops alone ... I think they are pitiful when it comes to their rates.

Never got your message, want to try again?

plbell627 Wrote:
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> HKWC I sent you a private message please respond
> thank

i found most places have a ton of dress codes and no one bothers about them... for both msing and various companies...

Maybe I am reading the wrong spot, but I just see where it says business casual. That is the norm for announced audits.

Yes, announced audits and reveals are almost always 'business casual'. So I wear slacks instead of shorts and closed toe shoes instead of sneakers or sandals. Gets hot in summer, but what the heck. There are some announced audits, for example where you are going into the food preparation area of a restaurant, where rubber sole shoes with closed toe but not sneakers are required for your own safety.

Thanks for all the input. Looks like I might not be able to do them. I am on a Mac and they use Explorer : ( (there is no current IE for the Mac without running PC platform software) I am awaiting for a reply.

HKWC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all the input. Looks like I might not
> be able to do them. I am on a Mac and they use
> Explorer : ( (there is no current IE for the Mac
> without running PC platform software) I am
> awaiting for a reply.


I access them using Firefox...are you SURE Safari won't work?

I've accessed them from my iPad with no trouble.

I did one of these audits recently. I wore khaki pants and a casual short sleeved shirt. I would not do one of these Taco Bell reveals again. First of all, there are about 20 pages of questions you have to answer, like how many windows on each side of the building, if the windows are double pane, how many menu panels inside and at drive-thru, # of tables and shapes/colors of tables.

Second, when I went to speak with the manager to ask him one lousy question (type of cash register), he snarled at me, "I don't have time to deal with you" and stormed off! Which was kinda funny, because he was the cashier and I then had to order $2 worth of food. Such a pleasant man (not).

Definately not worth the money!

I did a bunch of these simply because they were on my way to other shops. Walked in with a simple cheat sheet to record my numbers. Told each manager I needed the register information for their projected renovation. I was aways given a free drink to go with my purchase. Leaving, I drove by the drive thru to add to my sheet. Each shop took maybe 10 minutes. I feel its all in your attitude and how you present yourself...

I agree that attitude does play a role. I walked in with a great attitude. I love Taco Bell in general. I carefully reviewed all the documentation before walking in. I completed all the paperwork before even entering the store. The one and only question the manager needed to answer was the model # of the cash register. That's it. One question. He literally snarled at me and walked off! Then he would not wait on me for several minutes, even though I was the only customer there. Finally a cook saw me and asked, "Did you want to order or something?"

I'm a 5'3 tiny petite lady...nothing rude or intimidating about me. The manager was simply a jerk.

We all get jerks from time to time. Next time you visit that location - Do it Alabama Style! Walk in with a ball bat. Show him that 5'3' is a force to deal with...

I did 5 of these this month. Thoroughly enjoyed doing them and the management was great!!Easy, easy and fun shop.

I just did two this week and they were super easy. The first one was a breeze until I got to the register question and somehow I ended up on the phone with the owner who would not disclose that info (I noted this to Trendsource and I did not have a problem with my report at all) The second one was super easy and the owner gave me the register info over the phone. The only bad thing was having to wait on line for 20 mins because of a storm related computer problem. I will continue to do these. Easy peasy.

I'm doing another Taco Bell audit tonight, different location. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get a nicer manager!

Are you calling ahead? If you are, try to ask the manager what kind of register over the phone. They know you are coming so it is not like you are spilling any secrets.