| Author |
 Topic  |
|
EllenNC
Star Contributor
Raleigh, NC
USA
497 Posts |
 Posted - 11/30/2007 : 8:50:35 PM
|
| I have helped 5 people get started and only one is still shopping and not doing such a great job. I find that most people think that mystery shopping involves going to Belk and buying a cute blouse and then having lunch at the Melting Pot, all on someone else's dime. Their idea of mystery shopping is actually called a "sugar daddy". Few people get that it's a job and has to be treated like one. I simply refuse to be bothered anymore. I just say that when the companies I work for need someone I will give human resources their email address. Besides most of the people who want to do this don't think it's a real job anyway, but rather that it's a hobby that one gets paid to do. I also find it easier not to tell what I do. I just say I am involved in market research--hardly anyone but us knows what that is and don't want to admit and won't ask. I've never had a single person ask what that involved or even continued the conversation further. What a hoot. |
Ellen |
 |
|
|
SherryDG
Star Contributor
Chicago Burbs, IL
USA
364 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2007 : 04:21:40 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by HeatherShops
The only person I turned on to mystery shopping is my mother. I tell no one about this cuz it never fails. Blah, blah , blah and I am done. Why tell anyone?! It is a mystery!!
My direct blood relatives know, but otherwise I don't talk about it.
For a couple of neighbors that know something is up I make vague statements and comments like, "I check and make sure the lights are all turned on at different stores, yup, dum, I know" I saw it with such boredom that it never goes further.
Everyone knows I have a full time job so they don't assume I am really doing anything extra.
I haven't even told the people I work with. They have let me know that several calls have come thru verifying my employment or asking for me. I just tell them that I check out silly stuff on the internet. The callers don't reveal very much info-thank goodness
I like the "I Spy" of it all
|
SherryDG
MSPA Silver
Happily shopping the Chicagoland area
|
|
|
|
BlueAbe
Star Contributor
Mid-Central, Ohio
USA
2080 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2007 : 11:40:38 AM
|
| I send everyone to sign up for service intelligence and do their shops. Just one of their shops and super low pay is enough to scare them off. Not to mention those insane certification tests for the pay that hasn't gone up in 5 years. |
Gold certified since the beginning. Merchandising, Mystery shopping, & Court Research throughout Mid-Central Ohio. |
|
|
|
Sandra Wright
Star Contributor
Arlington, VA
USA
2079 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 05:43:59 AM
|
| I have given out instructions to go on Volition and have given them the names of companies I work for. So far out of five friends O have ever taken one job. One lives close by. The others are in New England. Once they see the method in which they have to sign up or a report form that kills it. |
Sandy C |
|
|
|
JNorthup
Valued Contributor
Toledo, OH
USA
165 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 5:15:40 PM
|
Sometimes I volunteer to give tips to my family and friends on how to find jobs, but I make sure I am secured from competition before I do! Usually, the ones I help out are in OTHER STATES so I have nothing to worry about!  Other than that, theres so many different types of mystery shops, what I won't shop, I pass along to the others. |
Josh
Gold Certified
|
|
|
|
Val17
Member
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2007 : 1:17:26 PM
|
I have so many people ask me and I just tell them Volition. I had some one email me and ask a ton of questions and I came out and said I spent a lot of time and research on it, I wont give you the companies I shop for. You do the research.
My sil is finally shopping, she heard about the all the shopping "treats" I got a few weeks ago and she said okay enough is enough, I am ready to do this. She said wow, I didnt realize how tough it is. UM, duh!  |
|
|
|
VioletM
Contributor
Los Angeles, CA
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2007 : 1:46:27 PM
|
I refer them to Mystery Guest and have them take me to dinner  |
Violet |
|
|
|
RuthHallows
Valued Contributor
Mesa, AZ
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2007 : 3:00:34 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by VioletM
I refer them to Mystery Guest and have them take me to dinner
I love that! I should try it. |
MSPA Gold Certified
Serving Mesa, Tempe, and Gilbert, AZ
Shopping Since 2001 |
|
|
|
Heather C.
Valued Contributor
Montreal
Canada
196 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2007 : 09:25:36 AM
|
| In the past I've given friends a few names of the mystery shopping companies I work for but most of them never get past the application stage because that's when they realize mystery shopping isn't as fun and glamorous as they thought and the fees aren't worth their time |
|
|
|
Debbo
Star Contributor
Charlotte, NC
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2007 : 11:47:31 AM
|
| I went to a lot of trouble for a friend of a very dear friend, and prepared a seven-page document to help her get started (four pages of which was a list of companies and their websites). The woman was so intimidated by the amount of verbiage at this very early stage that she dropped the idea immediately. Since then I have used this technique twice to great effect! |
Debra
MSPA Shopper of the Year 2009
Video shopping in the Carolinas and throughout the US |
|
|
|
Ang Harris
Valued Contributor
Maryland
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2007 : 12:44:33 PM
|
I helped my cousin get started and she has done very well. No one else could get pass the application process. |
|
|
|
RichC
Member
VA
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2007 : 1:27:24 PM
|
If they're really serious, I'll help. I'm too busy to do a fraction of all the shops I get in the mail. But there is a catch. I make them buy me dinner (sort-of).
I'll find a dinner shop that requires a guest, that only pays reimbursement. We go over the instructions (And yes - I clear it with the Shopping Co first. They always want more shoppers). We do the shop together. That person gets to pay the tab. We do the form.
And, when the check comes in (six weeks later) I reimburse them.
Then if they're still interested, I'll show them how to get a similar job and get them started, and they can take me to dinner again, after they have their own account set up. At least, that was the deal anyway. I've done this twice, and both of them were turned off by the hassle and the long wait.
|
|
|
|
JuanitaJ
Star Contributor
Houston, TX
USA
946 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2007 : 03:45:43 AM
|
I think all of you will agree that part of the process of becoming a very good mystery shopper is having to work through all the little hurdles that come up during the shops and entering reports. If we had someone to hold our hand all the time, and give us the answers, we would never learn how to handle things ourselves.
The first jobs I did seemed very tedious and time-consuming and perhaps not worth the money. But I pressed on and became more familiar with everything and now those same jobs are a breeze. You all probably know what I mean.
I suggest they go to Volition and some other websites. I do offer to suggest a few companies I believe are very good for beginners and I offer to help if they run into a problem. But I tell them that the scheduler, in most cases, will be the one they should call. The only person that has started out and giving it a try is my daughter. Others have, I believe, realized that it really is work! They were more interested in just fun. |
Juanita
MSPA Gold Certified
Happily shopping the Houston, TX area. |
|
|
|
Roswitha
Star Contributor
Pinellas Park, FL
USA
445 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2007 : 08:31:10 AM
|
For a good friend who could use the money and has an underage daughter to do all the cigarette and alcohol compliance shops with I put together some valuable information including volition info. I also took the time and suggested some good companies that I know are worth it and have ongoing work etc etc.
It's the work involved, from getting familiar with the various sites to making a schedule for yourself, taking the tests and applying individually at so many places, that turns everyone off.
Other than my son getting involved in some of my merch projects or acting as a driver when I put together a good MS route on occasion (I hate driving more than 30 minutes one way to do shops) no one has taken me up on it.
I find overall that they either think it is a scam and are worried about never seeing any money for their work or they don't want to have to put in all the work required to make MSing a successful undertaking.
A lunch buddy in my area would be great to swap shops with - every two weeks one of us could be the shopper and the other just gets to enjoy the lunch. 
If anyone else asks I give them the volition site and tell them to call me if they have questions as they sign up with companies to find work - there is more than enough work in my area. The only comments I received after they looked at volition were "WOW, I didn't realize there is so much to do" - they never take up MSing. |
Roswitha
MSPA Gold Shopping sunny Florida Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo ..... |
|
|
|
Chanda A
Apprentice
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 1:02:58 PM
|
One thing I've noticed is that if they are really serious, why didn't they take the time to do the research? Once you find Volition or MSPA, it's fairly *simple* to find companies. The hardest and most time consuming part is signing up for all the companies you find. I wish I could have gotten paid by the hour to do that. 
My husband has told some of his co-workers (who I don't even like) what I do and they want to know websites to get started. I told him to stop telling people because we live in a small area and it's tough enough for me to make the extra money.
I've tried to get my mother in on it (she lives in another state) because there are always shops around her, but she doesn't want to put the work or thought into the reports and details. 
Yes, I could refer these people to a couple of the lowest paying sites and once they realize what is involved, they probably won't ever try it again. But ya know what, I was serious about it and took the time to find the information, they can too. I have 3 kids and I'm a SAHM, I have plenty on my plate - they don't have any kids, just a part-time job. They can do the leg work.
Just my 2 cents....
|
|
|
|
Irene Potter
Contributor
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 7:35:19 PM
|
The greatest way to discourage a friend is to treat them to a restaurant meal and show them what you have to fill out to get paid. Then they will leave you alone |
Silver Certified |
|
|
|
MsJudi
Star Contributor
New Jersey
USA
582 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 7:50:07 PM
|
If mystery shopping comes up in discussion, almost always there is someone who asks how to do it because they've "always wanted to do that." I've written the Volition website down numerous times. Few have ever followed up and most want to be spoon fed the ins and out. I am a teacher and MS part time. I certainly don't have time to guide someone through the process, although I would enjoy it.( the teacher in me, I suppose) I do think it would be fun to have a shopping buddy too, sometimes. Knowing how much time and energy it took initially to get going and make it a success and make contacts etc, I think I've become quite protective of the companies that are really good to me. I won't share that info.
It's no secret. In order to be successful in this business, you have to be a self starter who figures out the process yourself. Anyone, other than a very young adult, who needs a hand to hold in the process and wants short cuts provided by experienced shoppers, will never make it anyway. Besides when they realize how much real "work" is involved in shopping, they won't do it. I think the first few months were the most difficult part of the process of becoming a shopper. There was the reading, man did I read!! The applications, the instructions, the nerves, the setting up the spread sheets and files, the basic organization, the figuring out how to do a lot of stuff I've never done on the internet, did I mention the nerves, learning to use the digital camera properly, the reading and nerves.
Now, it's so much easier, but it was a learning process that I feel has made me a better shopper because I went through it and figured things out for myself.
I would be glad to put folks in touch with a few companies and get them started, if they were serious about it, but please don't bug me with phone calls about every little thing that comes along.
Phew, I'm wordy tonight! That's all for now...Good night all! |
Judi |
|
|
|
MarionR
Star Contributor
Delaware County, PA
USA
345 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 9:14:34 PM
|
I told 3 of my friends about mystery shopping but none of them were interested after I told them that payment may take a while. They wanted something with a more IMMEDIATE pay check.
With that being said, today I received a course catalog in the mail from my local community college. Lo and behold, one of the classes being offered was Mystery Shopping. I am tempted to sign up for it to see what kind of info is being disseminated.  |
Marion
Gold Certified July 2005 |
|
|
|
MargeI
Star Contributor
Middletown, MD
USA
900 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2008 : 7:35:59 PM
|
Tonight one of the ushers at the movie theater asked how he could get to do trailer checks.
I started with, "Oh, they're not hiring anyone right now" (thanks Quinn, I owe ya a beer)
Then he persists, so I tried, "Oh, you WORK here, they wouldn't let you do that, it would be a conflict of interest."
To which he says, "Well I just wouldn't TELL them that." And when I gave him a dirty look, he said, "Well couldn't I do *other* theaters?"
Yeah, mm hmmm. That was enough of that! |
|
|
|
LisaOV
Star Contributor
MN
USA
2609 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2008 : 04:59:24 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Irene Potter
The greatest way to discourage a friend is to treat them to a restaurant meal and show them what you have to fill out to get paid. Then they will leave you alone
Totally agree! I have a friend, who at a party once was telling everyone how easy the shops are - the ones where I've taken her to dinner - and how there is nothing to do, but eat. The next time I took her out I made her sit and fill out the form with me. I've noticed that she hasn't mentioned this as being easy again.
I have another friend who was complete surprised that I had instrustions to follow. His idea was you just went shopping anywhere and however you wanted and reported it back. He had no idea that you were *told* what to do.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
When your friends wants you to help them start mystery shopping