[OT] Getting back into Mystery Shopping

[Jon]

I haven't done 'original' Mystery Shopping in nearly a year now I don't think.

I just checked out my usual sites and they have the usual selection of gaming, bookies, restaurants, shops all the usual stuff but man oh man... the Fee's!!!

Jobs that did pay £5 for a quick report and now paying £3.25 I see

Is this a recent thing or are mystery shopping companies across the board just paying a lot less than before.

I was up just grabbing the gambling ones but it's just not worth it for such a low fee imo (although that is not to say that it is not enough for others)

 

[katastrophy]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

I mystery shopped for years but noticed the fees dwindling year by year to the point where it was not worth my time. Some jobs don't even cover all your expenses, as if they are doing you a favour, it makes me so mad. I work in Central London and used to nip out somewhere different for a free lunch and typically a fiver 2-3 times a week, but the monotony of the forms used to kill me.

I also get the feeling there are just so many people registered these days that they can get away with paying next to nothing for the standard jobs. Bank jobs that used to pay £12 I used to do are around £8 with a longer questionnaire. I'd be surprised if most jobs even matched the minimum wage. Think I'll be leaving it to people more desperate than myself!

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

hehe, that used to be my life in Leeds

My lunches were dictated by which gambling shops were open and which shops I could do that would get me lunch. The forms, god yeah they were far to long sometimes, let alone doing them for a couple of quid which is offered now.

On the plus points I used to get to take my girlfriend to some VERY nice restaurants that weren't chain ones in Leeds.
Used to get my car washed for free.

and had a weekend in Centre Parcs which was done as a mystery shop which they paid for and then I had to do the shops inside the Parc

Used to always see that Airline2 (lol) jobs on MarketForce which was an entire holiday for a few days, could never fit them in sadly.

on the downside

with one company they put out feeders for if anyone wants to do some more holiday based work (going away on holiday) I applied and had to write a 4000 word document on why I would be good to do that and my family and blah blah and then they just said that I didn't meet the criteria because of how many people lived in my house!

Could have just asked that in the first place!!

 

[Tuliplady]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

That did make me chuckle! I've slowly done less and less mystery shopping over the last few years as tactical merchandising pays more and the reports are so much quicker. I still do the occasional grassroots one as they're still not bad payers and I get the occasional takeaway/meal. I can't believe that people are prepared to work for such a low monthly fee. What really makes me mad is that many do not take the job seriously, and slapdash with their reports, never thinking of the consequences. I know one store that failed their mystery shop as the person serving had no name badge, according to the report, yet when they played back CCTV footage, they could prove that they were.

 

[geministar2014]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Yes i too was shocked at how low the fee is now, i recently re joined some but the work you have to do, for instance to have an eye test to earn £10, is a fair bit from making the appointment, to going to it, compiling your report! Its not worth it i dont think. and i dont think the work involved will match min wage at all! :/

 

[ted]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

This is making interesting reading and is something I'd be keen on trying if time allows.

What are the reputable sites worth checking?

 

[Tuliplady]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

If you've never mystery shopped before then
http://uk.marketforce.com/ is a good one to cut your teeth on, although the pay is poor.
My favourite is
https://www.grassrootsmysteryshopping.com/msw_pnlExtAssignmentHome.aspx
If you go on the green site there is a whole forum dedicated to it with a list of companies, do's and don'ts.

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Yeah Marketforce is a good one, I think that is where I started learning how to do it

others I used to use

EAS
EDigital Research
Retail Active

I know others have done VERY well with Gapbusters but I never seemed to get on very well with them for some reason.

 

[joeg]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

I am signed for market force, helion is another is anyone is interested.

 

[joeg]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

I am signed for market force, helion is another is anyone is interested.

 

[Boom Boom]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

How much work do you need to undertake for this?

 

[coomassie_blu]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Jon - you've mentioned bookmaker mystery shopping assignments a few times - could you elaborate just a little please?

Bearing in mind that - at the last count - there are 17 bookies within a 10 minute walk of my front door

I've never done any kind of mystery shopping - do any of the companies specialise more than others in gambling assignments? I'm not tempted to gamble "for real" myself - but would be more than happy to place bets for market research purposes

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Right

Go and sign up to these guys

http://uk.marketforce.com/

They have pretty much all the major bookies on their client list

I can't elaborate on which bookies as you can't talk about that publicly. It would be like crossing the streams, only worse!

Anyway sign up to them, I have done MANY bookie tasks.

Go in, place a £2 bet. Or play one of the machines. That's pretty much the extent of what you are asked to do

I just place my £2 on anything that is a sure fire win (well as best as you can). You get your money back + fee and then you get the profit from the bet winning as well

Easily my favourite mystery shopping ventures

 

[coomassie_blu]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Cool - thank you Jon 8)

Before I go ahead and sign up, do they operate a referral scheme? If a Shedder has a link, please do send me a PM

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

For them, no, just sign up as normal

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Cool - thank you Jon 8)

Before I go ahead and sign up, do they operate a referral scheme? If a Shedder has a link, please do send me a PM

you all signed up and on the mystery shopping bandwagon now?

 

[coomassie_blu]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

you all signed up and on the mystery shopping bandwagon now?

Yes I have registered with Market Force, and luckily passed their surprisingly tricksy little screening assessment - you need to know where to put your apostrophes! Or more importantly where not to put them!

Next I have a profile to complete, and can define the radius I am willing to cover. You are given an initial assignment, and further opportunities are only offered to you if your first report is satisfactory. They seem to be very hot on grammar, punctuation and spelling. Is this how you remember it Jon? Are there other Shedders who are working for them currently?

I will come back to update - although as Jon has pointed out I will need to be cagey about the precise nature of any assignments. Wish me luck!!

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

Yes spelling and grammar is everything but that is to be expected as the reports go to their clients

Trust me.. It will be worth the effort when the mystery shopping tasks open up

 

[coomassie_blu]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

I have my first assignment for Market Force on Thursday

I will let you know how it goes, but it might not be until the weekend as I have a busy few days ahead.

Does anybody have any good tips on how to estimate somebody's height?! It's not something I've needed to do before. Is there a knack?

 

[Jon]

Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

My knack (and it may sound stupid)

is i know my own height, was the person bigger or smaller than me? . It just has to be 'rough' not exact

what is the task? Bookies? Food? Sandwich shop?

Good thing with that company is they pay out twice a month which I always found useful

If the Airline2 task comes up which includes flights and a week away ALL PAID FOR BY THEM, then snap that one up!