[OT] Mystery Shopping

Jon

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Away from using smartphone apps to do MSing there is still the more 'traditional' way of doing it

I haven't done any for quite some time but used to really enjoy the bookies ones

DO NOT MENTION THE NAME OF ANY CLIENTS IN THIS THREAD

if you want to get started in the world of Mystery Shopping i would recommend Market Force

http://uk.marketforce.com/

They have a decent learning curve when it comes to starting out and IMO offer by far the widest choice of jobs available throughout the country.
 

Bellavilla1

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There is also Gapbuster http://www.xec.gapbuster.com/index.htm
and also
GFK http://www.gfk.com/uk/solutions/mystery-shopping/Pages/default.aspx
I have worked for both
 

Jon

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Sometimes I think about going back to Mystery Shopping - Just to do the bookies mind you

But the fees man.. they ain't so hot anymore are they.
 

caledonia1972

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I used to do a LOT of mystery shopping, all sorts of clients from supermarkets to banks. Stopped about 18 months ago because the fees kept going down and with rising fuel costs it just wasn't worth my while.

I still do restaurant visits but mainly because it's a free lunch out for me and a friend.
 

Jon

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I used to love doing the food tasks but like you said it got to the point where unless it was a GAP premium type task you didn't even get enough to cover out a meal for two.
 

Jon

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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

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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. :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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

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

joeg

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Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

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

Boom Boom

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Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

How much work do you need to undertake for this?
 

The Funky Blue Dog

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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 :D

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

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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
 

The Funky Blue Dog

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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

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Re: Getting back into Mystery Shopping

For them, no, just sign up as normal
 

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