Mystery Shopping: The Ten-Foot Pole List

by Julie Gentry | More from this Blogger

22 Jan 2007 01:23 AM

Pay has steadily declined in mystery shopping. The good shops are still out there. But so are the bad ones! Some companies apparently don't have a clue about what it takes to do a shop. Or they do, but shoppers are selling themselves short so they continue to underbid and underpay. In an effort to help you dodge these shops (especially when you're first starting), here's my personal "Top Ten Wouldn't Touch it with a Ten-Foot Pole" list.

Please note that if you do accept one of these shops, you need to complete it no matter how much it isn't worth it.

10. Any shop with an "optional return". This is a company's way of paying you only once for two shops. If you make the optional return, you have to report on it. When you buy sunglasses for $100 without a coupon, yes, you're going to return them. If a shop has a return, whether optional or not, both the purchase and return need to have a fee (or a fee equal to twice the normal shop for that company.)

9. Any shop with partial reimbursement (excluding amusement parks). If I wanted $75 off my $150 dinner, I'd rather get a coupon and not have to fill out the awfully long report.

8. Anything in a bad neighborhood at night, regardless of the pay. Even with protection, it's not worth my safety. Plus, unless you dress the part, you usually stick out like a sore thumb.

7. Polls outside stores. Every one I've ever been dumb enough to accept has taken hours longer than the company 'estimates', at no extra pay.

6. Any shop that requires me to lug around a heavy object waiting for an employee to offer assistance. These shops are always at companies whose employees apparently figure that I'm a big, strong girl and can use the exercise.

5. Bank shops that require speaking with a customer service representative for less than $15. Cash a check? Sure. Ask a question? Sure. But if I'm going to sit down at that desk and spend twenty or thirty minutes, then write a detailed report, I need to be compensated fairly for it. And if I need to see a teller on top of the CSR, that's a second shop.

4. Any health club or weight-loss shops where I have to give out my real information. At any price. It's simply not worth the high-pressure sales and the repeated phone calls. Plus, the shop itself is a long one.

3. A car dealership for less than $40. Again, these are long and detailed shops and should be paid accordingly.

2. Apartment shops with a targeted employee, unless they pay really well, or are for Shoptalk. Otherwise, you are stuck trying to get hold of an employee who is never there, won't answer the phone, knows you're coming, or no longer works there. Trust me, these are a real PITA.

And rising to the number one spot on the Top 10 list is...

1. Timeshare shops. Unless I get to keep all the incentives. Some companies require you to give back all the goodies they give you. The thing is, the shop fee is far less than the value of the goodies. You're better off going as yourself if you're interested in a timeshare. Plus, they are all very high pressure, and they do a soft-pull on your credit.

There they are, the top ten shops to avoid. Have you done any of these yet? If so, do you agree that they belong here?

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Julie is affectionately known as GoGo Mama to her friends since she seems to always be out and about.

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