Bizarre rejection of shop, I dont know what to do.
Well in my original scenario I was buying a gift, so I had asked about the return policy because of that reason. I also chose the least expensive snow blower (obviously), and it was the one the guy didn't recommend because it was 'for sidewalks and stuff like that'. I think he was happy to take it back because it meant he was right about the recommendation, and I was 'eating my words' regarding that snowblower not being what I should have bought. Anyways, he took it back gladly and without hesitation
The receipt, which I signed when I took possession of the snowblower for the job, clearly stated "purchase subject to 20% restocking fee". They could have assessed the fee regardless of what I said when I brought the purchase back (I believe). They ended up not doing that, but the fact that the secret shopper company just dropped me like a bad habit as soon as the job went differently then they imagined it to go is what is so troubling to me. The weird part about it is usually, when they cancel the job it stays on your dashboard as a cancelled job, but this one was completely removed within minutes of me contacting the scheduler of the job. Its like they never wanted to admit I was assigned the job in the first place?
Would it be possible to say who the mystery shopping company is since the client has not been mentioned?
I have an assignment where i have to purchase expensive item and return. No credit involved or anything, but the refund policy isnt very clear online if i would get full refund or in store credit. (Have not yet called store to find out).
However, it would be nice to know which companies to stay away from regarding large purcahse/ return assignments. I think this information would be helpful to many people.
Either way thank you for sharing your story it was very informative.
I have an assignment where i have to purchase expensive item and return. No credit involved or anything, but the refund policy isnt very clear online if i would get full refund or in store credit. (Have not yet called store to find out).
However, it would be nice to know which companies to stay away from regarding large purcahse/ return assignments. I think this information would be helpful to many people.
Either way thank you for sharing your story it was very informative.
The MSC should be aware of the 20% restocking fee . This puts the shopper behind at the get go.
I don't mind sharing, it was ath power. I've done a sizeable number of secret shopper jobs with in the past without incident, but this has been the worst
I tried doing this shop once. The store I had to go to was a furniture store. I made sure to read their return policy online to make sure I could return the item. It said I could.
Then when I get to the store, like you I pretended it was a gift and asked about returns. The store associate told me their policy was that I could NOT return something, only exchange it! Big difference from what their website states. I didn't argue, I just declined the purchase and left. I told the scheduler I failed the shop and why.
I do a lot of shops with this MSC so it didn't affect my relationship with them. I usually love their shops, but this one I now stay away from.
If the MSC could work something out with these clients to assure we can return the item, this wouldn't be such a bad shop.
To OP: Thanks for sharing how your experience went, good, bad and ugly!
Then when I get to the store, like you I pretended it was a gift and asked about returns. The store associate told me their policy was that I could NOT return something, only exchange it! Big difference from what their website states. I didn't argue, I just declined the purchase and left. I told the scheduler I failed the shop and why.
I do a lot of shops with this MSC so it didn't affect my relationship with them. I usually love their shops, but this one I now stay away from.
If the MSC could work something out with these clients to assure we can return the item, this wouldn't be such a bad shop.
To OP: Thanks for sharing how your experience went, good, bad and ugly!
I am new to this forum. Why can you not say who the MSC is? The posting guidelines for the forum ask us not to reveal the clients of the MSC and do not ask us to keep the name of the MSC hidden. Revealing the MSC would help us avoid the company if we wish to avoid its practices.
Why is everyone dancing around by using the term MSC?? Tell us who you are talking about!
I didn't originally say who the MSC was because I wanted to have a meaningful conversation about what happened rather then have a "Oh this company is horrible" thread. But I figured we had hashed out all angles of the situation. athPower!
@myst4au wrote:
Wow. I know exactly which MSC this is and the scenario. Personally, I would have looked at the 20% restocking fee as a reduction in the fee, so that $200 would really only be $100. I am not sure that I would have proceeded at that point. When this appeared the last time, you had to buy an item priced at $1500 or above and agree not to return it. I imagine that they found few people who happened to want to buy such an item, so the new scenario appeared. They seem to be just sitting there.
I had a job appear for $50 to sign up with or renew your contract for a 2 year period with a certain mobile carrier. After a week, the rate went up to $100, then $125, then $200, and eventually disappeared. It just wasn't worth it to most people.
It is possible that the MSC's client is the financing company and the store itself is being shopped to see if they are offering the financing companies product per contract. The MSC likely has no contact whatsoever with the store and is two parties removed from them. I saw the list of companies and many were privately owned single shops that would not have anything to do with an MSC.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2015 06:58PM by scanman1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2015 06:58PM by scanman1.
I also notice on the list for my state not a single one was taken third post today... they are still sitting...
I believe that the client is the consumer finance company. There is therefore no direct relationship of the MSC to the independent stores and the MSC has no way of knowing return policies of any standing as far as intervening on behalf of the shopper. This is somewhat similar to the shops done at Big Box stores which seek to find out if credit if offered (you don't have to apply). The client is the consumer finance company, and sometimes they want a copy of the credit application form to see if it is current.
@scanman1 wrote:
It is possible that the MSC's client is the financing company and the store itself is being shopped to see if they are offering the financing companies product per contract. The MSC likely has no contact whatsoever with the store and is two parties removed from them. I saw the list of companies and many were privately owned single shops that would not have anything to do with an MSC.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I just want to take a moment to welcome CandaceHart to the forum.
We see a lot of new people join because they have had a problem with a MSC and they want to vent. Usually it's over a $7.50 fee and the poster rants and raves in all caps about what a horrible MSC it is and how nobody should ever accept a shop from them ever again (with lots of #%*$&, bold, underlined, exclamation points thrown in for emphasis).
This new member was potentially out $100 from her own pocket, yet remained calm and extremely professional not only in her OP but throughout the thread.
CandaceHart, you are a breath of fresh air. We welcome you with open arms!
There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
We see a lot of new people join because they have had a problem with a MSC and they want to vent. Usually it's over a $7.50 fee and the poster rants and raves in all caps about what a horrible MSC it is and how nobody should ever accept a shop from them ever again (with lots of #%*$&, bold, underlined, exclamation points thrown in for emphasis).
This new member was potentially out $100 from her own pocket, yet remained calm and extremely professional not only in her OP but throughout the thread.
CandaceHart, you are a breath of fresh air. We welcome you with open arms!
Here's what happened to me with the same MSC:
Last week I was assigned the credit card shop for a bank card at a hardware store in my area where I was to purchase an item over $200 and I would receive $200 reimbursement or I could return the item later. I was to research to find the item I wanted before going, then apply for the card at the register (the cashier was supposed to ask me if I wanted to apply). I drove all the way to the city where the store was located, went inside, found the $201 air purifier I wanted to buy, and went to the register, only to find that this hardware store did not offer the brand of bank card I was supposed to be applying for. The guidelines did not state it was my job to research whether or not the location offered this particular bank card, only that I had to research the item over $200 to purchase. I went out to the parking lot and called the scheduler, who told me not to do the shop and he would find another one for me to do in my area. He removed the shop and added a different location for the following day. I researched the other store the next morning, found an item, and then on a whim decided to call the store to make sure that they offered the bank card I was supposed to apply for. Guess what? They didn't. I let the scheduler know that this location did not offer the bank card, either. He removed the shop, and since I was going out of town the next day, I didn't have time to pick up another location (which is just as well because I would have been highly irritated to find a 3rd location that didn't carry this card). So altogether I put about 3 hours into this shop with no pay, wasted time that I could have used to perform other shops and make money. I emailed the scheduler and stated that I felt I should be compensated a fee for my effort and time, and he asked how much, stating that he would ask his supervisor. I replied that I felt as if $25 would be appropriate. Never heard back from him. I think I should get paid considering it wasn't my error and I followed the guidelines properly. I am guessing it's not going to happen, though. Oh, and two days later they reposted the second location even though I had let them know that this store did not carry the bank card I was shopping!!!! Why on earth would an MSC post shops that involved getting a particular brand of credit card without making sure that the locations they were posting indeed did use financing from this particular bank? And why repost the same location after being notified that the store did not use that bank card for their financing? Frustrating.
Last week I was assigned the credit card shop for a bank card at a hardware store in my area where I was to purchase an item over $200 and I would receive $200 reimbursement or I could return the item later. I was to research to find the item I wanted before going, then apply for the card at the register (the cashier was supposed to ask me if I wanted to apply). I drove all the way to the city where the store was located, went inside, found the $201 air purifier I wanted to buy, and went to the register, only to find that this hardware store did not offer the brand of bank card I was supposed to be applying for. The guidelines did not state it was my job to research whether or not the location offered this particular bank card, only that I had to research the item over $200 to purchase. I went out to the parking lot and called the scheduler, who told me not to do the shop and he would find another one for me to do in my area. He removed the shop and added a different location for the following day. I researched the other store the next morning, found an item, and then on a whim decided to call the store to make sure that they offered the bank card I was supposed to apply for. Guess what? They didn't. I let the scheduler know that this location did not offer the bank card, either. He removed the shop, and since I was going out of town the next day, I didn't have time to pick up another location (which is just as well because I would have been highly irritated to find a 3rd location that didn't carry this card). So altogether I put about 3 hours into this shop with no pay, wasted time that I could have used to perform other shops and make money. I emailed the scheduler and stated that I felt I should be compensated a fee for my effort and time, and he asked how much, stating that he would ask his supervisor. I replied that I felt as if $25 would be appropriate. Never heard back from him. I think I should get paid considering it wasn't my error and I followed the guidelines properly. I am guessing it's not going to happen, though. Oh, and two days later they reposted the second location even though I had let them know that this store did not carry the bank card I was shopping!!!! Why on earth would an MSC post shops that involved getting a particular brand of credit card without making sure that the locations they were posting indeed did use financing from this particular bank? And why repost the same location after being notified that the store did not use that bank card for their financing? Frustrating.
Wow, what a great thread! My takeaway from all of the posts is that I will not be doing a shop in which I have to put out a lot of money unless I need the item in case the shop goes wrong. For example, I will not be going in to buy that $350 coach bag and 'accidentally' have to keep it.
In all seriousness, this thread was very informative, thanks to all of the posters!
In all seriousness, this thread was very informative, thanks to all of the posters!
****************
Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
I'm beginning to be dumbfounded at the all-too-frequent problems that seemed to be caused because MSCs don't know that the venues to be shopped don't participate in a certain credit-card program or don't participate in a cell-phone plan offering or are no longer open or aren't open on certain days of the week (Sundays, for example), etc. Or, the incorrect address is posted in the shop instructions.
Isn't there anyone at these companies who's responsible for verifying at least a minimum of information prior to scheduling shops? Do they rely on clients' information even if it might be outdated?
JASFLALMT should have been compensated for some time and expense. If a shopper is given an assignment, and there is no way for him or her to perform it because of inaccurate information supplied the by MSC, then the shopper should not be "out of pocket." The shopper makes the mistake, it's one thing. If the MSC or the client makes the mistake, that's another entirely. Yet shoppers seem to be almost always the ones left "holding the bag."
Isn't there anyone at these companies who's responsible for verifying at least a minimum of information prior to scheduling shops? Do they rely on clients' information even if it might be outdated?
JASFLALMT should have been compensated for some time and expense. If a shopper is given an assignment, and there is no way for him or her to perform it because of inaccurate information supplied the by MSC, then the shopper should not be "out of pocket." The shopper makes the mistake, it's one thing. If the MSC or the client makes the mistake, that's another entirely. Yet shoppers seem to be almost always the ones left "holding the bag."
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Right, Birdy. It's one thing when the guidelines state "please call before making the visit to ensure hours or that the location is still in business as we do not pay for closed visits" but if not, we reasonably assume the MSC has that already covered for us. I have seen some shops from another MSC that asks shoppers to pose as a grad student doing a paper and go to a car service location to ask questions where the shop pays $30, but if the survey is refused only a small fee is given to the shopper. Shoppers have no way of knowing if they drive somewhere 20 miles away or more if they are guaranteed a decent fee.
You are all also thinking of this differently. I know for a fact many of these kind of shops are actually data gathering to check who does offer that certain brand of card. They now got that info for free to make the list of what store has opted out of the card. And free info from us. Tricky and sneaky. Been done before and will be done again.
Canadamommy, you are mistaken. The scheduler was dumbfounded that the location(s) did not have the bank card. Maybe in your experience with some other MSC this happened to you, but in this particular instance in which the OP and I dealt with, it was not the case.
Actually. Am not mistaken. They are building a clean list for them.
The schedulers have no clue that the list was not clean to start. Your scheduler gave it away right there thinking it was a clean list.
The schedulers have no clue that the list was not clean to start. Your scheduler gave it away right there thinking it was a clean list.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Canadamommy, you are mistaken. The scheduler was dumbfounded that the location(s) did not have the bank card. Maybe in your experience with some other MSC this happened to you, but in this particular instance in which the OP and I dealt with, it was not the case.
Canadamommy, where are you getting your information? It makes no sense. I know that another shopper in my state who lives about 100 miles away from me did one successfully with expected payment of $200. My niece, who lives in a different state, also did one and will be paid her $200. It absolutely makes no sense that the financial institution does not know which retailers use their card, and even if for some bizarre reason they don't, why in the world would they pay shoppers such an exorbitant fee for this "clean list" when they could easily pay a team to pick up the phone and make phone calls to gather the information, rather than pay an MSC, schedulers, and shoppers to do that? The amount paid out would be considerably more to the MSC to do this. The purpose of this shop is to see if the retailer offers the card, then the shopper is to apply for the card and complete follow up for 30 days, including uploads of the credit card bill and information regarding the inquiry via email and phone call during this 30 days. Not to mention that I did a shop for this MSC concerning this same bank card several years ago at a well-known retailer with the same exact scenario. I had to do follow-up and keep the account open long enough to complete the tracking.
Haven't been in the business long? How do you think they clean up lists? This has been happening for YEARS.
No the schedulers do not know it, they are not paid to know it. They are given a list to assign. Done deal.
You think the purpose is one thing since you are reading YOUR guidlelines. Dig a little.
No the schedulers do not know it, they are not paid to know it. They are given a list to assign. Done deal.
You think the purpose is one thing since you are reading YOUR guidlelines. Dig a little.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Canadamommy, where are you getting your information? It makes no sense. I know that another shopper in my state who lives about 100 miles away from me did one successfully with expected payment of $200. My niece, who lives in a different state, also did one and will be paid her $200. It absolutely makes no sense that the financial institution does not know which retailers use their card, and even if for some bizarre reason they don't, why in the world would they pay shoppers such an exorbitant fee for this "clean list" when they could easily pay a team to pick up the phone and make phone calls to gather the information, rather than pay an MSC, schedulers, and shoppers to do that? The amount paid out would be considerably more to the MSC to do this. The purpose of this shop is to see if the retailer offers the card, then the shopper is to apply for the card and complete follow up for 30 days, including uploads of the credit card bill and information regarding the inquiry via email and phone call during this 30 days. Not to mention that I did a shop for this MSC concerning this same bank card several years ago at a well-known retailer with the same exact scenario. I had to do follow-up and keep the account open long enough to complete the tracking.
Whoa, Canadamommy, I am not sure where all of this negativity is coming from on your end. I have been a shopper for 14 years and have done 85 shops for this particular MSC (thousands over the years with various other companies). I did not say that no company ever does this, and in your particular experience with other MSCs, this may have happened to you. However, with this MSC, this is the first time they have ever dropped the ball with me. I do not have expectations of negativity and that they are being "tricky and sneaky" as you wrote in a previous post. One experience out of 85 is not going to make me think badly of this company, nor do I think they and their client are so foolish as to put out such an exorbitant amount of money to find out whether or not some retailers carry a particular bank card (and it seems ridiculous to think that the financial institution does not know which retailers carry their card). If you can tell me the name of this MSC and of your experiences with them it would be helpful in understanding why you think this company is so sneaky and tricky.
I am not naming names. Won't go there. It is SUPER common in the industry. It is called cleaning lists. It is no different from any other company sending us on a wild goose chase to find a closed store and paying us something like $3. You have the store list, you should know if the stores are all open right? No, that is another way to "clean" the list. They pay the shoppers to "clean" the list. In 14 years you are darn lucky if you never got a closed store somewhere along the line. Same exact thing.
So this is why you are following me around in threads and bashing all of my posts? You won't name names but are following me around with your negative comments? You are entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion, this is not in character with this MSC and doesn't fit the bill. Just because you don't like what I am saying about this, don't go writing about how I live in a podunk town as a response to all of my posts. It's weird, negative, and totally uncalled for.
Thank you! I pride myself on maintaining my professionalism, even when the SS company does not. kind of ironic, wouldn't you agree?
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