Hello to all the shoppers and MSC's out there! I am relatively new to the site and I have to say I am enjoying it immensely! I can really see the value in having a forum and platform like this for shoppers and companies to share.
One of the trends I see across the board, and I am feeling it too, is the lack of interest in compliance shops. I see a variety of styles of shop out there with each offering a different reimbursement and compensation amount. Some might take a bit more work on the back end, and others not so much. I would be interested in knowing what your thoughts are on Compliance shops. What do you like about them? What turns you off about them? Are they worth the compensation being offered or is the lack of interest due to many shops being offered in remote locations or the platform the companies use?

Thanks in advance for any feedback you have an I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

-Florence M.

There are several different kinds of compliance shops, some of which I don't qualify for because of my age--age compliance shops that require someone young enough or who looks young enough to get asked for ID when attempting to purchase alcohol or tobacco. There are many other types of compliance shops--which ones were you referring to in particular? Maybe cash integrity, or revealed audits of some sort?

Edited to add--welcome to the forum!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2018 03:40PM by JASFLALMT.

This is true. I am aware that there are Minor oriented compliance shops out there and that opens up a whole other can of worms in regards to challenges. I am simply reaching out for feedback on your basic alcohol and tobacco shops from folks within the demographic (typically 18-27). There seems to be so many shops available through a lot of different MSC's and I am interested to know why (or why not) shoppers who are within the age demographic for these shops choose to take part or not. And I agree, age is an obvious reason for not being able to participate in some programs and that can be a big reason why we tend to have challenge in some areas as well.

Okay, I get you now. There are only a handful of shoppers on the forum AFAIK who are in that demographic so you might not get a lot of feedback on that.

When my oldest stepdaughter was 19, I drove her around to do a route of them at drugstores (tobacco compliance). The money was good and the shop was easy enough. Her only problem was that she worried if anyone was going to lose their job for selling her tobacco without asking for her ID. She is a cute girl and a couple of the younger guys working at the drugstores went ahead and sold cigarettes to her without carding her when she told them she didn't have ID with her.

That is a very fair reason! Thank you for your feedback! I reallyappreciate you taking the time to share that story with me. I suppose, at that age it can be a bit nerve wracking to know that your feedback could potentially affect an employee's job or performance. The flip side being that it is typically used as a training opportunity but that in itself all depends on how the management of the business chooses to handle the situation!

Thanks again!

You have a list of forum ages now?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Okay, I get you now. There are only a handful of shoppers on the forum AFAIK who are in that demographic so you might not get a lot of feedback on that.

When my oldest stepdaughter was 19, I drove her around to do a route of them at drugstores (tobacco compliance). The money was good and the shop was easy enough. Her only problem was that she worried if anyone was going to lose their job for selling her tobacco without asking for her ID. She is a cute girl and a couple of the younger guys working at the drugstores went ahead and sold cigarettes to her without carding her when she told them she didn't have ID with her.

So is it stalking time again, Canada Mommy? It has been a few years since you last stalked me around the forum posting negativity about most of my posts, though I notice you have done it to a few other forum members since then. Don't you have anything better to do today than go on another rampage?

When my son did some of the tobacco compliance shops his reasons for stopping were the same JASFLALMT mentioned. He didn't want to be responsible for anyone losing their job. He won't touch alcohol compliance for the same reason.

I'm within the age range and do compliance shops all the time, usually alcohol. I find them to be very easy and scoop them up whenever possible. I also am a firm believer in the age limits that are set, knowing what tobacco and alcohol can do to my peers. I have no worries about getting someone fired. All they had to do is do their job right. There are hundreds of people out there looking for a job that would be more then willing to do the job correctly.

One of my kidlets does these, but usually only with a bonus. The mass merchandise stores are the easiest since they always, always do it right. The gas station ones don't pay enough at base rate. She won't do the "I changed my mind" ones because they're just too awkward according to her.

As far as losing their jobs, that's a small price to pay compared to the fine that our state levies. And they do check often. There are constant advertisements from the state for both 17 year olds and 18-25 year olds. The shopper isn't responsible for their losing their jobs -- they are, for not complying with the law.

I am 25 and will do compliance shops, but only when they pay $30-$40+ for an attempted store purchase. I will not do any type of compliance shop with “reveal” (manager signature, etc) because it’s way too uncomfortable.

I don’t do bar compliance because if I want to go out and drink, I want to do it on my terms without worrying about shop guidelines. There is zero incentive to offer me a “free” drink or two and an appetizer in exchange for my shop report. I do compliance shops strictly for cash money, and it has to be enough that it overrides my discomfort about performing compliance shops to begin with.

Editing to add— to give direct feedback in regards to the “compliance shops with a $2 reimbursement” that I see advertised; I personally would never do these because $2 for an alcohol/tobacco purchase is, IMO, laughable and embarrassing. The guidelines are not clear, and the pay is not high enough to get me to ask questions to clear up the guidelines. Is it an attempted purchase shop where you don’t show ID at first, then show ID if they ask for one and purchase the alcohol/tobacco item regardless? For an alcohol/tobacco item that you get refunded $2 for? What can you even purchase for $2? Or is it a shop where you attempt to purchase alcohol/tobacco, then when they ask for ID, you claim to have forgotten, and purchase a small bag of chips/soda that you are then reimbursed for?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2018 12:08AM by Megs7521.

I have done the $10 ones with the reveal - I actually enjoy the revealed shops and appreciate how quick they are. If you live near an area with a lot of them, you can easily hit 8 in a few hours and the reports take about a minute each.

I have also done the $7 pay/$7 reimbursement because I'm 22 and would be buying alcohol anyways... it's nice to get a bottle of wine for free and enough pay to cover a few gallons of gas, just like the gas station client but with very few report questions. I have seen the rate go up on those just recently, I believe, to $9?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2018 03:19AM by MadisonDiem.

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback! This is very helpful for me to gain an understanding of the mindset within the mystery shopping community. In regards to the shops that I have personally posted, I am on board with your reaction! When I first started seeing the $2 reimbursement for tobacco and alcohol purchases I thought the same thing as you. As we are in Canada, there is really no location that I can think of who would offer those products at a purchase of $2. However, from seeing the receipts of the shoppers who do these shops, and the particular locations they visit, there are legitimate purchases that are made (shocking, I know). Most shoppers will purchase a couple of flavored cigarettes or cigars and for alcohol they purchase a can of cider or "hard lemonade". Others like to combine their purchase with something else they are picking up at the same time which is perfectly acceptable as well. The bottom line for no matter which style of shop you choose is you should be comfortable with the process!

Thanks again and have a great day!

-Florence M.