David_15157399294557
6 years +1 David_15157399294557 58
Phone and web assignment

When I first started with ISS this year I had trouble getting phone and web shops as well. They are not self-assigned as are the other available shops. Phone/web shops are requested and the scheduler will assign a shopper. The first couple are hard to get, but once the scheduler gets to know your work they get a little easier. These are quick and easy shops so there are a lot of people that want them.


Keep checking the web site and put in a request for the earliest date possible. This will improve your chances of getting them. Keep trying and don't get discouraged. They go fast!

David_15157399294557
6 years 0 David_15157399294557 58
Buy one beer between 5:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.

In my old neighborhood in Detroit we had several trucking companies that worked 24/7. A lot of the neighborhood bars opened at 7:00AM and it wasn't unusual to see a full house by 8:00AM, especially on payday. The local stores did a land office business as well.


As the saying goes, It's 5:00 somewhere!

David_15157399294557
6 years 0 David_15157399294557 58
Where is everyone from?

I'm in north Texas now having moved from So. Cal. I'm originally from Michigan so if I can move to the East Coast I will have all four corners covered.

David_15157399294557
6 years 0 David_15157399294557 58
Hey... new shopper here from Kansas City MO

Welcome Amanda,


     I found that this platform is one of the more user friendly. It's easy to see what is available for both walk-in and telephone/web shops and there is also a spreadsheet that will show your pay from the various providers/jobs.


     If your new to secret shopping my best suggestion is to start off slow and get the feel for playing different rolls. It's actually a lot of fun once you get comfortable.


ENJOY!



Dave K.

David_15157399294557
6 years +3 David_15157399294557 58
The BADGE system

Ivan,


     Thanks for the explanation. It cleared up a lot of questions.


Dave K.

David_15157399294557
6 years +4 David_15157399294557 58
Missing payment

I have shopped for several different companies over the years. I was very impressed with an e-mailed that I recently received from ISS. ISS contacted me and said that according to their records I have not received payment for a shop that I completed two months ago. I thought that I kept meticulous records but when I checked I found that payment had not been made. I have since contacted the MSP in question to resolve this matter.


Thank you ISS!


Dave K.

David_15157399294557
6 years +7 David_15157399294557 58
Caught in a lie at my mystery shop

I have a little different way of attacking the problem.


Since I don't wear a wedding ring I just tell the associate at the phone shop that I am getting divorced and am looking for a separate plan just for myself. It usually catches the associate off guard, especially the guys. I tend to get a little more sympathy from them. I have never had it fail yet.



David_15157399294557
6 years 0 David_15157399294557 58
Worried about giving your phone number and email address?

WOW! I never knew this was available. This can definitely give you a sense of security on shops. I'm going to give it a try.



Thanks Christopher!

David_15157399294557
6 years +2 David_15157399294557 58
Total confusion

I bought a new notebook a few months ago so I could complete my reports in my car. Well, I was in the process of writing out a narrative and what I was writing was not what was showing up on the screen. I was continually correcting and re-correcting and re-re-correcting. I had no idea what in the world was going on.


It wasn't until I approached my daughter that she showed me the problem. Apparently my notebook has a function on the space bar that switches the computer language between English and Spanish. I was writing my report in Spanish! When I thought I had all of the corrections made I submitted the report.


The next day I received a not so nice e-mail from the scheduler about all of the spelling errors that I made. I must have apologized for about three paragraphs and vowed that it would never happen again. I think she got a real chuckle when I told her what happened. 


I really need to learn more about computers. It's hell being a dinosaur.

David_15157399294557
6 years 0 David_15157399294557 58
Hello from this new one!

Secret shopping is definitely legit. Just stick with the better known companies like ISS and you won't have any problems.


I did Secret Shopping a few years ago with one company that dealt primarily with apartments. I had a lot of fun, but started to burn out the apartments in my area. I stopped for a couple years and then started back up with ISS. I like the variety of shops that are available as well as the larger area to work in.


I have since branched out to several other companies but found that I really have to limit the number of MSP's that I work with. It sometimes gets to be a little hectic trying to keep everything in order.


Start off slow and keep a calendar of the shops you get. As you get more comfortable you can pick up other companies with a larger variety of shops. That way you won't get burned out on just one type of shop.


Good luck!