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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!