I have been doing video shops for a number of years and I still don't understand why the surveys need so much much written information from the shopper...I wonder if the videos are being watched at all.

Hi Paul,

On most video shops, the video recording serves as confirmation of what the shopper wrote in their report, and eventually to provide additional clarification to editors if needed occasionally. It is still up to shoppers to write their shop report to the best of their ability, and as informative as they can.

Cheers!

Clients are paying for a report as well as footage... It's much easier to read/manage/copy/classify/archive/understand a professional summary than to watch an amateur video over and over and over again. We're paid for that.

Nonsense....there is no reason to ask on a survey want a person is wearing or whether or not they stood and shook your hand..Also there is reason to ask a shopper what were the strongest points of an agent or the weakest..Shoppers are not sales managers so they don't have the expertise to address that...Also , why ask for a 2-3 paragraph on what happens when it's right there in the video, I suggest letting the shopper give a quick summary of how they felt about the visit right before they turn off the recording . This way you get a fresh and true review of the visit instead of something watered down hours later. Some clients don't required all those questions on a survey...Why..??..Because maybe they actually watch the video and can determine what's going on....

I do a lot of video shopping and find that there are some clients that really want the full written reports, but use the video primarily if there is a question about accuracy. Others want a brief checklist report so that they can take a quick look at the report and focus on parts of the video that are highlighted as needs by the report. Yet others could care less what my opinion is. However, the MSC has folks who are specifically trained in the needed sales techniques I turn in the video and the MSC's specialists analyze it for the client.

It's really all about what the client wants, whether we think it's valid or silly.

MFJohnston @ Aug 17, 2018 10:02:11 PM

I do a lot of video shopping and find that there are some clients that really want the full written reports, but use the video primarily if there is a question about accuracy. Others want a brief checklist report so that they can take a quick look at the report and focus on parts of the video that are highlighted as needs by the report. Yet others could care less what my opinion is. However, the MSC has folks who are specifically trained in the needed sales techniques I turn in the video and the MSC's specialists analyze it for the client.

It's really all about what the client wants, whether we think it's valid or silly.

I agree it's what the some clients want...I also agree that it's silly...Everything they need is on the video not on a written report.

MFJohnston @ Aug 17, 2018 10:02:11 PM

I do a lot of video shopping and find that there are some clients that really want the full written reports, but use the video primarily if there is a question about accuracy. Others want a brief checklist report so that they can take a quick look at the report and focus on parts of the video that are highlighted as needs by the report. Yet others could care less what my opinion is. However, the MSC has folks who are specifically trained in the needed sales techniques I turn in the video and the MSC's specialists analyze it for the client.

It's really all about what the client wants, whether we think it's valid or silly.

Also it's probably safe to say that must reports are not fully accurate for the simple fact that shoppers just want to finish the report and get paid

Paul_15274396084107 @ Aug 19, 2018 8:23:38 PM

[...] Also it's probably safe to say that must reports are not fully accurate for the simple fact that shoppers just want to finish the report and get paid

[...]

I really hope that this is not the case. I make a very serious effort to be very accurate in my reports. The way I see it, if I am not being perfectly accurate in my reporting, the client is not getting what they need from the MSC and my services become worthless. I would think that not taking the time to write accurate reports is a very quick path to no longer being able to work in this industry - and certainly not for some of the more demanding (and higher paying) MSC's.

The higher paying video shops do not require long winded reports....At least that's been my experience...

I have found that it's a real mixed bag. Most of the new home video shops I've done have had almost no report. Most or the video retail shops I've done have had primarily yes/no reports with minimal narratives. I've done apartment videos with no report and with really long reports. The new car video shops Ive done have all had fairly long reports..... Etc.

Some of the fast food video shops I've had experience with asked for a pretty detailed report (multiple choice answers, yes/no answers, narratives, etc) and the video was used primarily for the verification of what was written in the report. Like MFJohnston said, it can be a mixed bag.