by Barbry Booth (Customer Impact scheduling manager)
Shoppers often ask for advice on how to get more shops from Customer Impact. The number one way is to be reliable, consistent and responsible. There are certain steps that you can take to help you become a more productive and successful mystery shopper. Following these tips will result in smoother report submissions and possibly more shops in the future (if available).
If you have applied for a shop but have not heard whether or not you were accepted, please check your Shop Log. If you’ve been assigned a shop, the shop information will be in your Shop Log. Also, you should receive an email from the Gateway site either way – accepted or not. Please be sure that you have added the “@customerimpactinfo.com” domain name to your email friends list so that you don’t miss out on any emails from us.
Once assigned a shop, immediately log into your Shop Log and confirm the shop, then read the guideline and form. Most questions shoppers have about assignments can be answered by simply reading the shop guidelines and form.
If you have questions regarding the shop dates, times or instructions, immediately contact your scheduler. Never wait until the day before a shop is due to contact us with problems or questions.
It’s a good idea to have a calendar in front of you when you are applying for shops. Canceling a shop because a shopper got their dates or times mixed up, or because they didn’t have a calendar at the time is not an acceptable excuse for canceling.
Always complete your shops by the due date, and if you cannot, contact the scheduler immediately to either cancel or reschedule. It is never a good idea to wait until the due date has passed to contact us. Failing to complete a shop as schedule will result in a negative citation being added to your Shop Log. It is very important to complete your shop as scheduled once it is assigned to you. Some shops are completed on a weekly basis, and if you fail to complete your shop it affects every other shopper’s schedule.
Carefully note how many people (or adults) are allowed to go on the shop. The number of people/adults on a shop is usually written into the contract with the clients. Taking too many or too few guests with you on a shop can result in an invalid report and the shopper cannot be paid or reimbursed. As always, when in doubt ask your scheduler.
Every client has a deadline, and thus all reports have deadlines as well. Reports must be submitted at our web site within 12 to 24 hours (depending on client) after the shop itself has been completed. The shop due date is NOT the same thing as the report due date. Regardless of the date you completed the shop, all reports must be submitted within 12 to 24 hours. Occasionally we can accept a report submitted past the 24 hour deadline if extenuating circumstances apply, but prior arrangements must be made with the scheduler. Please contact your scheduler if your report will be late.
Use the sample comments in your guidelines that we provide as a guide when writing your narratives. Those comments will show you exactly what we are expecting regarding the length and detail of your comments.
Be sure to have your PayPal account set up before you begin mystery shopping. We only reimburse/pay via PayPal. There is no other payment method. Please make sure that the email address you use at our web site matches the email address you use for PayPal. As long as those emails match up, and we have your correct SSN on file, you will be paid properly. All shops completed during the current month will be paid the following month between the 15th and 25th.
We want you to be successful and have a smooth mystery shopping experience. And lastly, ALWAYS REMEMBER (VERY VERY IMPORTANT):
HAVE FUN!
Do you have any tips or advice for fellow shoppers to consider? What are some things that you know now that you wished you’d known when you first started mystery shopping? For more information and tips on becoming a Myustery Shopper, please go to our website at https://customerimpactinfo.com/helpful_hints
Featured Image by: FreeDigitalPhotos