HORRIBLE experience with Spot Check Services mystery shopping

I agree, but we should not hesitate to report Spot Check misconduct and/or breach of contract to the BBB. It really is not that much work, particularly as most of the work is dont. ie. rejection rcvd; decisions challenged and on occasion responded to without merit. It is just merely a matter of forwarding existing documentation. Also report them to MSPA and they are on their circulation list and I beleive it imperative to notify them that they are recommending dishonourable businesses.

I have reviewed Brent Poole's comments, President of Spot Check. The spinning of his terminolgy and vague references are a transparent attempt on the part of management to damage control and ultimately reduce liability and have no credibility. A serious employer would be dealing directly with the injured party professionally and confidentially ultimately giving them credibility to then post that any misunderstandings have been taken seriously and have been addressed. But they can't. Enough said.

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Lol...it is so blatantly obvious when companies come on here posing as "real people" trying to make the company look better, always good for a laugh ;)

Brent Poole (excuse me, I mean Brandylaine Shopper),

Slander? is that a threat!

Thank you for helping me prove my point about SpotCheck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brandylaine Shopper

I have been Mystery Shopping for SEVERAL years now and need to say that I have had NO problems with SPOT CHECK SERVICES...

In conclusion I want to state for the record that I have found all the staff there to be both Professional and Friendly.
Brandy

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Only one post and just joined...can't say I buy it! I'm with Robyn :rant:

Yep. Disappointing to see that.

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Originally Posted by RobynCD

Lol...it is so blatantly obvious when companies come on here posing as "real people" trying to make the company look better, always good for a laugh ;)

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I'm with you Robyn. 1 post only. I bet he got his secretary to sign up and post his "message".
That' may not be the case as I am speculating only. (Wouldn't want them to sue my ass now would I?) :rolleyes:

lol. That post backfired just a little bit!!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brandylaine Shopper

Just to set the record straight, I am a very real person and a very real shopper...
I just got back from a vacation in Jamaica to see all this extra crap now slandering me...
My name is Brandy Laine for the last 47 years now, I am a responsible adult and you all are obviously not... Maybe you should try it...
I found this thread while doing a search on new companies to register as a shopper for, and was shocked to see the post...
You people need to get a life and take responsibilitiy for YOUR OWN MISTAKES and DOWNFALLS...

Brandy Laine
Vernon BC Canada

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thanks for your input, spot chek services, oops, i mean Brandy Laine

lmao @ brandylaine ....we are SMART canucks... not stupid canucks.. give us a break???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brandylaine Shopper

Just to set the record straight, I am a very real person and a very real shopper...
I just got back from a vacation in Jamaica to see all this extra crap now slandering me...
My name is Brandy Laine for the last 47 years now, I am a responsible adult and you all are obviously not... Maybe you should try it...
I found this thread while doing a search on new companies to register as a shopper for, and was shocked to see the post...
You people need to get a life and take responsibilitiy for YOUR OWN MISTAKES and DOWNFALLS...

Brandy Laine
Vernon BC Canada

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WOW........and you just "happened" to find this thread after joining SC?? What a coincidence? How did you find smartcanucks?
Sorry but I find it all a little hard to believe. I don't do mystery shops, however, you join up and your first (and it looks like only posts) are to respond to a slight against a company you work for?
With odds like that you should play the lottery....
I'm not buying it at all

if anything brandy is throwing fuel on the fire........she was clearly out numbered before she threw in her two cents.. i certainly wouldn't have signed up to SC just to defend that company, with this many people already bashing it. what did she expect people to say about her/him/ or what ever it might be! lol

Chill it in here.

Littlel had a bad experience mystery shopping. She is entitled to vent about it, just like everyone one else here vents about bad shopping experiences at stores.

If the company wishes to contact Littlel and make amends, please do so via email from now on. Anyone making an account on here just to be negative to one person in one thread, that is not really appreciated. Coming on to say instead, "I can understand you had a bad experience but I had a good one", would be received much differently.

I have been a shopper with them since October and up until now had all positive experiences. I had my first report rejected today for ordering 2 beers. The instruction was:
You cannot both order the same items. There cannot be 2 of the same thing on the receipt...
I am out $40 because of this, and I find this really unfair. They aren't willing to do anything. Both beers were for myself, my guest had wager. I wish I had read this forum earlier, I would have never continued shopping for them. I am owed one final payment, and I'll be quitting this company. I work for many other companies, and have never had a shop rejected. This company barely covers the cost of the meal and there's no profit to be had. No wonder shops are listed for so long.
I'm glad it wasn't a more expensive experience. Reading Mr Poole justifying his company on here is quite funny. You've lost another shopper.
The reports are 150+ questions, and if you miss one thing you're out your entire expense. Unless you're 100% perfect do not accept shops for them.

damn that sucks

That's a really unfortunate experience, and I think you definitely should follow up! I have shopped with that company for a couple of years, and I've never run into anything like that. I know that all companies are very specific on things that need to be noticed/asked/etc., but kicking you out of their system without warning seems a little much! I hope you're able to resolve this!!

thats so terrible! im sorry to hear that hun!!

Well I think I wouldn't get involved in doing mystery shopping after reading all this! Funny, I'm used to getting the results of these things and being often aghast at their inaccuracies. My personal favorite is when they would give the name of the person who served them and nobody by that name was employed at the store :)
Only the occasional report would be particularly accurate (and honest, not necessecarily always good, but definitely truthful) but overall I was shocked at how poorly written they were. However, based on some of the comments in this thread, it sounds like these shops being referred to on here required more detailed reporting than what I ever saw. I guess what I'm trying to say is that these mystery shop companies seem to have a LOT of variance in the quality of what they deem acceptable.

If they really are finding petty excuses to give experienced shoppers the boot in a nasty way then shame on them! There's no excuse for not explaining why a report is not accepted, or a (loosely defined)contract voided without adequate information.

I am just going to voice my opinion from three sides - the company, the shopper and the client (the company who is being shopped)

The system works like this:

1. Company A decides they need to improve their customer service, quality control or a combination of several other facets. Or a mystery shopping company convinces them they need this service.

2. Company A and mystery shopping company enter into a contract - Company A outlines their concerns and between the two parties, a questionnaire & form are created for the shoppers to work from

3. Prior to this, the mystery shopping company has created their database of shoppers in the pinpointed regions.

4. The mystery shopping company has contracted to provide a set number of shops for Company A - it could be for a week, month, 3 month or any length of time.

5. Depending on the MS company, the shopper gets their assignment either by email, by requesting on line and it being assigned or by being the first one to pick it.

6. The shopper has a set of requirements that have been preset ultimately by Company A - and distributed by the mystery shopping company.

Let me just say - if Company A said (for instance) there must be 2 diners and each one must order a meal from the dinner menu - and during the shop one diner ordered from the lunch menu - Company A will NOT pay the mystery shopping company for the shop.

Since each shopper is an independent contractor for the companies they work for - it is their responsibility to provide detailed reports and follow the instructions before posting their reports in a timely manner.

This is not to say there are not mystery shopping companies who are not worth the time of day (I can name a few) - but to put them all in the same category is not fair.

It is the responsibility of the editors and QC to ensure the shops get to the companies in a timely manner and have all the requirements met.

I am sad to see this type of ongoing negative posting for a sector of business that really does have enough trouble trying to keep both shoppers and clients happy.

Anyone who would like some links to great companies to work with, who are ethical in their practices, pay in a timely manner and have fair editors - I would be glad to provide them. I do not work for the companies but have been a mystery shopper for 10 years. I also edited for a short time and learned about some of the behind the scenes issues that pop up.

Unfortunately, too many shoppers feel they are 'owed' something for a job done in a lackadaisical manner or have missed a crucial requirement resulting in a report being decline - and ultimately not paid by the client. By extrapolation - that means the mystery shopping company cannot pay the shopper.:flowers:

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Originally Posted by xprolinexx

I have been a shopper with them since October and up until now had all positive experiences. I had my first report rejected today for ordering 2 beers. The instruction was:
You cannot both order the same items. There cannot be 2 of the same thing on the receipt...
I am out $40 because of this, and I find this really unfair. They aren't willing to do anything. Both beers were for myself, my guest had wager. I wish I had read this forum earlier, I would have never continued shopping for them. I am owed one final payment, and I'll be quitting this company. I work for many other companies, and have never had a shop rejected. This company barely covers the cost of the meal and there's no profit to be had. No wonder shops are listed for so long.
I'm glad it wasn't a more expensive experience. Reading Mr Poole justifying his company on here is quite funny. You've lost another shopper.
The reports are 150+ questions, and if you miss one thing you're out your entire expense. Unless you're 100% perfect do not accept shops for them.

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My husband and I have both shopped regularly for Spot Check for over a year. Neither of us have ever had a report rejected until recently. My husband completed an assignment that he had done many times before BUT he forgot that the assignment MUST be completed between 1:00pm and 5:00pm. He started the assignment at 12:25pm! His report was rejected. He accepted the rejection as he had not followed instructions. He won't make that mistake again!

Mystery Shopper Company clients set down strict requirements and the MSC is only following these instructions themselves. The MSC won't get paid if the report does not follow guidelines!

I am a long time shopper and while I find SCS reports long and repetative, they pay on time and fairly.

For those of you who stated that the pay barely covers the meal, that is pretty standard for restaurant shops, and you are aware of this going in to the shop. If you accept that shop, then you are responsible for the costs.

Mystery Shopping is not a get rich quick kind of business, but it does supplement my income quite nicely. Both DH and I shop regularly and bring in an additional $500 to $1000 per month for our family.

We do incur expenses and we keep careful record to ensure that the shops we accept are "worth it".

I have to say that I have recommended Spot check Services to several friends and family members and do not hesitate to do so. They are one of the most reliable companies out there - and they are located in Canada :top:

I am sorry that you had a negative experience, but I must say that not noticing a pool table is pretty serious. That kind of observation is important.

MS is not for everyone, my DH struggles at times as he does not always notice everything. And I struggle because I get so used to doing it that sometimes I have missed a "new" instruction. I have had to preform re-shops at my own expense, but it was due to my error, so I had to take responsibility.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I am happy with SCS and will continue to shop with them.

any update to your situation?

I have shopped for them for almost one year now and have done over 100 shops. I have had a few of my reports come back for further clarification but they have never rejected any of them and not paid me for them. I just ensure that I read what is required for each shop as sometimes the criteria changes for the same stores or restaurants to mix it up a bit. If everything is done as expected then there should be no problem. I agree that they should give you some clearer answers.

Spot Check Services was the first mystery shopping company I ever signed up with in 2002. I complete about 10 shops per year with them. I have only ever had one report rejected and that was for ordering an appetizer as a meal, something that is clearly against the instructions. I learned from that and despite having a few bad experiences (hair in food, forgotten appetizer, foreign object in drink) which I am honest about in my reports, I have never had any problems with them being approved.

I'm retracting my remarks, I've been in enough trouble lately. Too many trouble-makers out there that can't wait to make somebody pay for their troubles. I'm a good person, and I can prove it.

I too had a horrible experience with this company. I just wanted to warn shoppers about Spot Check Services. This is a mystery shopping company I worked for for about eight years and they recently burned me for about $300.00 on two Sandman Hotel jobs. They told me the credit card was just needed for a reservation and that it was alright to pay another way and then they rejected the jobs and when I complained they locked me out of the database. Interesting fact was they sent questions about the job after they supposedly rejected the job. I suspect they got paid and I did not!!! Classy. I have now spoken to several other shoppers who experienced the same thing

I would gather all your evidence and start knocking on there door a little harder, Thats down right disgusting! I would be so upset! When I saw a few opportunities for Pandora store mystery shopper, I read that I had to pay 80$ Out of pocket, Im not going to take that risk thanks lol, like how do I know some of these companies are not legit,there just companies behind companies to make more profit and have no dirty hands in it.

That is terrible! At the very least you deserve an explanation. Sorry to hear about this!

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Originally Posted by countryfan35

I too had a horrible experience with this company. I just wanted to warn shoppers about Spot Check Services. This is a mystery shopping company I worked for for about eight years and they recently burned me for about $300.00 on two Sandman Hotel jobs. They told me the credit card was just needed for a reservation and that it was alright to pay another way and then they rejected the jobs and when I complained they locked me out of the database. Interesting fact was they sent questions about the job after they supposedly rejected the job. I suspect they got paid and I did not!!! Classy. I have now spoken to several other shoppers who experienced the same thing

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I just wanted to state that the owner of this company has now contacted me on two occasions to discuss this issue. We discussed many things including the ins and outs of Mystery Shopping and he assured me they did not get paid for this shop however he has personally promised to make things right. I will follow up and let you know what happens but I do think he went above and beyond to get to the bottom of this and rectify the problem.