Information for Contract Shoppers

Shoppers, Inc. has been providing surveys to a variety of clients since 1986.  These surveys provide information to business owners and managers that will help them provide better customer service, and ultimately, more sales.  It must be accurate information or it is useless to them.  Therefore, it is imperative that Contract Shoppers be accurate, thorough, and reliable.

Golden Rules for All Contract Shoppers

1.  READ GUIDELINES CAREFULLY.  Read them every time, even if you have
     done that type of survey before; sometimes guidelines and rules do change! 
     Surveys done incorrectly are not accepted by our clients, and we cannot pay for
     them.
2.  CALL OR E-MAIL US IF YOU CANNOT COMPLETE A SURVEY OFFER YOU
     HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.  We may be able to give you more time, but
     we need as much notice as possible.  The client still needs the survey, so you have
     to give us time to get another Contract Shopper if you can't do it.  Failure to notify
     us when you cannot complete a survey offer will result in termination of your
     contract!
3.  KEEP THE SURVEY CONFIDENTIAL.  A "mystery shopper" is someone who is       not known to the staff of the location being evaluated, so DO NOT GIVE  
     YOURSELF AWAY!  Don't ask unusual questions, order strange combinations or
     take notes or any kind of paperwork into the location.   Employees know they are
     being evaluated and often are on the lookout for anyone who doesn't do  what
     normal customers do.  If the client reports to us that they know you are the
     Contract Shopper, you will not receive payment for your survey.
4.  CHECK YOUR E-MAIL OFTEN AND REPLY IMMEDIATELY to all
     survey offers and other requests/questions.  E-mailed offers ask you to confirm
     that you can complete them.  If you cannot do the survey, or cannot complete it by
     the deadline given, please be kind and let us know right away.


Account Representatives

Each client's job is assigned to an Account Rep.  This person may work in our office or may work out of his/her home.  The Account Rep is responsible for insuring that ALL surveys for that client are done accurately and on time.  They get paid according to meeting deadlines, so they really appreciate it when you let them know that you can or cannot do a specific survey.   The Account Rep will explain and train you on the survey and send all the survey offers to you.  They are your contact point for that particular client; you may work with several different account reps, if you do different types of surveys.  Questions you may have about your specific survey should be directed to the Account Rep.


How Does the Process Work?

1.  We will contact you via phone and/or e-mail to see if you can do a specific survey.
2.  If you are a SASSIE user, the Account Rep will post your survey in your shop log
     on SASSIE telling you the survey is ready to be done.  You must confirm whether
     or not you have accepted the survey.  Refer to the COMMENTS section in your 
     shop log for specific guidelines on each survey to be completed. 
3.  Read the guidelines and look at the survey on SASSIE BEFORE you complete
     your call/visit.
4.  Complete the survey according to guidelines given, keeping notes as necessary,
     but do not take notes into the store.
5.  Log on to our website at www.ShopperJobs.com by clicking SHOPPER LOGIN.   
     Enter your SASSIE username and password and view your log, where survey offers
     will appear.  If you have not yet done so, please reply to each survey offer to
     confirm with the Account Rep whether or not you accept the offer.  Review all
     guidelines and surveys before completing your call or visit.
6.  Complete the survey and finalize/submit it.  If you have made any omissions on the
     survey you will receive an error message, and the question in error will show
     OOPS!  You will need to correct any errors and finalize/submit again.
7.  Complete any additional guidelines according to the specific client.  Some require
     receipts, etc.  Refer to the guidelines in the e-mail or on the website.


Receiving Payment for Completed Surveys

You must be accurate or your pay may be delayed.  Also be sure we have your correct address, phone and e-mail address at all times.

Payments are mailed on the 28th of each month.  If the 28th is Sunday, payments are mailed on Monday the 29th.

CUT-OFF DATE:  The cut-off is the 15th of each month.  Your surveys must be entered online on or before the 15th.  Paper surveys must be received in our office by the 15th.  The date of the call/visit has no effect on payroll - it is the date WE RECEIVE IT.  Examples:

Date Report Entered on Website	Date Payment Will Be Mailed
July 10th	July 28th
July 15th	July 28th
July 16th	August 28th
July 30th	August 28th

Mailed/Faxed Surveys must be IN OUR OFFICE by the 15th or they will be paid the following month.

Your payment will come with a stub that lists each survey it includes.  You should keep your own records as well, and can monitor payment using SASSIE.

Remember, if you submit a survey after the 15th, you won't receive payment until the following month, so be sure to keep a record and check that before calling us with questions.  Payment questions should be directed to our receptionist at extension 200.

Survey Guidelines

Each client has their own specifics, likes, and dislikes on their surveys.  These will be covered in their guidelines.  However, a few things apply to ALL surveys:

1.  Report FACTS, not OPINIONS.  "The food was cold" is a fact.  "It would have
     been ok if it hadn't had mushrooms" is an opinion.  
2.  NEVER describe employees in an insulting manner: "she was fat, he was old", etc.
     are insulting.   Most employees DO see your reports.  Use politically correct terms
     when descriptions are required:
     African-American, Native American, Asian, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, etc.
3.  Anytime you give a NO answer or a LOW rating, please explain.  They need to
     know what they can do better in order to improve.
4.  Comments Sections: Be thorough.  This part give the client the best feedback on
     how the call/visit went, so please use the space to briefly explain all that occurred
     and review your answers/ratings.
5.  Typing in forms online:  Use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar please!! 
     We may penalize your fee if we have to constantly correct your typing.  We can
     only turn in surveys that are professional in language, tone and appearance.
     DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS!!!  We have to retype the whole survey if you type
     in all capital letters.  

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Summary

Remember, our clients are counting on you to provide them with fair, accurate and detailed surveys.  You are a Professional Contract Shopper now, so please act appropriately and turn in surveys that reflect your status as such.

Thank you for your time to review this information and WELCOME!!

Kathy Shook and the entire staff at Shoppers, Inc.