FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Office Information:

What is your fax number?   
    918-251-0606 (no toll-free number available)

What is your telephone number?  
    800-259-8551 or 918-251-0154

What is your mailing address?    
    PO Box 2912, Broken Arrow OK  74013

What are your business hours?   
    Our office is open 9am-4pm Monday-Friday.  The receptionist/operator is
    available 9am-3pm Monday-Friday.

How do I refer a friend to become a Contract Shopper?  
    Ask them to apply online at our website, www.shopperjobs.com.  If they do
    not have access to the internet, they can call us for an application to be sent
    by mail.  

 

Receiving Payment for Surveys

When is payment sent?  
    Payment is mailed on the 28th of each month.  If the 28th falls on Sunday,
    payment is mailed on Monday, the 29th.

What is the cut-off for payment? 
    Surveys that are done and RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE by the 15th will be
    paid on the 28th.   Online surveys must be submitted online by the 15th
    in order to be paid on the 28th.  Any report that is received or entered on the
    16th or later will be paid the NEXT month.

Will I receive payment on the 28th or is it mailed the 28th? 
    Payment is mailed on the 28th.

How long will it take to receive payment?
    Since payment is sent by U.S. Mail, we cannot tell you when it will arrive.
    Typically, payment is received in 1-9 days after mailing, depending on
    weekends and holidays that may fall in between.

What if I don't receive payment?  
    Please wait 10 days after the 28th.  If your payment does not arrive on the
    10th day, contact us at 800-259-8551 ext. 200.  We will insure that payment
    was mailed, and if so, place a stop-payment and issue a replacement at that
    time.  We ask you to wait 10 days because sometimes they do arrive later
    than normal.

What if my payment doesn't have all my surveys listed on it?  
    REMEMBER, your surveys must have arrived here or have been entered
    online NO LATER THAN THE 15TH.  Check your records and be sure that
    the surveys were entered on time.  We cannot be responsible for mail, so if
    you mail a survey on the 13th or 14th, do not assume that it will arrive here
    by the 15th.  Sometimes, it can take a week or longer in the mail.

How do I know what the payment is for?  
    Payment will include a stub that lists each survey completed and its amount.

How much is earned for each survey?
    Your guidelines will tell you the fee for each job.  If there is a purchase
    required, the guidelines will tell you what you can buy as well as the    
    maximum reimbursement amount.  Guidelines are either mailed or e-mailed
    with the survey offer, or posted online in your shop log (SASSIE).

Do you report my income to the IRS?  
    We report only if the fees you earn are $600 or more, as is required by
    law.  We will also send you a 1099 form by January 31st.  Any
    reimbursement for purchases is not included in the calculation.  If you earn
    less than $600, nothing is reported to the IRS, and nothing is sent to you.

 

Survey Offers

What is a "survey offer"?
    This is a mailed OR e-mailed offer, telling you what to do, the deadline, and
    other important information.  ALWAYS READ THEM THOROUGHLY!
    YOUR PAYMENT IS AT STAKE!  You must reply to accept or refuse the
    offer.

How do I know what surveys to do?  Where?  When?  
   You will receive an offer, either by mail or by e-mail.  Our clients are set up
   with the forms online, and offered to Contract Shoppers via e-mail.  Your
   survey offer will give you guidelines or refer you to our website for more
   detailed guidelines.  READ IT THOROUGHLY!  It will tell you where, when,
   what to do/buy, and the deadline.

What if I can't get it done by due date? 
    Contact the Account Rep shown on the survey offer by telephone or e-mail. 
    In most cases, an extension can be given.

Will I get a survey offer every month?
    There is no guarantee, implied or otherwise, that you will get offers.
    However, there are things you can do to insure that our account reps will use
    you again AND refer you to other reps as a good Contract Shopper:
    1.  REPLY when asked, telling the Account Rep you will or will not do the
         survey offered.
    2.  Do the survey on time, and submit online on time.
    3.  Do the survey accurately.
    4.  Respond to the Account Rep's questions, e-mails, and phone calls within
         24 hours -- if we do not hear back from you, we assume you no longer
         want to do surveys and replace you immediately.
    5.  Keep in touch with the Account Rep, letting him/her know you are
         available and where you can complete surveys.

Who is my account rep?  Who is the account rep for XXX account?
    Account Reps handle scheduling and coordinate any questions or problems
    that come up on your surveys.  Each Rep is responsible for certain clients,
    not a geographic area.  Your offer will tell you who the Account Rep is for
    that offer, although chances are you will have heard from them first.  Also,
     we periodically send out updates via a newsletter.

Is there anyone else I can talk to about a survey offer?
    Account Reps all work part-time, so the best way to contact them is via
    e-mail or telephone.  Leave a message if they are not in, being sure to give
    your phone number(s) and the best time to reach you.  The operator may be
    able to help you with minor questions about a job.

When do survey offers come out every month?
    Normally, offers are e-mailed out around the end of the month, to be
    completed in the following month.  However, this can vary by Account Rep
    and client guidelines.  Sometimes we don't get our guidelines until after the
    first of the month.  So, check your e-mail daily.

If I fail to complete a survey offer, am I automatically removed from your system?
    If you give the Account Rep NOTICE that you cannot complete a
    survey offer, that gives him/her time to arrange a replacement.  In this case,
    you will not be removed.  However, if you back out and do not tell us / do not
    return phone calls / do not respond to e-mail, then you will be terminated
    from our files immediately.
    All we ask is that you let us know... our clients are depending on us to
    provide the feedback and  we rely on you.  If you accept an offer, we
    assume you meant it and that you will do it.  If something comes up
    preventing you from doing a survey, JUST LET US KNOW RIGHT
    AWAY!!!

How can I get more offers?
    Refer to "Will I get a survey offer every month?" above, for tips on what
    makes a good Contract Shopper.  Also, to view a list of opportunities,
    Click Here.  

Can I complete an offer before I complete the Welcome Kit?  
   Yes, but we prefer you do the Welcome Kit first.  To do so, Click Here.

 

What to Do

How do I complete a survey?
    READ the guidelines very carefully - they will tell you what to do, when to
    go, where to go, what to ask about or buy, etc.  Then, visit the location and
    ACT JUST LIKE A NORMAL CUSTOMER.  Follow the guidelines
    provided and observe the location and the staff closely WITHOUT BEING
    OBVIOUS.  Some things to remember:
    1.  NEVER take notes where employees can see you.
    2.  NEVER be rude, impatient or argumentative with the employees.
    3.  NEVER tell anyone you are a Contract Shopper.
    4.  NEVER do anything suspicious or unusual, that normal customers
          wouldn't do.
    5.  NEVER order unusual combinations of food.  Example, ordering a meal
          with unusual specifications or breakfast food for dinner, etc. might be
          remembered by the staff.  You do not want to be remembered in any way.

Can I take children with me on a shop?
    APARTMENT CONTRACT SHOPPERS MAY NOT TAKE CHILDREN.
    Otherwise, you can take children IF the establishment you are evaluating is
    a place where real customers would take children.  If you are doing a bar
    shop, for example, you would not take a child.  HOWEVER, your children
    must behave and CANNOT be any kind of distraction or disruption to the
    normal flow of business.  They must not distract YOU or store employees
    you are evaluating.  Certainly, if your child interrupts and causes an
    employee to forget to give you a receipt or similar action, you should NOT
    count off on that skill for the employee.  If your children MAY cause any
    kind of disruption, it is best not to take them with you.

 

Invoices

Do I need to mail or fax a paper invoice if it is an online survey?
    NO.  The invoice is included in the online forms, so there is no need to send a
    separate invoice.

 

New Contract Shoppers

Do I have to pay a fee to shop for you?  
    No mystery shopper company should ever charge you a fee to work for
    them.  There are some companies that charge fees to give your name to
    shopper companies, but that is up to you.  Beware of disreputable firms.

Do I have to be on the internet?  
    100% of our surveys are online, so we prefer Contract Shoppers who have
    internet access and an e-mail address.  It is not a requirement, but internet
    users will get more work.

How long will it be before I get my first survey offer?
    That is up to the Account Rep who contacts you.  Most likely you will get an
    offer soon after being contacted.

 

Entering Surveys

How can I be sure an online survey was accepted?
    When you submit a survey you will see a confirmation on your screen.  If you
    omitted any required information you will see OOPS! in red and will need to
    correct the problem(s).

What if I keep trying but it won't accept the survey?
    The error message should tell you where you have errors.  Once you have corrected any problems shown, submit again.

Tips for Entering Reports Accurately

1.  Type as if it is a formal letter. DO NOT type in all capital letters, and please
     use proper grammar and spelling.  You are a professional Contract Shopper,
     so please be professional!
2.  Use correct punctuation.
3.  Enter date and time formats correctly. 
4.  Comments Sections:  Be very thorough and descriptive.  If you need more
     space than the form allows, e-mail additional remarks to your account rep.
5.  PLEASE be sure to look over the form one last time before you submit your
     shop.  Many times shoppers accidentally answer questions wrong - your
     answers must be consistent with your comments or our clients will request
     we not use you as a shopper.  They must be able to trust what you say is
     accurate in your reports.