Shopper News

New Program Requires Shopper Test

Mar 05, 2010 by Confero Inc.

An urgent new project is starting today and will last for one week only! The project involves visiting ethnic grocery stores, handing out materials (we will ship to you) and taking two digital photos. Due to tight time constraints and shipping times, these shops will be available as self-assign shops for those shoppers who pass the online test. Liberal daily limits will apply! For this particular program there are shops available in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, WY.

To find the materials needed to take the shopper tests, log into your shopper log. All of our test materials are available to you at the top of your log (above your name). On the right hand side of your Shopper Log, there is a button called ‘Shopper Testing Center’, click there when you are ready to take the test. All tests are open book, so you can have your testing guidelines open while you answer the questions. Once you have passed a particular test, the qualification you have earned will show up in the center of your log, under the ‘Qualifications Earned’ section.

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What’s Up With the Shopper Tests?

Mar 01, 2010 by Confero Inc.

One of our long-time shoppers who has been conducting shops for Confero for a number of years recently asked us, “Why are there new shopper tests on several long-standing programs and why do I have to take them when I’ve been conducting these shop assignments for years?” We realized that this was a great question and several of our shoppers were probably wondering the same thing.
Here are a few reasons shopper tests have begun to pop up:

  • Changes to shop surveys. Recently, several of our clients have requested changes to their mystery shop surveys. In order to be sure that shoppers are aware of these changes, we have instituted a shopper test to alert shoppers of these changes and to require them to verify that they are aware of the changes.
  • Changes to shopper guidelines. A few of our programs have changes to the shopper guidelines. For example, one of our clients recently changed the time of their shops from 4-8pm to 3-7pm. While that may not seem too drastic, if a shopper conducted their shop at 7:30pm because they didn’t see the new guidelines, Confero would not accept or pay for the shop since it did not meet client requirements.
  • Specific client requirements that can’t be missed. Mystery shopping is operations research. That means that each interaction at a client’s location must be similar. We are conducting shops now that require the mystery shopper to use a very specific phrase when placing their initial order at a restaurant. If the shopper uses another phrase, the client will not accept the report. A shopper test helps us confirm that shoppers know the wording our client requires.

We hope this clears up some questions surrounding shopper testing. Hopefully, by using these short shopper tests when something about a program changes, we will be helping shoppers recognize changes and avoid making costly mistakes.

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Have You Been A Victim Of A Fake Check Scam?

Feb 12, 2010 by Confero Inc.

You may already be aware of the fake check scams that have been attached to the mystery shopping industry for the past couple of years. You have probably seen the numerous warnings we have posted over the past several months, like this recent consumer alert. We are working hard to alert as many consumers as possible about these scams and working with the necessary government agencies to get these scammers shut down.

We want to make sure our shoppers and other members of the community are aware of what they should do if they have become a victim of these scams or receive a fake check in the mail. First of all, if you receive a random check in the mail from an unknown source, never deposit it or cash it. Always, always, always investigate!

If you have been victimized by these scams or if you have been an attempted target (you receive a check but did not do anything with it), be sure to fill out the FTC complaint form on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. The more complaints they receive, the more attention this issue will receive. The more attention this issue receives, the more likely these scammers will be caught and prosecuted.
Hopefully, with your help we can get as many of the scammers as possible shut down!

Resources for fake check scams:

Better Business Bureau’s videos on Fake Check Scams
Federal Trade Commission’s videos on Money Transfer Scams
www.fakechecks.org
Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA)

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Go Red for Women on February 5th!

Jan 15, 2010 by Confero Inc.

Go Red for Women on February 5th!

Confero, Inc. is encouraging all our employees and mystery shoppers to circle February 5th, 2010 in red on their calendars. That’s the day Confero will join the American Heart Association (AHA)‘s fight against heart disease by holding Wear Red Day. We encourage everyone to participate by wearing red and donating $5 to help the AHA raise women’s awareness of cardiovascular disease and empower women to reduce their risk.

We are proud to be joining the AHA and other concerned companies and organizations across America in the fight against the #1 killer of women—as well as of men. Wear Red Day is a chance for us to arm ourselves with knowledge about this devastating disease and to raise funds that will help the AHA advance its research and education efforts.

Here at Confero, Inc. we have started a team website to help raise money in the fight against heart disease. Confero employees and mystery shoppers are urged to make donations to support this cause. Every penny counts! We also would like to encourage our mystery shoppers to find us on Facebook and become a Fan of Confero. For every new Facebook Fan between now and February 5th, 2010, Confero will donate $1, up to $1,000! Spread the word; tell your friends and family to become a fan of Confero today!

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Refer a friend and you could win $50! List Updated January 8, 2010

Jan 08, 2010 by Confero Inc.

Updated 01/08/10

We are pleased to announce our newest Shopper Hot Spots areas.

These are areas in which we need to recruit additional mystery shoppers for a variety of reasons:

  • We need shoppers who live near the locations being shopped, especially in this time of high gas prices!
  • Shoppers are rotated so several shoppers are needed in each location being shopped, even in small-town markets!
  • We may have new programs starting in an area.

Current Hot Spots….
These are the cities in which we need shoppers NOW and we would appreciate your referrals. At the end of each month, we will draw the name of one lucky referrer who will receive a $50 bonus from Confero (to qualify, your referred friend must have successfully completed a mystery shop). We will announce the winners here each month (in such a way that identities are kept secret!)

Just click on a city below

We welcome all referrals, but only those for the cities below will qualify for the monthly drawing.

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