Insight: I'm a Secret Shopper You Can be Too!

I'm a Secret Shopper! You Can Be Too!

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Oct 3, 2007

I am a secret shopper. I became one, because while I was telemarketing, the agency I was working for, was supporting a mystery shop company. This company was charging to sign up. Originally, they were charging $9.99 a month, and then $14.99 a month, and the latest was $99 or $149.

 

 

 

I was entertained by the fact that they were so costly, and this made me decide to do my own research and became a secret shopper.

I simply typed in the search bar secret shopper, and millions of links came up. I clicked, and read, and joined several for not one red~cent. I have since been on several assignments and made a few extra bucks to put in my pocket via my pay pal account.

If places are telling you to pay to sign up, don't think that you have to. Sure, they can say to you, to be a gold club member, we need $19.99 or whatever they determine. But there is no need to do it.
There are agencies, many out there. Too many to list, actually. But I am a member in good standing with quite a few, and so long as when you respond to your shop with in depth details, you can keep doing it. You have to have a score of eight or above, to keep doing it.

And it isn't hard to do at all.

 When you go on your shop, look intensely. Study, and listen to people around you. Ask dumb questions, and see if the clerk, the sale person, the manager, any of them- get fed up with your questions. Sometimes they will. And more often then not, some know there are secret shoppers checking them out.

It isn't hard to do, and you already have to shop anyway, so why not sign up for something at the same time? Getting the brakes done on your car? Let's see, there's a shop here for a car repair shop. Perfect, get your brakes fixed, and get paid! How can you go wrong?

 One that I am member in good standing with is: Sassie Secret Shopping Services. Before you ask, no I do not get credit for referrals, unfortunately. But there are many more out there, like I told you, so go do a search! Secret Shopping is fun, and of course, gets you a few extra bucks, and we can use a little more money! So why not give it a try. What have you got to loose?

Published by Deneale K. Williams

Life is Strange & Here's a Good Example & it's True!

Life is Strange

And Here's a Good Example!

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Oct 19, 2009

 

Ages ago, when I lived in Akron, Ohio- there used to be a man that walked all over our little city. He was elderly, and everyone always seemed to point and stare, and some would even give him money. He held his hand to his ears, and never spoke a word, that anyone remembers. Rumors were that he survived Vietnam and shell shock. But to get him to tell you anything, it just wouldn't happen.

After a while, we quit seeing the man, and everyone wondered what had happened to him. Asking about him would be brought up through strange conversations, and everyone seemed a bit concerned and worried.

Eventually, talking to many people that had seemingly been around for a while, we learned the name of the man that caught everyone's eye.

One day, a lady showed up on my porch to get several documents notarized. I noticed the name, and asked her if she was related to Akron's famous walking man, and she said yes.

I pursued the issue, and asked her why he was homeless and peddling for money, and she started laughing. She proceeded to tell me that he had a nice big white house, with the picket fence and everything in West Akron. She then told me he was a Vietnam Vet, and that he received checks from the Military, that he had been deafened while at War. These checks were sitting in drawers, uncashed.
I had drop jaw.

She continued on, stating that they also had several cars, and she often had to find him, and take him home and bathe him. She explained that he wasn't exactly out of it, but just bored sitting at home, and wanted exercise so he walked. She also stated that he never "asked" for money, people just assumed because he was old, and dirty, and covering his ears, that he was in need.

I shook my head, she was right, he never had a sign, and never asked for anything.

Then she told me that when she brought him home one night, bathed him, and laid him in bed, he told her "I think my time is up." She didn't understand what he meant, and when she asked him, he just told her "Thank you, and always remember I love you." She said she tucked him in, and the next day when she woke up, he was still in bed sleeping. Except he wasn't sleeping, he simply passed on. He was 98 years old.

I lowered my head, still in shock.

The thing that blew her mind, was that when she was donating his things to Thrift stores and what not, she went through his pockets first. In his big trench coat, she found wads of cash. In the lining of the trench coat, more cash. In his pants pockets the same thing, more money. Even in his shoes.
Later she learned he even had a life insurance policy on himself, and not just the one from the Military either.

She announced proudly that they were never bad off, that she always had everything she ever wanted. And now in his death, he is still providing for her. She told me, she never had to work a day in her life, that she was truly blessed.

I was numb with shock myself. Her words, made me think. We always assume that when a person is filthy, and stinks that they are bad off, and going without. Rarely do we assume that the person just changed a motor in a vehicle, and was walking to the parts store to get a part. We as people want to make things "appear" worse then they already are.

That is why so many people, myself included hate it when someone assumes. You do more damage with your assumptions, than you do knowing the truth.

Not everything is at it seems, a person crying may not be crying tears of sorrow, but in fact tears of joy. Try to think positive. Sure you can offer to help, just don't do it with a look on your face offering pity, and sadness. No one likes to feel belittled.

The purpose of this article, is to help you the reader see, that you may not know the truth after all, especially if you assumed it, or even listened to rumors!

Assuming is just like judging. It's not what we were put on this Earth to do. There are far better things to be doing, other then thinking you are better off than someone else, even if you in fact are.

Published by Deneale K. Williams

Poem: the Auto Mechanic!

The Auto Mechanic

 

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Nov 16, 2007

 

Dedicated to real mechanics, and of course the common every day back yard ones too!

Making a living,
At something Ford Began...
Taking what it's giving;
Is it really for this man?
~
Underneath another hood,
Oil, grease, and grime...
It sure doesn't look good;
Or does it anytime?
~
Once in a while it's a carburetor,
And other times it's more...
I swear cares are agitators!!
And it sure seems like war!
~
Sometimes I wish I knew,
What horse and buggy were like...
I'm sure you've wondered too;
Or do you ride a bike?!?
~

Published by Deneale K. Williams

Government Assistance: Utilities and Government Agencies (A True Insight!)

Government Assistance: 

Utilities and Government Agencies 

(A True Insight!)

How Do They Pick and Choose?

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Mar 13, 2009

I have previously written an article published on Associated Content, about going without things, (which will be found in this blog its titled: "Going Without! A True Story!") and my event was electricity. And because of recent events, and what not- I am forced to point out something that might just leave your jaw dropped, just as it did mine.

The same place that I lived where we (my family and I) went without power; there was a family going without water. No one knew this, until we all started noticing our water bills sky rocketing. Several of us hired plumbers to check for leaks, others had landlords re-do plumbing and lawn sprinklers. It wasn't until one night, that my neighbor and I sat quietly talking on the porch that we seen how our water bills had been climbing. We witnessed this older woman in her fifties take a bucket and walk up to peoples outdoor faucet and fill the bucket with water and then go home. Why didn't she tell any of us, or ask even?! We were shocked!


                                 



Because our bills had went well above reasonable, we had no choice but to inform the water department. The water department said we were responsible for these high bills, and were required to also pay more into deposits and what not. And you are probably thinking we were being crude. But you see, we are talking over four hundred dollars.


                                       

And this woman, has a son who lives with her, in his thirties and he sits at home, doing nothing all day. Because he goes door to door complaining about his mother, refuses to do what she asks of him, we all started nagging him about getting a job. All he would do is laugh!

                                         

So we told that water department what we witnessed, and ask if anything could be done, or what we should do. They documented our input, and we gave the location of the residence without water. The representative asked if their trash had been being picked up every week, to which, yes it was. That is why no one suspected anything. Everyone's trash on the street, was picked up. And the trash is a part of the water bill.

The water department called the Police, because this was theft of a utility and services. This made us feel bad; all we wanted was a waiver or something because we all had discovered the reasoning in the heightened water bills.

The Police go to the home without water, and speak to the people. That night, their water is back on!
The woman was pleased, so she came door to door bragging. We asked her why she had been without water in the first place, and she said because the bill had gotten too high, and she didn't have the money to pay it. But she has and had internet the whole time, and even cable TV!

                                     


I was flabbergasted, because of her priorities. Did she tell the Police she prioritized cable and internet BEFORE water? I am thinking no, and wondering if she played the role of a victim instead.

I know what you're thinking. But it isn't jealousy. I had children, and a legitimate situation, and no cable! My husband was working, it's just that the hours were lacking. We prioritized a roof over our head BEFORE our power. And the neighbors called child services, and we were investigated by them and the Police, and no one could or would lend a helping hand.

Why not?

What is the difference? Yeah, water is more important then electric, I agree with that. But where do the government agencies get their rules and requirements as to whom they can help and whom they cannot? Do they really even care as to the how and why's?

And yes, I was glad that someone did help the old lady and her son out, because it helped all of us out, in the long run. Unfortunately my water was turned off because lack of funds to pay for it though, and I still have an outstanding bill with the water department because of that. I had to move, because of the water bill, the over priced landlord, and lack of monies. All of this- compiled-happened all at once and was sinking us rapidly, so we moved.

The water department KNOWS that these people had no water, and they know there was a theft going on, they investigated. The Police obtained the proof for them! But I am still responsible for the bill. How is that right? What am I missing here?

Published by Deneale K. Williams