Personal Shopping in Gatineau: Plan Your Booking

Choose the assignment before comparing shoppers

Describe the result you want in concrete terms. For errands, provide a list, preferred stores, acceptable substitutions and delivery instructions. For clothing, name the occasion, sizes, fit concerns and items you already own. If you want advice before spending, request a wardrobe review and a shopping list as separate deliverables.

Ask candidates to explain how they would handle your assignment. A useful response should cover preparation, communication during the trip and what you receive afterward. Request an example of a shopping plan or receipt summary. Confirm your preferred language and discuss fitting-room assistance, walking distance or carrying needs before choosing an accompanied session.

Get a quote with a clear stopping point

Request an hourly rate or fixed assignment fee with a defined scope. Ask whether the shopper charges for the initial consultation, store research, travel, waiting, delivery and exchanges. For hourly work, agree on a spending cap for service time and require your approval before extending the booking.

Keep three amounts visible in the agreement: the service fee, the merchandise allowance and reimbursable expenses. Ask the provider to identify applicable taxes and cancellation charges in the quote. Also ask whether they receive retailer commissions or referral payments, and whether those arrangements affect the stores they recommend.

For example, specify a clothing list, a maximum merchandise budget and a rule that the shopper must send photos and prices before purchasing. Decide what happens if you cannot answer: skip the item, choose from pre-approved alternatives or stop shopping. Give the shopper a rule they can follow without guessing.

Plan the route and handoff

Choose whether you will meet at the first store, travel together or receive purchases at home. Confirm whether the provider offers passenger transport before relying on it. For delivery, describe stairs, building entry, bag quantities and the person who will receive the purchases. For groceries, agree on how the shopper will handle chilled items and substitutions.

For an outing involving Ottawa, discuss the return journey as well as the outbound trip. STO permits a two-hour transfer to OC Transpo buses and the O-Train with its regular electronic purse fare, provided the first validation occurs aboard STO. Its one-day pass covers 24 consecutive hours and also requires first activation aboard STO. Choose your fare around the planned itinerary and expected shopping time. [2]

Agree on receipts, approvals and returns

Before someone buys on your behalf, agree on the payment method, purchase authority and receipt handoff. Ask for itemized store receipts alongside the service invoice. Record who will hold any advance, how the shopper will reconcile spending and when they will return unused funds. Avoid sharing account passwords; agree on a payment arrangement you can track.

For non-defective goods, Quebec’s consumer protection office says merchants may set their own exchange and refund conditions and must honour the policies they adopt. Have the shopper check deadlines, final-sale exclusions and refund methods before purchase. Decide who will make a return trip and whether that service costs extra. [3]

Keep the invoice and any document stating exchange or refund conditions. The consumer protection office also recommends bringing instructions, care information and warranty documents when seeking an exchange, refund or credit. Ask the shopper to hand over those materials with the goods. [3]

STO fare options for an accompanied shopping outing

Match the booking to your task

Your hiring checklist

1. Define the purchase list, preferred stores and acceptable substitutions.
2. Set separate limits for merchandise, service time and travel expenses.
3. Confirm preparation, delivery, return-trip and cancellation charges in writing.
4. Agree on purchase approvals and a fallback if you cannot answer messages.
5. Choose the meeting point, transport plan and delivery handoff.
6. Confirm receipt custody, return responsibilities and reconciliation of unused funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for the shopper?

Request a quote for your specific list and itinerary. Ask the provider to separate their fee from purchases and expenses, state any minimum booking and explain how they charge for preparation or returns. Compare the total for the same scope rather than comparing hourly rates alone.

Can a shopper buy clothes without me attending?

You can request that arrangement and set photo approvals, size preferences and a maximum price per item. Check return conditions before authorizing purchases. In Quebec, merchants do not have to accept returns of non-defective goods, although they must follow any exchange or refund policy they adopt. [3]

Can we use STO for shopping in Ottawa?

STO’s one-day pass includes OC Transpo buses and the O-Train for its 24-hour validity period, but you must activate it aboard an STO bus first. Plan separate fares for people travelling together and confirm who will carry the purchases. [2]