i made a deposit at my local bank today, where i've been banking for the last 5 years. i make deposits there about once a week, always walking in, and never using the drive-through. hence, i've probably walked in and made deposits with the tellers about 200 times in the last 5 years.

today, i deposited some checks from a mystery shopping company. i think the teller may have noticed that my checks were coming from a mystery shopping company, although i've never actually mystery shopped my own local bank. for the first time in 5 years, she started small-talking about the weather and used my first name twice, acting all perky. she was performing at her best. she's never done this before in 5 years.

i think that she believes that she was being shopped, when i deposited by mystery shopping checks. before i was getting just average service, but now she rolls out the royal carpet for me.

That's hilarious! lol

Next thing you know Vince, she'll be handing you a bouquet of roses with a box of chocolates!

I, for one, love hearing about your bank shop adventures!

either that, or she's into me for paying down my home equity line, lolol, but i doubt it.

I've had that happen before too. I usually don't cash in person the checks that say they are a mystery shopping company, but a few times I have and they usually get really chatty after that, start suggesting other accounts, etc.

I don't know where your checks are coming from? What checks say on them MYSTERY shopping?

As these business are a business of anonymity why are written on your checks Mystery shopping? I have checks going to PP, DD and to my home I have yet to see or be notified a Mystery shopping check has been deposited in these accounts. The account says a company have made a deposit.

I am agreeing with the other poster with the choccolate and flowers. The banker/teller has seen your bank account, she knows U have money. She's free now. Whereas 5 years ago she wasn't. :-)

I think it's the name of some of the companies that give it away. It's been a long time since I've had a check to deposit, but for example I thought that ACE actually had "ACE Mystery Shopping" on their checks.

Sojo917, there are I think 3-4 that I shop for that have mystery shoppers or shopping on their checks.

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't know where your checks are coming from?
> What checks say on them MYSTERY shopping?
>

i don't think that the checks say 'mystery shopping'.


> As these business are a business of anonymity why
> are written on your checks Mystery shopping? I
> have checks going to PP, DD and to my home I have
> yet to see or be notified a Mystery shopping check
> has been deposited in these accounts. The account
> says a company have made a deposit.
>

i just know that i've done bank shops that stipulate not to deposit a mystery shopping check during a teller deposit shop.

> I am agreeing with the other poster with the
> choccolate and flowers. The banker/teller has
> seen your bank account, she knows U have money.
> She's free now. Whereas 5 years ago she wasn't.
> :-)

could be. i'll have to see how she acts yet in the future.

I love Measure Consumer Profiles. They write," the checks are issued under a name that would allow our regular shoppers to cash their checks at their banks without the risk of being identified."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2012 05:46AM by anakin.

LOL! Gotta love that perk of being a MSer. I'd play it up and have some fun. It's the mean streak in me. Talk into your shirt like there's a recording device there. Jot down a note. Use her name or ask a "shopper" question.

Just FYI, lots of companies have "mystery shopping" or "secret shopper" on the checks if it's a part of the company name. This business isn't so secret. In the January issue of All You, there was an article about how a woman saved on dining out by shopping. It included a large photo of her smiling. Not so secret and I doubt it affected her ability to go incognito.

If you're well-known at your local bank, depositing your check by drive-thru isn't going to help. First, they have cameras aimed at your face. Second, as a teller, they become familiar with account names and the associated faces. So even if they don't see you, seeing your name can be all they need.

If this is a serious concern for you, I would suggest going to a bank in a nearby town when you're out and about or doing other shops. Vary it up and don't go to the same bank each time, either.

I've never personally cared, even if my local bank was shopped. Hmm, maybe I should try snagging them as a client for the finder's fee?

I have a check too that actually says, "Mystery Shopper" on it..and take it to my own bank, which I will not shop...of course

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
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> I have a check too that actually says, "Mystery
> Shopper" on it..and take it to my own bank, which
> I will not shop...of course

they should just write on the check: 'this is a mystery shopping check and you are being shopped.'

My bag :-(.

I guess I'll have to look at my checks more clearly I usually just look at the date, the amount and the signature line on the back. I must learn to be more observant :-)

I think she's got an eye on your bank balance.

HAhha I deposited a "super mystery shopper inc. " check at the drivethrough and the teller said" what kind of check is this, and took it to the manager,
I think i caused a riot in that office, they always ask me, "where are you going today" I say home.

matashopper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HAhha I deposited a "super mystery shopper inc.
> " check at the drivethrough and the teller said"
> what kind of check is this, and took it to the
> manager,
> I think i caused a riot in that office, they
> always ask me, "where are you going today" I say
> home.

they are probably paranoid, lolol.

I don't think i ave been in my bank once in two past remodels hahahaha I use the ATM's and internet bill pay for everything.

I think its funny the way you get treated so well. Now, they feel that you might e shopping them! Oh, this is so good Hey, enjoy the great service.

Don / Vegas


vince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i made a deposit at my local bank today, where
> i've been banking for the last 5 years. i make
> deposits there about once a week, always walking
> in, and never using the drive-through. hence,
> i've probably walked in and made deposits with the
> tellers about 200 times in the last 5 years.
>
> today, i deposited some checks from a mystery
> shopping company. i think the teller may have
> noticed that my checks were coming from a mystery
> shopping company, although i've never actually
> mystery shopped my own local bank. for the first
> time in 5 years, she started small-talking about
> the weather and used my first name twice, acting
> all perky. she was performing at her best. she's
> never done this before in 5 years.
>
> i think that she believes that she was being
> shopped, when i deposited by mystery shopping
> checks. before i was getting just average
> service, but now she rolls out the royal carpet
> for me.

My bank is used to me cashing cheques with "Mystery Shopping" in the company name. I've been asked by the manager how mystery shopping works and I've given him a quick overview. I've also assured him that I don't shop that bank chain and I have no idea if anyone does so he can relax.
He found the concept interesting and I was surprised he was unaware of mystery shoppers before. Since I've always commented to him on particularly poor or excellent service (as I do most places I frequent), he is getting input from me quite often. I haven't noticed the level of service improve or decline since I started depositing those pay cheques.

I would never shop my own bank but my wife and I put our checks in only via ATM and we get a scanned copy of them. I've never have that experience at a bank, but we have had that experience as a restaurant we have shopped and then gone there not as a shop and have and still receive the royal treatment!

I had a manager whisper to the teller "She's a mystery shopper" and the guy yelled out "What mystery shopper?" and then he said "Oh on the check." I told them that I do shop but they dont let me shop where I bank because it is considered biased.

Before I moved, I used to be asked to mystery shop a grocery nearly every month because they couldn't get anyone else to do it. After several months went by, I became convinced the butcher thought I was hot for him, every month I would be required to stop and ask some made up question in the meat dept. I certainly got some strange looks. I am also convinced they knew I was a mystery shopper, because when they saw me coming in the store, suddenly everyone was Johnny on the spot. This store had excellent customer service anyway, but I certainly got some royal treatment. It was almost to the point where they would assign some young man to follow me around to help me. It was hilarious. But no one ever complained. I had a good time in a great store.

If they can figure it out, good on them. We just go in and do our job, and report the results. You have to remember that you are not the only person they see on a weekly basis, repeatedly. You are probably miss-understanding their normal good service for knowing your intent???

They know what you tell them. Verbally, non verbally, etc... Just smile, do your shopping and they have a good day.

ps, we are not the KGB or the CIA. They have no special sensors to find us. Often it is just in our own minds. IMHO, of course

Don / Vegas


toyhorse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Before I moved, I used to be asked to mystery shop
> a grocery nearly every month because they couldn't
> get anyone else to do it. After several months
> went by, I became convinced the butcher thought I
> was hot for him, every month I would be required
> to stop and ask some made up question in the meat
> dept. I certainly got some strange looks. I am
> also convinced they knew I was a mystery shopper,
> because when they saw me coming in the store,
> suddenly everyone was Johnny on the spot. This
> store had excellent customer service anyway, but I
> certainly got some royal treatment. It was almost
> to the point where they would assign some young
> man to follow me around to help me. It was
> hilarious. But no one ever complained. I had a
> good time in a great store.