I went to a restaurant last evening to do a mystery shop. I invited a friend (as I am allowed to do).
It turns out my friend knew the owner from a civic organization and the owner came over and chatted with us for a while, then went home to get her kids back to school shopping completed.

When the bill came 20% was deducted as a gift from the owner. I did evaluate the service, and I will be be reimbursed fully for the entire meal.

Does the shop still count? Did we get better service because of the owner? It was my first shop and now I am concerned there was a conflict of interest. But I did evaluate the entire meal/service/timing. I have to do my report in the morning.

You need to discuss this with the MSP. They don't want you shopping folks you know because of the possibility of conflict of interest and bias in your reporting. I would point out that YOU as the evaluator did not know the owner and that your friend did not indicate that SHE knew the owner, but that once there, the situation unfolded as it did.

I would mention at what point of the meal the owner came over to chat. If you had been receiving mediocre service before the visit and excellent service afterwards, one could assume a friendship effect. If it was substantially the same before and afterwards, the service can stand on its own merit.

As for the 20% discount, you never get paid on reimbursements more than you actually spent.

Yes, I would say it is a conflict of interest. I have always been told if you discover you know an individual you are shopping then that shop is void, because there could be bias on a shopper's part even though not intentional. I have been blessed so far not to know anyone that I have shopped. Also, If I am asked to shop a company and I already know that manager there I will not attempt to shop it.

Whether it is a conflict of interest or not is the call of the MSP. So the best that can be done is to point out that it was inadvertent and unexpected and where in the course of the shop it was disclosed that the COMPANION was friends with the manager. But the COMPANION is not writing up the shop so the only possible bias is if they received different service than an ordinary customer would receive. And it will be a judgment call on the part of the MSP as to whether the results are valid or not.

thanks all for the moral support! I was so worried.
That's correct , I did not know the owner and it was a coincidence that the owner was even there.

How funny that she herself will be reading the report with her in it!

So far, no problem from the MSP. And quite honestly, I was dressed so well last evening I hope I made an impression on the owner which I hope she will let the MSP know!

Will advise if things do not go well, but I think it is fine.

gosh_gee_golly