This isn't a criticism, but I'm trying to brainstorm ways to make this work. Does anyone think that, if there was a narrative section, it would have helped to put in it an explanation of the 'many nos but I'd be delighted to return' problem? Just spelling it out in the narrative: "The reason I would be delighted to return is.... "

I agree StormCloud, but as we all know, we are independent contractors and sometimes a MSC has their reasons (wrong as we may think they are) to do what they do. I lost sleep when I did the report but I did not loose sleep when I fired the MSC!

It was a first shop. I consider it on the job training and moved forward. I really just wish the MSC would have contacted me instead of me having to chase after them three months later. Who knows, I might have learned something if they had been forth coming early after I submitted the shop.

I am guessing the report never went to Blue Martini since the bartender was still working there a couple months later, and yes, I got another free drink. :-)

shopit -
I'm amazed you kept shopping at all if that was your very first shop and you weren't paid.
Way to reframe! Great night out for cheap. Plus the chance for repeat cheap nights out, since the bartender did not get canned or retrained like it sounds that he should be. (5-10 comped drinks per hour for an 8 hour shift is $50-100 K in lost revenue over one person's work year, which would be a lot even if they encourage freebies as a way to generate return business.)
And you're absolutely right... Would you return? Who wouldn't?!
Sounds like it's either a flawed reporting question (way too subjective, needs room for explanation), or flawed editorial evaluation (who are they to judge you when they're asking about your sentiment and not your observations?)

MSCs - drop the subjective nonsense in our objective reporting, or at least don't evaluate our opinions for anything other than spelling or grammar when you ask for them.

Not considering distance from you, would you return to this gas station as a regular customer?
Yes, I would, in spite of the fact that the restroom is horror film caliber vile; the cashier in the store has dilated eyes, speaks in grunts, and hasn't bathed in days; the hot dogs on the rollers have shriveled to the diameter of green beans, have the same color but are just fuzzier; and the coolers are full of liquids in bottles marked, "Not Approved for Human Consumption."
I would return because their gas is 3 cents cheaper per gallon than anywhere else, and that's my subjective bottom line as a gas station customer. Don't judge me for it. You asked.
I would just pay at the pump.

BK Wrote:
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> Hi, I am very new to this only 7shops, I have a
> slightly odd feeling right now.


BK -
Welcome to the Forum. Check out the "New Mystery Shoppers" section. Lots of great stuff there for getting started.
Your odd feeling, though, is probably just because of the number of shops you've done.
Do one more. Then you'll be even.

I have shopped for several years. I have never had a narrative returned. In the Guidelines of all of the companies I have worked for do NOT want your opinion, just the facts.

'The employee was standing behind the counter using the computer. He/she did not smile, make eye contact or greet me. I waited five minutes and approached the counter.'

Let the client decide whether or not the employee was acting accordingly. Acting like a jerk is your opinion. Instead say, "The employee was throwing paper at an associate."

The editor is the person who is removing your opinions, the editor knows what the client needs. You have a misunderstanding about how your narratives should be.