A few months ago, I scheduled a casual dining shop. $75, not bad but never heard of the venue. Looked on their website and it looked good. I meet my DH and approach the venue. See a big, burly serious looking bouncer at the door who asks for my ID. Seriously? We go in and the place is a hangout for the 20's crowd. It was a Friday night, so needless to say it was packed. We had to eat at a table at the bar. It was noisy, dark and loud. The funniest thing was, we looked like (old) chaperones for a college frat house party. Now I make sure I google some reviews so I know what the venue is like.

The Subway shops. Yes, I was one of those people who took pictures of the sandwich "closed" i.e. with the wrapper still on it. But....I realized how silly it was a minute or two later.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/2014 05:28PM by Madetoshop.

I had a McD Special Order shop on a Sunday evening during football season. My city's team was playing in the Sunday night game so the city was dead. The weather was rainy, and I entered the McD restaruant. I was the only customer. I ordered my sandwich, and realized that I forgot to do a special order. So I explained to the cashier I needed ANOTHER sandwich, but this time I wanted the sandwich without onions. I paid for two meals.

I was alone in McDonalds with two sandwiches, two fries, and two drinks. The cashier came out and told me, "I don't think she is coming. You got stood up."

After fifteen minutes, I got in my car and did my drive thru. The same cashier was at the drive thru. I will never forget what he said. "Food isn't the way to go to cure your unhappiness. Smile, you will get through it."

***********

While I was doing my cruise shop, my stateroom got a weird odor (it was the people next to us). I talked to the customer service desk (after calling my scheduler at $2.99 a minute) and we got moved to a gorgeous junior suite. This suite is normally reserved for VIPs and word quickly spread about this suite being used. The cruise attendants thought we were movie stars, sports stars, or the business elite! I had one ask for my autograph.

***********

During a video shop, I was required to check the restroom of a facility. I forgot that I had the camera on, and mother nature called. A few days later, my recruiter called and told me that I had a great shop, except the restroom portion. I apologized and apologized. She laughed and told me it was no big deal.

************

During a Vegas Casino shop, my buddy ran into Paul Rudd. After winning big at his table at blackjack, we went to the bar to have a drink with him. I found it funny that I was evaluating the bar staff, the cleanliness, and drink quality with Paul Rudd.

*************

A few years back, I had a late night Taco Bell shop. The crew was high as a kite and messed up my order four times. I got to keep all the food.

*************

This wasn't a paid shop, but should have been.

I went to KFC one night late to pickup dinner for the fam. They had to make the food, and ended up giving it to another customer and had to remake it .... twice. I was in the store for almost 45 minutes. When I first ordered, the manager gave me a free drink while I waited because they should have had the chicken already made. After the first screw up, he gave me a free desert. After the second screw up, he to get me to take whatever they had in the leftovers. I asked for my money back.

These are great stories! I see a very funny cartoon book in the making! Someone should put one together.

Of course you wiull have to have a cartoon of someone out-running horny goats or meeting satan in the post office.

I just went to Market Force to enter a report and found this in their little "story" box at the top of the page:

Best Cancellation Reason We've Ever Heard!

We thought we would share this bear of a story that one of our Shoppers sent us.

“Dear Help Desk: I am apologizing for cancelling my appointment for the assignment below. I am very grateful and I know you work very hard matching shoppers with stores. I have never done this before. Please accept my apology. While this may seem like the most bizarre reason for why I cancelled, it is the truth... and I am sure this one will make you and your team certainly laugh.

I live in Lake Tahoe in Northern California... there is a serious bear problem in this town. The Bears do not care nor are they afraid of humans. This is normal to people up here. On the date of my shop, I hear the car horn from my car and I say, Oh no, the bear set off my alarm. I watched a 600 pound bear fight to escape for at least 2 hours. The door had slammed behind him, I guess, locking him in. I watched it from the porch. Finally, we were able to hook a golf club to open the door so the bear could escape. Well, when the bear left the car, he still wouldn't leave the driveway despite all the people. After a few hours, I said, Okay, I will be able to drive and drop the car off to get an estimate after my shopper assignment. I went to open my car and I no longer had a working door, a door panel, an electrical seat or inside handlebars. The entire interior of the car from the sunroof to the center console to the door panels and electrical all ripped off. The bear dug a hole into the trunk. Oh, and of course, on top of all of that I go to remove my toothpaste and I realize the bear marked his territory as well.

Well, I hope you accept my apology and will continue to keep me on as a contractor. I also hope you get a kick out of this TRUE story.”



Cettie ... was that you?

Posting it here because I know most people (including myself) never read Market Force's little tidbits. But this one caught my eye and I thought I'd share it on this thread.

I think Cettie is in a different state.

I thought she was on a different planet. Where is Zoltar?

I have never seen any where to read something like that on market force's site.

keep the stories coming. I loved the previous threads like this.

I was doing a gas station shop that required a photo of the restroom and purchase of a hot dog. I buy the hot dog, (which is out of date) and then ask for the key to the restroom. I walk back in to return the key and the cashier asks for the return of the hot dog or would I accept a refund. Why, because he just noticed that the serve time had expired. I return the hot dog and insist that I was really wanting a hot dog, so I suggest, how about a corn dog instead. The cashier exchanges the dogs. I return to my car and notice that the corn dog is also past the expiration time.

Agent 99 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought she was on a different planet. Where is
> Zoltar?



Zoltar is in a galaxy far far away, through the miracle of teleportation I am able to do this thing called mystery shopping on your planet. My purpose is to have interesting earth experiences while doing so and also to be a thorn in the side of a certain MS company owner who hates me.

I did a shop at a high end hotel in my city. When we scheduled it, no one realized that it was the date that one of the final days of March madness (college basketball) was the weekend they were in my city. One of the top teams was staying at the hotel I was supposed to mystery shop. I walked in and realized I was in a "line-up" for the team to walk through and there were about 200 people in the lobby waiting for them. I ducked to the side and tried to check in as a large marching band was playing and cheerleaders chanting as the players were starting to go through the fan line. Remember--this is a very high class stately hotel!!! It was chaos for hours. I ended up staying up until about 2 am to get a respectable picture of the lobby without tons of people in it. On top of it all, the team was supposed to check out but they came back and checked back in!! The room service part of the visit was very bad for the timing since the hotel was not prepared to check in all these players after midnight. The scheduler called me and a had to explain the very unusual events that happened.

anerrorhasoccurred Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a McD Special Order shop on a Sunday evening
> during football season. My city's team was playing
> in the Sunday night game so the city was dead.
> The weather was rainy, and I entered the McD
> restaruant. I was the only customer. I ordered
> my sandwich, and realized that I forgot to do a
> special order. So I explained to the cashier I
> needed ANOTHER sandwich, but this time I wanted
> the sandwich without onions. I paid for two
> meals.
>
> I was alone in McDonalds with two sandwiches, two
> fries, and two drinks. The cashier came out and
> told me, "I don't think she is coming. You got
> stood up."
>
> After fifteen minutes, I got in my car and did my
> drive thru. The same cashier was at the drive
> thru. I will never forget what he said. "Food
> isn't the way to go to cure your unhappiness.
> Smile, you will get through it."
>
> ***********
>
> While I was doing my cruise shop, my stateroom got
> a weird odor (it was the people next to us). I
> talked to the customer service desk (after calling
> my scheduler at $2.99 a minute) and we got moved
> to a gorgeous junior suite. This suite is
> normally reserved for VIPs and word quickly spread
> about this suite being used. The cruise
> attendants thought we were movie stars, sports
> stars, or the business elite! I had one ask for
> my autograph.
>
> ***********
>
> During a video shop, I was required to check the
> restroom of a facility. I forgot that I had the
> camera on, and mother nature called. A few days
> later, my recruiter called and told me that I had
> a great shop, except the restroom portion. I
> apologized and apologized. She laughed and told
> me it was no big deal.
>
> ************
>
> During a Vegas Casino shop, my buddy ran into Paul
> Rudd. After winning big at his table at
> blackjack, we went to the bar to have a drink with
> him. I found it funny that I was evaluating the
> bar staff, the cleanliness, and drink quality with
> Paul Rudd.
>
> *************
>
> A few years back, I had a late night Taco Bell
> shop. The crew was high as a kite and messed up
> my order four times. I got to keep all the food.
>
>
> *************

Hilarious!

I was getting ready to do a gas station shop. It's a very small gas station. To not look obvious, I prepped my 8 year old daughter. I told her, "When we go inside, say in a loud voice that you have to use the restroom." We went over this scenario several times, including in the parking lot right before we entered.

So we enter the tiny gas station and I'm waiting for my daughter to say her line. She says nothing. I give her a look. Still nothing. I kinda nudge her. Nothing. I said quietly, "Josie, do you need to tell me something?" and she replies, "No." Finally the lightbulb goes off in her head and she whispers ever so quietly, "Mom, I need to use the restroom."

We still joke about it. And that was the last time I did a shop at that location.

I did the Arby's revealed shop where you go in after ordering a sandwich in the drive thru and ask them to remake the sandwich without the red sauce. After you evaluate the drive thru, interior and customer service on the rejected sandwich, you present the manager with the little flier about the program. When I did this shop, the staff were very apologetic for the red sauce (even though they are supposed to put it on the sandwich) and were more than happy to oblige my request for a sandwich without. Afterwards, the Manager was receptive and proud of how the staff reacted to my unusual request. I left feeling like everything went pretty well. I drove away and bit into the new sandwich. You guessed it. . . red sauce. *facepalm*

I also did the Arby's reveal shop. I took my sandwich back in and requested a regular bun instead of the onion roll. I love these shops because I actually do order the Beef n Cheddar with a regular bun. Anyway, I go back in, get the replacement sandwich and then do the reveal. As I was walking out the door, I had two men come up to me. Apparently they were district manager-types and asked me a few questions about related to "combos". They chatted with me a few minutes and then I left. Got in the car, opened my sandwich...onion roll! I felt really bad for them, but I went back and got it replaced. I felt so bad for the restaurant manager.

Let me understand this ... both of you took a sandwich you already had bought in the drivethru back inside and asked, "Will you please fix this?" and they both took the sandwich and said, "Sure, you can have it your way," and then handed you back either the same sandwich or one made the same way it had been originally?


I haven't done this particular shop yet; I was considering doing one in a town I drive through on my way to my dad's about once a week. But I'm shaking my head at the idea that they listened so poorly that they gave you back what you had just complained about. I guess that's the point of the shop though.

Are you not allowed to check the new sandwich before you leave the counter/do the reveal to find out if they did it right or not?

I also do this shop and enjoy it considerably (and I really like the Beef and Cheddar).

I also do the "bun switch" request and they have never messed it up. The thing that I find disturbing is that the sandwich
immediately goes in the trash (well once they offered it back to me for free). This is necessary of course, since I have had the sandwich in my possession for several minutes and of course it can't be given to anyone else.

I enjoy doing them since to date, nobody has messed up the sandwich change request (they occasionally forget to offer a combo). The sandwich is always corrected cheerfully and they have without fail, been friendly and helpful so it is kind of fun to hand them the mystery shopper announcement.

Love the Arby's shop too. We only have one in the state (that I know of) and it's at my local mall so I don't have to do the drive thru portion.

Anyhow, as far as the "funnies", I did a bank shop this week. On the rep's desk was a warning about scams. "Never trust a resource offering you a job as "secret shopper" or "mystery shopper". The placard was right in front of me and the rep said, "You wouldn't believe how many people think this is a real job." I know someone else had a similar experience awhile back because I remember reading the post, but it was still hard not to laugh when I experienced it myself.

jonchance Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This wasn't a paid shop, but should have been.
>
> I went to KFC one night late to pickup dinner for
> the fam. They had to make the food, and ended up
> giving it to another customer and had to remake it
> .... twice. I was in the store for almost 45
> minutes. When I first ordered, the manager gave me
> a free drink while I waited because they should
> have had the chicken already made. After the first
> screw up, he gave me a free desert. After the
> second screw up, he to get me to take whatever
> they had in the leftovers. I asked for my money
> back.

I saw an article about how Chick-Fil-A is beating the pants off KFC, even though they don't have nearly the amount of locations as KFC. This is probably why. I don't remember getting bad service at Chick-Fil-A. They either hire people that already have a good attitude or they train them very well.

I was going to my local gas station to do an in stock audit. As I get ready to pull in I spot 5 police cars in the drive, 4 from the next city and one from the city the gas station is in. They have their lights going. By this time I am wondering if I really want to do this audit but I pull up to the store and the one cop from my city waves to me and asks if I like venison. Apparently the airport cops were all taking a break when a deer runs around the corner of the store and jumps over the first two police cars hitting the third with his head snapping his neck. Dead deer, dented police car. The airport cops have to file a report and need the local cop to take photos and had to have their supervisor come out also. The only problem was they didn't know what to do with the deer so they offered it to customers.
We all decided it was a suicide by cop.

Well I just did another one of those Arby's mystery shop/ reveals. Only problem was no combo offered. I got $40 for this one and total time spent was 90 minutes with 60 of it driving. The place was in one of those NYS Thruway travel centers so was a dine in. Anyway to my funny:
I was doing one of those gas station audits you know the one with the pornographic and drug paraphanilla questions. I took a torso picture of the employee who was the owner of the gas station. He did not have a uniform shirt on or name tag but did have a branded hat on. He asked me to take a picture with his head in it so they would see the hat. I told him they strictly said they wanted no head in the image. He told me to take it again as he held his hat over his shirt like he was standing for the national anthem or something. I obliged his request but used the original pic of his torso without the hat. I didn't need to tell him. i just found it funny since he would have to reprimand himself for not wearing proper uniform.

Had a pizza shop recently. My husband came home, saw that both kids were napping, and went in to the bedroom to take a nap, so I took it as an opportunity to go get the pizza. Placed the order, picked it up, came home. Put the pizza on the counter, got out my photo cards and camera, and was standing at the sink cleaning the box cutter, when I hear "Oh sweet, you got pizza. " I turned around, and it felt like I was in a movie on slow motion... I dove at him, yelling "Nooooo" but...too late. He had the box open, one slice out, and folded over, big bite taken out.

I had to go all the way back and order another. He had pizza for lunch two days in a row.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Had a furniture reupholstery shop, and when I was picking out fabric, there was a woman and her teenaged son there picking out fabric as well. He kept playing music on his phone and trying to dance. She finally told him to sit down and be quiet. He commented, very loudly, that he didn't want to sit in that chair because it looked like the flamingos were, err...having sex. (Not the word he used)... I of course looked, and... once you saw it, you couldn't unsee it. The way the fabric print matched up in unfortunate spots, yeah, he was right. My somewhat older saleswoman and I kept looking over at the chair, looking back at each other, trying to continue with our discussion, and giggling. Suddenly, in the middle of one of her giggles, she says "Oh no, oh dear, I think I... I think I wet myself" and rushes off. I waited, and waited, and she did not return. Finally, someone from the floor came and told me that my saleswoman had an emergency and would not be returning. They sent someone else from the floor over to help me finish.

Worst part was that my report called for a detailed narrative of everything that happened and everything that was said. I took a late submission hit on that one, because I contacted my shopper company and asked if it was really necessary for that part to be included. It was in no way pertinent to this woman's expertise or helpfulness. It took awhile to hear back from them, but they agreed. I did get a late submission for it though.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Had an in home estimate shop, and when the guy rang my doorbell, my toddler beat me, and my pitbull went racing out of the door to greet him. I was halfway down the hallway towards the door when I saw him look at the dog barreling at him, and freak out. He turned to run and smacked face first into one of my porch columns.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Had a fast food shop at a middle of nowhere location. The cashier noticed my keychain and started talking to me about My Little Pony, and his favorite ones. (He is apparently a Rainbow Brite kinda guy)... He kept going on and on.

In my report, when I entered the timing, the report menu dropped down to ask, basically "What the hell took so long?" Since there was no other customers in the store, I had to select "Other" and write in "Cashier personally engaged me in an interesting conversation about My Little Pony."