I'm a G-D mystery shopper dammit!

I thought I had seen it all. Took an arches shop just because I was really hungry, hadn't been there in a while (almost 4 months), and they keep threatening to expire my certification. I was doing the dine in part, got my food, was choking it down and an argument broke out at the counter between a customer and the manager. I didn't get the entire gist of everything that was going on, but the customer wasn't satisfied for some reason, and wanted his money back. He and the manager kept getting louder and louder, and all of a sudden I hear the customer say, "I'm the G** D*** mystery shopper, and you need to refund my money or I'm gonna write yo (inappropriate racial slur) a** up and get yo a** fired!

The manager, no @#$%&, just busted out laughing. When he finally composed herself, she said (still chuckling) "I'll look forward to reading that report. You have a nice night sir", and walked away, still laughing.

You have no idea how much I wanted to say something. Well, maybe you do.

************************
Some times you just have to turn around, give a little smile, toss the match, set the bridge ablaze, and walk away.

Silver Certified on the Carolina Coast. You want fries with that?

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Oh, I do, I do!

So did you put any part of that in your report? The coincidence cracked me up!

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

Naa, I left it alone. There really isn't anywhere in the report that I can see that this could be addressed. Also, since I already had my food, the only thing I was still responsible for was if the different areas of the location were clean.

Since it all happened at the same approximate time, I'm wondering if the manager will get the
report and think, "Oh, sh*t! He really was the shopper! Why didn't he say something if he was
so mad?"

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

I was in a McDonalds once, out of state so not a shop. The service was taking so long I started to stare at my watch. The manager asked if I was shopping them. I said he would find out in a week or so.

.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)

"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei

LOL!

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

That is a great story! Thanks for sharing.

Can you imagine a real mystery shopper, screaming at the MCD manager, saying, "Give me my ^^%^$&@ money back!"

SandiAigo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since it all happened at the same approximate
> time, I'm wondering if the manager will get the
> report and think, "Oh, sh*t! He really was the
> shopper! Why didn't he say something if he was
> so mad?"

I never even considered that. Too funny!

Oh, that *is* funny! Especially now that the manager will actually get a MS report from that time frame. Ha!

And what a dork that guy was. Sheesh!

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

If I were the type who was inclined to throw hissy fits, saying "I am the mystery shopper and you need to refund my money or else (minus the racial slur)" sounds like it could just as easily be a way to get you want as to get thrown out of an establishment. I couldn't behave like that if I wanted to. If I think I am being mistreated, I will stand up for myself. Threatening people in any way shouldn't be anyone's first line of defense. Outing oneself as a mystery shopper like this person did was not very bright. He can't ever shop there now!

Your post...."I'm Lovin' It" (get it? LOL)

>Outing oneself as a mystery shopper like this person did was not very bright. He can't ever shop there >now!

Isn't that sort of like telling me that I'll never get to play tuba solos at Carnagie Hall?

The translation of the above comment is: I took for granted that the person was not a mystery shopper, knew absolutely nothing about mystery shopping, and, like most people, never will be a mystery shopper.

He knew enough to know McDonald's was shopped. I'm guessing he had a very short-lived MS career, was deactivated and the behavior is his "payback." Or maybe he was deactivated because of that behavior.

IMO, it should have been mentioned either in the report or as a follow up email. The problem with ignoring it is that manager will obviously remember the interaction and be receiving a report for the same date and time frame. While she probably didn't believe that crazy person was actually her mystery shopper, the report might change her mind. There is a strong possibility she will go up the chain of command to be sure the MSC knows what their mystery shopper did and said to her. With no preemptive move by jonchance to clear it all up, who do you think they will believe?

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

LisaSTL

He knew enough to know McDonald's was shopped. I'm guessing he had a very short-lived MS career, was deactivated and the behavior is his "payback." Or maybe he was deactivated because of that behavior.

`````````````````````

I was JUST going to say that! Like a bad cop kicked out of the police academy, this guy was an awful shopper and a certain mystery shopping company kicked him out!

Yeah, I'd shoot an email to the help desk.

Or maybe he knows "just enough" about mystery shopping from a friend or relative
and took a chance by saying that.

Jonchance might want to rethink saying something. If the manager disputes the
report from that day or time, they may throw out his report!

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

I suspect that he knew that mystery shopping existed, but had absolutely no idea what it was like, and that the McDonalds connection was pure chance. "I'm the mystery shopper and you've gotta give me a refund?"

I agree with everyone else that an pre-emptive e-mail would be in order.

nycrocks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I were the type who was inclined to throw hissy
> fits, saying "I am the mystery shopper and you
> need to refund my money or else (minus the racial
> slur)" sounds like it could just as easily be a
> way to get you want as to get thrown out of an
> establishment. I couldn't behave like that if I
> wanted to. If I think I am being mistreated, I
> will stand up for myself. Threatening people in
> any way shouldn't be anyone's first line of
> defense. Outing oneself as a mystery shopper like
> this person did was not very bright. He can't ever
> shop there now!

Pretty sure he wasn't a real mystery shopper.

Jonchance, he knew something about MS, so you never know what his experience may have been.

I have to agree with everyone else that covering yourself by letting the help desk know how this person behaved is a good idea. You could be mistaken for that guy by the client otherwise. Very strange coincidence, that's for sure!

I'm with the others and would definitely let the MSC know in case the company thinks that you were that person.

Could have been worse. I was looking at a Starbucks forum where both customers and baristas post. One of the forum topics was mystery shopping. On one of the posts the barista told about when her manager recognized a shopper, jumped over the counter, and started beating on the shopper! Police had to be called.

Lucky for the faux McD's shopper, the manager just walked away laughing!

NOTE: I'm not on the forum every day. If someone comments on my post, I might not reply right away. I've been a shopper since 1991. I've never done any work for a MS company in any other capacity.

I wanted to do that so many times but the "real" in me said when the poo hits the fan and Murphy makes his entrance you just observe and report. Under the arches I have been approached by toothless “ladies” of the evening looking to offer their services so they can get $5 for a fix. The items that are self service in many locations are offered over the counter. The men's room is locked and you have to be buzzed in. More often than not I am either asked if I want to buy or if I am selling anything(drugs). My mind flashes back to when I was an officer. I just tell them I am here for a burger. I do not eat the 2 minute burgers that come from the greasy drawer. I give them to the "homeless" that park their Cadillac around the corner and ask for change in the parking lot and lobby of the restaurant. There are several locations in the five town area that have similar locations. I urge you to drive by and if you are uncomfortable keep driving. The shop is not for amateurs. If you are not dressed properly go home and change you will be spotted in a New York Minute.

I did a McDs once that ended with me emailing the help desk and saying "I am saying this as a feminist who believes a woman can do any work a man can do: Don't offer this location to women. Ever. At all." I was nearly assaulted in the parking lot, and somebody else tried to pick me up at the soda fountain. And I was dressed like a freaking librarian! Not a safe location at all.

Good for you, that you said very little. You are a true professional.

This is the first time I have every heard anything like this happening. I have been a shopper since 2002 and enjoy it more all the time.

Keep up the good work.

G. Barnes
in California

niteowl Wrote:
On one of the posts the barista told
> about when her manager recognized a shopper,
> jumped over the counter, and started beating on
> the shopper! Police had to be called.
>
That always frightens me that either a mad employee will get verbally or physically abusive with the shopper or that a shopper leaves themselves vulnerable doing a shop in a seedy area.

I could have business cards printed up. "I'm the G-D mystery shopper!"

It would stand out in a crowd.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

I'm selling t-shirts. You have your choice of "I'm the GD mystery shopper" and "Yes, I am the f---ing mystery shopper @#$%&."

Can you make some that say "you're a fat a** cow c***" too?

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Those will be ready by Monday.

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