I ran across this blog article in one of my LinkedIn groups. The author makes some rather interesting and VALID points:

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To implement some of what he said would require a move to quality over quantity along with an increase for the shoppers. I don't agree that only shoppers who frequent specific brands should be eligible. It becomes more difficult to be objective if the shopper has developed a relationship with a store and it's employees even if that relationship is as a customer. It also eliminates having fresh eyes in the mix. He also seemed to lay the blame for being outed on the back of the shoppers rather than the obvious, stale scenarios that often don't allow for a natural interaction.

Everybody has an opinion.

I agree with Lisa about eligibility based on frequenting specific brands. I've never owned a Japanese car, but that fact certainly doesn't make me unable to effectively shop a dealership that only sells them and report all the pertinent details the client wants.

I totally disagree with this blog. Mostly the fact that he/she stated that most shoppers are Students and Stay at Home Moms.

I have a Nurses license.
Owned my own manufacturing, wholesale, and retail company for 25 years.
Started working when I was 14 years old, fried foods.
I waitressed on week-ends when my kids were younger.
Volunteered many times.
Belonged to the PTA.
Shopped in many stores, from low end to high end.
Sent both my children to state colleges.
Participated in so many organizations I don't need to mention.

This is not to focus on myself, I am sure from reading the Forum that all to most of you have had lots of experience.
Out of thousands of reports over the last 8 years I have turned in a few reports that were considered a bad employee.
I would like to know where this person gets his/her information.

The blog said *most* not all.

"The next (and arguably the biggest problem) is the negative bias that many shoppers subconsciously display in their reports. Yes every secret shopper should have a critical eye to some extent but there is a big difference between positive criticism and exaggerating every slight flaw. Too many times I have seen secret shopper reports that lead me to believe the shopper was on a bit of a power trip and enjoyed belittling the staff members they interacted with. How can you have an accurate representation from someone who wants to see the worst in your store and staff members?"

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Who is this guy? Negative Ned? I highly disagree with the above statement. I want VERY much for the associates to go a good job! I don't have a negative tibia in my body when I walk into a shop. I highly praise the associates when they do well.

Mystery shopping is not entrapment, a ploy, a revenge mode for a shopper who has a vendetta against who knows what...I take it he is a mystery shopper by his signature but his beliefs are from LACK of knowledge about what the true purpose of mystery shopping stands for....

Power Trip? I have known "few" (zero-) professional shoppers who are going in there to take control and damage a business.

I get the part that there are bad cops, bad doctors and bad mystery shoppers. I think the MSC's are GOOD at weeding out the garbage. If this is his true mentality, he should not be a shopper. If he is not a shopper, he should take some courses and a few test shops before he speaks out against shoppers...

This guy seems pretty biased against 'us'.

And don't most stores want to create new relationships, not just sustain old ones? First time buyers or visitors to a store could provide excellent feedback.

I too am not a student or stay at home mom, and I have tons of varying work, volunteer and professional experience.

I am neither a student nor stay at home dad and certainly not a stay at home mom. From what I have seen on this forum the majority are working professionals who shop part time as extra income. Now negative bias and on a power trip, I think not. I prefer to give the employees a positive review and have a positive experience as the reports take a lot less time that way. Hmm because we may not shop the brands as regular customers of the stores we can't give a useful report-- I highly disagree. This is our job the ones who have any decent amount of time as a mystery shopper can probably provide more useful reports than Harvard English professors who are regular customers of the store. Each store needs a specialized report so lets see how many stores does Bed Bath and Beyond have lets make an individual report for them. Lastly the reports are the same for every restaurant, the same for every clothing store, the same for every bank? This blogger clearly has never worked in the industry. But thank you Mr blogger for making me laugh.

I am not quite sure what to make of it. I noted that the company also offers "internal spying" for companies at the professional level and a whole array of other services. It appears that the company utilized a free web design service.