I was thinking about something. For example I've been doing some banks that restrict you to only doing every 60 days. Let's say in 60 days I do the same bank again. Does anyone ever run into a situation where the banker recognizes you and is wondering why you're coming in to the same bank inquiring about the same thing you asked about last time? Anybody have any strategies for countering this? Like excuses or reasons you're in there again. And to expand on that let's say you come up with a good reason the second visit. What about when 60 days later you're back again. And then 60 days after that.

What's a good strategy to address this issue and has anyone ever just had to abandon doing a shop because it would just be way to obvious to keep showing up again and again.

First, I would not go back anywhere near as soon as 60 days to ask about the same thing. If I think that the MSC/client-imposed rotation is too short, I use my own notion of a reasonable rotation. I just did a $100 first time mortgage seeker shop. When I called to make the appointment, the phone was answered by Cho, someone I remembered from the last time I was in that branch, about 5 years ago. Back then he was a (very memorable) greeter. Now he is the head teller. But, since he was not my target, and he had only greeted me so long ago, I went ahead and did the shop with the mortgage specialist. Having just spent more than 30 minutes in that branch, I would not return for a platform shop in less than about 2 years, no matter what the MSC thought about a shorter rotation period. YMMV

If I had done a teller shop, I might return in 60 days, but would abort the attempt and return later if it looked like I was going to get the same teller for the same scenario on my first attempt. I would impose a longer rotation for short platform shops, and would not attempt the same short platform scenario in less than about a year.

Bottom line; be prepared to protect yourself against detection; don't expect the client or the MSC to do that when they design scenarios or rotation minimums. If you cannot renegotiate a totally unrealistic scenario, you do not have to accept the job.

I would only repeat teller shops at any location within 60 days. Unless you can case the joint and be sure you are getting a different banker, I personally wouldn't consider re shopping platform banker or other scenarios. I have some upcoming mortgage shops and I feel like after this round I will be done with those for a long time. I Chased around the city doing quite a few overdraft shops but I feel like bringing up that same scenario with a person i just spent 15-20 minutes with will spark a memory. Usually those folks have pretty good memories of people I think. Plus who really shops around asking about overdraft protection? If I knew this happened all of the time I would feel more comfortable I guess.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/2014 02:42PM by quiettime.

Haha. My hair is getting kinda long. Maybe I'll wait 90 days, buzz it all off and hit up another round.

Women can use wigs that are different colors and change their lipstick and blush and dress completly different and throw them off much easier than a man can.

I have a very memorable look and am afraid I can't shop the same person for at least six months at a minimum. Even of the MSC says 90 days, I'm sure I'd be remembered. When I did the overdraft shop, it was just my luck that I shopped the roaming financial personal banker with the double sided business card, so I can scratch that one off my list already too.

My husband can pull it off a lot easier than I can. Around here, all military men just tend to look alike... even if they look completely different! They just sort of all blend together in your memory because there are so many of them. It works to his advantage in mystery shopping because he is promptly forgotten ten seconds after leaving.... He's done purchase/returns at the same cashier in small stores twenty minutes after purchasing, and they give him a blank look and don't even remember him from twenty minutes before.

I don't wear makeup and I don't really know how to do hair, so I don't have those things to work to my advantage like most women. However, in my personal notes on a shop, I note what I wore. More of the style than the exact clothing items....When I am doing another shop at the same location, I dress differently. I'll ask the same questions in a different way. Sometimes, if it's okay, I'll even mention that I'd stopped in previously.

I change my ODP scenario around. Sometimes "my bank just charged me 5 overdraft fees in one day when I accidentally made a deposit into the wrong account!" Sometimes "I'm helping a friend balance his checkbook. He told me he has ODP but couldn't explain to me how it works." Sometimes I'm a bookkeeper with a new client who has ODP and couldn't explain it to me. Once I did nine shops in the same day where my sister had begged me to help her son (my nephew) who was in college (in the town where I was doing the shops) because he keeps overdrawing his account and she was tired of covering his overdraft fees and he won't listen to her so I'm trying to find a bank with a program that will help manage overdraft situations before they happen (which ties in nicely with their ODP program and the Alerts you can get).

And I try to make some piece of my clothing be memorable to distract them from looking at my face. I'll wear my pink "crazy cat lady" ball cap, or a T shirt with a beautiful horse on it, or something mildly distracting so that they remember the clothing, but not my face. Sometimes if I'm doing a route with a lot of banks in one area I'll change "memorable clothing" in case they suspect a shopper and call other branches to look for the "woman in the yellow shirt."

If they say "weren't you in here before?" either say, "No" and go on, or, if you connected with the banker in any way previously to where it would be ludicrous to deny it, you can admit it but say you hadn't made up your mind (if you were looking for yourself) or you talked to so many different banks that time that you no longer remember who had what and you're mad at your bank again so this time you're serious about finding a new one. Or if you used the "helping someone with their checkbook" scenario you can say, "We got in a big argument about how this works the other day so I wanted to make sure I was remembering right because he threw out the brochures I got last time."

I've not done any bank shops, but I have done shops where I've gone back in 60 days or less...one MSC used to shop the chain of stores that sells supplies for get togethers in the Chicago area and I was always asked to do this one particular shop....three times over a period of a few months I saw the same workers again and again.

Generally speaking I'll wait at least 90 days before I re-do a shop (if not up to 6 months).

Retail shops I don't worry about; people return to stores many times shopping for different things. But most people pick a bank and stick with it for years so it's a little dicier with the banks.

I mystery shop places in my town where I frequently shop on my own dime -- grocery stores, hardware stores, drug stores, Wal Mart -- and I couldn't care less if they recognize me; I expect them to recognize me. I just need to play "dumb" when I'm on my own dime because I have to play "dumb" on the shops. I can't go into the hardware store and knowledgeably find everything I need without help some of the time, and not know the difference between a straight and curved claw hammer when I'm there on a mystery shop.

Banks-- several locations of the same bank is one thing. The same bank and location is another. I would say 6 months on rotation.

I'm interested in becoming a very good shopper in this business. This works well with my health, so thanks for all of your experiences.

I impose my own rotation or for my sake, never do the location again. In very exceptional cases, such as a substantial bonus, or a special scheduler, maybe after a year or so.

If it is a bank or a specialty shop, I never, ever go back even if it is for another scenario. Again for my own sake, I'd rather lose the fee. I normally could get another shop to cover the loss. Nothing is worth the stress that could affect my other shops.
My anonymity is more important than the fee and I have to protect it.

For simple retail and wireless shops, I would follow the rotation and would not be deterred by doing the same scenario. I somehow managed to get out of the problem a couple of times I encountered the same personnel. I suppose it was due to less stress factor in anticipating encountering the same associate.

I also impose my own rotation as I have a strong accent and am easily remembered. However, if they remember me I tell them that I had decided to go with Ally Bank (the online only bank) and found I really did need to have a physical bank I could go to. Other times I've said I had to leave town for a while so put it all on hold and now could not remember what I was told and finally I will say that I just wasn't ready to make the change last time I was here.

I've been reading everyone's input, and it is much appreciated. When I do a teller shop, I deposit checks. Why would it be suspicious for me to go back in a month and deposit more?

Good advice from, dspeakes - I will steal some of your ideas.

I do a lot of banks and I have a very detailed spread sheet on whom I have seen, when, at which bank, his/her description and whether or not there was any sign of recognition if I have visited the banker before. Some bankers have a good recollection of people and faces, others not so much. I do not request automatic re-assignment from the banks I do because I use my own self-imposed rotation.

If a banker says "I've seen you before" or "welcome back" I normally don't deny that I have been there before. Instead I agree and say that one of these days you will get me to switch banks or I tell them I need some information for my sister-in-law who doesn't get around very well or the last time we discussed a travel card and now I have questions on overdraft protection, or whatever fits the visit. My suggestion is to look the banker in the eye and don't ever admit the real purpose of your visit.

Sometimes the banker really knows why you are there and is willing to play the game. You know - I know that you know that I know, etc. Love that scenario - he/she want to CYA and I want to get my shop done. After 10 minutes we are both happy.

I really don't like the ODP's as there only so many ways I can ask about this type of protection and use them as fillers only. I can really get into the combo shops.

Good idea on the clothing, dspeakes. Perhaps on my next round, I'll wear a mini-skirt with high heels and carry a pink purse. I have nice legs but do you think I should shave first (legs and face)? I dunno - maybe I'd be too memorable.

Teller shops are the easy part of bank shops. They also do not pay much as the scenarios are not risky. When you have to make an appointment with a specialist and talk about 'wealth' and banking compliance and all sorts, it becomes serious business and it tends to stay in your mind and their minds because of the scenarios involved. More preparation and guts in your part so that's why there is a big difference in fees and bonuses. JMHO. And that's why rotation is very important. Your visit and report could be a reflection on the banking ability of the specialist.

Haha. Casing a bank might look suspicious for other reasons.

jpgilham - I'm told I also have a strong accent but fortunately most people from NY have the same accent.

I do my own rotation. The MSC's schedule repeats too often. At the same time, if a banker recognizes me it's in his or her interest just to play along. They all know these shops must be done regularly and a good report is a plus for them.

The one bank shop I do I've shopped all the locations near me and I won't go back for several months. I did repeat shops at 3 locations because they were desperate and nicely bonused. In these shops you have a list of 3-5 people that you can target and I made sure to specifically ask for a person that I had not seen in my previous visit but it was very uncomfortable. I tried to keep my face turned away from the office where the one person I shopped before was sitting. I do love these shops because they are fast and the reports are about 8 questions with a small, small narrative section and they are always nicely bonused!