You go into a high-end expensive purse store (famous purse brand) and you place a small item inside the purse and SEE if the associate opens the purse and finds it?

This reeks of "SHOPLIFTER" to me.

And THEN, you have to return the item/purse purchase on the SAME day.

Would you do this kind of shop?

Maybe with a very clear authorization letter, but still doubtful.

"Oh my goodness!! How did THAT get in there!?"

Um . . . No. Not unless it was a reveal shop where i get to say, "Good job!! I'm with XYZ company and i want to commend you for looking inside the purse!"

Geesh

So if you return the purse, you can still keep the item you hid inside, right?

Just kidding.

I'd file this under Oh HELL no!

In some states, merely concealing the item can be considered shoplifting. At any rate, if you succeed in squirreling the item out of the store, congratulations. You have just shoplifted. If you are seen by an employee and they call the police, logistically you're not going to have a lot of opportunity to get in touch with the right person to explain. The MSC can't give you permission to steal from the client. The client can, but how long do you think an officer is gonna stand around and listen to a "shoplifter" blubber about mystery shopping ... blah, blah, blah.... MSC... sniff, sniff, client... .Your attorney can straighten that all out for you after you bail out.

I don't think I would the only way is to let the store know first

If I remember correctly from the guidelines you ARE issued a letter of authorization which includes the emergency pager for the corporate LP department of the store you are at.

seattleshop425 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I remember correctly from the guidelines you
> ARE issued a letter of authorization which
> includes the emergency pager for the corporate LP
> department of the store you are at.

Somehow, I just see this going all WRONG....

You are led away in handcuffs by the police, thanks to a sharp cashier and as you plead your case (inside the patrol car), with your authorization letter, the car door (with bars on the windows) is slammed hard! .....

Even with the authorization letter I wouldn't do it. It's just not worth the possibilities of what could happen.

I've done the grocery shops where you're required to walk out with a large, bulk item in the bottom of your cart without pay for it. So yes, I would do it.

Unfortunately, since I'm not a female, am in my early 20's and I'd be shopping alone, I'd probably not qualify for this shop anyways.

I think it would be easier to explain forgetting a large bulk item under a cart since the shelf is put there for the express purpose of people putting groceries there and people do legitimately forget items. The item is by definition large, not being hidden and is in plain view the entire time. I cannot off the top of my head think of one legitimate reason why a small item would somehow make its way into a purse that is closed and I do not think that type of thing happens all the time.

Oh hell no, not worth the embarassment no matter if there were 100 letters of authorization.

VickyS – Just make an excuse like you intended to purchase the small item, but forgot; or you didn't know it was it was in the purse altogether. No big deal.

It's not like they can hold you hostage and accuse you of shoplifting if they didn't see you. I'm sure it's to check whether the associate's actually checking the bag, kind of like what associates do when someone buys a backpack.

Although they could have security hold you until they run security tapes....which would show me placing the item in the purse. I guess it depends on where you live, but shoplifters are not treated with a smack on the hand here. I know I would look guilty on tape because I would feel guilty.

No. I like to stay on the right side of the law. I don't care who's paying me to break it.

CoffeeQueen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No. I like to stay on the right side of the law. I
> don't care who's paying me to break it.


It's not stealing if the client is aware on what's going on....

The stress level in that kind of shop is more than I can tolerate. So, no, I would never accept such a shop. When you look around, you will find better and more tolerable shops.

Not unless the manager knew what was going on, and was lurking nearby to watch.

I'm not proud of this, but I feel I should share it...

I did, what I consider, a similar shop recently for a thrift store, where I was required to remove a price tag. The alarms should have gone off when I read the guidelines, which stated that if I was caught removing the tag, my shop would automatically be void. They didn't.

I proceeded to do the shop and, as I had read on the forum, the best place to remove tags was the dressing room, so there I went. In the dressing room, I was greeted by this huge sign, which clearly advised that removing tags was against the law. To show they weren't just blowing smoke, they also listed the applicable State statute. This caused a moment of indecision and, once again, my personal alarms should have sounded. They didn't.

I got the blouse $2.00 cheaper and smiled momentarily as I thought, "Who says crime doesn't pay?" After submitting the report though, I reflected on how I was willing to not only compromise my integrity, but also break the law, for a mere $23.00.

One and done. No, thank you.

(heart)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2014 06:00PM by stilllearning.

Again, you AREN'T breaking the law if the client (or a client representative) and MSC is in full agreement to the shop instructions...

Well, since the MSC's guidelines state that the shop is void if you're caught, to me, that calls into question if the MSC would be in "full agreement", since I'm required to remove the tag and not get caught. I view it as a Catch-22.

(heart)

I also think it matters if it is a corporation or a franchise. If the latter, the francise may think it is fine and be in agreement, but the individual owner may disagree.

stilllearning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, since the MSC's guidelines state that the
> shop is void if you're caught, to me, that calls
> into question if the MSC would be in "full
> agreement", since I'm required to remove the tag
> and not get caught. I view it as a Catch-22.
>
> (heart)


The staff at the store is unaware as they are probably who the client is evaluating in the first place. If they catch you removing the tag, it defeats the purpose of the shop.

In other words, someone's paying the MSC for this shop. It's likely the company, or a legal company representative. VickyS stated a good point as well. Regardless, what you did was NOT illegal and part of an agreement with the client and the MSC....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2014 06:34PM by Tarantado.

Oh no I could never do it. Sweat would be pouring off me and I would look so guilty. Then to have to bring it back??? My stress level is increasing just thinking about it.

I'm really confused about why a client would want these types of shops. They know there are thieves out there, so why hire them? All associates should check inside bags before they ring them up. Why do you have to put something in there? Just note if they checked. As far as removing a price tag, associates can't barge into a fitting room so how is this type of shop supposed to help this type of problem? If they don't catch you in the act of removing the tag, what are they supposed to do? Missing tags are common in retail; they find a similar item and charge you that price.

No.

cm – 1. You answered your own question: "All associates should check inside bags before they ring them up." The client probably wants verification on where their associates are not properly following their check-out procedures.

And if they do follow it correctly, how would they react to it? I'm sure they are trained to react appropriately per their training.

2. As for the guideline that being caught removing the tag voids the shop; it should, if the purpose of the assignment is for the cashier to check for this and evaluate how they react to it (if they followed correct check-out procedures). Being caught obviously directs attention to you as a potential shoplifter, when that's probably NOT the purpose of the assignment in the first place.

It's the same reason why the grocery clients requests their evaluation to include walking out with an item; it's to evaluate whether or not the associates were following check-out procedures. They were to see if their associates were aware to what to check for and also how they react when they do notice.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2014 08:01PM by Tarantado.

Tarantado Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cm – 1. You answered your own question: "All
> associates should check inside bags before they
> ring them up." The client probably wants
> verification on where their associates are not
> properly following their check-out procedures.
>
> And if they do follow it correctly, how would they
> react to it? I'm sure they are trained to react
> appropriately per their training.
>
> 2. As for the guideline that being caught removing
> the tag voids the shop; it should, if the purpose
> of the assignment is for the cashier to check for
> this and evaluate how they react to it (if they
> followed correct check-out procedures). Being
> caught obviously directs attention to you as a
> potential shoplifter, when that's probably NOT the
> purpose of the assignment in the first place.
>
> It's the same reason why the grocery clients
> requests their evaluation to include walking out
> with an item; it's to evaluate whether or not the
> associates were following check-out procedures.
> They were to see if their associates were aware to
> what to check for and also how they react when
> they do notice.

There doesn't have to be anything in the bag in order for you to report whether the cashier checked inside or not. Going to a register with an item missing a tag is common. Cashiers should become suspicious of repeat offenders though. As for the grocery store, I see it as completely different. Nothing is hidden and if the cashier misses it, it is on them. Things sometimes have to be placed down there vs. deliberately concealing an item inside a bag.

cm – How can someone really know if the cashier properly checked the bag? Just by opening and looking at it? What's the best way to know if they're actually looking through it? Oh, actually have something inside there that shouldn't be!

It's kinda like when you have a bartender check your ID, except this is even more subjective when it comes to reporting whether or not the bartender is properly checking ID's or not. How do you know if a bartender is properly evaluating the ID and not just looking at the birthday and handing it back to you? One MSC I regularly do ID checks for, the clients asks if the bartender looks at me when he evaluated the ID. I guess this was how this client determined if a bartender was properly checking my ID and not just looking at my birthday...

Back to the item in the bag scenario, having an actual item in the bag can easily prove if the cashier is properly checking the bags or not. How else can you prove that a cashier is properly check the bag, like they're supposed to?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2014 11:10PM by Tarantado.

i wouldn't touch it. where i live, i'd be in handcuffs and jail instantly. then, my report would be late because i was in jail so i wouldn't even get paid for it. lol

Tarantado Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cm – How can someone really know if the cashier
> properly checked the bag? Just by opening and
> looking at it? What's the best way to know if
> they're actually looking through it? Oh, actually
> have something inside there that shouldn't be!
>
>
>
> Back to the item in the bag scenario, having an
> actual item in the bag can easily prove if the
> cashier is properly checking the bags or not. How
> else can you prove that a cashier is properly
> check the bag, like they're supposed to?

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. The shopper should be asked if the cashier did whatever they are supposed to do to check a bag, from looking inside to feeling inside to shining a flashlight in every corner to unzipping all interior and exterior pockets to lying the bag flat and patting every inch of it to holding it upside down over his/her head and shaking it to turning it completely inside out. Depending on the bag, any of this might miss a pair of earrings removed from the card. At a certain point, an honest customer will be annoyed or offended by an extended, time-consuming search. Look in, sweep your hand through. It is doubtful that any more is required. It's a purse. You can't treat everybody like a thief and they certainly shouldn't be paying mystery shoppers to be thieves.

What will they think of next?