I had a target shop today in an interesting area. I walk into the office and instantly told that the target is "too busy to deal with me" and passes me off. I can do nothing to get the target to speak with me. I even went so far as to clarify the price that was stated on the phone verses the very high price I received once I was on property. I was told that there were no units left in the lower price bracket and then the target went back to her business.

So I begin with the other associate I ask: How is the neighborhood here?
The associate: Oh we don't have burglaries and prostitutes around here. We gots a security team that comes every so often.
Me: Oh they come daily?
Associate: No. They come at 10:30 pm every so often but not every day.

So we go on the tour. I ask about renovations. I am told that they happened sometime ago and will be scheduled sometime in the future. The tour, of course, goes into an apartment. The door is open and I am accosted by the wondrous bouquet of gunpowder, blood, cat pee, dog vomit and I really am not sure. The cabinetry was particle board and it was crumbling so bad the sink in the kitchen was falling down. There was no fridge and the dishwasher wouldn't close. I was told those were part of the renos that would be happening - eventually. I wont go into the whole apartment but I kept thinking that if I ever chanced on halfway house or - I don't know - jail, this place would be either of those. We leave the apartment and I keep thinking about wanting to take a shower. She then talks about the kids playing close to the apartments with baseballs and basketballs and screaming at all hours. I was then told that if anything, including windows, breaks I am responsible. She goes on about fees and deposits and such. We continue on back to the leasing office and she asks with a genuine smile:

So what do think? Do you want to sign a lease?

Wow.

and wow again!

I'd say oh hell no and run for the door

The fun part was trying to remain distant and objective with the report. It was like a shopping list of what was wrong with the place since I really didn't want to put my "voice" in the narrative. I think I failed though and I am certain that I forgot something that needed to be addressed. On the plus side, I did get paid $30 for the shop and I will be going to the major lake to swim off the place. I can still smell it though...

I admire your ability to get through this presentation, gypsymonkey. What a horrid experience!

How did you resist breaking into a huge smile and saying in your best Bill Cosby voice, "Am I on candid camera?"

WOW! I have done a LOT of apt hunting in my day before we bought our house and never experienced anything like that!

*takes note to look up address and street view of any apts before doing a shop* You can tell a LOT just from a recent pic or driving by.

Wow, what a dump. I haven't seen anything that bad, just a little worn around the edges.

I did one that was several cuts above yours, Gyspy, which isn't saying much. As I opened the utility closet and we both saw over an inch of solid dust covering the top of the HVAC unit, neither of us commented. The carpet was full of stains and had a bald spot by the patio door; the kitchen drawers were crooked and didn't close completely; and the dishwasher panel was a scratched up mess, etc, etc, etc.

When the sales person asked, "So what do you think? Can you picture yourself living here?", it took everything I had in me, not to erupt into gales of laughter.

(heart)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2014 10:19PM by stilllearning.

Isn't odd that the property managment company would even want their property shopped? Don't they know the reason that they can't get renters? Or, maybe they get renters but just not the "quality" of reliable renters that they want. Or is it because the property management on-site office isn't putting the funds into property rennovations like they are supposed to be doing?

@gypsymonkey I've been on some doozies when it comes to apartments as well, and it happens. Yet with all respect, what do you care if the property is falling apart or is undesirable? I'm certain that you or many others wouldn't live there. The point for any mystery shop is for you to evaluate what is in the guidelines for the MSC's client, which usually is the targeted leasing agent's presentation. If anything, I'm certain that you had an easy objection that the agent could have overcome based on those initial observations, right?

Yeah, at least the no refrigerator would be a start, in addition to the other 10 objections.

Maybe the company should invest in fixing up their building instead of mystery shopping their building managers.... sounds like a REIT company or slumlords..

The problem came when the target brushed me off twice and told me flat out that she was too busy to deal with me. The other issue came with the associate that did the tour, didn't walk me through the apartment. She stood inside the 'living room' and spoke to me from there. There were other issues with the presentation the associate did however the shopping list of issues, including the roach dust on the ceiling and walls, were brought forth to assist me in keeping my tone neutral and on target with the issues with associates presentation.

Whew, I haven't had that pleasure yet. But, almost. Some of the areas I shop in are not-so-nice areas of Los Angeles and I cringe when I am required to go after 4PM. Sometimes there are homeless people outside of the location that approach me, once I was followed to my car and asked if I would give them the pizza I just bought ... yes, I took a quick photo of the pizza then gave the pizza away ... but I digress. A few times I have mentioned these folks in my report ... and now the instructions specifically say not to mention "homeless people" in the report. Just reporting what I see and experience ... I guess the client doesn't want to know about their customers "safety issues" ... just about how clean or not the sidewalk and parking area are!