Just give me your opinion, will ya?

I was doing an assignment today at a big box electronics store that had two parts. First, the salesperson was supposed to suggest two different phones (brand and specific model) for me based on what I said I was looking for. That went well.

Next I was supposed to do the same thing with smart watches. He showed me what they had, talked brands, but WOULD NOT commit to a model, even when in desperation I flat out asked him. Finally, after I rephrased the question three different ways I got the magic model information I needed.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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I have to admit that I did not memorize the "Ten Commandments of Mystery Shopping", (apologies to JamesBond 007.5) but I swear, "Thou shall not lead the associate" was on the list. Rephrasing a question three different ways sounds like "leading".

My opinion? Well, I'm not sure what happens to someone who violates the "Ten Commandments of Mystery Shopping", but I suspect you will soon find out.

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

I understand from your post that the guidelines required you to get a recommendation on a smart watch. You got it. Good job.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

Without seeing the guidelines verbatim, it is hard to say. Some retail shops do say to come out and directly ask for a recommendation if the SA does not do so on his/her own. Other retail shops say that the shopper should not lead the SA. More proof that "The Commandments" were meant to be broken at times.

I think "leading" the SA would be more like saying, "Do you think Apple has the best phones?" rather than asking three different ways, "Which phone do you recommend?" "Which phone do you think is the best?" "Which one would you buy?"

Time to build a bigger bridge.

I ask it like this: If you were me, which one would you buy?

I did the same shop today and the guidelines clearly state that they don't care about anything besides the recommendations. They aren't concerned with customer service, they just want to know what the salespeople are suggesting. I had to do the same thing and flat out ask for his top two picks.

I have asked which one they would get for their home. If they hesitate I will say something like "If you won the lottery?" I don't consider it leading, more like getting an honest recommendation.

Ive been picking those shops up all month. Theyre the gift that keeps on giving. Fairly simple. Get a lot of the same recommendations. Especially with the smart watches. There's only so many they can recommend. More often than not with phones, I am steered towards Samsung.

When I wrote, "Thou shalt not lead...", I was thinking along the lines of you're shopping for Brand X and you don't ask the question in a way that the employee will naturally answer Brand X...you want your questions to be open ended as well, so you get an honest response.

.
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

Oh great, I've been following your "Ten Commandments" religiously, so to speak, and now you issue a clarification? Are you supposed to do that?

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2014 10:04PM by stilllearning.

I did another one of these shops today, and then found more on the boards. Grabbed two for next week. You're right, Kevincwasik, the report is VERY simple, and you get almost immediate approval.

Kevincwasik Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ive been picking those shops up all month. Theyre
> the gift that keeps on giving. Fairly simple.
> Get a lot of the same recommendations. Especially
> with the smart watches. There's only so many they
> can recommend. More often than not with phones, I
> am steered towards Samsung.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think "leading" the SA would be more like
> saying, "Do you think Apple has the best phones?"
> rather than asking three different ways, "Which
> phone do you recommend?" "Which phone do you think
> is the best?" "Which one would you buy?"

Actually, the BOSE shop, if the associate does not recommend or suggest BOSE, the guidelines say to ask, "What about BOSE?"

I realize every shop is different...

They would recommend something other than Bose at a Bose shop?!?!

> Actually, the BOSE shop, if the associate does not
> recommend or suggest BOSE, the guidelines say to
> ask, "What about BOSE?"

>
> I realize every shop is different...

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I did not have the benefit of having them given to me on Mount Sinai.

stilllearning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh great, I've been following your "Ten
> Commandments" religiously, so to speak, and now
> you issue a clarification? Are you supposed to do
> that?

>
> (heart)

KathyG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They would recommend something other than Bose at
> a Bose shop?!?!
>
> > Actually, the BOSE shop, if the associate does
> not
> > recommend or suggest BOSE, the guidelines say
> to
> > ask, "What about BOSE?"

> >
> > I realize every shop is different...

Yes, I just did that shop. The associate did not mention BOSE so I asked what he was using. Unfortunately, he was using something else. I followed the shop's guidelines and asked about BOSE.

> >
> > I realize every shop is different...

I am talking about the HUGE electronics store, which carries BOSE and other brands. I have performed 3 of these and one salesman never mentioned BOSE being a brand he would recommend.

I had another store where the first brand he recommended was BOSE

>
> (heart)

I just spit OJ out of my nose. Great question.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!

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