She actually recommended another bank!
I don't know whether to be happy that she was trying to help you on a human level, or be mad that she was not loyal to her bank... I'm so torn.
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Fancy signature line!
Fancy signature line!
OMG. I would have been speechless for a moment. On a human level, as Jayleighhes put it, I would have responded by thanking her for the tip and been so appreciative if I was really looking for a loan. As a shopper, I would have to be sure I didn't encourage any more conversation about the XYZ bank. That battle in my head would have taken several seconds to play out before I could come up with the proper response - which probably would have started with something like "um, blergle, mumf..."
What did you say, Laurajeanne?
There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
What did you say, Laurajeanne?
LJ, I just gave a little "oh, really?" kind of response. I let her do all the talking 
Funny thing is, is that I actually do bank with XYZ Bank and know that they have the best rates around.
Funny thing is, is that I actually do bank with XYZ Bank and know that they have the best rates around.
I would have been thinking "oh no please don't say that" for a couple of reasons. I really don't know what I would do with that report. I might have to do the assignment over? Oh this brings too many questions and hurts my head.
So sad for her. I'm thinking her days are numbered.
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The harder I work, the luckier I get.
The harder I work, the luckier I get.
At that point I did think I wasn't going to be able to complete the shop because we hadn't made it to her desk, she didn't recommend any of their products, and I didn't have a business card. Luckily I was able to keep her talking long enough to get to the desk, get a brochure and a business card.
I had a similar experience a few months ago. A cell phone shop. The employee told me to go to Walmart. The phones were cheaper there.
It was a quick shop and I got the business card and was paid. I reported what I was told.
I was shocked actually. What was this person thinking? Goodbye job!!
It was a quick shop and I got the business card and was paid. I reported what I was told.
I was shocked actually. What was this person thinking? Goodbye job!!
My very first shop was a big-box cosmetics store where my instructions were to ask about a brand of hair products they didn't carry and see what the associate recommended. She told me to go to the mall cosmetics store because they carried the brand there :-)
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
My similar experience was just today. In order to use the product being sold you also would purchase another product ongoing. To maintain the anonymity of the shop let's just say it was a printer and ink cartridges would need to be purchased during it's life. The salesman mentioned purchasing a different brand of "ink." I liked the option and said my concern had been an off brand might void warranty. He assured it me it most certainly would void the warranty, "But nobody is going to know you used another brand unless you tell them." Unfortunately, everyone is going to know since it was a video shop.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
The shop report has been submitted, with all the gruesome details.
I did a Lowes Home Improvement once and the employee told me to go to a competitor. She said I would get the item much cheaper there. I did feel bad but hey, this is why we mystery shop. The client really needs to know this stuff. They may be losing business and not know why, that's where we come in.
I never feel bad. Never. Why would I feel bad? I'm doing my job. Too 'bad' they're not doing there's.
Unbelievable what some will tell you. LisaSTL? your post cracked me up. Video!! hahaha
Unbelievable what some will tell you. LisaSTL? your post cracked me up. Video!! hahaha
I always feel bad when someone recommends another store, and people consider that this is people not doing their job.
I remember years ago at a local hardware store where the associates would recommend other places, that you could get the item cheaper. This hardware store is still in buisness, I asked them one time about why they would send me to their competition and I was told simply "We send you where you get the best prices because that's the right thing to do, many of our customers remember we are not here to rip them off and they always come back for something."
I always found I was more willing to buy anything they said I'd needed for the project I was working on, because I felt I was not going to be ripped off with something I did not need.
So no I do not always consider someone recommending another place as not part of their job as it actually tends to make me a loyal customer.
I remember years ago at a local hardware store where the associates would recommend other places, that you could get the item cheaper. This hardware store is still in buisness, I asked them one time about why they would send me to their competition and I was told simply "We send you where you get the best prices because that's the right thing to do, many of our customers remember we are not here to rip them off and they always come back for something."
I always found I was more willing to buy anything they said I'd needed for the project I was working on, because I felt I was not going to be ripped off with something I did not need.
So no I do not always consider someone recommending another place as not part of their job as it actually tends to make me a loyal customer.
LJ Wrote:
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> What did you say, Laurajeanne?
I think I'd be tempted to say, "Have you checked the job openings at XYZ Bank lately? If not, you may want to do so asap!"
I'd not seriously say that but it would be running through my head. I'd appreciate the woman's honesty and happily give her my business but I wouldn't necessarily hire her.
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> What did you say, Laurajeanne?
I think I'd be tempted to say, "Have you checked the job openings at XYZ Bank lately? If not, you may want to do so asap!"
I'd not seriously say that but it would be running through my head. I'd appreciate the woman's honesty and happily give her my business but I wouldn't necessarily hire her.
g1eagle Wrote:
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> So no I do not always consider someone
> recommending another place as not part of their
> job as it actually tends to make me a loyal
> customer.
I would feel the same way regarding my own loyalty as a customer. Thankfully, I need only report what I saw and heard without having to interpret any of it and without the responsibility having to decide whether to fire, retrain, overlook, commend, or reward an employee who has earned my trust by recommending that I make a purchase elsewhere.
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> So no I do not always consider someone
> recommending another place as not part of their
> job as it actually tends to make me a loyal
> customer.
I would feel the same way regarding my own loyalty as a customer. Thankfully, I need only report what I saw and heard without having to interpret any of it and without the responsibility having to decide whether to fire, retrain, overlook, commend, or reward an employee who has earned my trust by recommending that I make a purchase elsewhere.
Your bank person is on solid ground if the bank where she is employed instructed her to recommend XYZ bank for the best loan rates. If not, too bad. We don't get paid to make friends.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Something similar happened to me on a similar shop once, only the recommendation to "try a credit union" came after she had determined I would not qualify for a loan at that bank (couldn't prove my income). The question on the report asked, "Did the banker make a recommendation?" I said "yes." They didn't ask what she recommended.
And after doing numerous shops for that bank since, I think their corporate culture was such that she would not have been criticized for doing that. They are all about the customer.
And after doing numerous shops for that bank since, I think their corporate culture was such that she would not have been criticized for doing that. They are all about the customer.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
I was told by a bank loan officer that I should get auto financing from the dealership. She said the dealers can shop your loan around for the best rate.
Hahahaha these situations are the best. I always laugh my --- off when people do this.. only because that means they have no clue I am shopping them. Congrats on not being detected as the mystery shopper!
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
when things like that happen all i think about is oh no now the report has just got longer to fill in.
recommending other stores does any remember movie
miracle om 34th street
in one part of the movie kris kringle told a customer
to try another store
all the customer liked that
so this post reminder of that movie where you banker suggest xyz bank!
[maybe she ms claus]
miracle om 34th street
in one part of the movie kris kringle told a customer
to try another store
all the customer liked that
so this post reminder of that movie where you banker suggest xyz bank!
[maybe she ms claus]
I have never had that happen on a shop, but I have on none shops. I used to have a Saleperson at my local 7/11, that would always tell me where to get the best prices, elsewhere, for the products I was buying at the store. He did this almost every time I went in. It was almost habitual. I often wondered if he did that with everyone! LOL.
Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2014 02:00AM by Lady Marius.
Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
Canadian Mystery Shopper
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2014 02:00AM by Lady Marius.
I did penny ante low level narcotics undercover in the 80's. So several times I've had associates tell me things that they should not have. One told me how to negotiate a better deal with the sales rep (I did not have to put that in my report). Another bank manager told me to go to XYZ bank as that's where he financed his car.
Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Wow. But then I remembered back to my days as a store manager, when I did send customers to the competition. There prices were so low, I know they were at or below costs.
You guessed it, they were not there long. So yes, there are many reasons why someone would do that.
But always after doing a complete presentation. What I did have were the accessories etc to go with it (video in infancy); the competition did not.
You guessed it, they were not there long. So yes, there are many reasons why someone would do that.
But always after doing a complete presentation. What I did have were the accessories etc to go with it (video in infancy); the competition did not.
As a shopper, we have an obligation to report the truth of the encounter. So if she recommended a competitor for a car loan scenario, that must go into the report. We have a contract to do the shop and report it accurately, not leave out details of an encounter we are required to set up (bank loan scenario) and report honestly but not excessively the results of what happened with respect to the loan application scenario. The bank maybe trying to see where additional training may be necessary and that is one of the reasons WHY we do these shops fairly and accurately..
An interesting follow up to my original post. I went into this bank location yesterday, not a shop, to open up a savings account for my grandson. Who do you think was the banker that helped me? Yup, that same person that recommended I go to another bank for an auto loan. Go figure.
@LauraJeanne wrote:
An interesting follow up to my original post. I went into this bank location yesterday, not a shop, to open up a savings account for my grandson. Who do you think was the banker that helped me? Yup, that same person that recommended I go to another bank for an auto loan. Go figure.
Account opening for no pay. I'd never let that slip by for free. I'd have emailed the MSC that shops that bank and let them know your looking to open an account and ask them if they need an open account shop to be done anytime soon.
I don't actually go inside any bank without it being a shop anymore. I don't want to be remembered.
I did a shop where I was supposed to get info about the Comcast mobile app and tv service from the salesperson, and he recommended that I download a not-legal app instead. I felt so bad for him.
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