I see lots of shops (like restaurant and bar evaluations) that I would like to do but need a guest to go along with. The thing is I would want to take a friend (or even date!) but not let them know it's a mystery shop.

What can I tell them to make them unaware it's a mystery shop when it would be a place we wouldn't ordinarily go, the shop might have specific order requirements (or drink limits, photos, etc) and I would be willing to pay the bill in order to make them want to go to the place. I also don't want to tell them it's a MS because I don't want all my friends competing with me for these shops in the future!

Any advice on how to play it off? Maybe something like I won reward points through a special program or credit card and have to get certain items? It has to be believable and not something they also have access to!

Thanks!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2016 04:25PM by ctes24.

Most shops like that want you to get different entrees. Saying you won reward points and have to get certain items won't fly when you decide to get a certain dish and they decide that's what they want as well. I don't see any way around it for that type of shop, you have to confide but get them to be discreet. You don't (and shouldn't) tell them what company it's for, and if they want to sift through 100s of companies trying to find out which one is doing restaurant shops, then let them. I bet they won't.

Only two people know what I do so those are the two people I use for my +1. One is a close relative and the other is an ex-bf. Neither one has any interest in MS'ing.

I would never take a guest on a restaurant shop without them knowing and being willing to assist. EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW they can screw up the shop unintentionally.

Recent examples with my long time restaurant shop partner:
Requirement: 2 beverages (no water)
Guest: "Just water with lemon for me."
Me: "You surprise me. I thought you wanted unsweet iced tea with lemon that you like so much."
Guest (coming out of fog): "You're right. Let me change that to unsweet tea."

Requirement: 2 different entrees
Guest: "That sounds good to me, I'll have that too."
Me: (Solid kick under the table) "I thought you were going to get the XYZ so we could both try both. (To server) Is it too late to change my order to the XYZ?"

Shop requirement: Server is to suggest appetizer
Guest: "I'll have an unsweet iced tea. And can we start with the ABC appetizer?"
Me: Sigh. There is nothing I can do to completely salvage my guest's blurt

During the shop itself I record timings because to the second timings are required on most shops. My guest is accustomed to my saying towards my microphone things such as "1:15:36 server check on appetizer. Beverage refill offered."

I do not have eyes in the back of my head and my helpful guest can tell me when a table behind me has been vacated so that I can time how long it takes for it to be addressed for cleaning and when it is reset and ready for incoming guests.

My guest is also useful to help 'spot the manager', help read name tags, confirm or dispute my estimates of age and height.

Not to be dismissed are my guest's comments about their food and swapping tastes. Recently my guest commented that their tomato tasted like fish. Huh? A small taste confirmed that indeed the tomato tasted like fish.

A guest can be an enormous help on a shop if they know what you are doing.

You can allow them to order first, then that makes sure you get two different entrees. If the required order is complex that could be tricky. Also if there is alcohol involved and a minimum/maximum drink allowance you have to be careful. Or if they have their "drink" that they will always only order Crown Royal or something like that. Most orders should be generic on the guidelines I have seen. A few of my family members know that I MS. They have done a few shops on their own but their is plenty of work where I am and I don't feel like they have taken jobs from me and they are no where near the frequency that I shop. They do very few shops and every blue moon.

You're not really creating competition for yourself even if your guest know you're a shopper...

The guests I invite along with me know I shop. After they experience it the first time around, they're aware of the expectations. We simply review ordering requirements and they know to grab names and take pictures for me, when needed. Otherwise, it's a good time whenever we check out a new restaurant.

Yeah, but then what are you going to do if there is a limit of only one alcoholic beverage per person on your shop, and your guest who doesn't know you're shopping drinks 3 or 4. Or is supposed to order well and gets Grey Goose. Or decides to split the check so they can order what they want...just so many potential mishaps...

Only take a trusted friend that you CAN tell what is going on. I have had friends pull some pretty amazing stunts when we were out eating. I can't imagine having to explaining any of these misdeeds on a report!

@cindy55 wrote:

Only take a trusted friend that you CAN tell what is going on. I have had friends pull some pretty amazing stunts when we were out eating. I can't imagine having to explaining any of these misdeeds on a report!

What kind of "friend" doesn't understand and / or respect that when you're out on a shop, you're actually working?

One that you didn't tell that you were on a shop?

Or one that doesn't consider mystery shopping a real business with real repercussions, i.e., "My extra drink can't be THAT big a deal."

Sheesh, there are mishaps even when the other person knows you are shopping...like my husband who likes to talk to much sometimes and has been known to try to start eating before I have taken the photos...I have to keep an eye on him!

Jasflalmt I called that the 'cave man.' "See food, Eat." My roommate, that is aware its a mystery shop and is my plus 1 on shops. Often thinks it is ok to eat a fry or two, or three before I get the photo. At least he does not mess up the ordering requirements any more; he lets me order now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2016 08:21PM by Lady Marius.

I've saved some money by taking first dates without them knowing

I did this once on a restaurant shop that was pretty flexible on ordering requirements. My guest just thought I was taking them out to lunch. I don't think I would do it on a shop that required certain items be ordered/not ordered.

@ctes24 wrote:

I've saved some money by taking first dates without them knowing

What if the first date starts going reallllly well? You're going to hate calling it off to do a report.

Yes, me too!

As far as your friends becoming competition goes think of these things..One is that they may in fact start inviting you as a guest to places where most of your "income" is the good meal at a high end restaurant. Now that would really be a free meal for you, no report to write, no attention to every little detail and you just get to sit back and enjoy. And secondly many people once they see what is involved in mystery shopping, esp something like a nice restaurant, suddenly have no interest in doing them any more.

Be honest and up front with your guest about the mystery shop otherwise they will think you are weird sending yourself notes and taking photos of food. Make it like an adventure date at a beautiful place. If I was on a date I would appreciate going to a great place and wouldn't care how the meal was being purchased or that the meal cost was being reimbursed. If your date doesn't appreciate the gesture you don't need to date them.

@LisaSTL wrote:

Or one that doesn't consider mystery shopping a real business with real repercussions, i.e., "My extra drink can't be THAT big a deal."

I came back from a restroom visit on a dinner shop last weekend to see a new glass of wine sitting in front of my guest, who was completely aware in advance of the 1-drink-per-person policy on the shop. Her response, "I'll pay for it if it's an issue."

This is a friend that I occasionally take on dinner assignments specifically because they have been going through hard times financially and can not afford to dine out on their own.

Luckily I noticed there was a good amount of residue at the bottom of the wine glass, so I was able to ask the server to send it back and have it stricken from the check...but guess who just got added to the 'never again' list for dinging partners?

She certainly was a "dinging" partner.

Dippy and dinged as a dining partner!

@Bubbabubba wrote:

How do you explain ordering the extra drink in your notes?

What extra drink

@Flash wrote:

Requirement: 2 different entrees
Guest: "That sounds good to me, I'll have that too."
Me: (Solid kick under the table) "I thought you were going to get the XYZ so we could both try both. (To server) Is it too late to change my order to the XYZ?"

Perfecting the solid kick under the table technique is very important. Works best with stilettos. There should be a certification class taught at all mystery shopping conferences.

I would never use stilettos because they can draw blood. The last thing you want on a shop is for them to call an ambulance to remove your wounded guest--it ruins all of your timings. A well placed pop in the shins works adequately and can still allow your guest to walk out at the end of the meal without assistance, no fuss nor muss to your shop timings.

I bring my husband of 50 years! I tell him, say nothing, tell me what you want first, and let me ask the questions.

I always tell my guest if it's a shop. They love it, one said she loved "feeling like a spy".

Edited to remove as post may have been misunderstood.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2016 06:44AM by BuffaloNY101.

I wouldn't, in a million years, take someone on a mystery dining shop and not tell him or her what was going on. I often take my husband and/or my kids with me on these shops, and even though they've been doing this for years with me and are extremely helpful with timings and observations, they still do or say things every once in a while that could either affect something directly involved with a shop or "out" me as the shopper. Fortunately, nothing ever has, including the pieces of pizza they ate before I took the photo and the time (recently) my son said something like, "Are you going to report this?" while we were sitting at the table in Five Guys.... No crew member was within earshot, thankfully!