If you think the store knows you're a myst. shopper should yo tell the scheduler?

Not necessarily. We all get a little paranoid. For me, it would have to be very specific information, such as the teller/server/hotel clerk saying, "Oh I remember you. You are the Mystery Shopper."

@nc wrote:

If you think the store knows you're a myst. shopper should yo tell the scheduler?

To me, it depends. Why do you think the store knows? Do you just think they know or do you know they know? Has one of the associates told you he knows?

Did you hear one of the associates say "here comes the mystery shopper again?" or "Oh, mystery shopper, it's good to see you back. I'm gonna do everything perfect for you." In that case, yes, I would tell the scheduler.

If you just get the idea that one of them MIGHT know, maybe because the service is always perfect, no, I would not tell. Maybe the associate just recognizes you as a past customer and is giving good service. Or maybe he thinks you might be the mystery shopper, but is not sure, so you are a reminder to him to do everything right.

@Jay C wrote:

@nc wrote:

If you think the store knows you're a myst. shopper should yo tell the scheduler?

To me, it depends. Why do you think the store knows? Do you just think they know or do you know they know? Has one of the associates told you he knows?

Did you hear one of the associates say "here comes the mystery shopper again?" or "Oh, mystery shopper, it's good to see you back. I'm gonna do everything perfect for you." In that case, yes, I would tell the scheduler.

If you just get the idea that one of them MIGHT know, maybe because the service is always perfect, no, I would not tell. Maybe the associate just recognizes you as a past customer and is giving good service. Or maybe he thinks you might be the mystery shopper, but is not sure, so you are a reminder to him to do everything right.

I didn't hear them say anything...I guess it was just paranoia.

@nc wrote:

I didn't hear them say anything...I guess it was just paranoia.

I think we all experience that feeling at some time or another!!

@guysmom wrote:

@nc wrote:

I didn't hear them say anything...I guess it was just paranoia.

I think we all experience that feeling at some time or another!!

Amen Guysmom!

Lately, it seems that I am the only customer who a certain burger joint always says goodbye to as I am leaving. They don't say it to other customers while I'm there and it always makes me feel like "they know" I am the shopper. So far, I haven't been outed and the reports aren't always perfect either, so maybe it's just my paranoia.

I would only say something to my scheduler if they came out and said something indisputable or if the behavior materially affected the shop.

I've totally thought the girls at those Breastaraunts were on to me but they failed so many things, I realized they must not be. But the paranoia can get to us!

I was actually asked point blank by the pharmacist if I was the mystery shopper they were expecting. But I looked him in the eye and answered with a question: "Huh? What did you say?" Since I was asking about a treatment for allergy, he realized I was indeed allergic to something because my eyes were watery and I was coughing. Fortunately (or unfortunately), at that time I was really reacting to something in the drug store. So he apologized profusely and to save the situation, I purchased the medicine he suggested.

Unless the scheduler ask if I was suspected, I don't volunteer any information. It could negatively affect me or my shop. If they say I was outed, I'll accept it, which happened only once. Otherwise, I would not want to be more popish than the Pope each time I become paranoid.

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

I've totally thought the girls at those Breastaraunts were on to me but they failed so many things, I realized they must not be. But the paranoia can get to us!

HaHA! I never heard it called that----but you're right! (Guess I couldn't work there)

I wouldn't worry about it. If you've shopped the store a couple times a good store will recognize you as a return/good customer, which is why they may make a special effort to recognize you.
A burger joint I shopped for once the manager interacted a lot with me. At first I thought it odd because the store was about half full so maybe he knew I was the shopper But then I realized his actions also made sense because by happenstance I was seated in an area the manager had to frequent a lot to get the best view of all the store's surroundings.
I returned to the store on my own a couple weeks later and the manger (and a server) recognized me right away and even asked about if I came back to try a certain menu item he mentioned to me last time I was there.
If you do a shop a few times, you just become a regular customer. Just as you do a good job not blowing your cover, the staff does a good job remembering you, and treating you special. (Which is one reason many clients have a gap requirement between returning to a location)

Does the MSC tell you if you've been spotted as a shopper. I know you can't work for that MSC again doing that job. I find this interesting and rarely spoken about.

@msimon-2000 wrote:

@guysmom wrote:

@nc wrote:

I didn't hear them say anything...I guess it was just paranoia.

I think we all experience that feeling at some time or another!!

Amen Guysmom!

Lately, it seems that I am the only customer who a certain burger joint always says goodbye to as I am leaving. They don't say it to other customers while I'm there and it always makes me feel like "they know" I am the shopper. So far, I haven't been outed and the reports aren't always perfect either, so maybe it's just my paranoia.

I would only say something to my scheduler if they came out and said something indisputable or if the behavior materially affected the shop.

They know.

I agree with SunnyDays2. Those burger guys know and the schedulers know they know. Just play cool.

I had to do the same Panera's 4 weeks in a row on the same day and the same time: Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00 pm. While inside, I had to take many photos of boards, my order and conduct employee timings. On the last day, I left the register without the receipt. Just wasn't thinking about it. As I was taking a photo of the pastry I ordered, I though about the receipt. I went to the counter and gave a lame excuse as to why I needed it. The cashier just smiled and said don't worry, I saved it for you and pulled my receipt from the side of the register. She had a toothy smile and so did the other employees that were near by. Yep busted. I didn't tell and I guess neither did they. Being in the same place at the same time meant I always saw the same employees and they all saw me. How could they not have known? What customer takes photos of your menu board, your take out board, your beverage counter and your promo specials? Yeah, I really felt non-revealed on that job.

I was asked once - I jokingly replied that while I get those emails to make $1,000 on a mystery shop - what idiot actually falls for them? They are scams in Nigeria, everyone knows that. However, if there are actually real mystery shopping jobs, let me know - it sounds like fun! Does your company actually hire mystery shoppers?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2016 12:14PM by Kr.

In all the shops I've completed in the last 3 years, I've only felt they knew I was a MS one time. On that note, I've been trying to self assign a specific location for fast casual burger shop ( they are shopped every month). The shop showed available, but I kept getting the message " Not available to me". I emailed the very small company and the owner told me that the last time( in Jan) I shopped the location, I asked them to remake my fries because they were cold. The owner said " They pulled the video and now know you're the shopper". She also told me that when I was there in July 2015, they ID'd me because of a specific scenario I had to do( with a gift card). I was pretty upset because she is just telling me this now, a year later( for the gift card scenario) and the fries.

After a couple emails back and forth, she said I can shop there again, that probably enough time has passed. I'm still flabbergasted about it. This specific fast casual burger shop has 3 locations in my town and I NEVER( unless I'm doing a MS) eat at the location in question, so I very much doubt they would remember me. Oh, she said I had a "commanding presence" and that made me memorable. LOL.

It hasn't happened yet, but I am always ready to respond, "Mystery shopper??....like what, I'm the millionth customer or something?...do I win a prize?"

edited typo

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2016 10:14AM by OCyou2.

@calicakes wrote:

In all the shops I've completed in the last 3 years, I've only felt they knew I was a MS one time. On that note, I've been trying to self assign a specific location for fast casual burger shop ( they are shopped every month). The shop showed available, but I kept getting the message " Not available to me". I emailed the very small company and the owner told me that the last time( in Jan) I shopped the location, I asked them to remake my fries because they were cold. The owner said " They pulled the video and now know you're the shopper". She also told me that when I was there in July 2015, they ID'd me because of a specific scenario I had to do( with a gift card). I was pretty upset because she is just telling me this now, a year later( for the gift card scenario) and the fries.

After a couple emails back and forth, she said I can shop there again, that probably enough time has passed. I'm still flabbergasted about it. This specific fast casual burger shop has 3 locations in my town and I NEVER( unless I'm doing a MS) eat at the location in question, so I very much doubt they would remember me. Oh, she said I had a "commanding presence" and that made me memorable. LOL.

I think it's awful that they (the MSC) didn't let you know until you asked. Don't they think you'd want to know, so you wouldn't waste your time applying?

@nc wrote:

@calicakes wrote:

In all the shops I've completed in the last 3 years, I've only felt they knew I was a MS one time. On that note, I've been trying to self assign a specific location for fast casual burger shop ( they are shopped every month). The shop showed available, but I kept getting the message " Not available to me". I emailed the very small company and the owner told me that the last time( in Jan) I shopped the location, I asked them to remake my fries because they were cold. The owner said " They pulled the video and now know you're the shopper". She also told me that when I was there in July 2015, they ID'd me because of a specific scenario I had to do( with a gift card). I was pretty upset because she is just telling me this now, a year later( for the gift card scenario) and the fries.

After a couple emails back and forth, she said I can shop there again, that probably enough time has passed. I'm still flabbergasted about it. This specific fast casual burger shop has 3 locations in my town and I NEVER( unless I'm doing a MS) eat at the location in question, so I very much doubt they would remember me. Oh, she said I had a "commanding presence" and that made me memorable. LOL.

I think it's awful that they (the MSC) didn't let you know until you asked. Don't they think you'd want to know, so you wouldn't waste your time applying?

I know, I said that and the owner said " I kept meaning to tell you and just got busy". The thing is, I like the company( its small, husband and wife who send out the emails). I asked them if they would rather me NOT shop for them anymore and she said No, absolutely not. She lifted the restriction on that particular location. But, here is another issue. I asked her if they keep passing me over for other jobs( all restaurants) because of what happened at the fast casual burger shop and she said No, but I don't believe her. I tend to make some special requests when I order food( like No tomatoes, dressing on the side). She told me one of the clients ( that I keep applying for) is new and popular. It does upset me though, because I can self assign the two other fast casual burger locations, but I keep getting passed over for some higher end restaurants.

@deelitefullyme wrote:

Being in the same place at the same time meant I always saw the same employees and they all saw me. How could they not have known? What customer takes photos of your menu board, your take out board, your beverage counter and your promo specials? Yeah, I really felt non-revealed on that job.

I agree.

I was doing a revealed audit a couple of months ago. I had to take photos of a display and if there were any products behind the counter, I was to take a photo of that, too. So, after I took my photos in the store I approached the cashier and told her I was doing the audit and needed to take a picture of the items behind her.

She said, "Oh, I saw you taking pictures over there. I figured you must be our mystery shopper!"

I laughed because if you see the mystery shopper taking photos, it's not much of a mystery, is it? But, I didn't comment on her statement.

I sometimes wonder if the people who create these assignments have ever actually done one out in the store.

Do you want to not get paid? Because THAT is how you get not paid.

I was asked point blank at one location. I just came back with 'what's a mystery shopper?'. Luckily, that shop didn't come back to bite me. It helped the employees went above and beyond.

One of the companies I shop, floats employees. They float employees to different locations and the time of the day. I saw the same employee in 6 different locations within a week. The shop has specific guidelines that scream mystery shopper. I haven't done that route for a solid 5 months and told my scheduler my reasoning. She's happy that I am thinking ahead.

The above mentioned employee finally realized after she saw me the 3rd time in a week; what I was doing. She stood at a distance where she could listen to the employee and me. She; unlike another supervisor did not tell the associates who I was: (That has happened for this company in another location.) My only regret for that week is there was no place I could state that I was probably outed by a supervisor and she allowed me do my job.

The bottom line is; if I feel I'm outed I let my schedulers know. It's in both of our best interests for me to rearrange my shop schedule, than get deactivated from doing my bread and butter shops.

YMMV, but I've found it's best to be honest with your scheduler from the get go. I've had some extra special shops that targets can't be found, aren't available or flat out quit. And I found that out after 200 miles of driving one way. Keeping in contact with schedulers has saved the fee. I've received full fee for the nasties, because I let my schedulers know when things go awry.

As I said YMMV.

@MA Smith wrote:

I was asked point blank at one location. I just came back with 'what's a mystery shopper?'. Luckily, that shop didn't come back to bite me. It helped the employees went above and beyond.

One of the companies I shop, floats employees. They float employees to different locations and the time of the day. I saw the same employee in 6 different locations within a week. The shop has specific guidelines that scream mystery shopper. I haven't done that route for a solid 5 months and told my scheduler my reasoning. She's happy that I am thinking ahead...........

Do MSCs actually make it worthwhile to drive that distance? They can't be giving you $25. Or even $100.

I'm actually surprised sometimes when I'm not outed.
And the guidelines don't help....Find an big bulky item and walk around the store until an associate offers you a cart. .
Yeah, because you know...that's natural.
Find an associate say you know nothing about dog food, then if it's not mentioned, ask about a specific brand.
Makes perfect sense. First I'm clueless, then I ask about a brand.
And from old school "DO NOT ORDER A COMBO MEAL. Order a burger, then fries and drink and wait to see if they offer a combo meal.
Also odd since the the place emphasizes their combos.

But as I say that, I also know I think about that from the eyes of a mystery shopper. When I go to a shop as a regular customer and observe the customers, I know the associates see odd, quirky behavior every day. I''m sure a lot of it may make them put up a red flag, but most of the time they probably see so much that nothing seems out of the ordinary to them anymore.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2016 10:07PM by texthinker.

I deleted my post because it didn't belong in this thread.

Brain Farts.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 03:23AM by MA Smith.

I used to think I was paranoid, until I was no longer allowed to do several shops after I was told I was "identified" as a shopper. I was told the workers review video tapes to figure out who the shopper is by the time/date on the receipt.

The one think I do think about (especially when client may review video and check receipt report) is time of day.
Like for me, I usually have my first meal of the day around 2 or 3 pm but going that time of day means the place may be empty and its a given you'd be the shopper if they check. So I tend to go at busier times, so many receipts are the same and not uncommon you'd have the same order as another customer.
Doesnt work as well at retail shops though.

Yes, I've been told and yes, I can no longer do a couple of shops. It ticks me off, for they are posted often and sometimes with a bonus.

While I agree when it comes to paranoia, I know I was outed on one of my favorite steakhouse shops when my name showed up as LEE/SHOPPER on my receipt!

I contacted my scheduler and she said they would still accept my report, but that I couldn't do that location anymore.