I see a shop for a major chain I've never seen with MF before. There is only one and it is for today. It wasn't there late last night. I'd be so happy to be able to shop this restaurant.

As I look further, it looks to me like they have picked up three new clients: a fast food, a casual dining and an electronics.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2013 05:19PM by whiterosie.

No. This shop has been around for at least a year. The shopper needs an smartphone to take timing pictures. Plus it is only a drive thru and not the walk-in.

That's not the one. This one is a sit-down full service restaurant and bar. It's not the beer place. It's shopped by other MSCs in other parts of the country but I could never find the MSC in SoCal. I even contacted them with no response.

I don't see anything new in my area. Where are you?

Southern California. The shop was in Rancho Cucamonga. Someone picked it up already. With Market Force every so often it seems you see some oddball shop that you see once and never again. I'm just wondering about this one.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2013 09:28PM by whiterosie.

I agree. I once did a Mexican restaurant for them with a $70+ budget for them but it was only one time and I never saw it again.

One advantage I have coming into this was I have a business background. I sometimes look at these situations from both sides. It could be very simple in some cases why you see just one or two shops and then no more. It is all about contracts and what is in those contracts. Company A might be handling a special circumstance or problem area for a client. They might just do shops on a less frequent basis. Many factors could be involved. I have read every word of every website I have joined and every one has different ways of doing business.
Another example, You own 12 fast food franchises. The corporation says you must use some type of market research but does not specify to use company A. You use company A as the corporation does for a period of time. The contract expires or comes up for renewal. You being the owner are approached by a sales person who offers the same services for a smaller fee. They also offer you specials to show the work they present. You the owner of the franchises then has a choice to make. Do you like the new company or are you satisfied with company A and extend the contract.
It is another reason why it is difficult for the "who shops who" question. A major corporation may use one company everywhere but franchises are allowed to choose their own. I noticed that right way when I found a company that had the logo of my favorite fast food. I soon found out they only do assignments for certain franchises in one state and not near me. That tells me there is also a regional division with some as well.
I am not saying this is exactly how any of them work. I just see patterns of things that show an overall picture.

It's true. It could also just be a one off shop as there are so many ways to an MSC gets involved with a client. They could be testing the market. I wonder if they do test pilots to see if the money is worth the data.

Lattegal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's true. It could also just be a one off shop as
> there are so many ways to an MSC gets involved
> with a client. They could be testing the market.
> I wonder if they do test pilots to see if the
> money is worth the data.
I'm sure some companies do pilot runs , just to checkout new ways of viewing a certain aspect or target.
I'm new to the entire mystery shopping situation as far as being a shopper, but did many hours of research before I started.