i once did a fine dining restaurant shop (last summer) with a guest, but won't do one ever again unless it is solo, as far as i'm concerned. it was great food (a really excellent meal at $75 for two people). i invited my good friend whom i've known for 20 years, because we have always enjoyed visiting new restaurants together. my friend was always asking me about my mystery shopping, being genuinely glad for me that i had found this new field of work. he keeps asking me, even today, to invite him again to more restaurant shops. he had a great experience.

but he almost blew the shop for me. i told him to generally be quiet. just smile and be polite. that should be the easiest thing in the world, right? let me do all of the talking. just act naive and don't say anything, but hello when greeted. maybe comment about the weather. i'll take care of the rest.

when we arrive, my friend immediately takes charge of the place, becoming the best friend of the manager. he acted like he's the shopper with the authority to evaluate the employee service, although not saying that we were shopping them. of course, he wasn't writing the report. he was just tagging along with me. he totally attracted attention to both himself and me, so that we would be remembered forever. then he orders the waiter around, not giving the waiter a chance to speak. eventually, near the end of the restaurant shop, he tells the waiter that we are required to order a dessert, but just to wrap it up for him so that he could give it to his wife and not let it go to waste. his stomach was full and he loved the food.

then the shop report had 70 detailed questions with maybe 15-20 paragraphs of narrative. it was the most excruciating narrative that i had ever done, because it was hard to detail the experience, when my friend barely let the waiter talk. although the meal was one of the best that i've ever had, and the reimbursement was $75, i'd rather do without the mental stress, and eat a turkey/bologna sandwich with mustard, pickles and jalapeno peppers on generic wheat toast. it costs about 50 cents, but it is stress free. therefore it tastes better.

Yikes well I definitely would not take this particular friend with me again, but perhaps someone else who would be more understanding of the situation. I take my mom with me because she is really good at helping me remember details, though from time to time she will make a comment to a server or manager that is cringe worthy with me thinking "shush you make us more memorable when you talk too much!"

take a female friend next time.

Vince...

Take that cute girl from the bank.... *LMAO*

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

15-20 paragraphs? In my opinion they do not need that much detail, but every restaurant in agreement with the shopping company have different requirements. When I used to shop fine dining it felt very awkward since sometimes I would go alone and eat. Other times I would take some friends with me who luckily were quiet and allowed me to do my work. They understood, but not everyone will.

posted twice.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2012 07:53PM by Irene_L.A..

That was not good for the shopper, agreed....I really am doing less fine dining, one reason being "who to bring", another, I'm not driving at night till after my eye surgery. I don't know anyone that would be so agressive, but, one of my friends orders way to much, it gets uncomfortable, my best friend is fine and realizes she is getting a great meal free, pays the tip and drives. Find a friend like that, preferably a woman.

I do go alone whenever possible, easier to track everything, and more food for me.

I dropped "fine dining" a few yrs., back due to the reports taking hrs. I simply didn't find the value of the meal to be any where near the time and labor required to write an exhaustive recount of the visit; I have never regretted that decision.

In 2010, I also scraped "fast food", but this was from a health standpoint.

For the fast food shops, I simply take a bite just to taste the quality of the food and evaluate it properly and sit there in the restaurant like an idiot for 15 minutes because its a requirement. I mess with my cell phone. I am not a fast food consumer because of health issues. I do it to get paid. That's why these days I don't do fine dining or causual restaurants because all they are going to serve is greasy stuff I won't eat. And the low pay and the time it takes to fill out the lengthy reports are not worth it. Then to add insult to injury, some of these shops are reimbursement only.

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago when I took a friend who knew I was mystery shopping on a casual lunch. Never again. The friend spoke super loud and basically made being discreet impossible. It was miserable and I'll NEVER ask that friend again.

On other occassions, I've invited other friends that play the part very well, though.

That said, I'm glad I didn't let one bad apple ruin the whole experience for me.

Oh to be a guest sounds awesome, take me! No report to write, and I promise I'll be quiet!

Me too! I would happily hook up a local shopper with all of the companies that do these for that deal

I take my dad with me to shops sometimes so I can buy him some food, and it's been VERY difficult to get him to act the way I need him to. The first time he kept saying stuff inside the restaurant about what I was "supposed" to do or mentioning getting paid/reimbursed and just talking about mystery shopping in general, DURING THE SHOP. I was like PLEASE be quiet and eat your food in silence. Or he'll make really convoluted requests that confuse the servers and make him a difficult and memorable customer. I love my dad and I want to treat him but sometimes I just want him to sit in the car so he doesn't mess it up!!

That sounds exactly like me and my mom, LOL!

r@inyDayZ3 Wrote:
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> Vince...
>
> Take that cute girl from the bank.... *LMAO*
>
> [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
> 04#msg-124404

then she will know that i shopped her, lolol.

Here are some things I would have done.

1. Give him a "code word" such as "Butterfly" for instance, which tells him he is talking too much, drawing attention to your table and being a total as*.

2. If this did not work, tell him to meet you in the restroom or step out in the lobby and tell him STOP, you are blowing the shop, shut your mouth (or be quiet) and tell him to return to the table and let the shop progress so you can get information for the food server.

3. It seems he is fixated with Mystery Shopping but I think he already proved he could not be a good one because he lead the server, and he needed to be quiet so the server could suggestively "sell" and do his/her job.

I should also mention at a famous "Sounds like Shooters" bar/grill, I was with a friend who always seemed to draw attention to himself and I asked him if he could behave while we did the "Shooters" shop?

Amazingly, he acted quiet, normal, did not draw attention and left a big tip on the table.

I thought: Maybe I could take this friend on another shop someday?

I took a friend and she was great. I sent her the food requirements ahead of time and she complied with what was needed. We needed to take a picture of the food and drink and she told the waiter that it was her birthday since she figured it was a good reason for us to be taking pictures. She also paid the amount over the reimbursement so she was a great friend who I will be taking again when I get the chance.

I had wonderful experience with my husband on a shop like this. We really enjoyed the supper. .

I'm guessing I know what shop you did - do they have pasta/Italian theme? It's not a bad shop, but does require TONS of narrative. I take my wife now, she's great at playing the part. She's very quite, remembers what she must order if there are requirements, and can assist me with names/hair/height that I might have forgotten!

There are a few other friends I've taken many times. They are all female, and tend to do a very good job.

I use to take my son with me when I had shops that required a second person, but the job he has now doesn't allow him the time to go with me. So, I have also scrapped those shops. Only do the ones that I can go alone that pay a fee + reimbursement.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here are some things I would have done.
>
> 1. Give him a "code word" such as "Butterfly" for
> instance, which tells him he is talking too much,
> drawing attention to your table and being a total
> as*.
>
> 2. If this did not work, tell him to meet you in
> the restroom or step out in the lobby and tell him
> STOP, you are blowing the shop, shut your mouth
> (or be quiet) and tell him to return to the table
> and let the shop progress so you can get
> information for the food server.
>
> 3. It seems he is fixated with Mystery Shopping
> but I think he already proved he could not be a
> good one because he lead the server, and he needed
> to be quiet so the server could suggestively
> "sell" and do his/her job.

basically, i'm not taking him on a shop ever again. he is a pastor and real estate friend who helped me to get my mortgage. he's done a lot for me. he keeps begging me to take him on more food shops, because he and i used to often eat out together before i ever started doing shops. however, i just can't afford it if he blows a shop and i potentially lose a $75 reimbursement. i don't even like to eat out at mcdonalds, because it costs too much money. he doesn't listen to directions, because he likes to be the leader. he's a great guy and very helpful in my life, but he can't take simple direction from anyone.

treydawgmt Wrote:
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> I'm guessing I know what shop you did - do they
> have pasta/Italian theme?

this shop had more of a stir fry theme.

Why don't you tell your friend if he wants to be "in charge" of the shop he can put out the money, write the report and take his chances with getting the reimbursement

I just took a "friend" Sun. eve, and the Japanese BBQ wasn't enough food for him, my reimbursement was almost used, then he orders a glasss of wine for 6.95,and asks when the entree will be out, hey guy, we're done. When they say bring two, pay for two.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> I just took a "friend" Sun. eve, and the Japanese
> BBQ wasn't enough food for him, my reimbursement
> was almost used, then he orders a glasss of wine
> for 6.95,and asks when the entree will be out, hey
> guy, we're done. When they say bring two, pay for
> two.


Then your "friend" can pay the amount over your reimbursement.

My husband and my younger daughter are both great to take with me. They don't blab and remember details really well. My favorite fine dining is a seafood grill chain but I have only ever done one of those; I don't know who has the contract nowadays.

Kenny is great for dining shops, but I've been taking friends from church lately. They know what I'm doing and have been great about not taking charge and also in paying overages and tips.

I love to take my hubby. He is does well. He usually helps me with a few simple things. I can't overwhelm him, but he will help get a name, visit the restroom and help me remember a few details.

My teen sons loves to do shops. He is very calm, cool and has a great memory. We have done a few together and he is always asking me to remember him if something comes up that he can do.

I have been afraid to get any friends involved. I have one MS friend and we have spoken about doing a restaurant job together,but haven't yet!

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Why don't you tell your friend if he wants to be
> "in charge" of the shop he can put out the money,
> write the report and take his chances with getting
> the reimbursement

he just doesn't get it. he still asks me to take him again. there's no reasoning with him.