Keeping busy during solo dining shops?

There's a dining shop I do solo. Someone told me recently that it's not a good idea to read during these shops because I might call attention to myself (and obviously, as a shopper, that's the last thing I want to do). I'm afraid that if I sit there staring at the wall, I'll call even more attention to myself. Any suggestions as to what I can do if I'm by myself?

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

I see single (especially women) people reading all the time and never give it a thought. I don't think you would stand
oout or call attention to yourself.

I see people using ereaders, laptops, tablets and smart phones all the time in restaurants. I even see an occasional newspaper and book reader. It honestly would never occur to me to think of that activity as indicative of a mystery shopper.

I always read or use my laptop when I do the solo restaurant shops at the airport. It is tough not to do anything but
wait or eat for 20 to 30 minutes. Most of them do that anyway and nobody notices.

It seems that constantly looking around would be the thing to make them think you were a mystery shopper observing them.

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.

Last I check thousands of business travelers eat by themselves daily across the U.S......not unusual to be eating alone

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody

I have been a business traveler for 40 years, mostly before starting to MS. I ate alone and either read a book or did a crossword puzzle. Not an issue. Also, puzzles are great for taking notes, as are the margins in books.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Kindle app for the smart phone. I can read the same book on my phone that I'm reading in bed at night, just takes me a minute to find my place.

:
:
==============================================================
I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Keep on reading. Seems unlikely to me that you would stand out.

I read a paperback, on my kindle, or on my smartphone while dining alone, whether MSing, traveling for business, or just eating alone for the heck of it. I don't think reading while dining alone is suspicious in the least.

I always bring a magazine, sometimes I read and sometimes I don't. I think that it makes you look less conspicuous, more like a regular customer having a relaxing meal.

The funny thing is, when I'm out doing errands or waiting for appointments, etc., I almost always have something to read with me. Maybe the person telling me I'd stand out doesn't eat out alone.

I always carry my MP3 player and listen to a book while I'm doing the dining shops.

I sometimes take work with me at lunch and early dinner shops and edit reports etc. writing mystery shop comments all over the margins of my work report. If doing a high end shop it might be suspicious to be doing a crossword or reading at dinner but most of them require 2 people anyway.
The other tip, when my son was in middle school and high school we would go together and I always took one of his essays along and we would "edit" it together while waiting for the food, writing down names and descriptions into his essay! I still edit his old essays sometimes without him.

I see people using their smartphones all the time when they're eating alone. The advantage of this is that you can note down your observations and it will look like you're emailing/texting someone. But check to make sure the MSC allows it first.

Yeah, there is a burger shop that doesn't allow you to text on your smartphone because they claim it's a dead giveaway. So, I switched to voice recording the entire shop. Turn it on before I walk in and don't use the phone again until after I leave.

I usually shop with a friend, but tomorrow I'll be solo. So I think I will bring a magazine.

NOTE: I'm not on the forum every day. If someone comments on my post, I might not reply right away. I've been a shopper since 1991. I've never done any work for a MS company in any other capacity.

Any MSC that disallows phone use during a shop is not aware of what regular customers act like. That has become an outdated rule, since virtually all solo diners are on their phones during meals these days.

I used to do the airport parking shop for a company that claims using your phone makes you conspicuous. My last shop for them, I ended up on a shuttle with no less than 20 people who were ALL texting or emailing on their phones during my shop, and I was specifically conspicuous for NOT using my phone. I now refuse to work with companies that have ridiculous rules like that.

Sometimes I'll bring the grocery ads with me. I'll have an envelope and make believe I'm making a grocery list. But it depends on what kind of restaurant it is.

Both of my daughters have grown up with books attached to their hands. We've been known to go to a movie and pull books out of our purses if we get there early. And just last month my oldest and I went to dinner and took a coloring book and crayons along (and she's turning 24 in 2 weeks). LOL! My mom and sister always carry books too....guess it's a genetic thing.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Keeping busy during solo dining shops?

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine