Are revealed shops becoming the trend?

At one time, it seemed as if video and audio recorded shops were the way the industry was leaning. I have not seen many companies that typically offer only traditional shops dive into video shopping in the last year. I am sure the higher fees for video shops have something to do with it. However, I have noticed at a rapidly increasing rate (in my area at least) that many of the same ole' electronics, grocery, and fast food shops that I have done dozens of times are now revealed followed by an employee questionnaire or prize giveaway. If there is any shop I run fast and far away from, it would definitely be these types of shops.
Is this a trend for the industry? Have you seen this also in your area?

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More About Revealed Assignments

amie068 Wrote:
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> At one time, it seemed as if video and audio
> recorded shops were the way the industry was
> leaning. I have not seen many companies that
> typically offer only traditional shops dive into
> video shopping in the last year. I am sure the
> higher fees for video shops have something to do
> with it. However, I have noticed at a rapidly
> increasing rate (in my area at least) that many of
> the same ole' electronics, grocery, and fast food
> shops that I have done dozens of times are now
> revealed followed by an employee questionnaire or
> prize giveaway. If there is any shop I run fast
> and far away from, it would definitely be these
> types of shops.
> Is this a trend for the industry? Have you seen
> this also in your area?

I haven't noticed a trend but I would think that a shopper should think twice about doing a revealed shop if it is in their area, once you reveal yourself there is no going back.

****************

Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

I have done revealed shops - reveal only if conditions are met ( to reward the employee) - and I wish I had not. The employee I gave the reward to still remembers (5 months later) and he is at a kiosk in a mall where there are lots of shops. I've had to ignore his greeting a few times, making me feel like a jerk. I just don't want him telling other store associates who I am.

.
Mike T
Looking for shops in Western Canada

"Life is good because the alternative is forever "

I've done some of the revealed shops when I've been on a route, just to fill in. I do the regular shops around town but I'll stay away from the revealed locally.

.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)

"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei

I do revealed shops for one msc and the client told them
they only want me doing the shops for the locations I do,
so the rotation was taken away on my locations and they've
been "quietly" adding more locations to the ones I'm doing
for them I've noticed over the last couple of months.

Employees defintely know who I am, making the cashier
interaction pointless but I guess that part of the shop
is not a priority for them.

And revealed shops are better then unrevealed because
they cannot challenge the shop...

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

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2013 12:36AM by techman01.

I did a reveal FF shop, never again! I was yelled at by the manager telling me her employees always say thank you and I lied.

There is a huge difference between the reveal MS and Audits. Reveal MS you give them the paperwork or the prize right after you MS them. Yuck.

Audits are a different story. And I call myself an auditor when I perform an audit! Someone previously called themself a mystery shopper for the gas audits I have been doing - I say no, not MS, I am here to do a branded audit. I realize there is a short MS section of it, but most of it is an audit. I just tell employees I have to make sure receipts are printed first.

I dislike reveal shops. Just because I do it in one county doesn't mean the shopped doesn't visit my county to see a friend or relative and recognize me. Just because we call it an audit doesn't mean they don't call it a mystery shop. People love the words "mystery shop" and "secret shop". I've had locals tell me about their experiences doing them, but I never revealed myself during the conversation. "Really? How does that work?"

I do not do revealed shops because my business depends on remaining totally anonymous. The shift supervisor at a FF place today may turn up at the bank or selling phones at Costco tomorrow! No thanks.

As for video and audio shops, I have seen a dramatic increase in the number of MSCs starting to do video in the past year. That's because some of those MSCs povide little or no useful training to newbies that they recruit, and I end up coaching the shoppers by PM to help them to avert disaster. As client's research, development and training budgets revive (and they hire more new workers) I expect to see video and audio shops on the rise. Three years ago almost no tire, oil change or brake inspection shops were video. That whole industry is now moving to video, with a few exceptions like a couple of quick oil change franchise companies.

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.

pjaugustine Wrote:
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> I did a reveal FF shop, never again! I was yelled
> at by the manager telling me her employees always
> say thank you and I lied.
>

I've heard every excuse under the sun and just when I
think I've heard them all, I hear something even more crazy.

Just have to be quick and witty in your response, and that
shuts them right up everytime.

techman,
Your comment was mean spirited in its characterization of the poster's comments. Is it your mission to try to get forum members who decide not to like shops that you like to shut up everytime? Calling their opinions "excuses" and "crazy" sure makes it look like you wish to shut them up or shoo them away. You were quick, but not witty in this case.

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.

Was his comment directed at the poster saying they did not want to do the shops or about the manager making excuses and claiming her employees "always" say thank you?

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.

I read it as having the comeback for the manager, not the OP.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> techman,
> Your comment was mean spirited in its
> characterization of the poster's comments. Is it
> your mission to try to get forum members who
> decide not to like shops that you like to shut up
> everytime? Calling their opinions "excuses" and
> "crazy" sure makes it look like you wish to shut
> them up or shoo them away. You were quick, but
> not witty in this case.

Wales, my comments as lisa stated, had nothing to do with the poster,
and was based on excuses from managers who get annoyed when
you give them a bad score.

How you can interpet what I said as directed at the poster is beyond me.
im starting to wonder how many employees received bad reports from
you because you misinterpet what they say as negative or not what they
meant at all.

Her misinterpretation of something written does not deserve that type of accusation.

techman,
I apologize for my misinterpretation.

When I am shopping I am reporting what was said, NOT interpreting what was said.

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.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2013 06:44PM by walesmaven.

I have done them. Wasn't a big deal except it does kind of suck if its a prize reveal and they dont' get the prize. For the most part I only do them if I have a lot of time and an open schedule. I'd rather not have people knowing I'm a shopper, especially not in my area.

I noticed CoRI changed the gas station shops to revealed audits. I used to do them back when they were pretty simple. Now they are WAY too extensive. Never again.

I did a revealed cell phone audit at a small store. And then, of course there was a highly bonused cell phone shop for a different MSC for the same location. I finally gave in and did it anyway. I told her I liked her what I saw there and wanted to do business there (which is true). She asked if I had done more of those audits and was recommending phones that would be best for my work. It worked once, but it won't work again.

As a matter of policy I made the decision when I started MSing that I would never do a reveal shop. Everybody is different and I respect that. In my opinion the whole premise or purpose of being a mystery shopper involves being "discreet" and "undercover" the whole time.
I dont like the possibility of some employee recognizing me a week later at another public place and telling somebody "oh you see that guy over there, he is a shopper. He just did a reveal shop at my workplace a week ago". Discretion is the number one rule I abide by when MSing, and for me personally, reveal shops contradict the discretion principles that I want to abide by. I think being discreet and not revealing yourself also helps you stay safe because I have seen and heard stories of reveal shops at gas stations where they pull out a shotgun because you are revealing yourself as the shopper/auditor. This is also the reason why I don't do gas stations.
The only way I would do a gas station is if it was unrevealed and without taking pictures.

Several years ago, I did a bunch of revealed shops at amusement park concession stands. I loved it! The looks on the faces of the kids who received prizes made me feel great! I also gave prizes to their managers. One manager was responsible for a group of stands with exceptional employees and she really cleaned up that day.

Considering the length of time from summer to summer and the high turnover in those jobs, I would not worry about being recognized. That being said, I would not be able to do revealed audits in my area on a regular basis for fear of being outted.

*********************
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!

I have stopped doing the revealed shops since in one of another FF, the staff told me I looked like someone who gave her an award in her last job for being successful. It's funny because I seldom do FF and here it was. Luckily, she assured me that looking at me, I could not have been that 'secret shopper.'

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