I think I saw my first secret shopper!
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If I spot a "potential" mystery shopper I always walk up to them and tell them
they need to be more discreet about the way they are doing things.
You can tell right away when you say that if they truly are a shopper
or not by the way they react(their body language not what they say)
they need to be more discreet about the way they are doing things.
You can tell right away when you say that if they truly are a shopper
or not by the way they react(their body language not what they say)
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
So, I was doing a shop yesterday, and a guy ahead of me in line started asking the cashier almost all the same kinds of questions that I was going to have to ask her. While I'm pretty sure he wasn't a shopper, it did make me feel far less conspicuous.
techman, if I really wasn't a shopper and someone walked up to me and said, "You really need to be more discreet about the way you're doing things", it would scare the bejeebers out of me! As soon as I could get away from you, I would quickly seek out the store management.
(heart)
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
"techman, if I really wasn't a shopper and someone walked up to me and said, "You really need to be more discreet about the way you're doing things", it would scare the bejeebers out of me! As soon as I could get away from you, I would quickly seek out the store management. " said a poster.
And I want to add
if I was the shopper I'd probably have some choice words for you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2014 03:58PM by pony123lucy.
And I want to add
if I was the shopper I'd probably have some choice words for you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2014 03:58PM by pony123lucy.
Don't schedulers know when shoppers are scheduled, and make sure they don't overlap? I can't imagine a company/client hiring more than one MSC.
Clients work with a second MSC all the time. Often they are near the end of a contract and scoping out other companies. It is also possible to have one contractor performing an announced audit while another is there on a covert mystery shop. In addition to the actual client the other shopper could be there on behalf of a competitor or any of the hundreds of manufacturers with products in the store.
The only time I was absolutely sure of spotting a shopper was during an audit at a Best Buy store because she mistook me for an employee. Because of her location I am also certain of the MSC and the client. If there was any doubt the deer in headlights look combined with her quick exit from the store sealed the deal.
The only time I was absolutely sure of spotting a shopper was during an audit at a Best Buy store because she mistook me for an employee. Because of her location I am also certain of the MSC and the client. If there was any doubt the deer in headlights look combined with her quick exit from the store sealed the deal.
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 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've sometimes suspected that MSCs might have an assignment double-shopped, perhaps to gauge the integrity and/or reporting skills of the shopper(s). I have no knowledge if this is the case, however, one time, for example, I remember sitting at a Medicare presentation and swearing the person across the table was also shopping the event. Another time, I watched a female in a car, parked facing mine, carefully reviewing some paperwork before she entered the business I had just exited.
(heart)
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
There's been times I've seen people behaving like mystery shoppers in stores but then it turned out they were inspectors or auditors that the store management already knew. That's why I would never approach someone who looks like they could be a mystery shopper because I'm never sure if they actually are.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2014 05:20PM by HeatherC.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2014 05:20PM by HeatherC.
laura007 Wrote:
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> Don't schedulers know when shoppers are scheduled,
> and make sure they don't overlap? I can't imagine
> a company/client hiring more than one MSC.
They do.
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> Don't schedulers know when shoppers are scheduled,
> and make sure they don't overlap? I can't imagine
> a company/client hiring more than one MSC.
They do.
Actually they do most of the time, but not all of the time.
Back in September I had negotiated for seven GS audits on two consecutive days. They were the August round which had to be redone. When entering the ones scheduled for the first day I found someone had managed to self-assign the September audits for the same locations on the same dates. It was a weekend so I had to contact the MSC on Monday to reschedule my remaining locations for the following weekend. I have no idea what they did with the duplicate audits.
Back in September I had negotiated for seven GS audits on two consecutive days. They were the August round which had to be redone. When entering the ones scheduled for the first day I found someone had managed to self-assign the September audits for the same locations on the same dates. It was a weekend so I had to contact the MSC on Monday to reschedule my remaining locations for the following weekend. I have no idea what they did with the duplicate audits.
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 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.
Sometimes when it is a deadline shop, they doublebook to be sure.
Sometimes shoplifters and mystery shoppers act a lot alike.
stilllearning Wrote:
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> techman, if I really wasn't a shopper and someone
> walked up to me and said, "You really need to be
> more discreet about the way you're doing things",
> it would scare the bejeebers out of me! As soon as
> I could get away from you, I would quickly seek
> out the store management.
>
> (heart)
Depending on how you reacted to the response I would of
said oh, your not the shopper?
I've also been known to scout locations in the past knowing which day
the shopper was coming(and hoping they didnt flake or reschedule)
just so I could talk to the shopper to help motivate them to
do the shops for a higher fee so we all could get more in the future. It's paid dividends
doing that. I guess by now you realize I have zero issue with going up to
anyone and starting a conversation.
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> techman, if I really wasn't a shopper and someone
> walked up to me and said, "You really need to be
> more discreet about the way you're doing things",
> it would scare the bejeebers out of me! As soon as
> I could get away from you, I would quickly seek
> out the store management.
>
> (heart)
Depending on how you reacted to the response I would of
said oh, your not the shopper?
I've also been known to scout locations in the past knowing which day
the shopper was coming(and hoping they didnt flake or reschedule)
just so I could talk to the shopper to help motivate them to
do the shops for a higher fee so we all could get more in the future. It's paid dividends
doing that. I guess by now you realize I have zero issue with going up to
anyone and starting a conversation.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There must have been many, many, MANY times over the years, both before and while I was mystery shopping, that I was mistaken for a shopper. I frequently take notes in stores, writing down prices/sizes/brand-names of items that I want to plan into my budget... and after I got a cell phone that took pictures, often taking photos of items I was interested in. So there I'd be jotting away on my notepad, often multiple times in one visit, and not even a shopper. Sometimes I see something in a grocery store and I remember ~ "Oh yeah, I'm *almost* out of that, better put it on next month's list while I'm thinking of it." I'm just a list-making type of person.
No wonder store people have always been so nice to me.
No wonder store people have always been so nice to me.
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.
techman, for me, this whole gig simply is simply not worth the energy and/or potential for humiliation you're willing to risk. To each their own....
(heart)
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
stormcloud the best way to get great service anywhere you
go as to act like your a mystery shopper but be obvious enough
so they see you. Works great when you are on vacation or
at a nice restaurant.
stilllearning, it's not for everyone I agree. I've been doing this
so long that for me the benefit far outweighs any risk.
go as to act like your a mystery shopper but be obvious enough
so they see you. Works great when you are on vacation or
at a nice restaurant.
stilllearning, it's not for everyone I agree. I've been doing this
so long that for me the benefit far outweighs any risk.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
stilllearning Wrote:
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> ... and/or potential for
> humiliation you're willing to risk.
Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating to him.
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> ... and/or potential for
> humiliation you're willing to risk.
Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating to him.
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.
I had a scheduler tell me that "sometimes" a shopper is shopped. Never heard that before. Hmmm...
janalou Wrote:
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> I had a scheduler tell me that "sometimes" a
> shopper is shopped. Never heard that before.
> Hmmm...
I've seen cases where they are shopping the shopper.
Usually done by a different msc but not always.
The best is when you work for both msc's so you know
you are being shopped : )
stormcloud Wrote:
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> Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating to him.
why would it be humiliating? nothing ventured, nothing gained.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a scheduler tell me that "sometimes" a
> shopper is shopped. Never heard that before.
> Hmmm...
I've seen cases where they are shopping the shopper.
Usually done by a different msc but not always.
The best is when you work for both msc's so you know
you are being shopped : )
stormcloud Wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------
> Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating to him.
why would it be humiliating? nothing ventured, nothing gained.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
Just yesterday I saw a woman walking in Manhattan reviewing her paperwork. I couldn't talk because I was in a rush to get to my shops....also she was rather unfortunate in appearance
The only way that a shopper can be shopped is if the shop requires you to go at a specific time. otherwise, how would the MSC know when the shopper is shopping.
janalou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a scheduler tell me that "sometimes" a
> shopper is shopped. Never heard that before.
> Hmmm...
janalou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a scheduler tell me that "sometimes" a
> shopper is shopped. Never heard that before.
> Hmmm...
jwolpert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only way that a shopper can be shopped is if
> the shop requires you to go at a specific time.
> otherwise, how would the MSC know when the shopper
> is shopping.
>
> janalou Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
>
They'd also need a pretty detailed physical description of you and that might not even work because some shoppers change their looks for shops.
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> The only way that a shopper can be shopped is if
> the shop requires you to go at a specific time.
> otherwise, how would the MSC know when the shopper
> is shopping.
>
> janalou Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
>
They'd also need a pretty detailed physical description of you and that might not even work because some shoppers change their looks for shops.
I dont think she was talking about mystery shoppers that
are going in and doing an unrevealed shop.
Talking about mystery shoppers that are doing revealed
shops.
are going in and doing an unrevealed shop.
Talking about mystery shoppers that are doing revealed
shops.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
holliscary Wrote:
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> Just yesterday I saw a woman walking in Manhattan
> reviewing her paperwork. I couldn't talk because I
> was in a rush to get to my shops....also she was
> rather unfortunate in appearance
So, she didn't do anything for your socks, Holliscary? (speaking of which... I think it's time for an update.)
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> Just yesterday I saw a woman walking in Manhattan
> reviewing her paperwork. I couldn't talk because I
> was in a rush to get to my shops....also she was
> rather unfortunate in appearance
So, she didn't do anything for your socks, Holliscary? (speaking of which... I think it's time for an update.)
A couple of months ago I was with my husband and we stopped to get gas in a fairly rural town. I don't even remember which gas station it was. He got out to pump the gas, and I looked over and saw a shopper taking pictures of pumps and signs, etc.
I thought I'd be friendly and hopped out to say hey. I told him I was also a mystery shopper, but never did more than one gas station after the first one was a complete monster. He wasn't very friendly (which is rare around these parts), and clearly just wanted to get back to his work. I took the hint and left him alone, as I know how much he was probably hating his day at that point! He was dressed very unprofessionally, and his teeth were brown. which led me to wonder exactly how other MSer's do dress when they think no one is looking.
I hope he's not on this forum!!!!
I thought I'd be friendly and hopped out to say hey. I told him I was also a mystery shopper, but never did more than one gas station after the first one was a complete monster. He wasn't very friendly (which is rare around these parts), and clearly just wanted to get back to his work. I took the hint and left him alone, as I know how much he was probably hating his day at that point! He was dressed very unprofessionally, and his teeth were brown. which led me to wonder exactly how other MSer's do dress when they think no one is looking.
I hope he's not on this forum!!!!
So do I. Mentioning his clothing as unprofessional is one thing, but talking like that about this teeth just sounds petty. For all anyone knows, that might have been caused by any number of medical issues or childhood medications.
Bearclaw14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A couple of months ago I was with my husband and
> we stopped to get gas in a fairly rural town. I
> don't even remember which gas station it was. He
> got out to pump the gas, and I looked over and saw
> a shopper taking pictures of pumps and signs, etc.
>
>
> I thought I'd be friendly and hopped out to say
> hey. I told him I was also a mystery shopper, but
> never did more than one gas station after the
> first one was a complete monster. He wasn't very
> friendly (which is rare around these parts), and
> clearly just wanted to get back to his work. I
> took the hint and left him alone, as I know how
> much he was probably hating his day at that point!
> He was dressed very unprofessionally, and his
> teeth were brown. which led me to wonder exactly
> how other MSer's do dress when they think no one
> is looking.
>
> I hope he's not on this forum!!!!
Bearclaw14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A couple of months ago I was with my husband and
> we stopped to get gas in a fairly rural town. I
> don't even remember which gas station it was. He
> got out to pump the gas, and I looked over and saw
> a shopper taking pictures of pumps and signs, etc.
>
>
> I thought I'd be friendly and hopped out to say
> hey. I told him I was also a mystery shopper, but
> never did more than one gas station after the
> first one was a complete monster. He wasn't very
> friendly (which is rare around these parts), and
> clearly just wanted to get back to his work. I
> took the hint and left him alone, as I know how
> much he was probably hating his day at that point!
> He was dressed very unprofessionally, and his
> teeth were brown. which led me to wonder exactly
> how other MSer's do dress when they think no one
> is looking.
>
> I hope he's not on this forum!!!!
I wonder how much you freaked her out following her to every department...
techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> stormcloud Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating
> to him.
>
> why would it be humiliating? nothing ventured,
> nothing gained.
Oh, I know... I was just pointing that out to someone else.
-------------------------------------------------------
> stormcloud Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Apparently it doesn't even approach humiliating
> to him.
>
> why would it be humiliating? nothing ventured,
> nothing gained.
Oh, I know... I was just pointing that out to someone else.
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.
I finally found the person taking all the cheap shops here I think. We were at the store and I noticed someone acting rather strange in the meat department. I had my husband watching him telling me his every move. Caught ya! Too bad we just moved and I can't be creepy and go watch a fast food place around the corner to confirm. Just kidding I'm not that weird 
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