FWIW, the guidelines on shops for one of McD's competitors specifically say to do the drive-thru last.

Re receipts, I have three comments I use.

1. Can I please have my receipt? I need it for business purposes.

2. Can I please have my receipt? My husband likes to track everything to the penny.

3. Can I please have my receipt? My boss collects them. I think he uses them for income tax write-offs. One of these days he is going to get caught.

#3 often gets chuckles.
#2 well, I don't have a husband but I've seeb some women totally relate to the comment.

#3 is funny! hahaha

Before mystery shopping, I always asked for my receipt regardless of how I paid because I was keeping track of all my expenses. It doesn't even occur to me to offer an excuse. I do get annoyed when I only get a credit card receipt back and have to ask for "the other one too, please", but I haven't gotten any funny looks yet.

Oh they do that at many fast food shops. I just ignore them and say something positive about their service or food so that gets them away from harping on the mystery side of the shop.

I'd say it's possible I have been identified as a shopper, but big deal. As siamese stated, even if they recognize me, their ability to control the parts we are looking for is minimal. I guess I might mentally prepare myself a little more for the next time I do one, just in case. But I'm not a huge fan of the McD's shops since they have such specific requirements (pay cash, 11:45 on Saturday but 12:15 on Sunday, menu items that don't appear on the menu, etc.) that have voided a shop for me. I've come to the point where I only do them if they call and offer me $18 for the assignment.

I feel I have every right to ask for my receipt, even when purchasing a cup of coffee. I use my rewards credit card and earn travel points. I love when the cashiers smirk and basically throw it at me when I ask for it. Too bad for them, it's usually at a popular convenience store, which I frequently shop. When I am not on a shop and this happens, I shoot an email to the corporate office.

That happened to me at the supermarket when I ask the cashier, "Hey, did you charged me for the water underneath the cart?". If I have to put a name to their face expression will be "Ho sh1t!.

I only do shops in which I can use a credit card. If asked if I want my receipt, I always say, "Yes. My husband is an anal retentive CPA and he logs everything." They laugh and it works every time.

I was outed at a storage shop. It was 9 months from the first to this latest shop. As we were on the tour, he came right out and said he remembered me and knew, by the questions required, that I was a mystery shopper. Then he thanked me for the glowing review, remembering I commented that the restroom was clean enough to eat off of the floor. It was and I am a self proclaimed germaphobe.

Being outed, I was gracious, and then I asked him what the tip off was. He said first, that he remembered my pretty face. That floored me! I was wearing a wig this time and don't think my face is remarkable in any way. He also said my questions were too specific (required) and that if I had said I had been checking around, my questions would have been more in line. I reported this back to the scheduler and advised they only send new shoppers to this location as the owner had a fantastic memory for faces. He also told me to stop by any time I was in the area and wanted a drink of water or to chat with him and his wife. I am tempted to do so, but have not. S2

I have to go with the shopper "paranoia" theory. I'm constantly thinking that! I go through McDonald's almost every single day, literally, after I pick my granddaughter up from school because she is always starving and wants a snack. Sometimes I might have a couple of my other granddaughters with me so I truly am a regular customer and should not arouse suspicion. However, because we do go there all the time I know how they respond, pretty much their entire routine so I know they are being a little friendlier to me. Now the question is, do they suspect I'm a shopper or are they just so used to seeing me that they have that "I feel like I know you feeling"? I did notice the last time I did a walk in (by the way I also always do the walk in first), the clerk said something to the manager and she smiled and spoke to me, then she touched another lady on the arm and she smiled and spoke to me. I acted a little surprised by the friendliness, thanked them like I thought I was getting special treatment and took my seat. I'm not sure if they "made" me or not but I ate my meal, worked my crossword puzzle and quietly observed. No one said anything but there were employees everywhere doing various cleaning jobs etc. Who knows?

Same with one of the Sonics, I noticed the other day that I am literally the only one they come back to the car and say, "excuse me I'm just checking back to see if you need anything else, my name is (insert name), just let me know if you need anything".

So, do I assume it's just my "paranoia" or forfeit doing these shops for a while?

I've managed fast food restaurants and the drive through windows are one of the easier areas for dishonest employees to clip money. There are security protocals for management too, since there is no way of knowing who the dishonest employees are unless caught.

Screw taxes as far as a receipt. I would tell them I needed it in case I got sick.

Bena Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> shopsuey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Whew! I'm lucky I live in NYC where I couldn't
> do
> > a drive through if I wanted to.
>
>
> Why not? Doesn't McDonalds have drive-thrus in
> New York City?


Obviously, you've never been to NYC. There is so much traffic, there is no room for a drive-thru.

I don't feel the need, nor do I care to justify myself to the Mcdonalds employees.
I asked for a receipt, give me a receipt.
If they asked if they had just served me at the drive through, I'd shrug my shoulders.
What if I wanted to walk in, order a shake, get in my car, drive thru and order a burger, park the car, walk in and order fries.
Why do they care? I don;t care and I don't care to explain to them.
I will go and do what I'm supposed to do, observe what I need to observe and report back objectively (for no less than $25).

If the employee jumped on the counter, pointed at me and yelled (ala body snatchers), "mystery shopper SCUM!!"
I'd walk right back in there the next day (for no less than $25)

Holliscary, I kinda do care and I like to have a natural, believable reason in case I get "the look" or get asked why. The MSC is one who will, more often than not, drop you like a hot potato the second you are identified, because "as long as they breathe, they can shop for this MSC" (Real quote from one of their head honchos!)

So on those shops where I think I may be identified because I'm asking for a receipt, or because I was observed eating in and then going through the drive-thru, and THEN needed to ask for a receipt... I have a reason in hand in case I get "the look" because... The MSC bonuses highly, the shops are a no-brainer, I hate the food but there's one on every corner, so they are great route fillers, and... I don't want to get dropped by the MSC because I got identified.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2014 02:25AM by BBird0701.

Good enough reason, and I also care and do everything I can to not be identified. But not caring about a Mcdonalds employee or what they think of you pretty much makes you the average McDonalds customer.

Yeah, but the average McDonald's customer doesn't ask for a receipt, either. I'd rather have a good reason lined up than to get "the look"... especially on those shops where they didn't do great, and they'd rather identify me and invalidate my report, and get a reshop, than get a negative report.

Sometimes I see their mental wheels turning (rustily)... "Is this the one I yelled "Beotch!" in front of, to [other employee?]

I was out of state on a route of shops and I walked to a McDonalds from my hotel. I ordered and stood at the counter and waited...and waited...and waited. Finally, I just started staring at my watch. Eventually the manager came up and asked what was wrong. I told him that I had been waiting 12 minutes for my order. He asked if I was shopping them. I smiled and said, "You'll find out in 10 days or so."

About that time my order was ready. The manager picked up the burger box and had the order remade, and fresh fries too.

No, I wasn't shopping the location, but to see the panic in the manager's eyes was priceless.

FLguy65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I feel I have every right to ask for my receipt,
> even when purchasing a cup of coffee. I use my
> rewards credit card and earn travel points. I love
> when the cashiers smirk and basically throw it at
> me when I ask for it. Too bad for them, it's
> usually at a popular convenience store, which I
> frequently shop. When I am not on a shop and this
> happens, I shoot an email to the corporate office.

The other day I bought a yogurt from a shop where I have a rewards card (not a mystery shop). I forgot to bring my card so the cashier gave me a second rewards card and said I could combine the rewards credits online. I did not get a receipt and when I went to ask for one the cashier was quite busy and had a stream of receipts all the way down to the floor hanging off her register. The "combine" link was not there so I sent an email to contact us. The customer service rep was very upset that not only did I not get a receipt but that there was a stream of 10-12 receipts hanging out of the register. She told me the store manager would have to retrain all employees to give receipts every time.
There is hope for us yet to always get receipts and it is evident the management does not think it strange to give receipts. In fact they probably tell their cashiers to give them out but the cashiers forget or are too lazy. I am fairly certain there is a federal ruling that receipts be given for purchases.

sandyf Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I live in los angeles now but i am from NYC....yes
> we have no drive thrus, or at least not usually in
> places that were built up at the beginning of last
> century. The buildings are so closely packed in
> much of the city there is no room for a parking
> lot or a drive thru.

There is, actually, a McDonald's in Manhattan with a drive-thru. It's in Hell's Kitchen on 10th Avenue, between 33rd & 34th St. It has a parking lot as well, though it's usually full of cabs.

James Bond 007.5 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was out of state on a route of shops and I
> walked to a McDonalds from my hotel. I ordered and
> stood at the counter and waited...and waited...and
> waited. Finally, I just started staring at my
> watch. Eventually the manager came up and asked
> what was wrong. I told him that I had been waiting
> 12 minutes for my order. He asked if I was
> shopping them. I smiled and said, "You'll find out
> in 10 days or so."
>
> About that time my order was ready. The manager
> picked up the burger box and had the order remade,
> and fresh fries too.

Mystery Shopping Rule #2: Thou shalt not torture employees....even when you are not mystery shopping.

(heart)
>
> No, I wasn't shopping the location, but to see the
> panic in the manager's eyes was priceless.

But it was so worth it to get a fresh meal.

Really? It's "so worth it" to get a "fresh (McDonald's) meal" to see "panic in the manager's eyes"? I sincerely don't get it.

(heart)

James Bond 007.5 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> About that time my order was ready. The manager
> picked up the burger box and had the order remade,
> and fresh fries too.
>
> No, I wasn't shopping the location, but to see the
> panic in the manager's eyes was priceless.


Wait. People eat at McDonalds when they're not being paid to do so?

Wait. People eat at McDonalds when they're not being paid to do so?

*snicker*

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2014 09:47PM by bestofbothworlds.

chris34114 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is, actually, a McDonald's in Manhattan with
> a drive-thru. It's in Hell's Kitchen on 10th
> Avenue, between 33rd & 34th St. It has a parking
> lot as well, though it's usually full of cabs.

Actually, there are three in Manhattan. Hell's Kitchen, 125th and Broadway, and 135th and Adam Clayton Powell. Since I don't have a car, I can't do them, but I've seen the bonus get pretty high for those locations.

Not sure what to say to the OP. Was this a special order shop? Did you have a recording device or stop watch out in your vehicle that they might have seen on camera?

As for the order of the shop, the first time I did the drive-thru first. I now dine-in first, eat what I ordered, then I can either save the drive-thru order or throw it out if I do not want it.

As for the receipt thing, I'd hope they MSC is not telling the store the date and time-range each MS is expected? They would have to withhold a ton of receipts if that was the managers game plan.

I ask for receipts, always have, because I do not want an employee to be pocketing my money. Keeps people honest. But if for some reason asked, then you have pretty much two choices: 1) Be abrupt about it, tell them you paid for something and you want your receipt!!!!; 2) say something like I usually do, I am on a budget (fixing my budget) so need receipts for everything I buy.

It is too bad they put so much effort into monitoring their shopper as I am sure there could be a more useful effort to improve customer experiences. I would find it very unprofessional for a manager to call me out in public if he did believe I was the shopper and would be very happy to write my report and state the facts. Feedback is designed to improve performance and the manager's behavior sets the bar for his employees. I would not shop there again either.