Another "How 'bout this warning"?

Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?

YOU WILL BE VIDEO TAPED DURING YOUR SHOP AND THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE WILL BE CHECKED AGAINST WHAT YOU REPORT.

Kind of like who is being shopped here? The business or the shopper?

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Lots of things come to mind. (1) It's threatening. Probably trying to keep us honest. (2) Why not just view the tapes, and forego mystery shopping. (3) Good deal. If my report is a my word against theirs, let them view the footage. It will prove my evaluation, but then I'd be disallowed from shopping that location since I no longer have anonymity there.

I've seen that warning a bunch of times and yes, it rubs the wrong way. First, I dislike the all caps 'screaming'. Second, if you don't trust a shopper, don't use them. Third, this kind of warning usually appears with shops that are so cheap there is an obvious disrespect for shoppers to start with. MF has one with their ff shops screaming that your timings will be checked against the video. So once again, why am I checking timings with precision if you can be more exact with the video tape?

(2) Why not just view the tapes, and forego mystery shopping.

My thoughts exactly.

This bothered me for the longest time. Finally, during a shop I did not care about and a company I no longer cared to work for, I stood in front of the camera, made faces and an obscene gesture. Never heard back on my actions...

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> This bothered me for the longest time. Finally,
> during a shop I did not care about and a company I
> no longer cared to work for, I stood in front of
> the camera, made faces and an obscene gesture.
> Never heard back on my actions...

Do we assume you didn't get paid and deactivation (your choice) resulted?

Warning: This User Has Been Banned or Is No Longer Active

Reminds me of a security job I use to do. The supervisor was quick to point out that everything we said and did in the guard house was being recorded and on camera. I suggested if they needed to watch the guards that close maybe they needed a new security company.

It says wave white flag the shopper has arrived.

I've seen them mostly in Bar Audits, and it is a threat. Very much in your face. They take the bar audits very seriously. I won't do them at night, but do one monthly for lunch, where it is emplty (almost), you get a good seat, and can tell what the Bartender is doing, so I say, tapes, roll on, I'm o.k.

Live consciously....

Hi, every one I'm new to this an tomorrow will be my first assignment any suggestions?

Review what you are looking for before you go in, relax, if a restroom visit is part of the visit, recheck your list in the restroom of what you are to check to make sure you've got it all before you leave. If you need a receipt, make sure you get it. In the car, drive around the corner and make your notes. If you forgot to check something, often you can duck back into the store on some pretext to check it. Remember to get your report in on time.

I have yet to have a client who would take the time to sit down and review my reports with some video tape. If he/she doesn't trust you, why hire you?

I've seen that message so many times I don't even pay attention to it any more. It's like the little boy who cried "wolf!" It's totally lost credibility for me. I've never had one of my "videotaped" shops audited ... but I've never been brave enough to stand in front of a camera and make obscene gestures, either. Kudos to you mrcomputer101! I guess it's to keep us honest, but it just seems stupid and redundant to me.

That video can work both ways. There could be a dishonest employee also that you are dealing with. Also, remember that all mystery shoppers should be honest, but there may be some that are not and would write down anyhting just for the money. So it can be an advantage for both client and the mystery shopper.

it rather takes the "mystery" out of the "shopper" now, doesn't it?

No mystery taken out for the person that is being shopped, because they may not be aware of it, also the employer may never tell them they were shopped, it just depends. (smile)

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That's why I give people the benefit of the doubt. Boss:"Hey Dave, you got mystery shopped and they said you were professional and helpful "
Dave: No way, I was rude as hell, better review the tape"

No big deal. If you do in-person audio shops or video shops you are always under scrutiny anyway. I'd rather that the client had proof that I did what I said i did and did not do what the target claims I did. lol

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.

walesmaven Wrote:
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> No big deal. If you do in-person audio shops or
> video shops you are always under scrutiny anyway.
> I'd rather that the client had proof that I did
> what I said i did and did not do what the target
> claims I did. lol

Yea. Me too. :-)

**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

This warning gives me several reactions, some of which are not yet posted, so . . .

First, in many stores, the cameras are there for reasons other than mystery shopping, such as in a bar, or convenience store. Security and/or theft deterrence are great reasons. So the client or MSC takes advantage of what is there to send a warning to flakes or dishonest shoppers to be honest. Possibly, the client or MSC has been burned by dishonest shoppers, so they give the warning.

Second, it is very rare to have the cameras watched in real time on a regular basis, such as at a casino. Most companies review the videotapes only after an incident occurred. So, I'm not surprised to hear of someone making obscene gestures to a camera without repercussions.

Third, I have learned to live with it. In 99.99% of the cases, no one is watching or will review the tape. But if someone challenges my shop, let them review the tape. I'm all for it. Then, the client just blew the cover off a good shopper for them. That is their loss.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

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Another "How 'bout this warning"?

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