"Things people say when they find out you mystery shop..."
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And you would be right. It sounded like not all of the conversations were private. My family and a small circle of friends know exactly what I do. How else could I ever explain all the craziness.
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 usually don't talk about it unless really necessary. When I went to a podiatrist she asked me what work I do because of my problem with my feet. I told her and added, "I also mystery shop." Her face lighted up. She asked me how I got into it and then she spent more time asking me about mystery shopping, not in terms of how I could walk better but on how interesting it is. She said she wanted to try it one time. My 45 minutes was up so soon.
My family knows what I do. Some of my doctors have asked me about what I do; they are surprised I'm still working. It doesn't seem to come up otherwise.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
I don't usually talk with anyone about my mystery shopping, except for my sister. And she says that mystery shopping is kind of a "Snoop". However, I disagree and laugh telling her that if she were the boss she would want to know what is going on when she's not there. However, like some people, she can't imagine that! Ha!
I usually get the raised eyebrow and the question "so when are you going to get a real job?" My response - hopefully NEVER as I am done with corporate and the 9 - 5. Then there are the few people who seek me out for information but once they find out that it is not just buying goodies they are not interested. They really lose interest when signing up for new companies and searching for shops. This is not a get rich quick scheme or some scam as the general population seems to think, it is a lot of work.
I don't tell many people about mystery shopping, a few in my family know, and a couple of close friends. Mystery shopping is not easy. There are multiple details to remember with each shop, every msc has different policies and procedures, evaluators all have their own slant, and schedulers are all different.
It takes a huge amount of time to prepare a route, adjust the schedule, figure the time and distance, and update your records. In addition, many shoppers have to deal with a regular fulltime job. I think mystery shoppers are very disciplined and not afraid to work hard for the money they earn. There are few perks. The two that I like are being my own boss and reimbursements for items and services I would have had to pay for.
Most people just don't have the ability to be all those things although they all think they do.
It takes a huge amount of time to prepare a route, adjust the schedule, figure the time and distance, and update your records. In addition, many shoppers have to deal with a regular fulltime job. I think mystery shoppers are very disciplined and not afraid to work hard for the money they earn. There are few perks. The two that I like are being my own boss and reimbursements for items and services I would have had to pay for.
Most people just don't have the ability to be all those things although they all think they do.
My family are always telling me about out of date meat at the grocery store etc. They think I will immediately do something about it. lol
I am never really sure if employees know they just got shopped.. I had one guy at a phone store flirt with me at the end but besides that, I've got nothing good haha.
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
I get questions like, I got this check in the mail for $2,470.95. It's real. Should I cash it and send their portion back?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2014 04:14PM by Pooch5210.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2014 04:14PM by Pooch5210.
I just tell them how long it takes to prepare the reports and they stop bothering me..LOL
Me either. I just say I do business audits and that sounds so boring that I've never been asked to elaborate.
I get the "you know that's a scam right?" a lot some of my friends now shop because with rotations, there is enough work for all of us. But I love the ones who go with me (like when you need a specific sex or age). Then when faced with the reporting, and photos etc.. They quickly lose interest. People really don't see what we do as work.
I don't like telling people what I do, but it's usually my sister who outs me as a mystery shopper when she's trying to impress people. The common responses I get from them are:
"How does it work? Because I'm looking into making some extra money."
"You should go to -----. They have the worse customer service!"
"So it's for real? You actually get paid?! I always thought it was a scam."
"Do you get a lot of free stuff?"
"Does it pay a lot?"
"That's all they pay?" Or "You only get paid once a month? Forget it, it's not worth it."
"I hate mystery shoppers!"
"How does it work? Because I'm looking into making some extra money."
"You should go to -----. They have the worse customer service!"
"So it's for real? You actually get paid?! I always thought it was a scam."
"Do you get a lot of free stuff?"
"Does it pay a lot?"
"That's all they pay?" Or "You only get paid once a month? Forget it, it's not worth it."
"I hate mystery shoppers!"
>
> You should probably keep quiet about MS'ing. Why
> would you want more competition in your area? And
> some friends and family do not know how to keep
> their mouths shut. Like the friend who runs into
> you at the store and asks in a loud voice if you
> are mystery shopping right now. I don't tell
> people what I do. It is none of their business.
I partially agree. I had an awful experience once on a high end hotel shop. We were at the hotel bar and there was another couple sitting nearby that was making small talk. I was trying to minimize the conversation without being rude, but they were super chatty. Well, when we start making moves like we're going to leave, the gentleman (obviously trying to be nice) intercepts our check! At first I just insist that I can't allow him to pay, etc, etc. But, he isn't having any of it! Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt. Please don't say anything." He looked a little confused but relinquished the bill. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how to smooth this over without him running his mouth and outing me as the shopper. Remember, he's been drinking. He ends up loudly asking me questions about mystery shopping while I cringe and pray that the bartender can't hear. Thank goodness his wife was a little more with it and shushed him and ultimately dragged him away completely. Looking back, it is sort of funny, but I was so afraid of screwing up that shop and being out not just the cost of that bar visit but potentially a lot more for the rest of the hotel.
So, long story short, I'm very careful about who I take on shops with me and mention that I'm a shopper to.
> You should probably keep quiet about MS'ing. Why
> would you want more competition in your area? And
> some friends and family do not know how to keep
> their mouths shut. Like the friend who runs into
> you at the store and asks in a loud voice if you
> are mystery shopping right now. I don't tell
> people what I do. It is none of their business.
I partially agree. I had an awful experience once on a high end hotel shop. We were at the hotel bar and there was another couple sitting nearby that was making small talk. I was trying to minimize the conversation without being rude, but they were super chatty. Well, when we start making moves like we're going to leave, the gentleman (obviously trying to be nice) intercepts our check! At first I just insist that I can't allow him to pay, etc, etc. But, he isn't having any of it! Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt. Please don't say anything." He looked a little confused but relinquished the bill. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how to smooth this over without him running his mouth and outing me as the shopper. Remember, he's been drinking. He ends up loudly asking me questions about mystery shopping while I cringe and pray that the bartender can't hear. Thank goodness his wife was a little more with it and shushed him and ultimately dragged him away completely. Looking back, it is sort of funny, but I was so afraid of screwing up that shop and being out not just the cost of that bar visit but potentially a lot more for the rest of the hotel.
So, long story short, I'm very careful about who I take on shops with me and mention that I'm a shopper to.
Several years ago when I first started MSing, I told a friend about it. I was so excited! About a month ago, I'm at the local coffee shop, waiting for the server lounging in the booth across the way to get off her cell phone arguing with her boyfriend about her mother, when my friend walks in. She sees my notebook and cell phone. (I'm, also, a free-lance writer and work for several newspapers. I had planned to enjoy some hot coffee while I followed up on some stories.) JuJu asks, "Are you MSing them?" The server takes a look at me all of a sudden as though she had just seen me sitting there...She rushes up to her feet, knocks her cell phone off the table, grabs her pad and rushes back to my table to see what I wanted to order. I placed my order. She NEVER let that coffee cup get down to 3/4-full before she topped it off again. She even told me that the cook had made an extra biscuit; she said it would go well with the coffee! They would give me for free since they didn't want to waste it.
It was hilarious!
I never confirmed or denied that I was MSing. I just gave my friend a slight frown and winked at her, in answer. I suspect that server is still looking for that MS report on her!
It was hilarious!
I never confirmed or denied that I was MSing. I just gave my friend a slight frown and winked at her, in answer. I suspect that server is still looking for that MS report on her!
Now they think you are a part-time prostitute
Cricket 2009, which post were you referencing?
elynbeth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot
> I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay
> this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll
> be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt.
> Please don't say anything."
Never tell a stranger that you are a mystery shopper especially in a public place! All you had to do was say that you were on a business trip with an expense account. No further explanation is needed. And if the guy was that drunk and stupid, you could just tell the bartender to make sure you get your bill and to basically ignore the other guy.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot
> I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay
> this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll
> be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt.
> Please don't say anything."
Never tell a stranger that you are a mystery shopper especially in a public place! All you had to do was say that you were on a business trip with an expense account. No further explanation is needed. And if the guy was that drunk and stupid, you could just tell the bartender to make sure you get your bill and to basically ignore the other guy.
Most people ask me for information, and I don't mind telling them to check out this forum or the Mystery Shopper Providers Association website, but recently someone asked me, "What's mystery shopping?"
"Evolve thyself and lose all hate...." Orphaned Land
Sybil2 Wrote:
> Never tell a stranger that you are a mystery
> shopper especially in a public place! All you had
> to do was say that you were on a business trip
> with an expense account. No further explanation
> is needed. And if the guy was that drunk and
> stupid, you could just tell the bartender to make
> sure you get your bill and to basically ignore the
> other guy.
I think you missed the part where I said he intercepted the bill. As in when the bartender walked up with it, he straight up grabbed it and said, "I'll take that." Saying it was an expense account wasn't possible because we had already made small talk with the guy about being on vacation and our professions - neither of which lended themselves to an expense account story. I literally had no reasonable lie to make up in the moment and wanted to get my bill back. I obviously don't make a habit of talking about mystery shopping while I'm on shops.
> Never tell a stranger that you are a mystery
> shopper especially in a public place! All you had
> to do was say that you were on a business trip
> with an expense account. No further explanation
> is needed. And if the guy was that drunk and
> stupid, you could just tell the bartender to make
> sure you get your bill and to basically ignore the
> other guy.
I think you missed the part where I said he intercepted the bill. As in when the bartender walked up with it, he straight up grabbed it and said, "I'll take that." Saying it was an expense account wasn't possible because we had already made small talk with the guy about being on vacation and our professions - neither of which lended themselves to an expense account story. I literally had no reasonable lie to make up in the moment and wanted to get my bill back. I obviously don't make a habit of talking about mystery shopping while I'm on shops.
Phoebe70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Wow, that sounds like so much fun!"
>
> Little do they know that it's not all fun and
> exciting. Once they learn that they actually have
> to do reports and upload receipts and photos, they
> lose interest.
If it is not fun I am not going to do it. I do not need to do it!
I do not take photos because "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and I believe it is just an excuse to have you buy and mutilate a pizza and be told the pictures just aint good enough!
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Wow, that sounds like so much fun!"
>
> Little do they know that it's not all fun and
> exciting. Once they learn that they actually have
> to do reports and upload receipts and photos, they
> lose interest.
If it is not fun I am not going to do it. I do not need to do it!
I do not take photos because "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and I believe it is just an excuse to have you buy and mutilate a pizza and be told the pictures just aint good enough!
wow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh, I give anyone who wants to know about it the
> info, mainly because I know that 95% of people are
> not competent or self sufficient enough to
> actually become any type of competition to me.
> It's probably the area that I live in though.
I do exactly the same thing. Everyone I've talked about MSing to gets real excited, but not a single one has followed up and done any shops or even signed up with MSCs. I know my friends too well to be concerned about competition.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh, I give anyone who wants to know about it the
> info, mainly because I know that 95% of people are
> not competent or self sufficient enough to
> actually become any type of competition to me.
> It's probably the area that I live in though.
I do exactly the same thing. Everyone I've talked about MSing to gets real excited, but not a single one has followed up and done any shops or even signed up with MSCs. I know my friends too well to be concerned about competition.
I (as a guy) most often just get an inquisitive look and a condescending "Oh... Neat." as though I'm not actually working. I much preferred the responses I would get for the 12 years I spent telling people I'm an at-home dad.
______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I'm not sure where I would be without Oswaltkp..She shared the info with me and I was skeptic at first but then when I did my first shop I was hooked..I how to turn this into a suitable income and I couldn't thank Oswaltkp enough for sharing 
elynbeth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > You should probably keep quiet about MS'ing.
> Why
> > would you want more competition in your area?
> And
> > some friends and family do not know how to keep
> > their mouths shut. Like the friend who runs
> into
> > you at the store and asks in a loud voice if
> you
> > are mystery shopping right now. I don't tell
> > people what I do. It is none of their
> business.
>
> I partially agree. I had an awful experience once
> on a high end hotel shop. We were at the hotel bar
> and there was another couple sitting nearby that
> was making small talk. I was trying to minimize
> the conversation without being rude, but they were
> super chatty. Well, when we start making moves
> like we're going to leave, the gentleman
> (obviously trying to be nice) intercepts our
> check! At first I just insist that I can't allow
> him to pay, etc, etc. But, he isn't having any of
> it! Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot
> I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay
> this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll
> be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt.
> Please don't say anything." He looked a little
> confused but relinquished the bill. Meanwhile, I'm
> trying to figure out how to smooth this over
> without him running his mouth and outing me as the
> shopper. Remember, he's been drinking. He ends up
> loudly asking me questions about mystery shopping
> while I cringe and pray that the bartender can't
> hear. Thank goodness his wife was a little more
> with it and shushed him and ultimately dragged him
> away completely. Looking back, it is sort of
> funny, but I was so afraid of screwing up that
> shop and being out not just the cost of that bar
> visit but potentially a lot more for the rest of
> the hotel.
>
> So, long story short, I'm very careful about who I
> take on shops with me and mention that I'm a
> shopper to.
I have never told anyone that I needed a receipt for a shop.
I like the idea of saying you need it for your business expense report.
I have had to re-shop on more than one occasion because some guy wants to get my tab. It happens a few times a year. If it was the last day of the month and I knew it could not be rescheduled, I'd work something out and get the receipt.
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > You should probably keep quiet about MS'ing.
> Why
> > would you want more competition in your area?
> And
> > some friends and family do not know how to keep
> > their mouths shut. Like the friend who runs
> into
> > you at the store and asks in a loud voice if
> you
> > are mystery shopping right now. I don't tell
> > people what I do. It is none of their
> business.
>
> I partially agree. I had an awful experience once
> on a high end hotel shop. We were at the hotel bar
> and there was another couple sitting nearby that
> was making small talk. I was trying to minimize
> the conversation without being rude, but they were
> super chatty. Well, when we start making moves
> like we're going to leave, the gentleman
> (obviously trying to be nice) intercepts our
> check! At first I just insist that I can't allow
> him to pay, etc, etc. But, he isn't having any of
> it! Finally, when the bartender is out of earshot
> I whisper to him, "Listen, I really have to pay
> this bill myself. I'm on a mystery shop and I'll
> be in big trouble if I don't have this receipt.
> Please don't say anything." He looked a little
> confused but relinquished the bill. Meanwhile, I'm
> trying to figure out how to smooth this over
> without him running his mouth and outing me as the
> shopper. Remember, he's been drinking. He ends up
> loudly asking me questions about mystery shopping
> while I cringe and pray that the bartender can't
> hear. Thank goodness his wife was a little more
> with it and shushed him and ultimately dragged him
> away completely. Looking back, it is sort of
> funny, but I was so afraid of screwing up that
> shop and being out not just the cost of that bar
> visit but potentially a lot more for the rest of
> the hotel.
>
> So, long story short, I'm very careful about who I
> take on shops with me and mention that I'm a
> shopper to.
I have never told anyone that I needed a receipt for a shop.
I like the idea of saying you need it for your business expense report.
I have had to re-shop on more than one occasion because some guy wants to get my tab. It happens a few times a year. If it was the last day of the month and I knew it could not be rescheduled, I'd work something out and get the receipt.
SoCalMama Wrote:
>
> I have had to re-shop on more than one occasion
> because some guy wants to get my tab. It happens a
> few times a year. If it was the last day of the
> month and I knew it could not be rescheduled, I'd
> work something out and get the receipt.
Being an old ugly guy I never have that probem. Wish I did. :-) But I do enjoy taking my kid out to a shop once in a while or my sisters kids, but I have to be careful with that as last time one of them asked me if the restaraunt gave me my food for free since i was shopping them. Fortunatly the music was so loud I don't think anyone heard it. My sister also is a registered shopper so her kids know what I do.
>
> I have had to re-shop on more than one occasion
> because some guy wants to get my tab. It happens a
> few times a year. If it was the last day of the
> month and I knew it could not be rescheduled, I'd
> work something out and get the receipt.
Being an old ugly guy I never have that probem. Wish I did. :-) But I do enjoy taking my kid out to a shop once in a while or my sisters kids, but I have to be careful with that as last time one of them asked me if the restaraunt gave me my food for free since i was shopping them. Fortunatly the music was so loud I don't think anyone heard it. My sister also is a registered shopper so her kids know what I do.
32sarah Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not sure where I would be without
> Oswaltkp..She shared the info with me and I was
> skeptic at first but then when I did my first shop
> I was hooked..I how to turn this into a suitable
> income and I couldn't thank Oswaltkp enough for
> sharing
Love you, girl! And all the goodies you send me when Scenario A and B's are up! Can't wait for some tasty goodies in January! :-D
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not sure where I would be without
> Oswaltkp..She shared the info with me and I was
> skeptic at first but then when I did my first shop
> I was hooked..I how to turn this into a suitable
> income and I couldn't thank Oswaltkp enough for
> sharing
Love you, girl! And all the goodies you send me when Scenario A and B's are up! Can't wait for some tasty goodies in January! :-D
"Oh, I could do that. How do I get started?" Usually stated after I tell them I do under cover market research. Last person I told was my daughter-in-law to whom I suggested that she sign up with different companies(she wanted a job she could do while her children were in school). Told her that most companies were on the computer. Finally she asked me to bring her a list of mystery shopping companies.
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