Tonight I was mystery shopping a Chevron just before 10 p.m. in a rural farming community in central California. I know this community well, not from mystery shopping, but because i have spent some time there photographing it. The inhabitants are mostly poor migrant workers and few speak English.

I am looked at with suspicion during the day. For example, one time I saw a guy selling huaraches out of his truck in a grocery store parking lot. I really wanted a pair of genuine huaraches and not the fake ones from WalMart or Payless. He wouldn't sell them to me. He became wary and afraid of me.

Another time I stopped in a Mexican bakery hoping to find some of the cookies that look like watermelon slices and the Mexican yam and sweet potato candies (can't remember what they are called). Had a terrible experience as the clerk again seemed afraid of me,

So, at almost 10 at night I was especially wary of conducting the shop but decided to so anyway. When I arrived I noticed three young teens near the front door on their BMX bikes. I went inside, checked the restroom, found something to purchase and got into line. I realized at that point another adult customer was buying a bottle of liquor for one of the boys . . . Or rather using his ID so the boy could purchase it. The clerk put it in a grown paper bag and handed it to the boy. The boy thanked the other customer and quickly left with his score.

The clerk and I exchanged glances. He knew I knew and looked down. These three boys were likely in the 14-16 age range.

I've been slapped before for reporting something that was not specifically asked on the form. It won't stop me this time. But I'm curious what the rest of you would do. This was definitely my first and last shop at that station.

Just from an ethics standpoint, I say good for you for reporting it. It's on them now.

I'd put it right under the section that asks if anything else affected your experience. You bet. They can delete it if they don't want it. Put a second note in the last box pointing put that you wrote something there that they should take a look at closely.

ETA: I love the tri-colored cookies. I used to live in Mexico. You should see the way they look at me when I start to speak. It's hilarious.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2015 07:39AM by SoCalMama.

Report it.

I hate to say it, but we do have a job to do. And that's to report any interactions that are outside of the companies' standards. It's hard sometimes, I know. I had one the other day, doing a gas station, and the clerk is smoking a cigarette, facing a customers' truck by the pump. While it wasn't on the survey, that's not safe or professional, and I put it as a note in my report.

Well, if you had been an undercover state inspector, they could have received a five-figure fine and lost their liquor license. I'd definitely say it needs to be reported. Better the clerk lose his job than the owner lose their business.

Reporting it was the right thing. I would have done the same.