Just a fantasy but I wish the the Client would request that the scheduler and the editor.....(to be cont)

Do the mystery shop that they set the guidelines for. For example, have them go to a grocery shop and ask the clerk "Can you tell me all of the benefits of fish oil?'

I would love to see them have to do that. On the other hand, I would never want to be a scheduler or an editor lol!

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Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

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Excellent idea, except that schedulers and editors are not the one that are creating the questions, the client is.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I think the MSC has a lot of influence. I have done similar shops for different clients that have the same questions.

@Roxie wrote:

I think the MSC has a lot of influence. I have done similar shops for different clients that have the same questions.

I don't know who comes up with the questions or the scenarios but sometimes I just have to shake my head lol! For example I was in a store that shall remain nameless, my scenario was speakers and I was supposed to just be looking at the display waiting for someone to help me for 15 minutes. I have shopped at this store for over 10 years now and in all of those 10 years I have never, ever had anyone ask me if I needed help and sure enough I didn't get asked today.

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Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

Since the clients are the ones creating the questions, they should experience the scenario. I think.

I remember reading something here about an owner of a store who wondered why the store's sales were going down. He noted that everything in the store was spic and span. The washrooms were spotless. So he pretended to be a customer. If I remember right, I think the CS was lacking. The staff concentrated in the cleanliness of the washrooms and the surrounding but the customers were neglected. They walked away without a single interaction with the staff.

I think that was Staples.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

@risinghorizon wrote:

Since the clients are the ones creating the questions, they should experience the scenario. I think.

I remember reading something here about an owner of a store who wondered why the store's sales were going down. He noted that everything in the store was spic and span. The washrooms were spotless. So he pretended to be a customer. If I remember right, I think the CS was lacking. The staff concentrated in the cleanliness of the washrooms and the surrounding but the customers were neglected. They walked away without a single interaction with the staff.

Wow, that reminds of that show 'Undercover Boss' I love that show. Maybe they should do something like that?

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Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

There used to be a question for a supermarket that has since been changed...but for a long time you could be standing right next to the fresh bread display in the bakery asking if they had fresh bread.

Could be a fun thread to play with, pammie, but I'm with risinghorizon on wanting the client to have to do the shops. Like thoroughly evaluating a small convenience store in 45 seconds but then trying to inconspicuously spend another 7:15 just so you can be there for a minimum of 8:00.
Or asking for a receipt for a pack of gum and watching how the CSR's nametag magically appears.
Or witnessing the 180 degree transformation in attitude from surly to syrupy that is initiated in a CSR when you ask the same product knowledge evaluation question that you and another shopper have been taking turns asking every other month for 14 months in a row.
Heck, I'd would simply like to see the client higher-up muckety-mucks just try to find their own locations using the addresses that they themselves have provided to the MSC!

@jmitw wrote:

There used to be a question for a supermarket that has since been changed...but for a long time you could be standing right next to the fresh bread display in the bakery asking if they had fresh bread.

LOL! Thanks for your response I have to admit that I had asked where the paper towels were when I was standing right next to them.

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Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

I remember a shop which required the shopper to ask how the clothing was washed. After a few months, the shopper was warned to never, ever ask how the item was washed.--- Just ask something that would determine a product knowledge or the staff would definitely know one was a shopper. So I asked what material the dress was made of and the staff had to turn it upside down looking for the tag. Then she said, 'I know it's made in USA.' She never found the info. I had to show it to her.

I will never forget th be well shops.

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Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

I agree. Today I did one where you HAVE to get their name, regardless if they are wearing a name tag or not. It was a small town hardware store and they also ask for a description of the person. Could they not figure out which employee it was with just the description? There weren't that many employees and he was very easy to describe and identify. I tried the entire visit to come up with a good way to get his name without giving myself away. Got the receipt and it wasn't even on it so I asked as I was leaving - a dead giveaway that I was the shopper. Guess I won't be doing that one again for awhile, and it wasn't even that bad of a shop otherwise. My bonus was $40, which is a LOT for that msc. How much more does it have to go up before they realize it's not worth getting a name?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2015 01:12AM by MarionS.

Well, I had a shop where the 2 staff were not wearing name tags but they were both female and had long black hair, worn loose, 19-23, about 5'3" to 5'4" in height, wearing black top and black shoes. Exactly the same description and they took turns assisting me as I was the only customer. Then the staff shouted the name of her co-worker to ask about something. Out came the manager from the backroom calling the other lady. Bingo! I got the names.

If you think a name without a name tag is difficult, try this one on for size.

"Take a few photos of the exterior of the location and a few of the interior even if the store is permanently closed."

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 did two shops for the same client in two different terminals of the same airport. Both employees not only looked identical, they had the same name on their name tag. When I saw the second one, I thought she would say something but she didn't. Then I realized that I couldn't figure out how she could have gotten there before me. As soon as I left "B", I double-timed it back to "A", and "she" was still there. I reported the name in two separate reports, not mentioning the other report, of course. I got questioned by the editior. In the reply email, I related the story I as I just told it here. I got paid. And no point deductions for contacting me!

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Lisa -

I have done it. I walked up to the window of the store which is closed, and I take photos of the inside. That approach has never failed. I also take photos of any signs that say closed.

BUT - I was sent to a FF restaurant which was no longer there. Not even the slab. I took a photo of the weeds, and a screen shot of a social networking site which reported it as closed. It took 3 months for them to verifty the absence of the FF store, but I then got paid.

@LisaSTL wrote:

If you think a name without a name tag is difficult, try this one on for size.

"Take a few photos of the exterior of the location and a few of the interior even if the store is permanently closed."

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Well, try taking a picture of an unlighted closed store, with the rain pouring hard. The only sign they left was a handwritten note in front of the door which I could hardly read in the darkness. And oh, a sign that said, "Moved."
Even the website did not indicate that that location was closed.

Sure taking a photo through the window crossed my mind, but it was still funny. The location posted near me is in a mall. SOP with closed stores is they are completely covered by panels so no windows.

I once did a shop at a Five Guys where all 5 men behind the counter could have been described exactly the same: male, short black hair, Hispanic, age low 20s, 5,6", medium build. It was amazing, they almost looked like clones.

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Just a fantasy but I wish the the Client would request that the scheduler and the editor.....(to be cont)

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