The certain big grocery chain in the south where you have to tell customer service you did not get an item in your bag and wait to see what they do (offer refund, offer replacement or offer nothing without a receipt)

It's embarrassing because:

1. It feels like stealing in a way. You are saying you did not get something in your bag and they give you another. (you never paid for it, in the first place)

2. If you do the same store (again) it seems like you are a mooch or something, having to walk up to customer service and tell them (again) that you did not have something in your bag. Now, what's even worse, you are doing this in a competitor store, where they are handing you an item (I refuse to take a refund on this) and that also feels weird because you are doing that at a store you didn't even go into.

3. I just wish they would rotate that around some. Now when I see customer service as a department to shop, if I have went into that store 2 times already, it makes me want to take a break from the particular department. I don't want to be known as "that lady who keeps coming in here and asking for something that was not in her bag?"

Am I too sensitive? I have no problem pretending in all the departments, (or for that matter pretending in most shops that I want to buy something for all my companies but this to me that is a whopping LIE that you didn't get something in your bag and can you please have another one? A certain level of discomfort is felt here when I have to do this...

Does this bother anyone else?

I'm with you on weird requirements. I would be uncomfortable with that one, and would likely never return. I couldn't do the "leave something in your cart and see if they catch you" shop, either.

I could leave something in the bottom of the cart as long as I didn't have to wheel it out of the store. I could never tell them I had something missing if I didn't. It's not that I can't or won't lie on shop because I will, but I won't cheat the store even if it is for a shop.

I would feel weird doing those too, but at least I would know it was with the client's blessing and they are willing to bear the cost of the item. However, with a competitor shop - that's just theft.

Exactly for me as for LJ.

I usually ask if a ____ got turned in as left behind last Tuesday because I would have sworn I bought one but can't find the receipt and got home without it. Thus far I have only seen this requirement in competitor shops and it used to be that at competitor shops you complained about sour milk, spoiled fruit or stale donut/roll. Thus far EVERY competitor has offered me a replacement item.

My philosophy is that if the store wants to do it to themselves I have no issue whatsoever with getting a 'replacement' or refund. When they want to have a competitor give away money or product I draw the line. I will make the inquiry and note the response and then conveniently 'forget' to pick up the product to return to Customer Service to have it given to me.

That would work for me too, Flash.

and if they know that is the MS question (which they probably all do)...the data isn't 'real' as they are catering to the shop

I have made the rounds at a grocery store that is self shopping and all about customer service. Every location that was in a higher cost of living area immediately offered to replace the item or give me store credit.

The one store they had that was in a low income area was the only store to refuse me. They didn't want to say yes or be caught saying no. Her solution was to just ignore me and stare at the counter like a statue until I walked away. They must get so much return theft at that store that they assume everyone is lying to them.

It is not uncommon for some thieves to buy something deeply discounted at one store and return it at the upscale store down the street to pocket the difference.

@scanman1 wrote:

I have made the rounds at a grocery store that is self shopping and all about customer service. Every location that was in a higher cost of living area immediately offered to replace the item or give me store credit.

The one store they had that was in a low income area was the only store to refuse me. They didn't want to say yes or be caught saying no. Her solution was to just ignore me and stare at the counter like a statue until I walked away. They must get so much return theft at that store that they assume everyone is lying to them.

It is not uncommon for some thieves to buy something deeply discounted at one store and return it at the upscale store down the street to pocket the difference.

Exactly! If I go to the better end stores in the good parts of town, I would get offered a replacement. One even asked me if I wanted my money back? (No!) But the lower end, in the sketchy areas, automatically they said, "Where is your receipt?" I felt creepy at that point!

Even if the client says, "go in our store and tell them you were missing an item" they are taking the loss and giving you permission to say you are missing an item. But it still feels awful doing it. Other than that, I do like the grocery shops

how can you tell if the shop you are doing was ordered by a competitor shop?

There are clues, but the short answer is: You can't always tell.

There was a quiet grocery that had its own internal shoppers.. i worked there 3 years, loving it... pretty frequently we had to put stuff on the bottom of the cart to see if anyone noticed.. only about 25% of the time did they.. it's a HUGE chain and I'm still wondering why they are suddenly closing down a LOT of their $$$$$$ stores..............

Huh. Interesting. I've sometimes seen grocery carts with one small item left in them for no apparent reason. I've always figured that some people just dropped the item or changed their minds about purchase, but from now on, I'll also wonder if it's The Ghost of Mystery Shoppers Past.

I feel awful about this requirement, and I try to check for it before I take a shop with it. I messed up and took a couple of competitor shops with this requirement. I don't feel quite as bad when the company asks to do it at one of there own stores because, they are paying for that product and the mystery shop. Cost of doing business for them, and a cost they are willing to pay because they want to mystery shop with that requirement. Okay, fine.

When it is a competitor store, it feels wrong to me. I won't take a refund either, and I pick a low cost item as the left out item so I won't feel quite as guilty.