Oooops....I think they just had a shopper before me...

I did the popular "green grocery" shop and one of the selection questions in produce was., "Are whole tomatoes supposed to be refrigerated?" I asked my question in produce and the produce guy (young-new guy) said, "Hey, we just had a customer ask us that two days ago about the tomatoes!" (I did the "dumb look" on my face

So... was it a fluke or are we over-using produce questions and need new ones?

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Most MSC have more than one shopper per locations

A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.

I've had a scheduler tell me that I couldn't do the shop today but I could do it a few days later, because there was another shopper there.

Yes, I think certain mandatory questions are probably over used. I just removed myself from one of the Green store locations that I shop. When I asked my mandatory question to a TM in one of the departments, a different TM started a Happy Dance while yelling out, "I'm here, I'm here." I looked at the TM waiting on me with a what the Hell is he doing look.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2015 11:59PM by Pooch5210.

Awwwwwwwwkward!

I've had that happen, too. In my case it was a question about bagged salads, and the produce manager who overheard the question was concerned with a possible supplier issue because it was the second time he'd heard the question in a week.

My son works in a grocery store and although these questions seem silly and obvious to us, they are asked them every day. He comes home everyday talking bout the stupid questions customers ask. (His chain is not shopped)

Now questions like do I need HP ink in my HP printer are the kind that flag us as shoppers.

~~*~~*~~*~~ kal ~~*~~*~~*~~
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.

@kalfini wrote:

My son works in a grocery store and although these questions seem silly and obvious to us, they are asked them every day. He comes home everyday talking bout the stupid questions customers ask. (His chain is not shopped)

Now questions like do I need HP ink in my HP printer are the kind that flag us as shoppers.

Not necessarily. My husband came home ranting about a customer who broke her printer by trying to use an incompatible cartridge made by a different manufacturer. She was furious that her accidental damage protection plan wouldn't cover the damage she did to it...

@frugalmommy wrote:

Not necessarily. My husband came home ranting about a customer who broke her printer by trying to use an incompatible cartridge made by a different manufacturer. She was furious that her accidental damage protection plan wouldn't cover the damage she did to it...

I always assume that my question probably isn't the stupidest question the employee has heard that day. Even if it sounds completely idiotic to me. I love hearing the stories about awkward questions MSers are forced to ask, though. Keep 'em coming!

Shopper in California's Bay Area

I once did a gasoline mystery shop (no reveal) where I was supposed to make an in-shop purchase, evaluating the shop and get the name of the employee. I forgot about the name and had to go back in.

Panic-stricken, I asked, "i put mid-grade in my auto and it only requires regular! Will my car be okay?"

The employee gave me the most withering look and simply said, "No!"

I got the name, but felt like an arse.

Last week I had to ask about a cold-weather item that would only be found on the company's website. It's the middle of summer here, and I was sure that the stupid question would out me as a shopper. However, I said it was for an upcoming trip to Colorado and the salesperson didn't bat an eye.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2015 09:22PM by KathyG.

Another time I asked a grocery store employee where the applesauce was, and he was standing two feet away from the fixture. Awkward as heck, but I saved it by saying something like "Oh, I saw those, but I was hoping to find some in pouches. Do you carry them?"

Turns out they're in a completely different aisle, so it worked out okay.

I think the printer ink question is a legitimate one....

I've sometimes had to go back because I forgot the name and ask a really odd question...whatever I can think of ...and the look on their face..!

I think I'm going to stop doing those shops. They usually don't pay unless they can't get someone until last minute. I'm tired of thinking of questions to ask and how much 'BOB' can I do?

Indeed. I had a medical shop recently....had to leave a sample, and the receptionist had not given their name. Since I had not yet been able to score a good look at her nametag, I had to come up with an excuse to approach her. Asked her if the tests usually had to be repeated. She answered my question but gave me the weirdest look. Probably should have just asked her directions to somewhere.

Certainly the 'green grocery' has become much less fun with only questions from the required list allowed. With the former MSP you asked questions and they had suggestions, but it was much more fun to ask your own. Some things that come out of Produce employee mouths just leave me gasping. Q: "Do you have fresh figs?" A: "They are on aisle 7 with the other cleaning supplies."; the setup--a display of onions that have round stickers on them saying 'Texas sweet' under a sign saying 'Vidalia' with a second add on sign saying 'Product of Mexico' Q: "Are these Vidalia onions or Mexican onions?" A: "Both--Vidalia is a state in Mexico".

I am sure lots of people don't know whether to store tomatoes on the counter or in the fridge.

Just go back and ask for directions to somewhere. If you can't see the name, ask.."Wow, what is your name?" Half the time it is some weird name, so the question works fine. The other times they say a name, like Barbara, and I say, "Oh your hair was covering it and I thought it was Ara or something"..

@Chix wrote:

I think the printer ink question is a legitimate one....

Absolutely. Many generic brands make ink that fits and works fine in HP printers.

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

There are a lot of people who don't know that whole tomatoes taste better if not refrigerated. My neighbor found that out last year from me! Maybe if she didn't believe me, she might pose the question to the produce associate...and the question could be rephrased as such..."I heard that whole tomatoes shouldn't be refrigerated, is that true?"

Exactly JASFLALMT my husband and I debate these little issues all the time. Not as much fun since google came along to answer everything. But an easy way to ask a dumb question at any type of shop. I need to prove my husband wrong about .....

I'm fairly new to mystery shopping and not yet certain how exact things must be. In the tomato example, is it acceptable to say "Should these heirloom tomatoes be refrigerated or left on the counter with the regular tomatoes?" I'm not trying to skirt the rules but feel like it is important to remain natural and prevent suspicion.

In all liklihood that would be a great way to phrase it. I haven't done this specific grocery shop though. One must always read the information carefully for that particular client, perhaps they state that the question must be word for word.

@anneshop wrote:

I'm fairly new to mystery shopping and not yet certain how exact things must be. In the tomato example, is it acceptable to say "Should these heirloom tomatoes be refrigerated or left on the counter with the regular tomatoes?" I'm not trying to skirt the rules but feel like it is important to remain natural and prevent suspicion.

I would ask what is the best way to store tomatoes, open ended question. If they said they had someone else just ask, I would reply I read something online about leaving out vs refrigerating.

We can't. We have to phrase it exactly as told because we need the associate to say the right answer. If we say anything other than the phrased question, the shop can be thrown out. The answer should be Yes._____- You have the question "What is the best way to store tomatoes" which will not get you a Yes but get you an explanation. I know it's odd but it's what they want

Wait--they are supposed to say "yes" that the tomatoes are supposed to be refrigerated? How weird. If you watch any of the cooking shows long enough, you will hear it from several of the popular television chefs that it is a big no-no. Plus I know it from personal experience. Tomatoes lose a lot of flavor when they have been in cold temperatures...last year the tomatoes in my garden kept producing into the fall when it was quite chilly at night, and they just didn't taste as good as the ones that ripened during the summer months.

@frugalmommy wrote:

Another time I asked a grocery store employee where the applesauce was, and he was standing two feet away from the fixture. Awkward as heck, but I saved it by saying something like "Oh, I saw those, but I was hoping to find some in pouches. Do you carry them?"

Turns out they're in a completely different aisle, so it worked out okay.

I do this in real life all day long. Never fails. When I finally give up and ask, it's usually a few feet away. I've been known to say, "Erase that. This never happened," as I smile and walk away.

At a grocery store shop recently I had to ask an employee where something was. The only employee was the manager so I asked if they carried couscous which I know they had--I checked the shelf first. She said they didn't carry it. Oh.............. She then said "I'm pretty sure we don't but if you find it, come and tell me!" I was so tempted to tell her it was in aisle 6 with the rice!!!!!

@Canuck wrote:

I've had a scheduler tell me that I couldn't do the shop today but I could do it a few days later, because there was another shopper there.

I've had the same experience, but I suspect it can vary by MSC and project. There was a shop I did semi-recently in which someone in line directly in front of me did one of the alternate scenarios suggested in the shop instructions, and I saw her swipe several business cards afterwards. I suspect it's usually the larger chains and larger locations which double up on shoppers, though this particular location was tiny.

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