@MarionS wrote:
The first question out of her mouth was one of those things you are told to refuse if asked. It's one of those almost dead giveaways that you are the shopper. I did what I was supposed to and refused but I really think that tipped her off, no fault of mine though. She just went through EVERYTHING she was supposed to mention and even said so, even the little things that are often left off. Should I mention this in my report or no? Not sure what to do since I don't have 100% confirmation of it but I really do think she figured it out.
Well....if the employee actually asked the question, AND the company specifically told you to refuse...perhaps the employee then simply followed protocol and did what she was supposed to do?
I realize that some questions may seem "obvious" to us (like one shop where you go to a financial institution to send money, and you have to ask something about "I want to wire this money to another city" under strange circumstances, and you have to repeat yourself), but if the company specifically instructs us to do something, then as long as we do it and act somewhat normally, then we do it.
Asking for a receipt could also be a tip-off....but many/most companies say to ask for one if not given one (except for most bar audits), even though it may tip off the employee. I did a bar audit at an entertainment venue, and after being served my drink and told the cost without being given a receipt, I asked for a receipt (per the client's explicit guideline). The bartender had to then dig the receipt out of the trash can with all of the other receipts she was throwing away, and fish through them to find mine! (she didn't want to hit "reprint" on the POS because it will say "reprint" on the receipt, and the client would know that the employee likely threw away the original receipt).
Funny how when I arrived at the bar, the bartender ignored me for 2 minutes while she waited on someone who arrived AFTER I did, and when she did acknowledge me, she gave me a disinterested, unfriendly, rushed greeting of "what can I get you?"...but after she had to dig the receipt out of the trash can, she came back to check on me later, and when I left, she actually gave me a very friendly departure salutation of "have a good night!", despite completely ignoring everyone else who was leaving.