Makes you wonder why the CEO of a MSC would randomly pop into a forum to make tasteless, shopper-alienating statements on a thread which criticizes a client not associated with his company. Part of a holiday celebration?

the following is perhaps the most tone-deaf, clueless, tasteless and offensive comment(s) made by an msc/scheduling company that i have encountered in the relatively short period of time that i have been doing ms-ing.

"While our shopper fees do not go as low as $3, we have discovered over the years there are many shoppers like you, that are not in this business for the money, but like to feel they are providing needed support to the retail/hospitality chain management as well as to the front line staff. While I do agree with you that your "Oops" certificate is probably not heartily welcomed by the Church's employee, the name is helpful (which can be retrieved from their name tag without any embarrassment or loss of face on their part) to the store management in providing necessary retraining or evaluation of the person being evaluated."

- Don Bode, CEO
CRG ProShoppers

the asshat ceo, Don Bode, of the company, CRG ProShoppers continues to post comments. i suggest that each and every one of us send an email, letter or leave a msg on the company's vm (they don't seem to want to take any phone calls so a msg is the only way) expressing how offensive how his comments are and "how's that working out for you?".

Contact information:

Mailing Address:

Consumer Research Group

P.O. Box 1114

Wake Forest, NC 27588

Phone Number: (919) 526-3481
Fax Number: (919) 526-3479
Email Address: info@CRG2020.com

I've done 2 shops at an Italian Restaurant( chain with a very Italian name). The shop was not evaluating the food( in fact the reimbursement was only 50.00 for 2 and that included the expensive alcoholic drink I had to purchase), it was evaluating the beverage program. If the server did what they were supposed to, they were awarded a certificate for 50.00. If not, they got a I'm sorry certificate". I was keeping my fingers crossed that they did what they were supposed to. Thankfully, both times they did. It was fun to hand out the award.

It was NOT fun to get home at 10pm and have to write up the report because it was due by 10amCST. I was docked 3.00 because it was 5 min late. I stopped working for that company.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

There was a sandwich shop that rewarded the "artist" who did every thing as expected. The reward was a Certificate of Appreciation, which I had with me, and the manager would give a $25 cash award. One artist was a bit on the surly side, but she said and did the right things, so I congratulated her and gave her the certificate.

Her demeanor changed instantly. She was so excited and happy just to get the certificate because she hadn't been told about cash award yet. She couldn't stop smiling and she was twirling around and around in circles. You would have thought she won the lottery. I will never forget the power of a small token of appreciation. That piece of paper generated a lot of goodwill for the company.

Think of all the ill-will the "oops" certificate is generating. That's a miserable policy. I don't blame you for not wanting to do it. That's a mean-spirited company.

Good grief, people on this forum really get pissed off fast. I've never seen a single thread where an MSC's CEO didn't immediately get jumped by a legion of shoppers after making any kind of comment at all. CRG is one of the best companies I've ever worked with, and they don't even do the shop that everyone's so upset about in this discussion. Yes, I'll go so far as to say the comment that Mr. Bode made may have been a bit random, but threads go off topic all the time. It's downright bizarre to tar and feather him for what he said, unless you're just looking for something to get offended over. Grow up.

Agree it was random and even seemed a bit out of touch. I think the posters who got their panties in a bunch may have missed a great opportunity to offer up some valid arguments while having the ear of a MSC executive who seemed truly interested.

@pinchers81 wrote:

Good grief, people on this forum really get pissed off fast. I've never seen a single thread where an MSC's CEO didn't immediately get jumped by a legion of shoppers after making any kind of comment at all. CRG is one of the best companies I've ever worked with, and they don't even do the shop that everyone's so upset about in this discussion. Yes, I'll go so far as to say the comment that Mr. Bode made may have been a bit random, but threads go off topic all the time. It's downright bizarre to tar and feather him for what he said, unless you're just looking for something to get offended over. Grow up.

ummm...not wanting to get into a "who's got the biggest dick contest with you" but take a look at this assclown's first statement:

..."we have discovered over the years there are many shoppers like you, that are not in this business for the money, but like to feel they are providing needed support to the retail/hospitality chain management as well as to the front line staff".

oh really? our goal is to provide the needed support to the retail/hospitality chain, etc. and we're not in this business to make $$$ ???? is he delusional, drunk, stoned, all 3 or perhaps the anxiety meds he's taking???

and...if he's not the company involved with Church then why is he chest-pumping his company on a topic that he supposedly has nothing to do with???

anyway you want to slice it...douchebagger of the year (so far) = don bode @ crg proshoppers.

oh, forgot something...you're known by the company you keep.

no offense, tho, just sayin'

@parkcitybrian wrote:

anyway you want to slice it...douchebagger of the year (so far) = don bode @ crg proshoppers.

oh, forgot something...you're known by the company you keep.

no offense, tho, just sayin'

I can assure you, none taken. I don't get offended easily.

@LisaSTL wrote:

Agree it was random and even seemed a bit out of touch. I think the posters who got their panties in a bunch may have missed a great opportunity to offer up some valid arguments while having the ear of a MSC executive who seemed truly interested.

by the tone of his postings it's kinda/sorta evident that he doesn't have a clue about what its all about. and i'm not sure (actually i am sure) that it's not our job to educate a msc about our motivation cuz if he thinks that its all about being altruistic....he's an idiot.

and obviously he thinks it cuz he states it.

@pinchers81,
Short answer: An MSC posted on a shoppers forum and put words in shoppers' mouths. That was the objection.

Long answer: the CEO's statement that I found so inflammatory was the insinuation that mystery shoppers are "not in this business for the money, but like to feel they are providing needed support to the retail/hospitality chain management as well as to the front line staff." What?!?! We are constantly fighting for every dollar. Who isn't in it for the money? That was too huge an assumption to let pass unremarked, especially when the subject line mentioned a measly $3 fee, for which this CEO congratulated the low-paying company "(more power to them)." He also conflated the guidelines of his own, similar, shop for this customer with a different MSC's shop and unwittingly gave bad advice that, if followed, would have resulted in rejection of the report and no payment for the shopper. All of which is to say that shoppers can and should speak for themselves.

Mr. Bode maintained his equanimity throughout a contentious exchange and I congratulate him for that. (truthfully, I get a lobbyist vibe from him). His demeanor represents his company well and I'll bet that other MSCs would be happy for him to speak on their behalf. But only shoppers can and should speak for shoppers. And there isn't a single voice on this forum that speaks for every shopper. Our diversity is what makes us valuable to the MSCs and their clients.

Then exactly whose "job" is it? Besides, I said it was an opportunity not a job. The fact is there are shoppers whose sole motivation is altruism and some have even posted here. They may be the minority or there may be many more who have no need for a forum like this. Don did not pull his comment out of thin air (or anywhere else), he shared the information he had been given by shoppers with that attitude. Just because we wish it wasn't so, shoppers basically donating time and effort to for profit businesses, doesn't mean it isn't so.

In less time than it took you to write several name calling posts you could have provided another point of view. Would it have been so damn hard?

@LisaSTL wrote:

Then exactly whose "job" is it? Besides, I said it was an opportunity not a job. The fact is there are shoppers whose sole motivation is altruism and some have even posted here. They may be the minority or there may be many more who have no need for a forum like this. Don did not pull his comment out of thin air (or anywhere else), he shared the information he had been given by shoppers with that attitude. Just because we wish it wasn't so, shoppers basically donating time and effort to for profit businesses, doesn't mean it isn't so.

In less time than it took you to write several name calling posts you could have provided another point of view. Would it have been so damn hard?

What name-calling? What "job"? My point of view is that I speak for myself as a shopper and don't think any MSC should speak on my behalf. It's nothing personal against Mr. Bode; in fact, I congratulated him for his unflappability. Sorry, LisaSTL, but i find your tone is out of proportion to my post.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2016 04:52PM by ChrisCooper.

Kudos to @ChrisCooper for providing a rational and eloquent explanation of why the comment rubbed him the wrong way. Thanks for contributing to a civil discussion! I'd say OTOH, I took it at face value that if a shopper voluntarily chooses to spend his time and resources to complete a shop for $3, they very well might have some other reason for doing it besides the three bucks. That's what I extrapolated from Mr. Bode's comment, anyway.
Personally, I wouldn't touch a shop like that either. At least most of us can agree on that.

ETA: Chris, Lisa was speaking with regard to parkcitybrian's post above yours.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2016 04:52PM by pinchers81.

Thank you pinchers. I got interrupted and didn't know anyone had posted in between my back and forth with Brian.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

@pinchers81,
Short answer: An MSC posted on a shoppers forum and put words in shoppers' mouths. That was the objection.

Long answer: the CEO's statement that I found so inflammatory was the insinuation that mystery shoppers are "not in this business for the money, but like to feel they are providing needed support to the retail/hospitality chain management as well as to the front line staff." What?!?! We are constantly fighting for every dollar. Who isn't in it for the money? That was too huge an assumption to let pass unremarked, especially when the subject line mentioned a measly $3 fee, for which this CEO congratulated the low-paying company "(more power to them)." He also conflated the guidelines of his own, similar, shop for this customer with a different MSC's shop and unwittingly gave bad advice that, if followed, would have resulted in rejection of the report and no payment for the shopper. All of which is to say that shoppers can and should speak for themselves.

Mr. Bode maintained his equanimity throughout a contentious exchange and I congratulate him for that. (truthfully, I get a lobbyist vibe from him). His demeanor represents his company well and I'll bet that other MSCs would be happy for him to speak on their behalf. But only shoppers can and should speak for shoppers. And there isn't a single voice on this forum that speaks for every shopper. Our diversity is what makes us valuable to the MSCs and their clients.

ummm, a few things.

" His demeanor represents his company well and I'll bet that other MSCs would be happy for him to speak on their behalf" = i've received 8 emails (on my personal email account) from mscs/schedulers (highly respected) that DO NOT want this guy speaking for them as they are 180 degrees from his perception,.

this guy is lecturing us that he "knows" why we mystery shop and according to him it's not for the fee ($$$) but because we want to "help his "clients" improve their level of service/brand awareness or ???.

is he $%&#ing kidding. and he's speaking for all of us!!!! huh ????????

good luck with that, pal.

and...he obviously monitors this blog/topic because of his numerous comments (lobbying ?) and must be aware of the chatter/distaste that his comments have generated but has not seen fit to: explain, clarify, walk-back, apologize, etc. for his comments so i must conclude that, indeed, those comment were not just "random thoughts" or the musings of someone that might need some education on topics that are beyond his pay grade. but with that being said i would surmise that a ceo of a msc just might be not as tone-deaf as to lecture shoppers why they shop.

as a result of his belief that we shop because the fee ($$$) aren't important he probably offers the lowest of the low fees because he has hoodwinked those who shop for him into believing his bs.

my suggestion to everyone that uses the services of crg proshoppers is to ask for higher fees and/or bonuses because he firmly believes that the $$$ is unimportant to us.

don't like calling people names but don bode, ceo of crg proshoppers is a...........j e r k

oh, and further...i have no dog in this fight as i have never had any dealings with this msc (good, bad and/or indifferent) so there is no bone to pick but his emergence on the scene by posting comments on a topic that he is not involved with and then insulting us just smacks of....take your pick of adjectives that may apply.


edited to correct grammar so i wouldn't be docked 2 points by intellishop and then never, ever told what those grammatically incorrect sentences, etc. were.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2016 12:20AM by parkcitybrian.

@parkcitybrian wrote:

i've received 8 emails (on my personal email account) from mscs/schedulers (highly respected) that DO NOT want this guy speaking for them as they are 180 degrees from his perception,.

So several representatives from the upper echelon of mystery shopping suddenly decided to take it upon themselves to privately lend you their support after reading this thread.

Thanks for the laugh

@pinchers81 wrote:

@parkcitybrian wrote:

i've received 8 emails (on my personal email account) from mscs/schedulers (highly respected) that DO NOT want this guy speaking for them as they are 180 degrees from his perception,.

So several representatives from the upper echelon of mystery shopping suddenly decided to take it upon themselves to privately lend you their support after reading this thread.

Thanks for the laugh

again, i repeat myself, i don't want to get into a dick swinging contest but...i'm sure that don is appreciative that you're attempting to do damage control in his behalf.

Consumer Research Group. They have one client in my area. [www.crg-web.com]

Ugh. It's getting ugly in here.

those who know me (and i know that lots do) are aware that i pull no punches when it comes to being critical of mscs/schedulers/posters, etc. who comment on issues when facts don't seem to matter or on issues that they have absolutely no clue about...and this happens to be one of them.

the snowflakes/cupcakes out there who don't like the tone of the discussion... i'm not apologetic cuz i don't shy away from trying to put a perspective (granted, it's mine) on issues that merit discourse and i'm not about to allow this guy to speak for me and impart his "knowledge" about why we shop.

again....$%&# him and his company.

So am I a snowflake or a cupcake?

@LisaSTL wrote:

So am I a snowflake or a cupcake?

neither but you are definitely (usually) the voice of reason in this sea/morass.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

@CRGProShoppers wrote:

...I would do the shops just for reimbursement! ...

Take an OOPS certificate and off you go!

Hahaha, I loved that!

I have kept my mouth shut as I stood by watching this thread get really, really ugly. ...There is at least (one) poster in here who continually stirs the pot and likes nothing better than to whine about perceived wrongs and transgressions. I won't stir it further by mentioning the name of that person but for GODS sake, lighten up!

Unless you have done the $3 Ooops shop (and from all your incessant whining, I don't think you have) then you don't have any merit commenting on the associates who were handed an Ooops card vs. a Congratulations card. You don't know if they shrugged it off or stood on a windowsill threating to jump out of it. You want people to think this Ooops piece of paper is the most devastating thing that happened since the Hindenburg Disaster.

The ONLY people that should be commenting on the "negative" consequences, are those who actually (witnessed) or handed the Oops card to the associate, otherwise, you have blown this "hot air" into a swirling mass of B.S. No perceived conjectures are warranted here.

Surely, there are other ways for (you) to create Drama. Please don't do it in this forum. It is getting OLD.

All I can say is,

[www.youtube.com]

@LisaSTL wrote:

All I can say is,

[www.youtube.com]

Oh no you didn't! If that song is still in my head tomorrow i'm going to have to put a curse on you.

I actually did one of these and got to give the congrats tickets (Thankfully!). It was the closest location to my house (only a mile away). It also was a nice surprise for my boyfriend (as the monthly entree was one that he likes and cannot get in his town) and I was headed to his house immediately after doing the shop. My limit is one and the real reason I did it (instead of just buying him the meal myself) is that I am hoping that they do the same as Subway and start calling me toward the end of the shop period. Sometimes with this MSC, it helps to do one to show them that are interested in the food, etc. I am seriously hoping that they all get the required drumsticks though as I do not want to have to give oops tickets out. There is no limit on the time of day so I wonder if we could improve our chances by going at the slower time when there should not be a line?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2016 04:28AM by lbw1000.

CRG: Tone deaf and a pompous attitude- as if shoppers who "don't do it for the money" is something to aspire for. So what if I do it for the money? Do YOU expect a paycheck when YOU go to work? I don't like being lectured. What a tone deaf "let them eat cake" attitude extolling the virtures of providing "correction and instruction" to Church's employees with the ^%$#$ Ooops Certificate. I wonder what genius thought this OOPS program up? . In the military we said, "Praise in Public - Reprimand in Priavate." The OOPS Certificate does the opposite. ARE YOU LISTENING CHURCH's? -- AND OTHER YOYO COMPANIES THAT DECIDE "OOOPS CERTIFICATES" (Employees NAMES TAKEN and submitted up the chain of command) IS A GOOD WAY TO MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES who already earn low wages but make fat profits for CEOs, CFOs and stockholders. .

While I disagree with the sentiments that the primary motivation of a significant number of shoppers is altruistic - I must say that I don't see why there is such revulsion at the "Ooops" certificate concept. It apparently is a program run by the supplier of one of the products (I have done a somewhat similar program with a different store/restaurant). If they didn't do the Ooops certificate, the results of any such mystery shopping assignment would have to be sent to the parent company, and then somehow filter down the chain all the way to the individual employee.

The restaurant franchisor/parent company has no obligation to spend time sending mystery shop results to employees down the chain for a supplier's product (even though it's somewhat beneficial to them, if they charge more for upselling). And each successive managerial level would be even less interested in this as it goes down the chain. I don't see any other way to notify the employee that they were just shopped and 'failed' the shop requirements. In fact, I don't see many other polite ways of emphasizing this, other than to say "ooops". Would you rather the certificate say "You stupid idiot, do your job next time!" What kinder, gentler way is there to say this?

I understand that you need to be discreet, and not embarrass the employee in 'public' - but how else is the shopper supposed to notify the employee of the results of the shop? I don't see it as being that offensive or threatening. Most corporate-derived review or results form would probably have some sort of grade. Do you think the employee would rather see that they received an "F/Fail" on a report given to them instead of the word "ooops?"

CRG is right. I don't do every shop just "for the money". Just because you do doesn't mean that everyone does.
*sheesh*

Yelp, Zomato, Google Reviews, Trip Advisor Reviews, etc... all exist for everyone willing to provide free evaluations without any requirements. No one works as a IC Mystery Shopper because they want to make the world a better place. The targeted information we provide is valuable to the clients. The social sites reflect things but do not help identify core details.