Let me start by saying I have done many Ross Sizing Audits over the last two years. It seems like lately the racks are messier than in the past. in the past, out of 5 categories I could always could on 1-3 not having more than 6 mis-sized items. Now it seems like all stores have many more than 7 mis-sized items in EVERY category. I'm talking 25-60, The reports take MUCH longer than 5 minutes to complete, especially when I have to specifically identify items that did not belong on the rack in the first place and a percentage of mis-sized items in a particular size, e.g, 5 size 30 mixed in with size 34. The reports take me as long as the store visit to complete! Could it be that the managers realize no matter what they do ROSS won't give them a bonus? Who knows.

I take a photo of a tag in each category so I don't need to bring out the pen and paper. Other that that, I am finding it difficult to remember all the problems in each category. I try to take notes on my cell phone, but geez, even that takes forever.

My question: what do other shoppers do to remember the mis-sized items? I am considering placing each mis-sized item in my buggy as I find them and then do a count at the end of each category. Then I can just dump the clothes at the end of a rack for the employee to find and hopefully re-hang.

Also, what value does a photo of the messiest category provide Ross? Any thoughts?

I count off my 125 items first so I know the section that I'm counting. Then I go back and look at sizes/tags. I've never had THAT many but I'm not super specific in what I say is wrong. I think on my last report I said something like "about half were mis-sized and the other half were random clothes that didn't belong in this section". I didn't get it back so I guess that was good enough for them! This last time I had a hard time because I did it right after tax-free school shopping so only one or two racks had the 125+ required items!

I take a photo of the tag too but I also bring my notes to scribble on. It's just easier for me.

I also take pictures of the tags. Even though I may find more the 7 items in one category, I believe that there is only one place to add one picture.
I think the picture is to show the store that there were missized items in their store.

I signed up for 2 of these, my first one tomorrow. I took it because its less than a mile from my home. The other location is a couple of miles. I've done about 10 of the customer service shops and I have those down to a science. I'm a little nervous about these. Any other hints?

There are so many of these shops available each month, but I have never imagined how I could do one without standing out blatantly as a shopper. I wish I could know when a mystery shopper was going to do an assignment, and I would watch her from a distance to see how it is possible to do them in a discreet manner. Do these shops take a long time? It seems like they would. I am not a newbie. I have done thousands of shops but never a Ross sizing shop.

They don't seem to care that you may be a shopper. I have two coming up with panties and braa departments. As a male I'm more worried about being pegged as a pervert!

I take a paper and a clipboard. I have had shops that had almost 30 mis-sized items in one category at a Ross. I almost cried LOL! I print out the sizing categories, and when I am going through the category, and I will make notes like S in M (for size small in medium) or D14 in M (to note the wrong division in the section). Then if there are multiples I will just add another checkmark in front of the item. Usually this works pretty quickly for me.