When I started I chose groceries for two reasons.

1. The observations were extensive, so I thought it would be good practice.
2. If I blew it, I'd still have groceries which I need anyway.

Three months later and I'm still blowing it about 1/6 of the time.
I forget to watch my time in, or I ask the wrong question, or I can't find a grocery associate... UGH.

Argh.

Anyone else?

I do about a dozen a month,I always go at the opening, say noon on a weekend or four on a weekday.
The receipt tells you when you leave, so far, so good. I recently had no one available in Produce, walked by twice. The report has a place to report no employee found, and give your reason why you couldn't evaluate him/her. Believe me it gets easier, just dig in.

I too agree it gets easier. I go to each of the departments in the same order each time. I take notes on my phone (I text myself) after each department so I have the information and time stamp on my phone. I too do a lot each month and haven't paid for toilet paper, dog food or bottled water in quite a while.

It does get easier. I use a little spiral pad as my 'grocery list'. I note the departments I need to visit as well as the time I must spend so 'M*2/1' tells me that in the meat department I need to make a special purchase (the *), I need to browse 2 min and look for help 1 min. As I go into the department I reset and start the stopwatch on my wristwatch. When I am assisted I can shut down the stopwatch without looking at it. When I leave the department I add '2:28 SEQTY' which tells me I was in the department for 2 min and 28 sec before being assisted. I got a smile, eye contact, they answered my question, which was the cooking temperature question and yes, they handled my special request.

If in some department there was nobody during the time I was required to be there, that department's line gets just an N. If they didn't smile or give eye contact, the S or E will have a / through it. If they answered my question with help the Q becomes QLU if they looked up the information or QOA if the asked another associate. Things that don't fit normal parameters will get a note.

The front page of the spiral has the acceptable questions by department in case I go brain dead, the page for the shop has space at the top for time in/time out as well as the address and the hours I can be in store. That stuff and the lines for the specific departments are set up at home. If there is something 'odd' like stock checks, they are on the back of the page before the shop's page so I can just turn the pad over and cross off items as I find them.

As I go to enter the store I double check the address above the door of the store (this has saved me from shopping the wrong location more than once). I check my watch to make sure I am solidly in the time window and note my entry time. The pad and pen go in my pocket as I get a cart and get myself organized. My pad is not necessarily set up with departments in the order they exist in the store, so as I enter I glance to make sure I am or am not doing Customer Service and then as I pass other departments I glance to see if I need to interact there. Before I arrive at checkout I make sure everything else is covered or planned for (restrooms are sometimes after checkout).

You shouldn't be failing on these shops because you can have all the notes you need on your phone or on your 'shopping list'. It is just a matter of getting systematic note taking such that you can quickly and unobtrusively make your notes. Because my codes have not changed in years, I probably could acceptably fill out a report from 3-4 years ago based on the sheet from my spiral notebook. Sometimes with some MSCs I need names, noting them on my spiral's shopping list makes these forever available as well.

Some grocery stores are easier than others. Meijers are so easy and I can do this in 10 minutes. The trendsource grocery stores are tedious and you literally have to remember every name of every associate on the sales floor (once I had 9 just on the sales floor alone). Lesson learned, I won't do Trendsource grocery shops anymore.

@DareWright wrote:

Some grocery stores are easier than others. Meijers are so easy and I can do this in 10 minutes. The trendsource grocery stores are tedious and you literally have to remember every name of every associate on the sales floor (once I had 9 just on the sales floor alone). Lesson learned, I won't do Trendsource grocery shops anymore.

I have had instances where I literally can't read the name (apron covering, etc.), but a description is needed in these cases. Have never been called on it, they expect a certain amount of that. Reports can get a bit tedious, but doing it a long time helps, and for me, we have 7 stores within 3 miles, why I even buy truffle oil (which I never had before)......

I do the grocery shops every week in my area because, as you say, I need groceries any way. It does get easier and you get used to buying $12 in groceries at a time (at each stop...and deciding which stop will be the fresh stuff, and the frozen stuff).
Things that help me: download the app if the MSC has one and it let's you check in/check out so no time recording. When I shop w/one that doesn't have the app, I use "timekeeper" app which I use for almost all shops anyway....it just timestamps and then I can take a note next to the time. I also put what I call the 3 dumb questions into my phone notes so I can remember what to ask.

On a funny note, I'm pretty sure one of my grocery stores thinks I'm a little 'special' with the weird questions every week and no actual meat purchases. Last summer, they were having an anniversary day when I was there and had a 'cake walk' kind of thing thru the store. They announced you could win a case of water if you were on the right number in the middle of my starting my interaction. The meat counter guy who now know me, starts talking really slow to me and telling me which number to go stand on and exactly where it is. I'm like, I don't care, tell me about salmon for the grill. Later on, walking through the store, he sees me again and is all excited about my "winning"....and I have to tell him that I didn't go over to the number on the floor like he told me. He gave me that sideways look, hugged me and said "better luck next time".

The good news with grocery store shops is the employees are used to seeing people fumble with grocery lists, coupons, their phone, etc. So walking around using your phone or a pad is not going to make you stand out. I do simpler grocery shops (aka not Trendsource ones) which require fewer specific questions but I always use my phone to take notes before, during, and after the shop. The more you do the better you will get. I've done over 200 in the last year so they have become second nature.

Thanks everyone! I did 3 grocery shops this evening in 3 hours. I used my phone to take notes. Asked all the right questions, because I typed those into my note app. I forgot to take food, so ended up eating dry sushi and juice. Quality problem. Didn't make ANY mistakes or miss anything. Yay! Phew!

@DareWright wrote:

Some grocery stores are easier than others. Meijers are so easy and I can do this in 10 minutes. The trendsource grocery stores are tedious and you literally have to remember every name of every associate on the sales floor (once I had 9 just on the sales floor alone). Lesson learned, I won't do Trendsource grocery shops anymore.

TS grocery stores are way more work than the green grocery store. With TS: I have to stop and text myself name AND description of every person I encounter from all the departments and also get the cashier and the baggers name and description. It's a lot of texting! Whereas, in the green grocery store, no names to remember, no descriptions, no baggers or cashiers names. So much easier with the green.

Apart from alcohol compliance shops, I have only seen grocery shops with Tredsource in my area. Anyone care to share who else has grocery store shops? I have a feeling it could just be my area because I'm signed up with 90+ companies.

receipt time can be wrong...but if you forget, you can use the receipt time to job your memory.

which grocery store is it....different chains have different requirements...Pathmark/A&P you could have asked customer service if there was no grocery associate.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2016 02:53AM by jmitw.

Thanks everyone for the info on Trend Source - I am doing my first grocery store with them this weekend, it could be my last if it is too complex.

I really like them, except the meat purchase. The other day, I bought some cheese and it rang up the wrong price. The cashier noticed and gave it me free, Now I was about $4 under the $10, so I had to quickly find something else to buy.
I make it a game and see if I can stay just about the $ 10 reinbusement,
You wild think by now the people in the department people would know the answers to the required questions or remember to smile at everyone.
Its still the best grocery store around.

TS apparently does grocery store shops with several different chains, because I've read of several different requirements from different shoppers. The grocery stores I do for Trendsource pay $5 with $9 reimbursement. I have to visit Meat or Seaford, Deli, Produce or Floral, and Bakery for my 4 outlying depts, and ask a question. If no one is in the dept within 2 minutes, I move on, and return later to see if someone is there. If no one is there within another 2 minutes, I move on and report it so. Then in the Center/Freezer/Dairy section, I'm supposed to find up to 2 associates to ask where an item is, to see if I am walked to that item. Many, many, MANY times, I've only been able to fine ONE associate, and have reported that. I've NEVER had any issue with reporting if a certain dept has not had an associate...there is a way to report that on the form. And with those areas I've mentioned above, if the associate is wearing a nametag, that's ALL the info I have to provide...no description...UNLESS the nametag is not being worn, then yes, I have to provide a description.

For the checkout/bagger areas, for some reason, Trendsource wants BOTH the name AND descriptions of each of those associates. But again, if there is no bagger, or if the bagger leaves your lane and goes to another, that's not an issue in reporting. Checking the bathroom is no big deal, since it's usually a pit stop I have to make...(I drink lots of water!), so that's easy, as is reporting on the condition of the shopping carts.

Because I frequent this particular chain anyway, I like to walk around and see what I can find, so a typical shop takes me about 25 min in-store, and the report takes me about 10-12 min. To me, it's worth it, because as many others have said, I go grocery shopping there anyway...why not get something out of it that works for me?

I have been following Grocery store threads for a few days now. I desperately want to try one, but I admit I fear it. I don't know what questions I could ask or how it works. I don't want to apply for a shop, read it and then ask to be removed as I think that speaks negatively towards me. I see TS shops. I don't want to try those as they do look very intimidating. I've done just about all the kinds of shops available and grocery stores are up next. I appreciated Flash's response as that is the kind of information I'm looking for. Is it against the rules to ask which MSC does grocery stores besides TS?

I just looked and I don't see a mention in this thread of the chain Market Force shops in the SE USA.

Northfork shops a grocery chain in the midwest.

Confero shops a chain here in Georgia, though I don't know exactly what other states it is in (Southeast in general maybe).

Depending on location, North Fork (ICCDS) and Second to None.

Marketforce regularly has grocery shops for two chains in my area of the northeast. Both chains owned by the same company, but one is highly discounted, the other a standard supermarket. I do the discounted chain because it's very simple. I won't do the other chain because I find it to be a PITA. It's interesting that the client has such different requirements for its two chains. Also, I do the discount supermarket whenever they offer a fee (not when it's reimbursement only) - there are certain things I buy at that store anyway, so I'm happy to go there when the fee is right.

I have done Trendsource shops for the "healthy" generally overpriced supermarket chain in the past. Didn't find them difficult, but it took a while for me to figure out how to buy the required number of items without spending more than I wanted to (i.e., the total of the reimbursement plus fee). I found a way to end up with things I wanted & that met the requirements for different sections of the store. For food the trick was small quantities, e.g. one red onion, one grapefruit, one Kind bar, one cup of coffee, one roll, and a variety of things from the bulk section such as 1/4 lb oatmeal, 1/4 lb raisins, and so on. I haven't seen this "healthy" supermarket chain on TS for a while now. Either they don't have it anymore or other folks are beating me to it.

With the Trendsource ones or the MSC with Meijer, I just enter the report on the phone as I go. I finish up the time out, cashier notes, etc. in my car. Neither lets you use the mobile app to enter the reports but Google Chrome works just fine. I do have a Smartphone with a 6 inch screen though so that does make it easier to read. Most people are on the phones looking for coupons anyway so you will blend in.

The Sinclair ones, i just use my shop it app on the phone for notes as I shop. If the phone is out of battery, I just use a scrap paper or the sales flyer. Business people are always in this store with detailed lists so you will not stick out.

The ACL ones, I tried those but the report was so detailed, I was running to the bathroom so much to write down notes that i'm sure they thought I need to be in the hospital.

I do grocery shops for Trendsource, and for Strategic Reflections before I moved. Here in AL so far it's only been Trendsource, at least until I find which MSC does the shops for the other local grocery stores.

Because I have no memory to speak of, I use these apps that I got free on google play. Smart Voice Recorder, ShopIt, and Evernote. Smart Voice Recorder I use to tell myself the associates' names and descriptions. ShopIt looks like you're sending a text, so if you stay in it and keep on typing it works great, it also captures images and recordings, but doesn't do it well. Evernote I use for my "grocery list" with the questions that I'm supposed to ask in each of the focus departments. I use S-note (samsung phone) to take notes if something usual happens that I feel I need to report.

I liked the Strategic Reflections grocery shops, they were simple, just buy 4 things from 4 different departments and talk to any associates you see. No specific questions, no hassles. And they reimburse up to $20, + $5 shopper pay, so I get $20 worth of groceries, it's a great shop for stocking up on meat. I wish the stores they do shops for were here in the state I moved to.

@nutmegstategirl wrote:

Marketforce regularly has grocery shops for two chains in my area of the northeast. Both chains owned by the same company, but one is highly discounted, the other a standard supermarket. I do the discounted chain because it's very simple.

Thanks for the info. I've seen shops for the discount chain but was hesitant since having done the standard supermarket shop once - figured that I didn't want to have to run around the entire store collecting names for even less pay/reimbursement.

I've done a variety of grocery shops. One company had one with a local grocery. Good fee, low on groceries. But covered bottled water (needed something big on the bottom of the cart to see if the cashier checked) and a deli purchase. Hardest part was finding assistance. I did a TS shop at this chain and counted one employee in the Service Deli.

Alas the grocer does not do mystery shopping.

@DareWright wrote:

Some grocery stores are easier than others. Meijers are so easy and I can do this in 10 minutes. The trendsource grocery stores are tedious and you literally have to remember every name of every associate on the sales floor (once I had 9 just on the sales floor alone). Lesson learned, I won't do Trendsource grocery shops anymore.

Thank you. I was tempted by a Trendsource shop but suspected it was like one I did just once at a very high-end store in my area. It took me more than an hour just to find all seven department employees. The report required narratives on each interaction. I will learn from your lesson and not sign up. I don't need the stress or the $5 in groceries. A tip I use on a much simpler grocery-type shop in my area: I take the current broadsheet ad with me (or pick it up at the door.) It provides a place to doodle notes, too. I also use the shopping list trick others have mentioned. But, no seven departments plus manager, cashier and bagger shops for me. There are easier grocery shops out there.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

Thanks everyone for the info on Trend Source - I am doing my first grocery store with them this weekend, it could be my last if it is too complex.

Please feel free to share. Was it too complex? I can't be the only one who is curious about whether it was one of those multi-department, multi-names, multi-description, lots of narrative for low-pay shops. I don't want to take an assignment and then throw it back so I am trying to be selective.

@PuaM

It was not hard to do. First part is counting number of associates in each department. That was easy. then I had 2 departments and 3 grocery associates to ask questions. That wasn't too hard as I would text myself the information after each one. I will do it again. Not hard at all.

LOL