Is it just me, or are these really stupid questions to ask at the grocery store.

November 14, 2016 05:56PM

I've been doing the grocery store shops for Trendsource. You have to ask a question in Produce and Meat. I try to pick the least asinine question each round. For instance, the questions for produce this month are 1. Do you have any recipes for mango. 2. Which is better for cranberry sauce, fresh, frozen or canned?. 3. Does the color of the potato reveal something about it? 4. which fruits aid weight loss?

The question I picked for Meat was How long does it take to defrost a turkey?. Thats not so bad, but I think it was the least dumb of all the questions. Maybe its me, because I have an extensive culinary background so I'd never ask these questions if I was just "shopping". Do they really think an 18yr old kid in produce is going to have some recipes using fresh mangos?( in November at that?) Why would anyone want to buy frozen cranberries( do they even sell them) when its cranberry season. I've never seen canned cranberries( unless they mean already prepared sauce).

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November 14, 2016 06:06PM

This is so funny to me! I had almost the same conversation with my wife yesterday...about exactly the same questions. I did the shop and I was tempted to chose the mango question just because it is so absurd. I felt like asking in a British accent, "Have you any recipes for mango my good man!". Yeah, and also, please let me choose frozen cranberries, for the freezer burn taste that is so delightful around the holidays!

November 14, 2016 06:22PM

@calicakes wrote:

I've been doing the grocery store shops for Trendsource. You have to ask a question in Produce and Meat. I try to pick the least asinine question each round. For instance, the questions for produce this month are 1. Do you have any recipes for mango. 2. Which is better for cranberry sauce, fresh, frozen or canned?. 3. Does the color of the potato reveal something about it? 4. which fruits aid weight loss?

The question I picked for Meat was How long does it take to defrost a turkey?. Thats not so bad, but I think it was the least dumb of all the questions. Maybe its me, because I have an extensive culinary background so I'd never ask these questions if I was just "shopping". Do they really think an 18yr old kid in produce is going to have some recipes using fresh mangos?( in November at that?) Why would anyone want to buy frozen cranberries( do they even sell them) when its cranberry season. I've never seen canned cranberries( unless they mean already prepared sauce).

Yes, they sell frozen cranberries, they come in around the first of Nov., normally canned cranberries is used for turkey (I love it on turkey sandwich's.) I use frozen to make my own cranberry sauce and put them on my oatmeal along with other berries. I asked the fruit question for a diet, and got the answer grapefruit (which was right), and I thought all knew it. They are trying to train employees to interact and basically learn about the products they're selling. .I wouldn't say I'm a culinary expert, but, I know my food. I watch Food Network religiously.

Live consciously....

November 14, 2016 06:30PM

No question is stupid. I once sent an employee to the grocery store to get a head of cabbage, and she brought back a head of lettuce. She didn't know one from the other. Maybe she couldn't read, even -- the
sign over the cabbage says "cabbage, 49 cents lb" and the sign over the lettuce says "head lettuce, $1.79 each".

November 14, 2016 06:31PM

I find the questions even more weird when doing the competitor version of this shop. Is the client really interested in how the employees of competitor locations answer the questions? I still accept most competitor shops as they usually don't have all the departments so there is less to report

November 14, 2016 06:47PM

I agree with Irene. I think these questions are good. They should know about the items in the departments they are working. Not everyone knows how to cook.

November 14, 2016 07:23PM

I once asked an employee about weight loss fruits and he sliced a bosc pear for me and it was delicious and I have started eating them. I am learning about produce with these questions.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2016 07:23PM by pegleg2000.

November 14, 2016 07:40PM

The grocery shops that I do for Trendsource are probably with a different Client, because the guidelines SUGGEST questions to ask, but they are not mandatory. So, for instance, in the Deli, I say I have a relative coming that is on a salt-restricted diet...what would they recommend for sandwich meat?? Or in the Bakery, I have a relative with diabetes...what types of sugar-free desserts do they carry? In the meat section, I have a relative visiting who can only eat the leanest cuts of meats....what do they suggest??? Stuff like that. I'm glad I can use my own scenarios.

November 14, 2016 07:59PM

OMG - I used the mango question yesterday. I thought it was about the dumbest question to throw at the produce guys (why do few women work produce?). The produce guy was all over that question. He came up with some really neat ideas. He went into detail about how the sweetness mellows out the hot peppers, etc. It was a 15 minute conversation. It would have been much shorter, but the produce guy is really handsome and no wedding ring. I was so proud that I had such a terrific response for that question. As I was driving home I thought, oh crap, did I just shop the wrong location. I DID! I had to run over to the correct location and ask the question again (and all the others). This produce guy responded with, "Salsa." Period.

I used to feel ridiculous asking many of the questions. I'm in my 60s and I'm going to ask someone in their 20s why bananas turn brown. But, I've gotten so used to these shops, that I really don't care what question I ask. I just ask and report the response. I've overheard some really odd questions being asked by regular customers.

Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.

November 14, 2016 08:11PM

@Irene_L.A.

I've never seen canned CRANBERRIES. I've seen canned cranberry sauce( whole berry and jellied). I don't agree, I find this question pretty dumb. Why would someone buy frozen berries at this time of year when you can get fresh?

November 14, 2016 08:12PM

We can use our own question in the grocery department and its a "where is this located" question. WHEN I find a grocery employee, I ask about gluten free pasta or maraschino cherries.

@guysmom wrote:

The grocery shops that I do for Trendsource are probably with a different Client, because the guidelines SUGGEST questions to ask, but they are not mandatory. So, for instance, in the Deli, I say I have a relative coming that is on a salt-restricted diet...what would they recommend for sandwich meat?? Or in the Bakery, I have a relative with diabetes...what types of sugar-free desserts do they carry? In the meat section, I have a relative visiting who can only eat the leanest cuts of meats....what do they suggest??? Stuff like that. I'm glad I can use my own scenarios.

November 14, 2016 08:14PM

I'll have to use the mango question next. I shopped the wrong location a couple weeks ago. I only realized it when I went to the deli for Boar's head and they didnt have it. I ended up putting the majority of my groceries back and then went to the correct location.

@COMystery wrote:

OMG - I used the mango question yesterday. I thought it was about the dumbest question to throw at the produce guys (why do few women work produce?). The produce guy was all over that question. He came up with some really neat ideas. He went into detail about how the sweetness mellows out the hot peppers, etc. It was a 15 minute conversation. It would have been much shorter, but the produce guy is really handsome and no wedding ring. I was so proud that I had such a terrific response for that question. As I was driving home I thought, oh crap, did I just shop the wrong location. I DID! I had to run over to the correct location and ask the question again (and all the others). This produce guy responded with, "Salsa." Period.

I used to feel ridiculous asking many of the questions. I'm in my 60s and I'm going to ask someone in their 20s why bananas turn brown. But, I've gotten so used to these shops, that I really don't care what question I ask. I just ask and report the response. I've overheard some really odd questions being asked by regular customers.

November 14, 2016 09:16PM

@calicakes wrote:

@Irene_L.A.

I've never seen canned CRANBERRIES. I've seen canned cranberry sauce( whole berry and jellied). I don't agree, I find this question pretty dumb. Why would someone buy frozen berries at this time of year when you can get fresh?

I understand, but fresh cranberries don't last long. , so frozen are always on hand and with the micro are easy to use...I put frozen cranberries in my oatmeal and micro, so don't have to always run out and buy fresh. Like frozen peas or whatever.....they are fresh frozen. Canned cranberry sauce is correct, but made with preservative's which I try and stay away from, so making my own with frozen works for me (been doing it for years). Being cranberries is only in season for a couple months, maybe they want the employees to know when they come in...they probably get questions as to when the store will have them. Happy turkey day, fresh or frozen.

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2016 10:23PM by Irene_L.A..

November 14, 2016 10:26PM

Where I live the questions make even less sense. Our stores are the lowest on the food chain for the corporation being discussed. A vast majority of the associates are ESL if they speak English at all. I get really bizarre answers if I get an answer at all. So far I've had no less than five produce guys tell me that cranberry season was over months ago and that I would have to wait until next year for fresh cranberries. The one yesterday simply said he has never eaten cranberries and didn't know. I'm thinking cranberries are not used in Mexico much.

When I get to the big city and shop their higher end store, the questions work a lot better. I learned a little something about real crab meat from a real butcher a few weeks ago.

My favorite response of all time was that farmed salmon is better for you because those fish are in captivity with a lot of other fish and build up muscles trying to get enough to eat where as fresh salmon have a lot less meat to them. The answer was wrong, of course, but it was creative.

I, too, try to find the least weird question to ask.

November 14, 2016 10:54PM

@COMystery wrote:

... I used to feel ridiculous asking many of the questions. I'm in my 60s and I'm going to ask someone in their 20s why bananas turn brown. But, I've gotten so used to these shops, that I really don't care what question I ask. I just ask and report the response. I've overheard some really odd questions being asked by regular customers.

When I hear someone ask a really odd question, my first thought is that they might be an MSer, too.

November 14, 2016 10:57PM

@ChrisCooper wrote:

@COMystery wrote:

... I used to feel ridiculous asking many of the questions. I'm in my 60s and I'm going to ask someone in their 20s why bananas turn brown. But, I've gotten so used to these shops, that I really don't care what question I ask. I just ask and report the response. I've overheard some really odd questions being asked by regular customers.

When I hear someone ask a really odd question, my first thought is that they might be an MSer, too.

The whole MS thing is odd.....eye contact, smile, thank you....i just do it, sometimes there is no answer.

Live consciously....

November 16, 2016 11:22PM

I made the mistake/fortune of asking my meat counter guy (handsome fellow too and a young vet--bonus beard) if they offered any type of meat for the crock pot or what types of things would go well in the crock pot. He now speaks to me every time, asks how I am, and insinuates he wouldn't mind enjoying some of my crock pot meals. Dang it mystery shopping! This location pays nicely because it's rural and rarely picked up. I always try to get "the other meat associate" when I do the shop evaluation.

MegglesKat

November 17, 2016 03:30AM

To all who said they have not seen cranberries in a can, you can get whole cranberries in a can, rather than just the jelly. Otherwise, I have nothing else to add. I am ineligible for these shops since my daughter works for the store.

November 17, 2016 03:58AM

I just noticed whole cranberries in a can (not cranberry sauce) for the first time the day after I read this thread.

November 17, 2016 05:47AM

It is obvious that the questions are conjured by someone who has never mystery shopped a grocery store. I feel elated if even one of the question in each department makes sense and doesn't scream, "I am a shopper!" What fruit can help in weight loss??? Duh, none of the fruits have calories! However, I got a Produce employee in a competitor shop last night who had no idea and asked someone else for the answer.

November 17, 2016 01:38PM

I used to worry that the questions they wanted us to ask were soooo obvious. After telling my daughter, who works at a grocery store, some of the questions, she laughed and said, "Oh Mom let me tell you some I get...." So now I don't feel quite so silly.

November 17, 2016 01:48PM

You just made me laugh out loud at this! I think the same thing when I do these shops. I try to pick the least ridiculous question and wonder who one earth would actually ask some of them. That's the hardest part of the shop. Getting up the nerve to sound clueless. Do people really think the grocery store employees are going to whip out their recipe file and share a recipe for mangoes?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2016 01:53PM by danellunderwood.

November 18, 2016 01:55AM

@ceasesmith wrote:

No question is stupid. I once sent an employee to the grocery store to get a head of cabbage, and she brought back a head of lettuce. She didn't know one from the other. Maybe she couldn't read, even -- the
sign over the cabbage says "cabbage, 49 cents lb" and the sign over the lettuce says "head lettuce, $1.79 each".

Funny enough, I bought cabbage the other day when I meant to buy lettuce. Maybe we should trade? LOL

November 18, 2016 05:11AM

I worked in grocery stores for 16 years, and I say these required questions would scream "Mystery Shopper" if you shop there frequently like a regular customer would.

November 18, 2016 05:33AM

AZ Wolfman...fruit has calories.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2016 05:34AM by JASFLALMT.

November 19, 2016 01:20AM

@calicakes wrote:

@Irene_L.A.

I've never seen canned CRANBERRIES. I've seen canned cranberry sauce( whole berry and jellied). I don't agree, I find this question pretty dumb. Why would someone buy frozen berries at this time of year when you can get fresh?

I just saw them today, not plentiful, but around.

Live consciously....

November 19, 2016 01:23AM

Besides that the questions were silly, having to do the same three stores in the small town I live in every week with stopping to talk to the same people on duty, same days, same hours, it was getting very difficult to remain a mystery... and so I stopped doing them...and had to eventually close my Trendsource to get them to quite calling me every week...I told them every few weeks was fine, but to often made it obvious at best...but they are not out there, and have no idea I would suspect how hard it is to get info on 13 people and ask questions and then record accurate data...wasn't worth the 12 bucks ...lol plus the questionnaires fir my stores were ridiculous...how many different ways can they ask the same question?

November 19, 2016 06:09AM

Most fruits have very few calories. Bananas are a definite exception; I used to put them on my peanut butter sandwiches to try and gain weight.

November 19, 2016 06:37AM

I have learned to never rely on what most of the employees tell you. This week in the meat department I was asking how long it would take to defrost a frozen turkey. One guy told me to leave it out on the counter for 24 hours!

November 19, 2016 07:46AM

Please know that when fresh cranberries are on sale, I buy them and then freeze them. At the holidays I make cranberry nut bread and give them as gifts. I think it is okay to freeze cranberries with this specific purpose. I would rather have frozen cranberries and then cooked vs. canned sauce or jelled sauce.

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Is it just me, or are these really stupid questions to ask at the grocery store.

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