Asked if I was a mystery shopper
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Almost anyone who does a lot of shops will be/has been asked this question. My reply is always something along the lines of, "Oh, I thought that was a big scam." Or, "A what?"
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I've never been asked, but today i was in Macy's and a man asked if I worked here...I would have helped him, but he was looking for under garments for his wife...if i were asked if I was a shopper, Wales answer is the one, what's that or A what!!
Live consciously....
Here is my response, "A what!?.....They really have those?"
he prob wanted u to model undies for him.@Irene_L.A. wrote:
I've never been asked, but today i was in Macy's and a man asked if I worked here...I would have helped him, but he was looking for under garments for his wife...if i were asked if I was a shopper, Wales answer is the one, what's that or A what!!
I was doing a bar shop once and when she went to go ring in my order, I could see her type on her screen "secret shopper" before sending the order to the kitchen.
I would act just slighty confused and say, "Like I'm the millionth customer or something?...if i win a prize, sign me up!"
@jenniferling wrote:
I was doing a bar shop once and when she went to go ring in my order, I could see her type on her screen "secret shopper" before sending the order to the kitchen.
That's scary. The food could come out looking beautiful but with an undetectable undesired item in it.
I've never been asked that. I'd probably chuckle and say no or something like that. Once when I worked retail I thought I might be talking to a mystery shopper. A "see if they're in compliance" type of mystery shopper. Someone wanted to buy cigarettes who looked young. I asked for ID and they claimed they forgot theirs. I said no, but they kept asking and I kept saying no. They finally left without them. It could have been somebody who really forgot their ID (I'm really terrible at judging ages) but why take a chance? They probably went somewhere else and convinced somebody to sell it to them. On a related note, I worked with someone there who I knew was only 17 and smoked. The day she turned 18 she brought cigarettes up to me to buy them. I made her show me her ID. After all, I knew she wasn't 27. She got all huffy on me about making her show her ID but I pointed to the sign and reminded her of the law. For a long time she'd tell everybody about me making her show ID even though I knew she was finally legal.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
What a strange reaction from that girl. Back in college after sneaking into bars underage, we were looking forward to getting carded after becoming legal
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Yes. I had an employee lean over and whisper, "Are you a mystery shopper?" I said, "What's that?" She said they got paid to write nice things about the employees. LOL
Its no mystery. My husband doesn't like how much I LOVE shopping.
"H--- no. I hate shopping. They couldn't pay me enough."
@Rousseau wrote:
"H--- no. I hate shopping. They couldn't pay me enough."
Rousseau, why are you there if you don't like shopping?
I had an Aveda consultant ask me how long I've been shopping for Aveda. I told him I've been shopping with them for years. It truly didn't dawn on me until after I left that it could have meant "mystery shopping" and I'm glad it didn't, because I would have been thrown off a bit. I'm sure he meant as a customer, but still awkward considering I was shopping him. I tend to throw myself wholly into the role of the customer and I guess it's a good thing.
I also had an Associate in a grocery store who found the BOB item, apologize and tell me they had to check for those things because they send in inspectors to try and see if we notice it and we get in trouble if we don't. Yep, that was me!.
Then there was the car dealership after-visit phone call where the fellow came right out and asked me if I worked for JD Powers and said the report sounded just like our conversation. I denied of course and of course, I don't do those anymore. The company actually shared the verbatim report with the salesman.
I also had an Associate in a grocery store who found the BOB item, apologize and tell me they had to check for those things because they send in inspectors to try and see if we notice it and we get in trouble if we don't. Yep, that was me!.
Then there was the car dealership after-visit phone call where the fellow came right out and asked me if I worked for JD Powers and said the report sounded just like our conversation. I denied of course and of course, I don't do those anymore. The company actually shared the verbatim report with the salesman.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Maybe Rousseau is like me. I hate shopping. It doesn't mean I don't have to do it.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Rousseau, why are you there if you don't like shopping?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Had one yesterday where the clerk told me he kept getting in trouble because they sent mystery shoppers in and they were sending in reports about how a loyalty program was positioned. I have shopped this guy 3 times over a period of months and it has been painful (very negative about his company's program). So, there I am shopping him again yesterday during all of this and again more negative positioning, lol.
Once, while waiting for my walk in order at a fast food shop (9 min and counting) manager starts yelling at her staff that someone is timing them and calls me out. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about and was texting my colleague that I was going to be late while waiting for tye order. Did play the what is a mystery shopper game on that one.
Once, while waiting for my walk in order at a fast food shop (9 min and counting) manager starts yelling at her staff that someone is timing them and calls me out. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about and was texting my colleague that I was going to be late while waiting for tye order. Did play the what is a mystery shopper game on that one.
I offered cash (as required) to a parking attendant. He simply lost it! He yelled that he had been doing that job for more than 25 years and now they were sending people to see if he was honest and didn't I know that only those damned shoppers would tempt him. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I must pay at the exit with a credit card ONLY. I apologized if he was offended, acted sheepish-little-old lady, and said that I just like to deal with peope instead of machines. Then, he walked to the exit gate, smiled, and when the machine issued my credit card receipt, he handed it to me, thanked me and bid me a good day. The little-old-lady ploy is priceless.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I shopped a bar/restaurant and gave it a good review. In fact, we liked it so much we went back a couple of weeks later for happy hour(not a shop). The bartender got us our drinks, started a tab, then asked "you guys on the clock tonight?" Obviously she had seen the report and remembered me! I tried to play it cool but I'm sure we turned bright red.
You all know the shop where you have to memorize the 4 sentence spiel and deliver it exactly. About 2 sentences in the associate couldn't control her face, she started to do this sidewise grin and caught herself, she almost threw me off my game but I recovered and finished, and she very clearly stated she could not so what I asked, and I of course restated back to her that she could not?
I know I am in the minority for liking those shops and wishing there were more around my area! I love all the stories, esp. FrugalCats!
I know I am in the minority for liking those shops and wishing there were more around my area! I love all the stories, esp. FrugalCats!
Looking back at it, I may have had one a couple of weeks ago where I was spotted as a mystery shopper. The associate didn't say anything but that "sideways grin" was there. It was a Fed Ex shop where you are given a very specific scenario to use for a print job. I have the feeling that this associate had heard it before and knew what I was up to. At least it's a possibility. I think the probability of this happening on this type of shop is very high. I think they would be better off giving more general guidelines rather than a specific scenario that you must follow. Compliance shops are somewhat different because they have to know whether their associates are following the law.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
I went into my local grocery store, where I shopped and *shopped* (as often as rotation permitted), after the MSC lost the client. The gal in Floral, who I've know since I moved into the area 4 years ago gave me a big hello and said, "Gee we hardly see you here anymore since you stopped working for us." <sideways grin> I merely gave her my Que? face and some line about my husband doing all the shopping now that he's doing all the cooking. So I guess I was made but since everyone was always on their best behavior and my reports were good that they just didn't let on.
I recently did a car dealership shop and instead of them asking me if I was the shopper they TOLD me that I WAS the shopper and to get the &#*%(@ out of their dealership. I looked at the guy like he was insane and the poor salesman looked like he wanted to crawl under his desk or something. I asked the dude what his problem was and said that I needed a car. He spouted more verbal effluvia at me and literally tossed me out of the building, threatening to call the cops if I didn't leave. I had been there a grand total of 5 minutes when all this transpired.
I would think if they were so sure I was the shopper they would have just done a good job of their side of things and not been so flaming ridiculous.
I left and immediately called the MS company to let them know, of course I didn't get paid for that either.
I would think if they were so sure I was the shopper they would have just done a good job of their side of things and not been so flaming ridiculous.
I left and immediately called the MS company to let them know, of course I didn't get paid for that either.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
Idiot management at that dealership. IF YOU KNOW take advantage. It's when you don't know that you could be in trouble.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
@Cettie wrote:
I recently did a car dealership shop and instead of them asking me if I was the shopper they TOLD me that I WAS the shopper and to get the &#*%(@ out of their dealership. I looked at the guy like he was insane and the poor salesman looked like he wanted to crawl under his desk or something. I asked the dude what his problem was and said that I needed a car. He spouted more verbal effluvia at me and literally tossed me out of the building, threatening to call the cops if I didn't leave. I had been there a grand total of 5 minutes when all this transpired.
I would think if they were so sure I was the shopper they would have just done a good job of their side of things and not been so flaming ridiculous.
I left and immediately called the MS company to let them know, of course I didn't get paid for that either.
I wonder if the client is actually the car manufacturer of the dealership (or the dealership) that you shopped. It could be that the client is a competitor and that it therefore serves the dealership you were shopping no purpose to play along and do a good job. In that instance, it would have just been a waste of their time. If you were doing one of the extensive negotiation shops, it really does take up a lot of their (and your) time.
I've never been directly confronted, but on a Texas Roadhouse visit I was identified as a shopper on my receipt. The MSC was cool, thankfully. They accepted my report, but told me I could not shop that particular location again. No big deal, as there are plenty of other locations in the area for me to shop, and that is one that I particularly enjoy doing.
I got directly asked by a employee at a Rita's Italian Ice once. It was after the program changes that required more photos. I juts looked at her with a very puzzled look on my face and said "No".
That sounds good. I shall keep that response in mind if this ever comes up again. Thanks for that. This event was in my home though standing in my kitchen looking at backsplash tiles and just after looking at a bathroom counter top. I was to ask specifically for grey countertop (which I am sure they are told the mystery shopper will ask) so she confronted me with - "you don't happen to be a mystery shopper for ACL do you? It's alright we can just go from there". I honestly was rattled as she was a quite judgemental consultant, always saying mmmmm hmmm to everything I said, always cutting me off. I put this directly in the report and now they are coming up with all kinds of excuses of what i didn't do right. I have worked for ACL for a couple of years and will not take a home consultant type situation ever again.
Sometimes i think the mystery shopping companies don't consider how their specific questions can be a dead giveaway and maybe it is also the client who doesn't realize a specific question can be a tip-off as to your identity.
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