Is it ok to do two shops at the same location for two different MSCs?

I had two shops at Best Buy for two different MSC's which I performed back to back. One required a photo of the outside of the store. I took the photo before going inside. I was questioned by one of the MSC because the photo was taken about 30 minutes before I did their shop (because I did the other shop first). Was it ok for me to do both shops? They were not from the same department.

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It depends on who the end client was for each. Best Buy is a perfect example of a store shopped by multiple MSCs for multiple clients. Clients include many of the vendors. Different departments are not a guarantee the client is different. I would suggest you think about your POV before doing something like that again. I would have either performed the shop requiring the exterior photo first or would have taken the photo at the end of the shop so the times coordinated with my interaction. If the shop itself does not give any indication of the client, you can always ask about the client for each, which is not the same as asking permission to conduct both shops. The only time I do that is if both shops are for the same MSC.

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
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I shopped a restaurant for NSS (for years), and was asked to do same shop for another MSC. The reason I didn't
do it was NSS could be done by one, the other only by two. I think my buddy SandyF did it for both, so, i don't see why not...not the same day. MSC's know others have same jobs, Years ago I do think I did those upscale retail for a couple different companies, but didn't make a habit of it. You could check with Scheduler, but I doubt if they know. Many companies do Best Buy, so why not....it is a good question without a clear answer.

Live consciously....

I would have done the shop #1 first, complete all the requirements before moving on to do shop #2. That way, your shops were performed within the required times without the timing looking questionable. You said you took the exterior photo before arriving to do both shops. I would have done the shop that required the exterior photo last when departing so that the timing would not raise questions.

I would get approval from both schedulers before doing that. Each job, client and MSC is going to be a little different and you could be viewed as attempting to be paid for the same work twice, putting yourself at greater risk for being identified as a shopper, and who knows what else.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

The client was not the same. In retrospect, I should have aligned my photo with the shop.

@MFJohnston wrote:

I would get approval from both schedulers before doing that.

Doing so would violate your ICA agreements.

It is usually very simple to figure out if it's ok or not. A little common sense is all it takes.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

@AnneAshley wrote:

The client was not the same. In retrospect, I should have aligned my photo with the shop.

Why? I would simply tell the MSC I did some personal shopping before doing the evaluation. It is none of their business.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I agree with you b, because I have done personal shopping in between entering a store and an evaluation. OTOH, it does save the time of having the question asked and answered when the picture aligns with the shop.

I do trifectas (thank you for the term Lisa!) at a nationwide bank all the time! MSC A is the brochure audit. MSC B is the teller interaction. MSC C is the investment arm.

I don't request permission from MSCs A, B or C to do anything.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I had done a cable provider shop and a computer shop at Best Buy on the same day. Both shops were by different MSC. I did one first, exited the store, re-entered and make the comment that I forgot about this (meaning to check out the computers) I had done these type of shops before so I knew it wasn't difficult but on separate days/locations.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me provided the guidelines don't state otherwise. I take my exterior photos as I'm exiting. If i took them beforehand I would be paranoid that an employee saw me and knew I was a mystery shopper.

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Is it ok to do two shops at the same location for two different MSCs?

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