Altering your appearance?

This morning I let a scheduler talk me into doing a Tesla shop tomorrow. I was there in January, and I usually don't like to go to a dealership more than once a year, but the scheduler said it wouldn't be a problem because the company wipes any identifying information from their system after 90 days. We'll see. I figure any identification issues are on them.

That did get me thinking in general, though, about disguises I could use on repeat shops, and wondered what others do. Wig? Upscale clothes vs casual? High heels vs flats? Anything else?

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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I don't go to too much trouble. Dressing up and down or wearing my hair down versus a pony and baseball cap are about all I do. If you usually wear contacts you could switch to glasses. I hadn't thought about heels versus flats, but they do serve to change both your height and the way you walk.

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.

This doesn't answer your question, but I usually try to look as plain as possible for most of my shops. I don't wear anything to really distinguish me from anyone else. Khaki pants, plain blouse, not a lot of make up.

I dress down for some of my convenience store shops, depending on the neighborhood (per the MSC, btw), and I do change my appearance from ponytail to wearing my hair long and natural (curly) or using a straightener. Sometimes I wear makeup and sometimes I don't. I have to take a "curb appeal" photo for each shop and a few times I have had an employee walk out and see me doing it. Oops. I try to avoid looking the same on my next visit back to that location. And, if I see that same employee from my previous visit at a register, I try to go to the other one if there are two open (so much for what that one poster had written about the inaccuracy of our memories of descriptions, LOL).

If you are in snow country, you can hide your hair/baldness under a hat. On sunny days, you can use sunglasses to conceal your eyes. If you are not too picky, you can use makeup to look garish (if you usually are natural or elegant).

I usually wear a plain look. This is boring, forgettable, and practical. Sometimes, it is good to look different in case someone will see me twice in one day or shortly after a shop visit.

If you are clever, you can age your appearance with latex, cosmetic age spots, or whatever they use in theatrical world.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

I like to go with the boring plain look. Typically it's my uniform of black or navy pants with black or navy pullover blouse (nicely detailed). Then if I want to dress it up I add a necklace or scarf. I have a collection of rather loud scarves I use to "hide" behind. No one can see past them, if you get my drift LOL. I also keep a pair of reading glasses in my purse and I always have sunglasses handy. So I can change it up.

Makeup is my first love, so I just change up my contouring. It's crazy how much of a difference a little shadowing and highlighting can do!

Upscale vs casual vs sporty. I try to follow the sales persons lead and not say too much. They will remember the sale they lost (because you were too excited), the too upscale or casual one for the dealership and the ones they thought weren't worth their time (because you were too bored - casual/broke arse lookin').

Basically, be one of the Spice Girls or Boyz 2 Men.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2017 12:24AM by spicy1.

I look the same day in day out. never alter appearance, wear mascara, lipstick, no makeup. I do have a blond
wig which is cute changes look and is easy. Makeup changes look, red lipstick verus pink, different look.

Live consciously....

I have changed my appearance a few times. I have long hair that I sit on so I tend to try to mix it up by wearing a bun, a braid doubled over, or leaving it out straight to give different appearances. I also have blue eyes that stand out so I'll occasionally wear my glasses or put in my contacts. I have a small word tattooed on my left wrist so I frequently wear nude skin tape (it's usually used to cover your heels and protect from blisters) and different watches so you can't see the tattoo. I also do my best to wear sneakers or closed shoes because I have a snail tattoo on my right foot. Probably memorable if someone saw it. I even own a pair of clip in bangs and a variety of different hats that I've crocheted. You don't usually have to do it up too much and you can always say "ya know, people tell me I look like someone all the time." Just be sure to also write down the fake names, numbers, and emails you're using too. You don't gotta do this for every shop, just the ones with rotation and that you'll likely want to pick up again for the high pay.

MegglesKat

@Ksauber wrote:

Makeup is my first love, so I just change up my contouring. It's crazy how much of a difference a little shadowing and highlighting can do!

I did a spray tan shop... made me look 10 years older. I have the kind of skin where in the summer, my dark shade of foundation is classic ivory instead of porcelain ivory... 0_o

MegglesKat

So I should have gone with my gut instinct yesterday. Despite making a couple of superficial changes (makeup, hair) the salespersons first words to me were "so, what are you here for today"? Yep, same dude as I had last time. I think I pulled it off pretty well, and by the end of the interaction had him thinking I was actually going to come back and buy that $87,000 car.

Do I address the fact I was recognized as a repeat customer in the report? In an email to the scheduler?

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

If he didn't say he recognized you as a repeat customer, then you're just going off your speculation. I wouldn't email and just report it as it happened...

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

They have the same two investment bank jobs here in town monthly (KSS) and I have done them twice. I don't take them because I know I'll be remembered, these guys are both sharp and will know I am the shopper. How many time does one go into the same bank to find out about investments?

Live consciously....

Yep, sometimes nothing works. Good ole' Dougie, who is a "co-wotker" at Rent-A-Center, said to me a few days ago, "Welcome back!" I hadnt been there in 7 months.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

They have the same two investment bank jobs here in town monthly (KSS) and I have done them twice. I don't take them because I know I'll be remembered, these guys are both sharp and will know I am the shopper. How many time does one go into the same bank to find out about investments?

I have that same issue in my area. Even at $50, $75, $100 I can only return so many times before I hit the same banker, loan officer, investment banker, or mortgage specialist...

MegglesKat

The majority of my work is on the border towns of TX. I stand out like a sore thumb. There is no amount of makeup & or wig that will help me blend in for the areas I shop. I dress in bold/deep/bright colors because they compliment my skin. My hair is either down, in a pony or a sloppy bun.

I've been outed twice in 3 years with over 1200 shops. My only regret is one of the locations was crucial for a route being a money maker.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!

I am very good at recognizing repeat "shoppers" even from years ago. By this I mean customers that worked with me, regardless of making a vehicle purchase. I will welcome them back, a way of making them feel remembered and hopefully appreciated as a customer. If someone like that were to "pretend" to have not been there before, that would be a red flag to me. Wiping out our database doesn't wipe out my mind.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

As a former salesman I would most likely remember a person, even from many years back. It would have to be a really good disguise. Then again, if a retail employee saw hundreds/thousands of people in a year, it would be hard to remember someone unless they stood out.

I went back to a fine dining restaurant about 2 months later and almost had the same waiter I gave an award to. The waiter didn't serve my table but served a dish. I had to bury my head in a menu so I wouldn't be recognized.

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