I had a cell phone shop today. I have not been in this store for several months. When I walked in the employee remembered me being in the store before. Nothing was said about mystery shopping. I tried to go through the shop asking for suggestions on phones. The employee acted uninterested. When I asked for a recommendation they said "Whatever you want" They recommended one brand and stopped. They walked away, over to the cash register. The shop lasted about 6 minutes. Do I still file a report? What would you have done? I did get a business card.

You need to report exactly what happened.

So maybe he didn't remember you?

It is possible they recall spending a lot of time with you before and that you asked a lot of questions, looked at a lot of phones, chatted them up, and didn't buy anything so they figure you're just looking to see what is on sale and they don't want to deal with you. I had something similar happen but I actually overheard the guy say something to the tune of "she spent like 30 minutes in here last time and didn't buy a phone, I guess she thinks they're gonna be almost free this time or something" .... errrrrr sheesh dude. He even lead off by making sure I knew they didn't have any good deals or sales on phone plans 0_o

I've been asked if I've ever been to a location on a shop, especially bank shops. For those situations, I just pull my best Mark Wahlberg impression. Works every time

[www.youtube.com]

But if you are shopping phones and not service, it really doesn't matter if he gave you good customer service or not, so if he thought you were the shopper, that's why he blew you off. Do you think there are many repercussions for sales people when we are shopping for Samsung or another particular phone maker as opposed to the sales and services skills of employees for the stores like AT&T and Verizon?

He did because he said he remembered me coming in before.

Even if they knew the person had been there before, it's not a good idea to just blow them off. You don't know if the person is now ready to buy OR it's a mystery shopper reporting your sales technique.

As a former person in sales, who dealt with tire kickers; I'm here to tell you that the company needs to know how the sales person treated you. I dealt with people yanking my chain on a regular basis. It is part and parcel of working in sales. One of my favorite clients who spent big bucks eventually, made me miserable for a solid 6 months before he decided I was his chick for his business and family travel needs. That client was reason I was promoted and ended up with a decent raise and more perks. His referrals were the best.

Right before I went into sales, my father went to buy the brand new boat of his dreams and had the cash to get it done. He was never asked if he needed any help in the dealership. He dressed for the boat, which is for fishing and not much else, didn't look spiffy. He was snubbed by the sales people for the customers wearing designer shoes and suits. The sales people were eventually given fits because I was dating the marketing director for the boat brand, but I digress. And Dad never did buy the boat, even when the boat company offered a massive discount. He was that ticked off by how he was treated.

What I remember from my father's disappointment that day was never judge a book by its cover. My most lucrative clients didn't need to put something on a credit card &
were dressed exactly like my father that day; 9 times out of 10.

I also did my best to help young people get the vacation of their dreams without having to go into debt. Hawaii was tough, when they needed to fly out of Ft. Myers, Fl.

My entire family starts shopping for new cars a minimum of 2 years ahead of time. I can't remember when the majority of us don't jump on a new cell phone or tablet. We are the typical consumer, who will go back and ask more questions from the same sales person. We go back to the same sales associate because of commissions or hopefully help that our eventual purchase will give them a bump in their employee reviews.

Sales people that recognize you should still give you their undivided attention. Yeah, we may have messed up their up for a real customer. That said, too bad, so sad. Mystery shoppers aren't the only ones, yanking chains.

I'm thankful I am not writing the OP's narratives today. I'd get booted.



Yeah, I know another novel.

Yes, John, but my point is that maybe he remembered you coming in, but that doesn't mean he thought you were a shopper. Maybe he did, but maybe not. Just like Mountain Cacher wrote about going back to the store and being treated oddly but not ID'd as a shopper.

I agree it was a bad idea to blow you off, and rude, to boot. Who knows whether you were just an indecisive person who needed a second trip back to the store to make a decision?

@MA Smith wrote:

Yeah, I know another novel.

why do u keep mentionaing a novel. r u writing a book or blog?

LOL. MA writes long posts sometimes, but she isn't the only one. Lot's of us do it, and unapologetically!!!

@JASFLALMT wrote:

LOL. MA writes long posts sometimes, but she isn't the only one. Lot's of us do it, and unapologetically!!!

Thank you JASFLAMT. I don't like my long missives as a general rule. Thank you for understanding. And knowing the fact the missives don't happen every day.

I love you, 'griff and LisaSTL and the views..

I submitted my report. I won't be going back to that store. It's too bad because it's just across the street from me. It's on the corner where I rarely go. The employee would never see me around that area anyway.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2017 04:20AM by johnb974.

Because I can.

@Tarantado wrote:

I've been asked if I've ever been to a location on a shop, especially bank shops. For those situations, I just pull my best Mark Wahlberg impression. Works every time

I pair that look with a long pause and then, "OH you met my twin sister! She's the one who told me to come in! We're identical so I'm not surprised you're confused." That worked well for me anytime I was doing a 2nd or 3d shop at a location.

[www.youtube.com]

"I have been told by a couple of folks that I have a 'double' in Gaithersburg. I sure hope she is well behaved!"

@MA Smith wrote:

I don't like my long missives as a general rule.

I like your novels!

Your story reminds me of a time I was having some work done at my car dealer. I was hanging out in a chair near the showroom when this guy came in. He was retirement age or near, drove up in a 20 year old SUV, and was wearing a faded pair of Levis and an old barn coat. Guy comes in looking for a new full size SUV. He wasn't familiar with the brand's SUV and just wanted to see what they had. He talks to a salesman for a few minutes and was headed to the door when he walked past a $60,000 sports car. He talks about how he always wanted one of those when he was young, blah blah blah. Guy leaves, salesman turns to me sitting about 5 feet away, laughs, and says "that guy could write a check for that car today and never even notice the money was gone." I started laughing and replied that I was sitting here thinking the same thing.

So yeah, not every salesperson is fooled into the stereotypes of how a person is dressed.

I don't know if he recognized me, but half-way through my cell phone shop yesterday, I realized that I had interacted with the associate before, on a shop months ago at a different location. So, sometimes you go to a location where you've never been and still see a familiar face. He gave no indication that he remembered me and did a good job.

I've found that, in sales, what I say is not always what I think. If I recognize someone I have my way(s) to apologize for not remembering their name. If they were to ask the same questions as before, I would definitely ask again about their memory of shopping at our location.

I think this is one of the reasons I avoid cell phone shops for phones or even service. I'd nevet be able to reshop the same location. Accessories are fine, easy scenarios. Anytime I have been shopping on my own for a new cell phone, I am asked for my name and number so they can check my current eligibility or history with the carrier.

I told this story before, but I'll repeat it, 'cause I think it's so funny and unusual. I went to a cell phone store I had been to a few months prior. While waiting for assistance I started fidgeting with a phone, clicked on the camera and up popped a photo of ME. What are the chances I would pick up the same phone and find an old selfie of me from a previous visit? I deleted it quickly before the fellow came over to me. Can you imagine if he was there when I did it. That would be hard to explain.

I don't see a problem with being recognized, we all go to the same stores over and over, everyone in my town knows me, as i have said, I was a customer long before a shopper and I go to Best Buy over and over shopping or not. I am a customer first, and I would expect the help to say hi....that doesn't mean they feel your the shopper, more than not don't know they're being shopped. i think your fear got the best of you, or will you never go back to a store you shopped?

I always take a long time to make a decision. I may take a long time to make my final decision if it's a big purchase. You could have just been that person shopping. No matter how many times you go into a store you should still be treated good. I did about 40 cell phone shops before I decided on who I would go with.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

LOL. MA writes long posts sometimes, but she isn't the only one. Lot's of us do it, and unapologetically!!!

just asking because we had another member who went on & on & on & on, probably writing book or food blog. the ma member's posts are alot shorter than those posts & they make more sense.

When I was selling residential real estate a fellow walked into the office wearing ragged cutoffs, docksiders (well worn) without sox and a tee shirt advertising some beer. Alert agent sold him 2.5 million dollar house. It was an all cash deal and closed in 7 days. A different agent turned down an opportunity to show a 5 M property to Judy Collins becasue he thought she was a street person.

There was no fear. The employee just put no effort into making any sale. I did feel they were putting me off. When I asked about what they recommended for a phone the employee said "Whatever you want". While looking at the Samsung phones they walked away toward the cash register. I had to call them back.

Be glad it was such a short shop. I remember a cell phone store interaction equally as bad as yours. The associate sure couldn't have recognized me because it was my only visit to a store three hours away. To bad for her, it was a video shop.

There's a hotel that I like in South Beach that I have shopped a few times. Any time I am there for other business, I stay there. Keeps them wondering.

The last cell shop I completed was so perfect, because the guy was personable, friendly, made eye contact, and he had a "suck you in" type of personality.

By the time I got out of there with his perfect assessment, he knew me, my family, and probably my little dog. He even looked at me with a tear in his eye of understanding about the problems I was experiencing with my current phone.

The man was a good salesman; I felt lucky to leave without a new phone and my head straight on the facts.

No way I could go back for a long, long time. He was the manager.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2017 10:21PM by Unlicensed Detective.

Last year I had a cell phone shop where the manager recognized me. As I walked in the manager was by the door talking to an employee. She looked at me and said "I know, mystery shopper" She than waved me off. So I left. I don't understand a manager doing that. If I were the manager and knew the mystery shopper, I would keep quiet and get my best employee. The shop is going to be done by someone. If I know the shopper I would want a good report.