How do you find "dates" for shop requirements?
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
So far I've only done restaurant shops with my husband (and son), though we are hoping to take his grandma out soon and a restaurant shop will allow us to do so. I have a couple of friends who I would love to take but they are both flaky and unreliable. They have a tendency to show up late to things (late by hours, not minutes), so there is a good chance we would end up dining outside the specified time. Or sometimes they cancel at the last minute which would obviously kill the shop. They have their good qualities too, of course, punctuality just isn't on that list.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
I cannot understand the hesitance in telling people you are a mystery shopper. You have a free diner at Ruth's Chris to offer. Anyone (including a significant other) except a vegetarian should be thrilled at the chance to come along and help you follow the instructions to a tee. You just say, "Hey!...I have this gig where you can eat for free at Ruth's Chris is you want to join me." I think 99% of non-vegetarians would be like, "Hell yes! I'm in."
On the relationship front; I will also add that my vegan girlfriend went to a steakhouse shop with me. Now that's commitment!
Frankly, it's none of their business. I deal with people on a need to know basis...I am a vegetarian and I love Ruth Chris. One of my favorite restaurants is Fogo de Chao. They have the best plantains ever!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2017 12:52PM by eyelove2shop.
The few people I have told never stopped asking me questions about the freebies, wanting to shop for that, don't need the money. I have asked those two to please do not ask me questions, I'm not allowed to talk about the specifics. The couple I invite along on my nice dinners, know to leave me alone and that's the easiest way for me. I need to be with my select company, or I don't enjoy the job..guess that's why I eat alone 90% of the time.
Telling someone (OP) what you need to do and them to not care or listen, no, you just stay home. Some are just controlling, we've all been there.
Telling someone (OP) what you need to do and them to not care or listen, no, you just stay home. Some are just controlling, we've all been there.
Live consciously....
@eyelove2shop wrote:
I deal with people on a need to know basis...
...and I think that a guest on a shop needs to know it's a shop! How can they be expected to follow the guidelines otherwise?
I'm not saying there are not vegetarians that will not enjoy Ruth's. I just think many will not be excited at the offer. I was assigned a nearby upscale vegan restaurant for a shop and literally had veggie friends fighting over the chance to be my guest. An opportunity for fine dining where they could order any menu item instead of the one vegetarian option is much more interesting for most vegetarians.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@eyelove2shop wrote:
I deal with people on a need to know basis...
...and I think that a guest on a shop needs to know it's a shop! How can they be expected to follow the guidelines otherwise?
I'm not saying there are not vegetarians that will not enjoy Ruth's. I just think many will not be excited at the offer. I was assigned a nearby upscale vegan restaurant for a shop and literally had veggie friends fighting over the chance to be my guest. An opportunity for fine dining where they could order any menu item instead of the one vegetarian option is much more interesting for most vegetarians.
I have told some people, as previously mentioned immediate family and a few close friends. However, I am not going to make a FB post:
"Hey, I'm a mystery shopper and need someone to shop Ruth Chris with me, who wants a free meal?"
Oh, I totally agree you should warn people but some people may blow your cover and start asking a thousand questions or behave weird, which would def, make you stand out. I'd rather have a guest behave naturally. We're suppose to blend in anyway. I took one friend on a reveal shop and didn't tell her until the end of the night it was a shop right when I had to give away the prize. Now every time I invite her out, she ask if it's for a shop or foreal.
I took my brother on a shop with me to a restaurant shop and he was so excited. He took pictures of the gross bathroom for me and helped me remember to take photos of our food. We waited almost two hours to be seated and I was starving.
It is possible too that if you start inviting others on the high end shops your boyfriend will finally get the picture. He may miss those "free" meals more than he worries about being tacky taking a pic. Of course if he is paying and you are not reimbursing him when you get paid that would be a different story. In that case you would be missing out on earning a whole lot of $$ for doing each shop.
@eyelove2shop wrote:
I am not going to make a FB post:
"Hey, I'm a mystery shopper and need someone to shop Ruth Chris with me, who wants a free meal?"
No...that's what Twitter is for! You put everyone who knows as followers, then post up, "Ruth's this Friday. First responder gets free meal!"
@sandyf wrote:
Of course if he is paying and you are not reimbursing him when you get paid that would be a different story.
If he's discarding the receipt I don't think anyone is getting reimbursed.
Shouldn't even be a problem, invite me, I'll to Ruth's and be a perfect angel while enjoying my steak.
Live consciously....
r u for real or kidding? i would never post anything to do w/shops on social media. most guidelines say not to check in on fb or post to yelp or like your location. inviting random people on twitter sounds like rule breaker to me.@SteveSoCal wrote:
@eyelove2shop wrote:
I am not going to make a FB post:
"Hey, I'm a mystery shopper and need someone to shop Ruth Chris with me, who wants a free meal?"
No...that's what Twitter is for! You put everyone who knows as followers, then post up, "Ruth's this Friday. First responder gets free meal!"
kidding! I forgot the sarcasm font.....
I had to text people with 2 hours notice for a concert venue in June. It was awful. Everyone was busy. I finally texted my son's Catholic school band teacher, and she said she'd do it. I have taken my friend who is a sister (sort of like a nun) to many dinners. She is a great assistant. She also has "regular" clothes. I don't usually take her in her habit. All of the sisters are quite fascinated with what I do.
I sometimes go alone, order for 2 and write report accordingly 
I had wondered if this would be acceptable or would get it thrown out. Like if I ordered another entre to go.
@istbil wrote:
I sometimes go alone, order for 2 and write report accordingly
it does not say on your receipt most of the time entree is for to go. I say stuff like my wife was sick so I am taking food home, or lunch for tomorrow. Cashiers/servers do not care. Or if I am really hungry, I can eat both
There are many ways to adjust it in your reports. - and dont get me wrong I do not do this on purpose all the time. I had to do it couple times because last minute schedule changes.
There are many ways to adjust it in your reports. - and dont get me wrong I do not do this on purpose all the time. I had to do it couple times because last minute schedule changes.
I think I would still want to get an ok from the scheduler though. There was a movie theater one where when I signed up did not indicate I would need a guest. I started looking and it kept talking about a guest. I asked the scheduler and they said that as long as I bought the minimum it would be ok. But I did find a guest. I also clarified for another restaurant shop when the same thing happened. Again, it was ok for me to be by myself (I did not have to order 2 entrees though).
Istbil: It's wrong and it's fraudulent. If the shop requirement is for two people you have to take a guest. Besides, many times on the receipt it shows how many people are in the party, no matter how many entrees you order. And for some shops, you have to say you are celebrating a special occasion to see if they take a photo of you and your guest or offer some other sort of commemorative gift. Sometimes a bottle of wine is involved at the table AND a bar visit where each person has a drink. How in the world can someone pull that off without falling down on the way out the door, much less not being able to remember anything? Obviously istbil does not do fine dining.
You are risking getting on a DNU list. by dining alone without getting a waiver of the requirement for two diners. The very reason for requiring two adults is the issue of how a typical table (TWO people) is treated. By dining alone, you alter the way that servers perceive you. And, remember, schedulers talk to one another, big time, about their DNU lists.
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.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Istbil: It's wrong and it's fraudulent. If the shop requirement is for two people you have to take a guest. Besides, many times on the receipt it shows how many people are in the party, no matter how many entrees you order. And for some shops, you have to say you are celebrating a special occasion to see if they take a photo of you and your guest or offer some other sort of commemorative gift. Sometimes a bottle of wine is involved at the table AND a bar visit where each person has a drink. How in the world can someone pull that off without falling down on the way out the door, much less not being able to remember anything? Obviously istbil does not do fine dining.
I did not say I do this for fine dining. I do it for order from a cashier kind of shops. Of course you cannot pull this off in fine dining situations. I just gave an option, not described how I operate all the time. Plus its not fraudulent. MSC wants your interaction with the staff and quality of the food which is not gonna change whether you eat alone or with a guest.
Plus I had to it maybe 2 times because of last minute complications, If I chose to inform the scheduler they won't be able to answer on time and I would end up with an incomplete shop.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2017 05:55PM by istbil.
"If I chose to inform the scheduler they won't be able to answer on time and I would end up with an incomplete shop."
The price of your ethics is a second entree? You don't know if the scheduler would have answer in time because you never gave them a chance. I have yet to find the MSC who wouldn't prefer the shopper wait so the assignment could be rescheduled and done properly.
The price of your ethics is a second entree? You don't know if the scheduler would have answer in time because you never gave them a chance. I have yet to find the MSC who wouldn't prefer the shopper wait so the assignment could be rescheduled and done properly.
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.
I (once) had to ask if I could dine alone as my friend couldn't come last minute. They o.k.'ed it, but that was rare,
and I would have been afraid it would have been rejected without my getting permission first...your brave, and admitting it, well, you may be out of a job.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2017 06:06PM by Irene_L.A..
and I would have been afraid it would have been rejected without my getting permission first...your brave, and admitting it, well, you may be out of a job.
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2017 06:06PM by Irene_L.A..
I do this shops for fun/entertainment, so my life is not on the line and I do not depend the fees I receive for this shops. Its my decision to act as I wish and if they reject my shop, I would only lose money. We all have different lives and you can do as you wish. Nothing I do can be called bold or risky. None of the shops I did so far rejected because "I failed to follow their guidelines" I deliver what is asked and all the companies I shopped for were happy with the reports I deliver.
I didn't say "bold or risky," because those words could imply something positive. Nor does it matter your motivation for the shops or lack of concern for the consequences. What you did was fraudulent and unethical.
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.
@LisaSTL wrote:
I didn't say "bold or risky," because those words could imply something positive. Nor does it matter your motivation for the shops or lack of concern for the consequences. What you did was fraudulent and unethical.
I am sorry but I don't really care what you call it - it is merely your point of view which again I do not really care at all. You do not know anything about me other than the handful of comments above.
I fell sorry for myself for posting on this thread, I once learned what a @#$%& show the internet is all about.
eth·ics
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.
fraud
wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.
fraud
wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
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.
I am so happy for you, you know how to use a dictionary. Would you like a star for your effort@LisaSTL wrote:
eth·ics
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.
fraud
wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
WOW, talk about a chip on one's shoulder, you will be found out, and all the shops you go on alone, you will end up paying for and if you don't need the money or meal, why do it at all? My one word for you is "USER".
Live consciously....
@LisaSTL wrote:
I didn't say "bold or risky," because those words could imply something positive. Nor does it matter your motivation for the shops or lack of concern for the consequences. What you did was fraudulent and unethical.
Reply post removed because it contained personal insults against another forum member –– Admin
is this that itsybitsy from couple of weeks ago
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.