I had a very difficult shop rejected because I failed to get a few of the employees names. First of all, I explained why I didn't get the names of 3 employees (2 out of the 3 that didn't have name tags) and the 3rd one's name tag was obscured. The guidelines didn't indicate that if I didn't get names my shop would be rejected. There was only one thing that gave that indication, which I did do. What's also frustrating - was that 3rd employee, had I not happened to look up when I did, I would never have even saw them. So while I would never ever do this because its unethical and dishonest.... I really wanted to say "So basically what you are saying is that I should have left that interaction off of the report, because you would never have known that I actually interacted with that 3rd person (and while it was an expected interaction it was not a required interaction)."

*sigh*

I did the (gross) health food cooperative and no one had a name tag! I asked them their name because I'm from Hawaii and that's what we do. I got paid but got a scolding email about it.

I got scolded for not getting a name from someone who -was- wearing a nametag. Only problem is that it was small and sitting right next to cleavage. In order for me to have seen that small type, I would have have to stare inappropriately. The editor suggested that perhaps I needed glasses then.

Sheesh. Even if you didn't "stare" inappropriately, glancing at cleavage can give a woman the heebie jeebies. You did good.

The nerve of some editors. Hey, they ought to have a prerequisite to have completed a certain amount of assignments, types of assignments, certain minimum number of companies they've mystery shopped as well as a mental evaluation. lol

A few people were staring at my chest I mean name tag recently. That was creepy! I understood that they may have been on site to verify my presence and needed information to put in their reports. That fact does not alter the inappropriateness of looking at other people in ways that sometimes are necessary for reading a name tag. My name tag was in a provided lanyard and I could not alter the placement of the name to, say, my forehead or three feet in front of me. Because of that, I am seriously considering not doing any more assignments where I am obliged to look at people in that creepy way that sometimes is the only way to find out what is on a name tag.

Hey, I resemble that remark! Former editor for two different MSCs, LOL.

Well, there are exceptions to every rule, and you are the exception!

Well that's sweet of you to say, but it still might be true partially, LOL

I had one where the girl's hair covered her nametag, and in the space for a name I wrote her description. They paid me but said next time I needed a name. I will bring scissors with me if I ever do the shop again.

There are of course the old standby tricks, of, "Is your name Allison? You look just like a girl my son used to date in high school." Sometimes that doesn't work, especially if the employee (I suspect) is wearing a name tag that doesn't belong to them, as they can just say, "no." But I usually press further at that point and say, "What is your name so I don't have to say, 'hey you' across the room if I have more questions?" Or, 'What's your name?" (Salesperson answers). " Oh, nevermind. You look like an old neighbor of mine from years ago, but her name was Judy."

Edited alot cuz I am typing on my phone.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2017 12:19AM by JASFLALMT.

I just don't want to do that anymore. There are other jobs. Those jobs are calling my name... shopetaaaaaaalllll..... oh, shopetaaaallllllll.... etaaaalllll......

I recently did a shop where I interacted with two employees. Each wore a name tag but the second employee's name tag was in a font that was totally different from the first employee's AND the font was illegible unless one stared at it for several seconds and at an inappropriately close distance (about two feet away).

I had to pretend to love the look of that font to give myself an excuse to lean forward, stare, and chat up the employee. It turned out she wanted to be different and requested that font for her name tag. She even told me that many customers complained about not being able to read her name.

Of course, I reported her name but left out how I did it.

Weird, only today did I actually get an email notification that there had been responses. Heh.

But yeah, its one of those things that if I had known I would have figured out a way to ask, but all the other shops I've done, a description was considered good enough if the employees weren't doing what they were supposed to... aka wearing a name tag.

I actually unsubscribed from emails for that MSC. I'd been seeing a lot of reviews on here and other places that after the really bad instructions I had received to begin with (not even counting the name issue) that made me waste over an hour of my time, I decided they were going on my 10 foot pole list.

I wasn't mystery shopping, but one time I was grocery shopping and the person in front of me called the cashier by the name on her name tag and said something that was critical of her (been too long I don't remember what but the customer was right). The cashier got all huffy about it and was obviously angry. After the customer left, the cashier turned to me all mad and said "WELL THAT'S NOT EVEN MY NAME"!!! Like it was the customer's fault that she had somebody else's name tag on. I said something about that to her and she got all mad at me too. I'm glad to say that I didn't see her anymore after that.

I'm not sure why you just didn't ask their name. I do that all that time then with my next sentence use their name so they think I genuinely am a weirdo who likes to know people's names.....

Every appproach is creepy.

See this is how to do it MSCs! I had a shop this morning where in the guidelines they made it VERY clear that I had to ask the name. That description wasn't good enough.

And yes, @Shop-et-al, every approach is creepy. These folks weren't wearing name tags, but thankfully I only interacted with one person. So I took a play out of @JASFLALMT's book and told him he looked familiar and asked for his name. Then looked puzzled and shook my head. But there are other reasons why they probably already pegged me as the MSer by that point. LOL

This work sure does make you learn to think on your feet, quickly.


@nixkit - I don't know if you were asking me that or not (since I'm the OP) - because its generally weird to ask people their names if they aren't wearing a name tag. A salesperson where they might earn commission makes sense, but generally other people, no. And the MSC did not make it clear that it was an absolute requirement. Until today's shop not a single shop had said the shop would get rejected if I didn't have a name. They all always ask for a description though. I haven't done as many shops as a lot of people on this board, but I've done a lot in the last two months for quite a few different MSCs. I expect the MSC to actually say what will get a shop thrown out. Things happen in the shops so sometimes not every single guideline can be followed to a tee. In fact that shop that started this thread, the guidelines were very, very wrong to begin with and caused me to waste an hour trying to accomplish something that should have taken minutes, and that one thing was the only thing that had been indicated as a requirement. I finally found out it was impossible to do as they no longer offered that service.

You're right, if the shop will be rejected because you don't get a name that should absolutely be in the guidelines! And if they don't have their name tags on, that should be one of the things we are asked to report, if they are supposed to have their name tag on and we should not have to ask them their name because it's a dead giveaway. That is the sign of an irresponsible client and an MSC that does not clarify reality to the client.

There are a couple of places that I shop, where the people don't have name tags. I just put n/a for name but I just give a description of the cashier. My reports are all ways accepted.

I have had (too many to count) employees with a side pony tail covering their name. Who really needs to find out a employees name (or wants to), by asking questions. Thank G__, at my groceries, the cashier's name is on the receipt 9 times out of 10, actually 10 out of 10. Descriptions work when stating no name shown.

I cannot stand when you must get a name. I too have used "is your name xxx? Oh, you look like my daughter's friend.". Variations of that has never worked! I usually get a strange look, shaking head and no name offered. Description should be enough.

I've said that I'm a writer always looking for new/different names to use in my stories.

I use my daughter is having a baby and looking for names.

When having to ask for a name, I keep it short and sweet. What's you name, oh, thanks Lucy, I had great service or something like that. I'm not a good liar, so my daughter went to school with your daughter, wouldn't
be a good fit for me, the less words, the better off.....I'm never had a report denied by not having a name,
description works. Many Restaurants I do, they don't wear name tags, but have spaces for exact descriptions
and they can tell who is who.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/03/2017 04:08PM by Irene_L.A..

Lol. I had a shop last week were I HAD to get the name (and the guidelines said so, whoop) so I was prepared and I think the guy thought I was flirting with him. But that actually makes me feel good to think because I am nowhere near a 7 let alone a 10

I've had a shop rejected for not getting the name. I just ask their name if I need the name.