I was called while asleep the other morning (Pacific time, no one on the East Coast seems to think to respect this) and grilled about a shop. It was a small specialty shop and I had shopped the store manager. Well, the MSC calls to say, "she thinks she remembers you", and in a sleepy state I am thinking what? Does she know I am the shopper? How could that be? Well, the fact was she was arguing what I put on the ratings. First, did she introduce herself? The answer was no, the only way I was going to find out her name was to ask for her card at the time of purchase. She insists she did introduce herself. Second, did she offer any add ons? I put no. Oh, but she is sure she did offer me them. So now I say to the MSP, perhaps she is thinking of someone else. I can't remember the third objection, but again it was something marked off (no big deal) but she goes back to the company to say no, I that of course she was right and I must have been wrong. Has this ever happened to you? It confused me and my head wasn't thinking too clearly having just been woken up, but I said, no, I don't remember the add ons, etc. This is the first time this has ever happened to me. Your opinions, please.

The only mistake I see is not telling the MSC to call back at a decent hour for you...

Huh...no, this has never happened top me, not even close, and yes, a please call back when I'm awake would have been approprate.

I have had a calls about a location disputed report. In one case the location manager was disputing every single "no" answer. My notes were able to confirm the validity of every single "no" with detail so unattractive to the location that I had not written it into the report only because there was no space for comments. Even the editor on the phone was going, "Ewwwww". On another report questioned, I was wrong because what most places consider a preference item at no extra cost, this location considered an 'upsell' because they charged an additional 50 cents. The choice was not presented as 'for only 50 cents more, you could . . .' but simply as 'do you want those _____?'. So yes, the server did an 'upsell' that I didn't explore because I would never want my food with that.

I sometimes get calls at 5:30 in the morning from MSC's, and I ask, "Do you know what time it is in Hawai'i? Please call me after 8:30 am."

As to shop report questions, I have rarely gotten them, but I have gotten them. I re-read what I wrote and get my recording out before answering any further questions. In the end, I have prevailed every time (thankfully.)

My thoughts are to be prepared when this happens. Take great notes. Take extra photos, or even photos of items when not required. Keep recordings of your shops (do this only where legal).

When you are correct, stick to your guns. If you are proved wrong admit the mistake.

Was requested by a shopping company to do a shop over because it was not a "favorable" report for a bank to send the client.......I refused and told them I only do honest reports. We parted ways.

Harold - which company was this? Please send me a private message.

To all schedulers and editors that will actually go back and ask questions of the shopper -- THANK YOU!!

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was called while asleep the other morning
> (Pacific time, no one on the East Coast seems to
> think to respect this) and grilled about a shop.
> It was a small specialty shop and I had shopped
> the store manager. Well, the MSC calls to say,
> "she thinks she remembers you", and in a sleepy
> state I am thinking what? Does she know I am the
> shopper? How could that be? Well, the fact was she
> was arguing what I put on the ratings. First, did
> she introduce herself? The answer was no, the only
> way I was going to find out her name was to ask
> for her card at the time of purchase. She insists
> she did introduce herself. Second, did she offer
> any add ons? I put no. Oh, but she is sure she did
> offer me them. So now I say to the MSP, perhaps
> she is thinking of someone else. I can't remember
> the third objection, but again it was something
> marked off (no big deal) but she goes back to the
> company to say no, I that of course she was right
> and I must have been wrong. Has this ever happened
> to you? It confused me and my head wasn't thinking
> too clearly having just been woken up, but I said,
> no, I don't remember the add ons, etc. This is the
> first time this has ever happened to me. Your
> opinions, please.


There is a company that does not call, they send e-mails. I told them I have a digital recorder. I do not look at my watch, I do not take notes, I just act naturally and let the recorder pick up everything.

I listen to it at home or driving between shops. I put quotes in the notes so they know they should not dispute the facts.

I am on the east coast so I do not have the time warp problem.

Why pick up the phone? I never take phone calls at odd hours, especially from numbers I do not recognize. Thats why I have answering machine.

Flash,
Care to share what cause editor to go ewwww? This sound interesting LOL

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have had a calls about a location disputed
> report. In one case the location manager was
> disputing every single "no" answer. My notes were
> able to confirm the validity of every single "no"
> with detail so unattractive to the location that I
> had not written it into the report only because
> there was no space for comments. Even the editor
> on the phone was going, "Ewwwww". On another
> report questioned, I was wrong because what most
> places consider a preference item at no extra
> cost, this location considered an 'upsell' because
> they charged an additional 50 cents. The choice
> was not presented as 'for only 50 cents more, you
> could . . .' but simply as 'do you want those
> _____?'. So yes, the server did an 'upsell' that
> I didn't explore because I would never want my
> food with that.

sequoia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Flash,
> Care to share what cause editor to go ewwww? This
> sound interesting LOL

The manager was doing sandwich preparation. Her arm was in a cast that went down over the back of the hand such that only the fingers and thumb were free. The cast was dirty and beginning to ravel at the hand area. She was putting together sandwiches by hand without a plastic glove over the hand with the slimy looking cast. Are we graphic enough yet? The hair looked as though it had not been washed since the cast went on and was long and hanging down in greasy locks. From time to time she would scratch her uncovered head/hair with the right hand--the one with the cast that was also being used, ungloved, to put meat on the sandwich. Needless to say I did not eat my sandwich.

Yes it has happened to me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2010 12:29AM by shopaholic127@aol.com.

It has also happened to me. I did a Fast Food drive thru shop at lunch time and due to them being very busy it took a very long time to receive my food. The manager argued that my time to receive my order was incorrect. That there was no way it took that long. A few days later a shop was posted for the same location so I figured I would do it again. When I went back, it took long the second time than it did the first time. I thought that was funny. I did my report but never heard anything else about it.