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Do you shop places you frequent / in your neighborhood?

October 15, 2017 10:24AM
I'm curious to how you all feel about shopping places that you go to often or just places in neighborhood.

On one hand, the shops are close and convenient. On the other hand, it could start getting pretty awkward, and people may start to recognize you as a shopper. Just thought about shopping my local post office, and then decided maybe I shouldn't...
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October 15, 2017 11:44AM
So far I haven't found the MSCs who shop the places I most frequent but I probably wouldn't go as a mystery shopper if I go regularly as a customer. If I have, even casual, relationships built with the staff I probably wouldn't feel right evaluating them as a shopper, plus I might receive different customer service (more casual greetings for example) so it wouldn't be accurate.
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October 15, 2017 12:49PM
I do. There's an ACE walking distance. I shop them every time they are available on the board. There is a home depot nearby, metro PCS, Sprint, and a few banks.

I've shopped my neighborhood Chipotle too.
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October 15, 2017 12:53PM
I shop in my neighborhood but don't go to those places very often as a regular customer.
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October 15, 2017 03:18PM
YES, I shop in my area about a 3 or 4 mile radius 80% of the time, and everyone knows me, especially supermarkets which I have been going to long before shopping (I ate before shopping). They have been
fine, never to my knowledge was I reported as being the shopper. I feel it natural to shop the same places,
as you know where everything is, and the inventory. I have shopped Best Buy for 30 years, having bought all
my T.V.'s, computers and recently a fridge from them as I am a reward member and no interest for a year or two.
I shop them as well, they have a turnover, so don't go to the same sales guy too often. I wouldn't be shopping if I had to wait until a new place opened. Krogers has a monopoly in L.A. and my town, with 8 stores, so, I do different locations on weekends no driving, it's all good, with so many customers in and out all day, they don't
count who's been there before.....remember a good shopper is a customer, so go under the radar, you'll be fine.

Live consciously....


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2017 03:19PM by Irene_L.A..
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October 15, 2017 08:43PM
Yes, I do. Usually shopping is what introduces me to the vendor. Truth be told, I do a lot online.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.
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October 15, 2017 08:58PM
Yes I do. I try to vary which employee I evaluate. If I feel I have a personal relationship with someone beyond customer/employee I don't shop there

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
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October 15, 2017 09:04PM
Of course, like Irene said, I ate before I shopped...I always go to stores near me and some not so near...no one has made me yet, as you don't usually have contact with the same people...(except for the produce guy in my one store...lol)...seems he's ALWAYS there....he must wonder why I'm asking such strange questions of him, my being such an old lady)...rofl....
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October 15, 2017 09:12PM
I mostly shop in town as there isn't much out where we live, and have found some really great places, have actually almost completely changed where we buy our groceries. When buying gifts or something I try to shop at the local small businesses. Shopping has helped me to try new places and break out of my comfort zone. I can't say I'll go to the shuckin place on my own (hate the smell of seafood) but my husband loved it when we went for a shop!
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October 15, 2017 09:40PM
I love shopping walking distance from home! I shop banks, department stores, apartments, grocery stores, soap shops, restaurants, mattress shops...you name it!

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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October 15, 2017 09:45PM
@HonnyBrown wrote:

I love shopping walking distance from home! I shop banks, department stores, apartments, grocery stores, soap shops, restaurants, mattress shops...you name it!
Same for me, feel productive, and love to see what's going on.....

Live consciously....
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October 15, 2017 11:03PM
@HonnyBrown wrote:

I love shopping walking distance from home! I shop banks, department stores, apartments, grocery stores, soap shops, restaurants, mattress shops...you name it!

Soap shop?

What does this shop entail? Are you purchasing soaps?
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October 16, 2017 10:12PM
Absolutely. Love them the most!

When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou
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October 16, 2017 11:10PM
I want the soap shop!!! I don't think you mentioned the store name, would you mind the MSC, please.... I love pretty soaps!!!
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October 16, 2017 11:21PM
Sometimes. The only time I felt funny was when I did the Aldi I shop at on a regular basis. The employee interaction was pretty weird, since at the time I knew all the employees pretty well.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
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October 16, 2017 11:29PM
There is one grocery store that I could shop that I don't because several of the employees know me by name and we always talk when I go there. For this reason, I have never accepted the shops there. But I do accept shops for other stores that I frequent.
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October 17, 2017 05:39AM
As I general policy, I do not visit any retailer/eatery/business unless I absolutely must or I am paid to do so, the distance is irrelevant. The exception to this is those retailers/eateries/businesses that would never have themselves shopped - e.g. the local Indi bookshop, the local ethnic dive, & etc.
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October 17, 2017 06:31AM
I did shop the Chipotle closest to me once, then took it off my list for the remainder of the program. On the other hand, I've shopped the closest location of a regional hot dog chain several times, often waiting for the rotation to expire to shop it again. I also visit there enough times not on a shop to make it ambiguous whether or not I'm the shopper.
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