Yesterday I did a shop that required taking a photo of a display table in a store and interacting with the company's representative. I arrived near the beginning of the person's shift, then spent a few minutes browsing around the store waiting for an opportunity to take the photo without being obvious. The representative started breaking down the display, even though this was the end of the first hour of a 5-hour window. I was tempted to report that the person was not there. That would have been true if I had arrived a few minutes later. As it was, the report was positive and the company will never know that their representative was there one hour, not five. Did I do the right thing?

Not sure I completely follow your timeline. I assume you were able to take the picture before the rep broke down the display. I would email the scheduler with the information about what you observed after the photo was taken. Is it possible to the rep was going on a break and the rep temporarily took down the display? You have no way of knowing if and when they may have returned. In any event just report to the scheduler exactly what you saw and when.

If the person was there and you spoke to them and asked or did whatever the required interaction was then that's what you have to report. You can't get all iffy-piffy with your panties in a ruffle because they didn't complete their shift unless the report asks for that. You absolutely can't report that the person wasn't there at all because you could get wamma-jamma'd from this biz all together. Their supervisor may have called them and told them that someone called in for location Y and could they cover that location instead and they will send Cindy Rep for location X, that you were at. Who knows, it could have been anything. Then, you would have to live with destroying a person's life forever. jk, not enough coffee to keep me awake today on my one day off a month with these types of "Can I scam the company and scam myself because I don't agree with my Target's behavior that doesn't have anything to do with the shop?" questions.

The person may have cleared it with their supervisor that they were leaving early because their kid was sick, etc.

I wondered what was wrong with you today, spicy.

My shop was to be performed between 2:00 and 7:00 pm. I arrived at 2:45. Luckily I was able to get the picture about 3:00, but the rep shut it down at 3:01. The tablecloth was removed and the table folded up. Would've been an easier shop if I'd arrived at 3:02.

Well that's true. But it sounds like you did the right thing by reporting your interaction and getting the photo. I suppose if you would have wandered off and then come back and they were gone, you would have had to report that they weren't there since you wouldn't have been able to get your photo!

@JASFLALMT wrote:

The person may have cleared it with their supervisor that they were leaving early because their kid was sick, etc.

So if they cleared it with their supervisor it should be no problem if it's reported. Because it was already cleared........

Yes, that's also true. But I wasn't clear on what the OP originally was asking. I thought they were asking if they should have reported that the person wasn't there since they were taking down the display.

I thought they were asking if they should have reported that the person took down the display immediately after their interaction.

@PSE wrote:

I was tempted to report that the person was not there. That would have been true if I had arrived a few minutes later.

Oh yes. That would have certainly been the wrong thing to do.

I though that they were asking that, even though they already did the interaction part, they were struggling to get a photo and barely got the photo because the target started packing up after an hour if it was a great idea to just report that they were not able to do the shop because the person was not there. Even though they obviously were there. And they were asking that because if they had arrived a few minutes later that would have been the case. Some of my team members make lies like this and I try my best to get them fired.

It could have been that the associate's hours were changed without knowledge of your scheduler. As long as you perform the shop within the time set by the guidelines, you should be paid. Submit your photo regardless of what the setup looked like.

The MAIN point of mystery shopping is accurate feedback. The client depends on the company hiring you/the mystery shopper to provide them with valid, accurate, detailed honest, fair and sometimes even EXACT depictions of exactly what goes on for the shop/scenario being assigned. The mystery shopper has no idea as to the reasons behind the shop that has been created for them to complete. Nor is it their job to try and decide what information should or should not be included in the shop. Our SOLE job as a mystery shopper is to complete the task at had, whatever it may be, by following the provided guidelines, running the exact/correct scenario and then reporting your findings.

Every shop is unique, some may not require your opinion at all, (Even more so, some shops may not want ANY type of opinion due to the possibility of completing biased reporting), while others will solely depend on what you feel about the experience you had while completing their assigned task. It's not up to us to figure out what their (project manager/project creator) intentions are behind making the shop, just to follow the provided instructions exactly... Nothing more, nothing less. And should you have any doubts or questions about completing the assignment, after reading the profiles/guidelines BEFOREHAND, there is ALWAYS a way to contact the shop coordinator so that you may ask them for help/solutions to the issue at hand.

Most coordinators are pretty quick to respond, especially when you use the subject line to convey the importance of your question- being short and concise is key because that gets their attention quickest about just how important/time-sensitive your question is. Remember, they too are on a deadline so they work around the clock to ensure every shopper is staying on track, while following the rules and submitting thorough, detailed and accurate work in a timely fashion.

If you lie, omit or fudge the truth, you run the risk of being caught and in this industry, your name is your everything. All the big guns know one another and they are able to "black list" so-to-speak whomever they choose, every shopper has a file with listings of completed shops and notes from their shop leaders. (Sort of like an on-going resume/IMDb database) in order for prospective clients to view/pick and choose whom they wish to include in their current/future shops.

Lastly, many stores, kiosks, places etc. are equipped with video surveillance and the client often times will review the recorded times when a shopper was supposed to be at their location. The time in/out part listed at the beginning of the survey along with the date and day of the week/other details is there for that very reason. Should a client read that you reported having been at their location during a certain time, then accordingly adjust the surveillance footage to the given time-frame provided only to find your alleged presence is actually non-existent then everything else you stated, whether it actually was valid, becomes irrelevant at that point, and will automatically be discarded/considered null and void and therefore the shop cannot be used and the shopper will not get paid.

Depending on the severity of the action, how many times it has already happened etc. the company may choose to never work with you again and can place negative marks on your file for others to know about in the future. It's all really silly and easily avoidable if you simply just tell the truth, no more, no less. Be concise and stick to what the scenario is asking you to do-without adding your own two cents in-and you will have no problems and many additional shops to come!

If you're considered dependable, honest and fair, you become a hot commodity, rather quickly sometimes depending on how well you apply yourself, and thus you'll find yourself having your pick of the litter/shops to choose from. Your FEES will be higher, you'll be happier, the client will be happier and thus it goes full circle where everyone wins. Sometimes you will find that a shop is super easy and you lucked out because some of the things you "possibly" may have had to do never actually became part of the scenario. (The apt complex manager you were assigned to evaluate shows you around but explains there is no vacancy at this time so she is unable to walk you through an empty unit-thus, saving you a good ten or so questions to fill out later on the assessment.) Other times, you will find yourself writing more than you hoped to, all because that employee didn't do whatever it was that they were supposed to do and now you must document (in detail) what they did, how they did it and how you responded etc.

If this is something that you cannot handle or do not wish to deal with, then mystery shopping may not be the correct field for you to be participating in, as even I admit that sometimes I too become aggravated- this job is certainly NOT for everyone. But, Alas, If you can find your niche' in this industry, and choose to flourish in all its possible glory, I can assure you that your success will surely follow. I've been at this just under a year and am fortunate to have successfully completed many, many, many, diverse types-of-gigs under my belt. I welcome the challenges of new ones just as much as I embrace the familiar ones I come across. Best of luck to you all! Happy shopping! Stay honest....

XoXo EvE XoXo