Has secret shopper been in yet experiences
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You can feel like you are in a spy movie...
Back when McDonald's was shopped, I did one 175 miles from my home. The counter girl got my order totally wrong, and I had to have it corrected. She did a great job. As I turned away to return to my seat, I heard her gasp to a fellow employee "OMG, that's our secret shopper, and I totally screwed up her order!"
At another McDonald's, the MANAGER was at the cash register. Just as I completed my order, and he was still ringing it up, he turned around and shouted into the kitchen, "Hey, team! On your toes! Today is our LAST CHANCE to get our timings exactly right, so move it!!!" It took so long to get my order that the manager tried to comp it to me!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2018 03:27PM by ceasesmith.
At another McDonald's, the MANAGER was at the cash register. Just as I completed my order, and he was still ringing it up, he turned around and shouted into the kitchen, "Hey, team! On your toes! Today is our LAST CHANCE to get our timings exactly right, so move it!!!" It took so long to get my order that the manager tried to comp it to me!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2018 03:27PM by ceasesmith.
When I shopped a supermarket, the Manager announced over the PA system, “it’s showtime!”
I shopped a large electronics/computer store fairly often (2-3 times a month) and was assigned the audio/video department on this visit. I walked in, was greeted by the associate that stands near the entry/exit, and after I passed by, I overheard her say "Heads up, audio video" over the walkie talkie. Coincidence maybe, but I made sure to take the scenic route getting over to the department and I also stopped visiting the store as often, despite the bonuses.
Speaking of McD's....I went inside one a few years back (shop) and the manager was falling all over himself to help me. (I wonder if they share videos/ or our photos) He scampered about and made me a nervous wreck! Usually when you go into a FF restaurant, you feel invisible and nobody pays much attention to you. But this was "overkill." I should add it was the first time I had shopped there. I guess my face was plastered in the back room!
If I remember correctly, my report was pulled, a description of me was asked because the manager was going to challenge my report. I don't remember now what it was.... but they missed something. I reported honestly. I was paid and my report stood as accepted.
If I remember correctly, my report was pulled, a description of me was asked because the manager was going to challenge my report. I don't remember now what it was.... but they missed something. I reported honestly. I was paid and my report stood as accepted.
I was at a bank doing a trifecta (3 different shop). I overheard someone asking the greeter which company did their mystery shopping. I nearly fainted when the greeter mentioned one of the MSCs I was doing work for!
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
If I had overheard a staff member mention secret shopper, I think my face would have turned bright red, but that hasn't happened, yet.
@Monk-N-Nut wrote:
If I had overheard a staff member mention secret shopper, I think my face would have turned bright red, but that hasn't happened, yet.
I was surprised at how composed I stayed.
A few months ago, I had a dine in shop at a burger joint that asks for your name when you order and brings you the food to your table. After I had eaten, and on my way out, I checked the bathroom and while I was there, I heard someone yell very loudly so that I heard it in the bathroom, "Hey So and So, I hope you enjoyed your free meal!" I have not visited that burger joint since.
All these comments are definitely making me see how important rotation is!
I was shopping at a dealership (service) getting a simple oil change/tire rotation and they said that 2 of my tire sensors were out and they usually recommend replacing all 4 at the same time. I declined the extra service. When I picked up my vehicle, it was spotless inside and out and they let me know that they had changed the sensors out no charge. It may not have been because they knew I was a mystery shopper, but that was a pretty significant "gift" for no clear reason.
A couple of months ago I was doing a clothing store mystery shop and was being assisted at the counter. The store had not done so well half way in me doing the shop. One of the managers got off of the phone and said to the employee who was assisting me, "Oh my God that was my boss and she told me store ### got their shop in today and they made a 60! That is crazy. I know we should be getting shopped today or tomorrow."
@ceasesmith wrote:
Back when McDonald's was shopped, I did one 175 miles from my home. The counter girl got my order totally wrong, and I had to have it corrected. She did a great job. As I turned away to return to my seat, I heard her gasp to a fellow employee "OMG, that's our secret shopper, and I totally screwed up her order!"
At another McDonald's, the MANAGER was at the cash register. \
I am picturing your picture hanging in the back rooms of Mc Donalds across your state with a note across it saying "Wanted : A happy Secret Shopper"
I did an audit at a gas station and went on to my next gas station audit. The clerk told me that he had heard that the station I had just done had been audited so to make sure he was on his toes. I guess they call other stations to warn them.
I think that they do call each other especially if they are in close proximity to each other. I was doing 3 gas station reveal audits in one town and the last 2 seemed they were expecting me Okay with me since they hit all of their points and made my report much easier.
I did one a few days ago. In a very remote location. Very local type vibe. If they don't know you stand out. Only way to get through this town is to drive into the water!
I was approaching the counter to check out and they had some new posters. They said Lets leave one right here on the counter so it looks good when the evaluator shows up.
I just smiled inside and checked out. Felt like if they were on their toes they should have known, or maybe they did. LOL
I was approaching the counter to check out and they had some new posters. They said Lets leave one right here on the counter so it looks good when the evaluator shows up.
I just smiled inside and checked out. Felt like if they were on their toes they should have known, or maybe they did. LOL
Do you get recognized? Not outed ... but I was doing retail shop in the airport and cashier tells me she remembers me. I said oh I travel all the time. Still felt awkward.
I was doing a convenience store and had just done the one up the road (reveal) after regular customer service part is finished and the previous CSR had called to notify the other one. . . .
@sandyf wrote:
@ceasesmith wrote:
I am picturing your picture hanging in the back rooms of Mc Donalds across your state with a note across it saying "Wanted : A happy Secret Shopper"
As long as it doesn't say, "Dead or alive!"
I did a USPS shop 3 days ago. There were two clerks working together when I entered. As they processed my package they talked about mystery shoppers and how they came in once a month. The one clerk said she didn't really care because as long as you ask the proper questions like the Hazardous questions you'll score okay. Neither clerk showed any indication that I was the shopper. I shopped this location on a regular basis but I had only worked with one of the clerks before and the other clerk I had never worked with so I'm confident they just happen to be talking about mystery shoppers when I walked in. I had a good chuckle when I got back into my car.
Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
@COMystery wrote:
I did a USPS shop 3 days ago. There were two clerks working together when I entered. As they processed my package they talked about mystery shoppers and how they came in once a month. The one clerk said she didn't really care because as long as you ask the proper questions like the Hazardous questions you'll score okay. Neither clerk showed any indication that I was the shopper. I shopped this location on a regular basis but I had only worked with one of the clerks before and the other clerk I had never worked with so I'm confident they just happen to be talking about mystery shoppers when I walked in. I had a good chuckle when I got back into my car.
Even in my local post office where I have done so many shops and there are only a total of 3 staff who have been there for years so i have had them all, I am convinced they have no clue. I send these expensive 1.5 lb packages to the east all the time and sometimes I have a hazmat where I cannot answer the question about what is inside over and over. They still try to convince me to press the no button each time!
Once I did a 'down the line' style meal where they always fail to ask me if I want a salad. On one of the times I got to the register and asked for the salad, the cashier called the guy from the beginning of the line down and told him right in front of me ,"you HAVE to ask if they want a salad, that's something the mystery shopper checks so make sure you do it."
I immediately got VERY engaged in my conversation with my companion but I was dying of laughter inside.
I immediately got VERY engaged in my conversation with my companion but I was dying of laughter inside.
I did a credit union shop last week and while I was at the teller, a banker walked over to the teller in the next stall and handed her an envelope and told her good job with the mystery shopper. I guess she got a bonus for getting a good report from a previous shop. It's nice to know that some of these companies recognize the employees when they do something good.
I did a gas station that I frequent as a regular customer and they told me the f-----ing mystery shopper was coming in this week. I was the shopper that day.
Uh-oh! Too bad for them.....wonder what they said when they got the report!@Msaddict wrote:
I did a gas station that I frequent as a regular customer and they told me the f-----ing mystery shopper was coming in this week. I was the shopper that day.
I wasn't doing a shop, but I returned to this one restaurant, and it was only my second time ever visiting, and the last visit was 6 months ago. The employee said she remembered me and she pointed to the table I sat at 6 months ago. This was a place where you order in line and sit yourself, and does not have table service. I guess some people have good memories, but this was impressive. I'm pretty shy and don't usually talk to strangers more than I need to, so I don't think I did anything memorable on the last visit. I did not remember the employee.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2018 04:50PM by quovatis.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2018 04:50PM by quovatis.
Once I was mystery shopping a restaurant, a diner type chain, and had a friend along as a dining companion. Our waiter was very friendly and very chattty and he said he was having a rough week. He said they expected a mystery shopper to be in any day that week and that it made him so nervous. He said he was so afraid of messing up!
Did you include the conversation in your report
"She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the type of person who would keep a parrot." Mark Twain
I went into a gas station as a regular customer where I have done assignments as well. They two staff people were busy reviewing a MS report and were obsessed with the miscalculations on their height. Neither greeted as I entered, asked for my loyalty and or wore name tags.
"She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the type of person who would keep a parrot." Mark Twain
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