When they know

Niner · 2018-11-03T10:03:10+00:00

We went to a chain restaurant that we had previously shopped. We had been there the month prior. Our waitress initially acted bored, was indifferent, and mainly went through the motions. At some point, someone tipped her off. Her entire personality changed. She smiled and was effusive. She came back, and now I was 'deeeeaaaaar and sweeeetheeaaart," whenever she came to the table. Incredibly, she said, "I remember you, you are here often," and she offered us a free soda since we apparently were part of the reward club. We had only been there that one other time, ever. Part of their job is to tell you about some of the restaurant's specialties. When we were done eating, she asked us if we wanted a "night cap Margarita?" She was supposed to offer us one at the start, but she forgot. We still joke about the night cap Margarita, and how we were waiting for the "middle of the night burger." The first time we were there, I was seated at a booth where someone had spilled water. I sat down and my clothes got drenched. I had to literally get new pants from my car. I guess they remembered us from that, since I did mention that event in the report. Anyone catch on lately during one of your shops?

When they know

November 08, 2018 10:32PM

I have had that happen to me where the person that I was shopping asked me if I was the Mystery Shopper. She said that I was there the same day that she was shopped. I asked her what a mystery shopper was and she said that it was someone that comes around and tries to get them in trouble for not doing their job. I asked what are you stupid or just lazy? If you don't do your job you should be let go and if you are doing your job then you have nothing to worry about.

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November 09, 2018 08:12PM

I feel pretty sure that there are a couple places who have me tagged as a shopper but they always make a point of providing good service to me and I give them a good report. I did have a Papa John's employee catch me out when he saw me go into another location. When I went to the location where he worked, he ran around the whole place whispering in the other employee's ears. I could tell that they were talking about me from their facial expressions. Sure enough, a month later I was told I could no longer shop that location.

November 09, 2018 08:47PM

@plmccut wrote:

I did have a Papa John's employee catch me out when he saw me go into another location.

There must be more to the story. How does buying pizza from a different location out you?

November 09, 2018 08:56PM

I used to do 3 PJ's shops on the same day. When I went to my first PJ store I saw an employee from the second PJ store. As I was going into the first PJ's the second PJ employee was coming out. He recognized me and said something to the effect "are you buying your pizza here now?" By the time I got to the second location the employee arrived to go to work.

November 09, 2018 09:39PM

I got busted at the same chain as the OP (sounds like TX Roadhouse).

When I got my receipt it had my name followed by *SHOPPER*

The MSC was cool, and allowed the report. I just can't shop that location anymore. Luckily there are several in the area, as that is a shop I am always up for.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

November 09, 2018 09:51PM

I think Tx Rd and Bubba's (their sister restaurant) must have some way of tagging their shoppers. I get very good service at both of those and the manager always seems to locate me and use my first name.

November 10, 2018 03:08AM

It wasn't at Texas Roadhouse, but I have shopped TR at least eight times, in different states. My husband loves it. I am not a big fan, but apparently everyone else loves it, so they are doing something right. The rolls are like a drug though.

November 11, 2018 07:52PM

I have a friend that worked at a Gymboree and she said they always knew who the shoppers were by the questions they asked, and then they only bought, like, a pair of socks.

A few years ago I got caught at a burger chain, I had started timing and put my cell phone face up on the counter by accident and the cashier must have noticed. I knew they caught me when someone asked me how everything was every 5 minutes. Sweeping the floor - how's everything? Cleaning tables - everything still good? It was so obvious they knew I was the shopper they must have been doing it on purpose.

We are the people our parents warned us about ~ Jimmy Buffett

November 11, 2018 10:55PM

LOL I was busted as a shopper once. I am instructed to play dumb. However, this very high end store remembers clients. I smiled and completed my shop and turned it in. I did note that I was being treated unprofessionally until someone whispered they thought I was a shopper. The MSC took the shop and the company sent me a 300 dollar gift card a letter of apology! When I went back to use the gift card ( 300 bucks woohoo!) Everyone was super nice and I think the lady I spoke of was fired. I guess I was not the first one hence the point of paying me to shop her.

Chicago based shopper with 7 years of experience, here to share and learn even more

November 12, 2018 03:32AM

After placing my order at a casual dining restaurant the cashier point blank asked me if I was the secret shopper. I played dumb and asked her what a secret shopper was. That seemed to throw her off enough to not question me further. I completed the shop, but was extremely upset with the MSC.
I had been frustrated with shopping that restaurant chain for a while. We were required to order one specific item on the menu and then go through the drive- thru and place the same order again. It seemed to me that the ordering requirement was a definite give away to the identity of the secret shopper.

November 12, 2018 03:40AM

For some reason, the pizza chain likes to spot and report shoppers, so I got excluded from one location. It doesn't make sense to me. If they know I am the secret shopper, why not just provide superb service, say nothing, and get great reports? That is what I think happened in two of the pricey hamburger shop locations about 5 years ago. Suddenly, people were coming to my table, they began cleaning windows, and sweeping the floor, and they sometimes delivered my food, but no one said anything. I stopped doing those locations, but kept visiting and kept getting special service until the staff turned over.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

November 12, 2018 04:20AM

Our TRH is always busy and they fill up fast here. How can they tell who the shopper is at the TRX?

November 12, 2018 04:48AM

At Texas Roadhouse, I thought the same thing because the manager was using my (and my guest) name. But, then I realized that when I was at the bar, the bartender wrote my name down on a napkin when I was asked in the beginning of the shop and placed it kind under the bar that was hard for me to see. The manager would then make her rounds and look at the napkin placed in front of us and use our name. Then, I realized when I called in my "Hold my table" reservation, they asked me my name. The manager and employees got my name off of the reservation. It took me a few times to shop to realized how all the employees knew my name. It must be pretty critical that the employees use the customer's names. I have heard a lot of other customers names being used while I was shopping.

@plmccut wrote:

I think Tx Rd and Bubba's (their sister restaurant) must have some way of tagging their shoppers. I get very good service at both of those and the manager always seems to locate me and use my first name.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

November 12, 2018 05:04AM

I have received a "thank you" for the report note through the mail from a high-end crystal store. I called and asked her how she knew. I figured if she was bold enough to send a "thank you," then I was bold enough to probe a bit. She said she figured it out from my detailed report. Do a good job, and get outed!? Whaaat!?

TinaMarie

November 12, 2018 05:40AM

I work part time for a company that uses one of the companies I shop for. I knew when they were scheduled to come in. For a while it was almost always the same person. Needless to say we usually did pretty well! lol

November 12, 2018 05:52AM

I did a shop at a local bank twice, about six months apart. I ended up shopping the same new accounts agent both times. The second time, she didn't let on that she remembered me, but about a week later, she followed up, asking if I "really had an interest" in opening the account. I said yes, as I really had plans to open an account for my daughter. She followed up a few more times, until I finally opened the account. While we were waiting for that same agent to help us, I noticed that we were being watched by the tellers and manager. I won't shop that location again, but I get great service every time I make a transaction.

November 12, 2018 07:14AM

I shopped the same restaurant almost monthly for like 3 years -- it's a nice restaurant in a tiny town about an hour away from anything, and absolutely no one wants to drive all the way there just for a meal reimbursement. Even though the food is excellent, it's not worth the 100 mile round trip for most people! My husband and I actually enjoy the drive, though. I never signed up for the shop when it was first posted, but waited until the scheduler contacted me directly in the last few days of the month so I could ask for a bonus to help with fuel. I'm pretty positive the staff figured me out eventually, but they must not have told the MSC since they kept assigning me the shop. But we always got fabulous service there! They knew our favorite drinks and would get them ready when they saw us entering. Now my husband actually works in that tiny town, and I drive out to meet him for lunch or dinner every once in a while, and they still give us the best service ever because they think they might be getting shopped.

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