Does any MSC have mystery shoppers shop their mystery shoppers?
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
Please explain how this would work?
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
It might work by having the same shop done by more than one shopper in a short period of time, with each serving as a checkup on the other. Very imprecise, and probably not worth it.
I have had another shopper assigned to watch as I completed a shop. Of coarse that particular job had specific parameters and time. Her job was to make sure I was there and at the time I said I was.
Isn't this was store cameras are for? Why have another person watch? What if original shopper has a last minute schedule change? Not worth the stress on MSC. In addition to store cameras, there are software like "Geoverify" which records time and location. then some assignments require before and after exterior photographs. To me these are enough checks. There ought to be some level of trust on shoppers. After all we are not employees, and are already taking enough setback financially on that alone. Just saying...
For some time, I have wondered the same thing. I have no proof of anything, and I am not a conspiracy theorist. But certain observed behaviors might indicate that someone is unique, lost, really truly texting themselves bwahaha, or just your basic mystery shopper checking up on another mystery shopper. Surely they are not stalkers?! I do not know who those people are, except that they appear where I happen to be. I have not established a baseline for strangers' behaviors, and what they do might be the new normal.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/2018 11:43PM by Shop-et-al.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/2018 11:43PM by Shop-et-al.
I have done that as a merchandiser.
Yes, they do have cameras and geoverify and all that tech stuff. But if cameras could do everything thing they wouldn't need us in the first place. I was thinking more than just verifying timing. An MSC could plant on location a fake car salesperson, leasing agent, or banker, where you have to specifically shop the target, who has memorized a script like an actor. If the target greets you with "what's goin' on, honeybunch?" and they want you to type in the exact greeting, and you put in something else, they'll know you aren't paying attention or taking proper notes. That's kinda what I'm talkin' about. Sure it probably isn't worth the trouble for most MSCs, but if a company has a shopper doing tons of shops every month and there is a trend of suspected falsification, this might be the ticket.
Many merchandising companies will send someone to do follow-up quality checks but I haven't heard of any MSCs doing it.
No. Doesn't happen. Ever.
When I worked for an MSC we used to laugh at the people that suggested we were sending other shoppers to spy on them...like we had those kind of resources.
You would be surprised how many people think that, but it's basically just paranoia....
When I worked for an MSC we used to laugh at the people that suggested we were sending other shoppers to spy on them...like we had those kind of resources.
You would be surprised how many people think that, but it's basically just paranoia....
@SteveSoCal wrote:
No. Doesn't happen. Ever.
When I worked for an MSC we used to laugh at the people that suggested we were sending other shoppers to spy on them...like we had those kind of resources.
You would be surprised how many people think that, but it's basically just paranoia....
A major MSC had shoppers verify that other shoppers had shown up to do exit interviews.
It happens a lot for merchandisers and exit surveys.
I'm not sure how you'd know where the shopper was to shop them?
In particular I was called by a shopper once who was was convinced that me and and the owner of the MSC had flown to their town and were seated at the table next them...seeing if they were doing a good job.
This was for a $75 reimbursement diner.
In truth, the restaurant manager had simply declined the report because the shopper was being incredibly obvious and they didn't want to pay for a report that was not helpful to them.
This was for a $75 reimbursement diner.
In truth, the restaurant manager had simply declined the report because the shopper was being incredibly obvious and they didn't want to pay for a report that was not helpful to them.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
In particular I was called by a shopper once who was was convinced that me and and the owner of the MSC had flown to their town and were seated at the table next them...seeing if they were doing a good job.
This was for a $75 reimbursement diner.
In truth, the restaurant manager had simply declined the report because the shopper was being incredibly obvious and they didn't want to pay for a report that was not helpful to them.
hahahahaha OMG.
Rule #1 in life
People are stupid.
If you do demos, you're often shopped. Mostly to make sure you're there.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
How does one get to work directly with an MSC? I have looked at job boards and don't seem to find anything, except one time, but there was specific location requirement for that company.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
No. Doesn't happen. Ever.
When I worked for an MSC we used to laugh at the people that suggested we were sending other shoppers to spy on them...like we had those kind of resources.
You would be surprised how many people think that, but it's basically just paranoia....
@talk2eruks wrote:
How does one get to work directly with an MSC?
Check their website. They usually list job openings.
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Actually it DOES. Rare but it DOES.
I'm not referring to demos. I'm talking about mystery shops...and in the case of the company I worked for, specifically dining shops. Even with retail, how on earth would another shopper or MSC employee know who the shopper was, when they were arriving, or be able to shop them?
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Actually it DOES. Rare but it DOES.
I'm not referring to demos. I'm talking about mystery shops...and in the case of the company I worked for, specifically dining shops. Even with retail, how on earth would another shopper or MSC employee know who the shopper was, when they were arriving, or be able to shop them?[/quote]
Can you say, outed?
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
@Shop-et-al wrote:
Can you say, outed?
If you are referring to others the company I worked for, there's another thread where I openly discuss it...
Where did I saw demos. I did not. I am talking mystery shops. I NEVER said demos.
Get your facts correct Steve and yes they DO get shopped.
Get your facts correct Steve and yes they DO get shopped.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@talk2eruks wrote:
How does one get to work directly with an MSC?
Check their website. They usually list job openings.
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Actually it DOES. Rare but it DOES.
I'm not referring to demos. I'm talking about mystery shops...and in the case of the company I worked for, specifically dining shops. Even with retail, how on earth would another shopper or MSC employee know who the shopper was, when they were arriving, or be able to shop them?
@Aquiest wrote:
Our job is to keep store employees on their toes, right? What keeps us in line?
What keeps us in line? The consultant's (MSC's) QA/QC plan, whether it be a check from the editors, the consultant themselves, etc. before approving and using the data we provide to them. And who's to keep the MSC's in check? Their customer who's paying for this data and it's end-result on how it's used.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Where did I saw demos. I did not. I am talking mystery shops.
Others above had mentioned that some people were hired to check on demo provideers.
I didn't see any facts to possibly get correct. You insist that shoppers are somehow shopped and gave no details whatsoever. Please explain how this would happen...
Do I need to spell it out for you? I do not need to give details. I know it happens. How does any mystery shop happen? One hint if you cannot figure it out shops that are super time restrictive. SUPER time restrictive. Extremely easy.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Where did I saw demos. I did not. I am talking mystery shops.
Others above had mentioned that some people were hired to check on demo provideers.
I didn't see any facts to possibly get correct. You insist that shoppers are somehow shopped and gave no details whatsoever. Please explain how this would happen...
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Do I need to spell it out for you? I do not need to give details. I know it happens. How does any mystery shop happen? One hint if you cannot figure it out shops that are super time restrictive. SUPER time restrictive. Extremely easy.
Can you spell it out for me? I'm curious to know the details.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Where did I saw demos. I did not. I am talking mystery shops.
Others above had mentioned that some people were hired to check on demo provideers.
I didn't see any facts to possibly get correct. You insist that shoppers are somehow shopped and gave no details whatsoever. Please explain how this would happen...
Why would you even have this argument? Most of us can't even see half of the conversation.
Solving the problem if shopper doing demo's or other work not MSing, why don't they have to sign in...problem solved. Mystery shopping, would be a nightmare for schedulers and hardly worth the money paid, as we all know if you don't show, or do a good integrity type job, you get docked...and unable to do same job again.....period.
There is last time I looked a thread for Merchandising.
There is last time I looked a thread for Merchandising.
Live consciously....
situations where one shopper is sent to mirror another shopper to look at training and scoring inconsistencies do happen. But at least when I’ve been involved both shoppers have known about the existence of the other shopper and why they were there.
So not really mystery shopping the shopper since the shopper knows the other person is observing them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2018 10:24PM by MickeyB.
So not really mystery shopping the shopper since the shopper knows the other person is observing them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2018 10:24PM by MickeyB.
@MickeyB wrote:
not really mystery shopping the shopper since the shopper knows the other person is observing them.
Right. We also have technology where some shoppers are required to verify their location. Others are verified by video from the clients, or a meeting with the client, or having receipts verified, etc. That's not what is being proposed here, though.
Apparently there's also some scenario where the time restriction on a shop is so tight that a second shopper will know exactly who the first shopper is based on the time that they arrive, then be able to secretly observe and report on the job that shopper is doing...because that's how the world works. People generally arrive at the very second they are supposed to, and can do all of this stuff covertly...for very little pay.
Here's the thing, @CANADAMOMMY. You do need to give details if you are making a generalized statement that which seems absurd. I'm saying I worked for an MSC (Most long-time forum members know the MSC) and heard this ridiculous assumption on a somewhat regular basis from shoppers. One shopper in particular was CERTAIN that the owner of the MSC and me spying on her during a shop. She also had no evidence to back this claim up, but just, "Knew," that it was true. It was not.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.