That's funny. I ask for those receipts and the people behind the counter couldn't care less. I do a lot of the same stations on a semi-regular basis, and nothing ever changes.@quovatis wrote:
I recently did 6 gas station audits. During 3 of them, the employee instantly knew I was a mystery shopper by asking for a receipt for a candy bar. In one case, the cashier radioed someone else, and before I could come back in to reveal myself, all the starburst signs were gone. In another case, the employee took down a handwritten sign that said "no restroom available", ran to his car and put on a uniform, then told me he had the restroom sign because "customers mess it up." All that before I could take pictures. In the last case, the employee had nothing to hide, but already knew why I was there.
@quovatis wrote:
I recently did 6 gas station audits. During 3 of them, the employee instantly knew I was a mystery shopper by asking for a receipt for a candy bar. In one case, the cashier radioed someone else, and before I could come back in to reveal myself, all the starburst signs were gone. In another case, the employee took down a handwritten sign that said "no restroom available", ran to his car and put on a uniform, then told me he had the restroom sign because "customers mess it up." All that before I could take pictures. In the last case, the employee had nothing to hide, but already knew why I was there.
@JediBeagle wrote:
I recently shopped a casual restaurant with a bar where I had to bring a guest, but first order only one drink, pay with cash separately, close out that check, then order more food and drinks and pay with cash or credit card.
My guest went to the bathroom, and I ordered one wine, asked to have it right away while I looked at the menu, I asked to close that out and I had the cash in my hand. Bartender saw the cash, didn't close it out. My guest sits next to me and orders a wine.
I could not think of a reason to push for the separate bill for the first wine without coming off as suspicious. I just continued with the shop as normal, closed out the check, and explained everything in the report, and several times explained that I asked for the first drink to be paid cash separately but the bartender didn't follow my instructions.
Entire shop was rejected.
Never again.
@JediBeagle wrote:
I recently shopped a casual restaurant with a bar where I had to bring a guest, but first order only one drink, pay with cash separately, close out that check, then order more food and drinks and pay with cash or credit card.
My guest went to the bathroom, and I ordered one wine, asked to have it right away while I looked at the menu, I asked to close that out and I had the cash in my hand. Bartender saw the cash, didn't close it out. My guest sits next to me and orders a wine.
I could not think of a reason to push for the separate bill for the first wine without coming off as suspicious. I just continued with the shop as normal, closed out the check, and explained everything in the report, and several times explained that I asked for the first drink to be paid cash separately but the bartender didn't follow my instructions.
Entire shop was rejected.
Never again.
@MysVal wrote:
This topic always a constant battle with me. Certain shops I just stopped taking because they refuse to change up guidelines and as soon as you do X or ask Y you are automatically labeled as a mystery shopper. One restaurant I stopped shopping because the shop requirements are so old that the hostess actually had a "cheat sheet" for the wait staff on how to spot a mystery shopper ON THE PODIUM.
And other times, mystery shoppers tell on themselves. I was visiting a coffee shop that I had shopped in the past and within 10 seconds, I could tell who the mystery shopper was. She was so blatant and obvious. So, I do think sometimes it goes both ways. There are a lot of ways to be creative without being outted, but some things are just not possible to mask.
Anyone ever watch the show "Superstore" OMG, there was an episode where they spent the whole time freaking out over who they thought was a mystery shopper.
@amyann2 wrote:
Well, tonight I'm being required to give a $10 bill for a $4 happy hour drink and I have to tell them to keep the change. I'll be a single middle-aged woman at the bar alone. If that doesn't give it away, nothing will. And yes, it bugs me!