Have You Ever Become A Regular Customer After Performing A Shop?

Has anyone become a member, after the fact? I'm not talking about fast food or restaurants. For example, renting from a complex you've shopped, or getting your nails done at a new salon, etc. And if you do, can you still shop that location?

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I changed my phone plan after a shop.
I wouldn't shop that location again.

I became a regular at a hair salon I shopped. I did shop them a couple times after that.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2019 09:41PM by prince.
I found by evaluating an Assisted living home, the home I had to put my sister in, it is a different location but I found out everything I otherwise wouldn't have known. She is happy though it is very expensive.

Live consciously....
There was a shop about three years ago that had us compare auto insurance companies and their rates. I was so surprised about how much money I really would save with one of those companies, then I switched to them for real shortly after. The company I switched too was actually the competitor of the client being shopped and being used as the focal point.
Quite a few actually.

I did a Mini shop and actually bought a Mini from the same salesperson a couple of years later. In all honestly I already knew my next car was going to be a Mini though.

I know you said you weren't talking about restaurants but I've had a few of those I eat at because of the shops. When I was young I remember everything at Sonic tasting like onions, so I never ate there. After doing shops I realized they actually have some decent fast food. I ate at what used to be my local Five Guys right after it opened and thought it was horrible. Didn't go back and even didn't take the shops for awhile until I got a bonus offer. Then I had one and realized they are actually quite good. I would have absolutely never eaten Panda Express if I hadn't take a shop. Fast food Chinese? Ewwww. But it's actually edible and I occasionally eat there on my own dime.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
After a year of doing teller inquiries with a certain bank, I became their customer. After 3 months of shopping crappy credit union, I am no longer their customer. Edit: I have the basic savings account because I like their calendars.

I did a mattress shop today. I will soon be their customer.

I (occasionally) go to 5Guys on my own dime for their veggie & cheese sandwich. This is when there are no convenient shops available.

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Me too!
@JASFLALMT wrote:

I bought a Hyundai.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Restaurants I have grown to love thanks to MSing include, Japanese BBQ/Gyu-Kaku, Stone fire grill which was one of my favorites long before MSing, and now they do them about four times a year, still go on my own. Never ate at Red Robin (too many kids), but grew to enjoy their burgers, discovered the Hook through MSing, one hell of a burger. Five Guys, my mind was against it, but do enjoy their burgers. Larsen;s Steak House, haven;t seen it in awhile, but through MSing found out they have an amazing happy hour and piano player. Black Angus, thought it to commercial for my my taste, best beef, burgers, do their bar audits....many more, so thanks MS'ing. Found a makeup I like years ago when About Face did them, still use it although their not shopped now. Discovered Whole Foods has the best wild Salmon from Alaska, learned a lot from their butcher. Been quite an education.

Live consciously....
American Shaman, T-Mobile, regional grocery store, Chili's, a bank even though I love my credit union but it only has 4 branches.
I did phone shops for about 6 plus months eventually bought a phone but not from any of my shops lol However their collective guidance influenced my decision. Sometimes I think mystery shopping is just a way for the companies to gain more customers...especially when there are so many aggressive sales people. I also bought a laptop off a shop I performed. One thing I'm sold on is a gym membership, finally going to get one I did about 10 of them in the last 3 months and decided to try the $10 a month gym next month. I am very cheap so it helps me be a good shopper however I sure was like WOW what a deal, they got me. I am shopping for a car too soon so I am going to pick up a few car shops and see what salesman win my "win a customer" mystery shop lotto smiling smiley

The last shop was a few make up shops, I became a regular at a retail store and now exclusively as the Beauty Advisor for skin assistance. She helped me clear up my skin so I am a regular when she works too. I performed closed to 30 make up and beauty shops and she REALLY stood out that says alot. I also bought another item off another BA, but she is located far from my home however I performed the shop twice.

Mystery shopping sure works! lol winking smiley

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2019 04:24AM by Mysteriousways.
@Mysteriousways wrote:

Sometimes I think mystery shopping is just a way for the companies to gain more customers...especially when there are so many aggressive sales people.

Mystery shoppers account for like .00001% of a business' customers. Just think about it. If a cell phone store is shopped 1 time a week (usually only 1 a month though) and every single 1 of them actually bought a new phone and that was enough to even slightly move the needle then the cell phone store isn't doing enough business to stay open.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
Some time after an inquiry shop, I opened a savings account. I am keeping that account. I am not adding to it as much as I would like to, but it gets a little somethin' somehin' now and then. I got paid for opening it, it earns a little interest, and it is an incentive for me to do another shop there later-- and get a payment and a little more interest.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I changed banks, bought a used vehicle from a "no haggle" local dealership, became a serious fan of two fast casual restaurant chains, and also of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Recently opened a small account at a community bank because there is no minimum AND they reimburse ATM fees for any ATM, anywhere in the US. It has become my "cash" account because of the fee reimbursement. I do a ton of cash-only parking shops and sometimes cannot get to my "big" bank's ATMs when I run low on working capital. So, no more double ATM fees for using other bank's ATMs.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
When I was in Central PA years ago, it was an easy trip to Baltimore so I did the M&T Bank checking account shop. When I got my card in the mail, it had a Ravens logo on it and I've kept that account for that very reason even though the closest one is a 70 min ferry ride away lol. I also switched to Virgin Mobile after doing a shop for them almost 10 years ago, still have it.

Shopping the South Jersey Shore
I am a frequent BLAZE Pizza eater and we rented a storage unit a few weeks after I did a shop there.
Not to mention that their advertising budget would go through the roof if they had to contract with and pay fees to a mystery shopping company to get a few new customers here and there. Just look at how many have said they actually became a customer at a place they mystery shop out of the hundreds of shops some of these places do every month. . Why should I be a paying customer when I can get paid to be a customer.

@bgriffin wrote:

@Mysteriousways wrote:

Sometimes I think mystery shopping is just a way for the companies to gain more customers...especially when there are so many aggressive sales people.

Mystery shoppers account for like .00001% of a business' customers. Just think about it. If a cell phone store is shopped 1 time a week (usually only 1 a month though) and every single 1 of them actually bought a new phone and that was enough to even slightly move the needle then the cell phone store isn't doing enough business to stay open.
I became a customer of Aveda right after my first shop. I had never heard of them before that shop and would shop them still if I could find the shops anywhere. I also have and will continue to eat at Chart House, Gyu Kaku and Blaze. I don't do much retail shopping.
Blaze pizza. I learned it was so much easier and enjoyable to pay for it myself instead of doing the shop and somehow getting 6 names and everything that was said by each person in the span of 2 minutes. I had never been there before mystery shopping them, and now somewhat regularly visit on my own dime. The mystery shop for MOD pizza is much easier, and I'll do that shop even if it's just for reimbursement.
I did a Nordstrom and it happened they were giving a $60.00 gift card to shop their store if you'd open an account. I did and bought a couple great things, hardly use it, but feel I gained and when it comes to my daughters B-day buy her something nice and pay it off......my gain.

Live consciously....
I did a shop at Wild Birds Unlimited and became a member. I am a Bird and Wildlife watcher. I gained a lot of insight on Birdwatching and a discount on bird seeds, squirrel food, birdhouses...
YES! All the time! I found some of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles through mystery shopping, because they just weren't on my radar before. My husband and I frequent them, and I meet friends for lunch and drinks. I now purchase NARS cosmetics after shopping their counter service people and having many makeovers. I don't think the reason for those companies to hire shoppers was to drum up extra business but it's a good perq. On the other hand, I do think all those Wells Fargo account opening shops ARE a ruse to get more business. Wells Fargo is famous for opening false accounts for clients, and this seems to be a loophole for them. (Just my opinion -- no facts to support it other than I don't trust them.)
@FJGodsey wrote:

I did a shop at Wild Birds Unlimited and became a member. I am a Bird and Wildlife watcher. I gained a lot of insight on Birdwatching and a discount on bird seeds, squirrel food, birdhouses...

How are the shops? I've wanted to take one for awhile now.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
I got myself a new mobile shortly after the assessment but my best finding was the company that delivers fresh food to my door.
The Wild Birds shops are pretty easy and the store is nice--small, but nice. I really like their employees and they are very knowledgeable and passionate about birds and squirrels. I love my squirrels and my chipmunks! I did not become a member but I do shop there on my own dime, especially for my FIL on his birthday since he really knows his wild birds.
I also bought a Temperpedic mattress after a furniture shop I did at a furniture store. I didn't become a regular customer of the store but we love that mattress! And I am thinking about getting my husband a new Lazy Boy after doing a shop there.
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