@johnb974 wrote:

I have a friend who use to work at a burger place I do a lot of mystery shops. I told him I did mystery shops where he use to work. He said anytime someone had an order for 3 items ONLY, the word went out, "MYSTERY SHOPPER" Only mystery shoppers made 3 item orders. (Burger, fries, drink) I was told by a cell phone store manager, they know who the mystery shoppers are, because they are the only one's asking questions. I believe many times the guidelines give you away.

I get that about the cell phone shops, most of the cell phone store employees don't even try to sell the phones and know almost nothing about them. If you had a Samsung, or any Android phone they will take you to the Samsung display, and if you had an iPhone, they will take you to the Apple display. And if you tell them you prefer LG phones they look at you like you have three eyes, unless they have and use LG phones.. lol

@johnb974 wrote:

Only mystery shoppers made 3 item orders. (Burger, fries, drink)

This is complete and utter BS. Well over half of my non MS fast food orders contain a burger, fries, and a drink. Now, if we're talking about Wendy's, then yes, because I don't see how anybody can stomach those nasty ass fries.

I would LOVE IT if one particular non-food shop WOULD identify me because then we could play the game and not waste any time. Somebody must have finally figured out that you can't judge a person's height IF THEY ARE SITTING. There is a new question that asks if the specialist was standing during the shop.

@bgriffin wrote:

@johnb974 wrote:

Only mystery shoppers made 3 item orders. (Burger, fries, drink)

This is complete and utter BS. Well over half of my non MS fast food orders contain a burger, fries, and a drink. Now, if we're talking about Wendy's, then yes, because I don't see how anybody can stomach those nasty ass fries.

I would think around 90% of orders would be 3 items, like a combo.

I know that I skip the fries no matter how great they are, unless it's a shop and it's a required purchase. I also know that I am the exception, not the rule. Most people get the combo. I think that there are a small percentage who just get a drink, some just get a salad, and some might just grab a parfait or a dessert. Everyone else gets the combo meals.

When we go to our local hardware store as regular customers we always come out laughing and saying, "They are obviously NOT expecting a mystery shopper today!"

I've talked about this at length with several colleagues on MSC clients that tip their associates off that I'm the shopper. I know that companies have various reasons of doing so, yet I've always felt that its a waste of money to have a mystery shopping program when you influence the integrity of the shopping guidelines. An absolute waste.

Nonetheless, even if companies know if I'm the shopper, I'm still going to do my job. Whether they want to waste money is completely up to them. I could care less.

@bgriffin wrote:

@johnb974 wrote:

Only mystery shoppers made 3 item orders. (Burger, fries, drink)

This is complete and utter BS. Well over half of my non MS fast food orders contain a burger, fries, and a drink. Now, if we're talking about Wendy's, then yes, because I don't see how anybody can stomach those nasty ass fries.

If you're a single person making a 3 item order, good chance you're a mystery shopper. If you're with someone and you're making an order for 2 burgers, 2 fries, 2 drinks, you're NOT a mystery shopper.

80% of my fast food orders it's just me. I rarely MS fast food.

I do a monthly shop at a MSC known for using a small group of trained shoppers. Yesterday I walked in and the cashier greeted me by name. The Expo had an extra-wide smile on his face. When the manager (new to me) came out and saw me sitting there he made a beeline towards my table to make a visit before checking in at any other tables.

However, word didn't get to the person who should have cleaned the bathroom. It still had all of the normal issues.

@oteixeira wrote:

Honestly, have the scenarios make you stick out like a sore thumb with oddball questions and requests anyway.

True

who in this day and age don't know ALL tables are capable of texting and messaging.

Pretty sure this happened to me recently. I was at a burger joint and had to order a burger, fries, soda, and milkshake. (Side note - seriously, both a soda and shake? Could the shop rules make it more obvious that I was either a mystery shopper or aiming to become the neighborhood's fattest man?). In any event, once I sat down, I heard the manager say to his employees something like "keep things moving and keep the lobby clean, we have a mystery shopper." So either my order clued them in, or they knew someone would be coming sometime in dinner hours.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2019 01:56AM by tornado163.

A shake is really a dessert, not a drink. I would think that a person would order a shake and a beverage, otherwise one would get thirsty during the meal.

@mjt9598 wrote:

A shake is really a dessert, not a drink. I would think that a person would order a shake and a beverage, otherwise one would get thirsty during the meal.

but the problem is the shake is given to you first and then you have to taste it right away in order to judge thickness and consistency. I hate milkshake shops. Not because I don't love the milkshakes, it's because I end up being super full afterward (bloated feeling from overeating/drinking). I always wonder what they think when I come in and order, sit down, then my husband comes in and orders himself some food and sits down with me.
I hate 90% of the grocery store questions. They are super stupid and would make me feel like a nincompoop asking, "how much hamburger meat do you need to serve 4 people" or How do you tell if a strawberry is ripe. I always ask the harder./trickier questions, Like how do you cook sea scallops or what fruit is in season right now. I eat sea scallops at restaurants but have never cooked them myself. The fruit in season question is easy to justify because you would get sweeter fruit if it's in season, or locally grown fruit the same because it could stay on the vine longer. I've always thought that could be why fruit doesn't taste as good as it did when I was a kid in California. Now they pick the fruit so earlier and it ripens off of the vine. They ship from far away places so it doesn't have time to stay on the vine. They want it to look ripe when you buy it. There is nothing worse than having your mouth all ready for this nice juicy delicious looking piece of fruit, but when you take a bite it tastes like water and has no flavor or sweetness at all!
I've done plenty of grocery store shops where they are totally unaware of the questions the MS asks and say "google it".I would do that anyway, but I don't need you telling me to do that! I wanted YOUR ideas.
I've been made at carlots and gas stations, but never at jewelry stores, FF, grocery stores, and cell phone shops. The jewelry store shop is easy to throw off because I ask about the item that they want me to ask about then I ask about another item that I would really be interested in. I have a credit card from that store that I never use LOL. I got it to piggyback my ol' man off me and get him a credit score. I got it before I became a mystery shopper and only used it for that one credit building purchase. But it's a good cover because they always think I am a real customer with at least 2500 buying power.

@F and L TeleComm wrote:

@mjt9598 wrote:

A shake is really a dessert, not a drink. I would think that a person would order a shake and a beverage, otherwise one would get thirsty during the meal.

but the problem is the shake is given to you first and then you have to taste it right away in order to judge thickness and consistency. I hate milkshake shops. Not because I don't love the milkshakes, it's because I end up being super full afterward (bloated feeling from overeating/drinking). I always wonder what they think when I come in and order, sit down, then my husband comes in and orders himself some food and sits down with me.

I am missing something here. Why is your husband coming in seperately from you? There is nothing the guidelines prohibiting you from ordering together, and paying together. The guidelines only say you need to order your food first. Also why not get the milkshake after you are finished eating? I do that, and had my shop approved, every time. The guidelines only say you have to order the four items, they do not say you have to order them all together.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2019 03:11PM by Lady Marius.

I have ordered the shake with my initial order and told them I would like it to be prepared after I’m finished with the meal. They had no problem doing this. I just go back to the counter when I’m ready for my shake. Job was accepted.

@kenasch wrote:

I have ordered the shake with my initial order and told them I would like it to be prepared after I’m finished with the meal. They had no problem doing this. I just go back to the counter when I’m ready for my shake. Job was accepted.

I do this, too. Get the shake as I am leaving. At some fast food places asking for a receipt when one is not normally given sends red flags to the employees. Even if I am not MS and I go to a place like Carl's Jr. I always ask for a receipt in the hopes they might think I am there to MS and thus I will get better service.

@F and L TeleComm wrote:

"how much hamburger meat do you need to serve 4 people"

So, when the kid said, "one pound per person," that might have been wrong? No lie. Everyone is going to die of a heart attack if they start listening to that kid.

"When employees are informed that a mystery shopper is coming in..." For me, that was like Bill Engvall's "Here's your sign!" I do more merchandising than shops. I am me, I use my real name, and everything is overt. This is a good thing. I recommend it.

Most FF employees could care less and don't know about Mystery shoppers. I see it over and over, asking dumb questions bring some sort of answer, and although most don't ask questions, they are now taught to know things.
After 14 years of this and being caught only once insures me of this......they want to get their paycheck and go home. I would like to think they care, but find it difficult, making low pay and other things on their mind. Smiling and saying thank you is all they do...talking about FF only. McD's near me is the only FF that asks if you want your receipt and their drive thru has the best employees...go figure.

I just hate to do a bar shop and they recognize you to the point where they go, "you're ordering the usual again?"

why is the MSC on MY butt to not get discovered when their rules are likely to get me discovered but they seem to never change their end. 1) only spending $10/$15 in stores where VERY little is priced at that amount. 2) ordering specific items 3) asking too many questions 4) getting the sales person to recommend, help you try on etc then walking out with SOCKS!! 5) making you me call when they know the company has caller ID and a database. The employee figures it out and shares.
But i kind of agree, so what? i get better service. I got a restaurant manager once to give me a recipe. although i guess he could have genuinely been that attentive i assumed he identified me as a shopper.
i cannot STAND it when i get that feedback from an editor 'next time don't blah blah blah it may get you identified' - NO - the fact that I spent $10 at Crate and Barrel is the DEAD giveaway.

Pretty sure that they don't know who I am yet tonight. I was told that "whatever" is good grilled. LOL Thanks for the effort buddy.

I was doing a fast food shop, have done this same store many times. You're required to take pictures of the counter. I was taking the picture and the manager, said "We know who you are John, you're the secret shopper" I was given some extra samples.

@johnb974 wrote:

I was doing a fast food shop, have done this same store many times. You're required to take pictures of the counter. I was taking the picture and the manager, said "We know who you are John, you're the secret shopper" I was given some extra samples.

My cashier asked me the other night why was I taking pictures and I told him it's for social media and proceed to show him what I had for lunch as well