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@BirdyC wrote:
I don't know if he recognized me, but both times the locations were nearly empty and I couldn't exactly get lost in the crowd. Fortunately I had someone with me other than the person I had with me over the weekend. And fortunately, he didn't take or give me my order yesterday. But he looked at me oddly. I'm so hoping he didn't recognize me. If so, I might be in for another forced "hiatus." These are the only two locations I get to fairly regularly; I'd have to travel out of my way to do any of the other area locations. So I hope I'm not outed!
LOL. I've had a manager from location A transfer to location B and recognize me. They are 10 miles apart. But, I saw him maybe two months from the last time I saw him...not so close in time-frame.
It wasn't a big deal for me.
Maybe he thinks you LOVE Five Guys. LOL.
Definitely suspicious probably. I'd take a self-induced hiatus too.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2020 12:31AM by shoptastic.
There's no reason why it would be weird to be at a 5g two days in a row. After all, the food you had yesterday was so delicious, you had to have it again and just happened to see this location while running errands in the area, right?
@sestrahelena wrote:
There's no reason why it would be weird to be at a 5g two days in a row. After all, the food you had yesterday was so delicious, you had to have it again and just happened to see this location while running errands in the area, right?
I do that with Chick-Fil-A. Eat it several times a week sometimes at different locations.
The one thing that could be weird is "forgetting" to order fries or a drink both times and having the same manager ring you up both times and spot that. And then he might see you standing around the kitchen area observing the crew. And, if it wasn't busy, I could see how maybe a sharp manager might put two and two together and suspect, OP.
Maybe not. I guess, for me, I'd take the hiatus just to be safe. FG is my fave shop and I'd NEVER want to lose them. I once took a four month break, b/c of an unusual situation at one location. When I returned the staff were different (possibly several fired, b/c of my reports).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2020 12:41AM by shoptastic.
This happens at Banks often with Bankers being transfered, very embarrassing....makes one feel like a stalker.
Live consciously....
I tried to get a high-top table for 4 (there were two of us, but they have no high-tops for two) in the dining room that would still give me a good view of the cooking area, but the only ones where I could sit and observe the fries and patties being cooked was at a high-top table for six! But my son and I spread out our coats, my handbag, and our food so that it looked like we needed all that room. LOL.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I do a lot of audits at Chevron. I use to do some mystery shops at stations I didn't audit. I was doing a mystery shop and the general manager of some of the ones I did audits at was there. He told the cashier not to charge me for my in store purchase, no matter how much I protested I didn't get charged. I called the MSC as soon as I left the station, she laughed and told me to explain on report. It went through, but I have never gone to that station again.
Chick-fil-A is shopped where you live?
@shoptastic wrote:
I do that with Chick-Fil-A. Eat it several times a week sometimes at different locations.
I had Birdy's situation happen with an investment shop. Dude remembered every single detail of our meeting. I had to come up with a backup back story real fast.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
This happens at Banks often with Bankers being transfered, very embarrassing....makes one feel like a stalker.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
In my area, I have seen multiple people who don't know each other sit there waiting for their food.
@BirdyC wrote:
I tried to get a high-top table for 4 (there were two of us, but they have no high-tops for two) in the dining room that would still give me a good view of the cooking area, but the only ones where I could sit and observe the fries and patties being cooked was at a high-top table for six! But my son and I spread out our coats, my handbag, and our food so that it looked like we needed all that room. LOL.
On the second of four chili parlors where I encountered a rotating manager, I am certain he gave it no thought, as the two stores were but a few miles apart. The third, however, was in a different county and approx. 12 miles distance. For the fourth, probably 35 miles from the third and in an opposite direction, he knew I was shopping, as his company required managers, if they were not busy, to visit each diner and briefly chat.
My spouse and I did a timeshare shop in southern California quite a few years ago. Neither of us had ever been to that town. We checked in, then went to dinner at local hot spot about 10 miles away. The next morning when we were getting the timeshare presentation, the salesman asked where he had seen us before. We both said we had never been there before, then he says, "hey did you have dinner at such and so restaurant?" We said yes, and he let us know he had been in the next booth over. Very weird. It drove home to my spouse why we NEVER talk about mystery shopping in public.
@shopperbob wrote:
On the second of four chili parlors where I encountered a rotating manager....
OMG; you saw the same manager at four different locations? OK -- the chances of that are much less than what happened to me.
I wouldn't have been as concerned had the first location not been 20 miles away from the second. When we had three Five Guys in my local area, I may have run into the same manager more than once at different locations, but that would have seemed fairly normal.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
That probably would never happen around here! It seems that different areas have different customs. When I first started shopping Five Guys, I thought it was weird to stand near the counter watching the food being cooked, especially if you were doing a dine-in shop. But folks here said it wasn't at all uncommon in their areas to see everybody waiting around at the counter for their food. Here people sit at their tables until their number is called.
I finally worked out some natural ways to make my observations and not look out of place. Especially when a location isn't busy.
I finally worked out some natural ways to make my observations and not look out of place. Especially when a location isn't busy.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
In my area, I have seen multiple people who don't know each other sit there waiting for their food.
@BirdyC wrote:
I tried to get a high-top table for 4 (there were two of us, but they have no high-tops for two) in the dining room that would still give me a good view of the cooking area, but the only ones where I could sit and observe the fries and patties being cooked was at a high-top table for six! But my son and I spread out our coats, my handbag, and our food so that it looked like we needed all that room. LOL.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
What if you wore a wig and a hat? One day you're a blond, the next a brunette? (I honestly have no idea if that would work but it sounds like a fun idea to me). I know I look completely different when I have makeup on vs no makeup so maybe that's something you can do. Or do different outfits, like you're sport chic one day, and then wearing jeans and a sweater the next.
I did a Goodwill in one town, and then a few days later did another one about 26 miles from the first. The same gal was there! I turned around so fast, but I know she saw me. Ugh...
I had one really awkward experience like this... I was doing a series of shops at international banks where I was supposed to try to open accounts meant to wire money from "high risk" countries (i.e. drugs, terrorism). The shop was testing whether or not the bank was following proper security protocols. I ended up being handed over to the same bank manager at two different locations in the same week. She, apparently, worked part-time in both branches..... It crossed my mind that I might end of having a conversation with the FBI before leaving the second bank...
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I went in for a gas station shop and the cashier said "I remember you from the store over where I normally work at. You were the mystery shopper!" I said nothing, and then it hit him. He had this look on his face and said "you're not shopping me now are you?" I did then speak up. I said "ha you're funny." He was relieved and went about his business. You should have seen the look on him when I came back toting the letter of authorization through the air.
A couple of weeks ago, I was doing a compare and contrast tire phone shops. The call was made to NTB and Discount Tire and then the other shop involved comparing Firestone and Discount Tires. I was doing these calls back to back. All four times, a guy called Brad answered!! This truly freaked me out. Different states, locations and different companies and all of them had Brad..Wow!!
I heard Brad is very popular in the tire business.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Still my favorite was doing the Chase bank overdraft shops. This was back when they actually staffed a few bankers per location and you were in and out 15 mins max no appointment needed. I walked in to my last of a route of 8 to 12 on a day. It was near closing time. The banker said here let me get you the materials you need before I could even open my mouth. I had never done the branch nor this banker before. I think the branches call each other.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
WOW, MF, that shop sounds like so much fun (not including the terrorist watch list)!
@MFJohnston wrote:
I had one really awkward experience like this... I was doing a series of shops at international banks where I was supposed to try to open accounts meant to wire money from "high risk" countries (i.e. drugs, terrorism). The shop was testing whether or not the bank was following proper security protocols. I ended up being handed over to the same bank manager at two different locations in the same week. She, apparently, worked part-time in both branches..... It crossed my mind that I might end of having a conversation with the FBI before leaving the second bank...
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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