What’s the strangest mystery shop you’ve ever done?
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Not lol, but kind of strange. I called a bunch of funeral homes about their bereavement services.
Nutrition shop in what seemed to be somone's front room. Was legit lol. And, some bizarre locations for money send shops. Like tiny stores, pawn shops, etc. Felt out of place, awkward, and kinda nervous.
Omg I remember these and the brand. I considered but all the locations seemed so weird. I think it was back when the brand had gotten slapped with some big FDA fines and they needed to makes sure independent reps were towing the line.
Had to go to a small, rural gas station & count how many steps I took from one end of the store to the other…17 steps.
Several years ago, during hurricane season, I had to take a photo of the price sign at gas stations. $60 each, and they were all within one mile from my real job. Funny enough, I’m in Indiana, so no hurricanes here.
Did a CBD shop and bought some cannabis face cream…smells awful and doesn’t work.
Did a maternity shop and had to try on clothes wearing a fake bump. Also had to do a baby registry at Babys R Us. Both shops were funny because I have infertility and cannot conceive.
Going to Hustler and inquiring about dildos. Had to make a small purchase so I bought a birthday card. Cashier asked if I wanted to purchase some lube. Gotta give her credit for attempting to upsell. Lol.
Several years ago, during hurricane season, I had to take a photo of the price sign at gas stations. $60 each, and they were all within one mile from my real job. Funny enough, I’m in Indiana, so no hurricanes here.
Did a CBD shop and bought some cannabis face cream…smells awful and doesn’t work.
Did a maternity shop and had to try on clothes wearing a fake bump. Also had to do a baby registry at Babys R Us. Both shops were funny because I have infertility and cannot conceive.
Going to Hustler and inquiring about dildos. Had to make a small purchase so I bought a birthday card. Cashier asked if I wanted to purchase some lube. Gotta give her credit for attempting to upsell. Lol.
This was strange in a different way. Years ago I shopped a nice restaurant with my husband. Just happened my brother in law who lives 3000 miles away was in town without letting us know and he booked the same restaurant in the same name at the same time in a town (Los Angeles) with thousands of choices. When he arrived first they cancelled my reservation thinking they had double booked him. We spotted him as we entered and I had to use dagger eyes to keep my husband from inviting him to our table. Luckily he was with someone and wanted to eat without us.
This year I did one where I had to go to a Latin grocery store and take a brand of juices off the shelf. I had to take 6 gallons worth of juices as it required one of each flavor. Take it home, go buy the boxes and ship it out to Chicago. It was on the weird side because I still don't understand why they would want the actual juice sent and not just some covert pics of the labels ect. But also it was one of the best shops because I felt pay was fair, it was easy and there was a nice reimbursement for shipping all of those things on my CC.
A few years ago there were shops for a strip club in OKC. And lap dances were required. I did not do the shop but was curious if anyone else here on the forum did.
Not at all proud of this one, but I actually took photos of flush holes in toilets, using a mirror, the day after the cleaning company did their job...I was desperate back then...UGH
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
@Phoebe70 wrote:
Going to Hustler and inquiring about dildos.
And they have names! I just lost it, laughing out loud, by myself, when I saw "Tony the waiter." Still cracks me up!
Liquor audit at a strip club. Shop company did not mention it was a strip club. It was on a board with restaurants, bars and hotels. Luckily I knew that it was a strip club before taking the assignment. Can you imagine if you did not know? Then you get there and are pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised?
Comtrainer2 and anyone else interested..check out this thread from several years ago.
So a strip club near me is being mystery shopped and it seems the focus is basically being a drug and prostitution sting. Isn't that a bit above our pay grade?
a strip club conversation from about three years ago. I copied and pasted the title so it can be searched. Sorry I have no idea how to provide a link
So a strip club near me is being mystery shopped and it seems the focus is basically being a drug and prostitution sting. Isn't that a bit above our pay grade?
a strip club conversation from about three years ago. I copied and pasted the title so it can be searched. Sorry I have no idea how to provide a link
I did a lot of those shops! They mostly went well. I had one rep diagnose me with high cholesterol based on my holding a handle of some sort.
@sbobgal wrote:
Nutrition shop in what seemed to be somone's front room. Was legit lol. And, some bizarre locations for money send shops. Like tiny stores, pawn shops, etc. Felt out of place, awkward, and kinda nervous.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
There were a bunch of shops for one location of a chain vitamin store. The shopper had to take a bunch of pictures of the shelves then pay cash for an item.
Bizarre right?
When I went to purchase my item, the SA told me the register was broken and he couldn't print a receipt for me.
Bizarre right?
When I went to purchase my item, the SA told me the register was broken and he couldn't print a receipt for me.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Asked about a timeshare during a hockey game. I had to record the speil on my phone & made sure to give them an annual income amount that would disqualify us. My husband was mad because even though we started it as soon as the game began (you couldn't do it earlier), he missed a goal that was made in the first minute! I was there to make money, but he really wanted to see the game.
My strangest shop was strange not because of the shop guidelines. It was strange because it was a combo mystery shop/revealed audit and the employee in charge decided to tempt me with a set of new tires if I would report falsely and in the store's favor.
I really resented the extra communication with the MSC's owner and the extra narratives necessary to explain/document the attempted/failed bribe.
I don't know what happened to that employee, if anything. I never returned to that store for another shop/audit.
I really resented the extra communication with the MSC's owner and the extra narratives necessary to explain/document the attempted/failed bribe.
I don't know what happened to that employee, if anything. I never returned to that store for another shop/audit.
Lol. I’ve done the toilet shops!!! Having pics of toilets on my phone is no big deal to me anymore. I do gas stations. 
I also shopped a costume company where I had to try on a costume and take a selfie. That was weird since it was March.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 01:05AM by mmsackett.
I also shopped a costume company where I had to try on a costume and take a selfie. That was weird since it was March.Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 01:05AM by mmsackett.
An employee got injured at work in a bathroom stall. I took pictures of the safety hazard to include in the investigation report.
A coworker joked about having toilet pics on my phone. I thought, "Dude, you have no idea."
A coworker joked about having toilet pics on my phone. I thought, "Dude, you have no idea."
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Mine was a motorcycle shop, where you're looking to purchase a new bike & specific brand. The shop itself wasn't anything unusual nor was it especially difficult as I am a licensed motorcyclist and a long time rider. What was strange was that after I had submitted the report and been paid for the job the salesman at the dealership called me and thanked me for the positive evaluation. I played dumb and said I didn't know what he was talking about. He said he knew I had been the mystery shopper because I was the only female motorcyclist that had come in and looked at that particular brand. Basically he was calling to say "Gotcha!"
I immediately contacted the company and let them know what happened, also letting them know that I could never shop that location again. But seriously, the salesman had done a good job and gotten a good report. He had to make it a point to call me and let me know that I was a mystery shopper? It was just creepy. Needless to say when I was in the market for a new bike I didn't go anywhere near that shop. So he certainly showed me!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 02:47PM by sigh.
I immediately contacted the company and let them know what happened, also letting them know that I could never shop that location again. But seriously, the salesman had done a good job and gotten a good report. He had to make it a point to call me and let me know that I was a mystery shopper? It was just creepy. Needless to say when I was in the market for a new bike I didn't go anywhere near that shop. So he certainly showed me!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 02:47PM by sigh.
This wasn't really strange but a what are the odds one. I just did one of the phone funeral shops. The funeral director was from the rural town I live and knew a lot of the funeral professionals in town! Out of all the people, I get a local lol.
"Dude, you have no idea."
Bahahaha!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 04:48PM by sbobgal.
Bahahaha!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2021 04:48PM by sbobgal.
sigh you reminded me of the restaurant shop I did for mid afternoon at a chain sit down eatery. I was there alone in an almost empty large restaurant and ordered a dish that advertised it had ricotta and parmesan in it. When it arrived it clearly was cottage cheese. I was allowed to contact the server about issues in that shop so I called her over and said it tasted like cottage cheese to me. She went into the kitchen and tasted the cheese and came back and said I was totally correct. A few minutes later the friendly manager plopped himself down in my booth. He not only had brought me a selection of little cups of the cheeses they had but proceeded to tell me his life story about how he got into restaurant work, where he had worked before, the chain's decision to cut costs by using basic cottage cheese etc. and on and on. He was very entertaining and I sat there thinking that if I ever got outed this would be the time. But it was not until several shops later at a different branch of the same restaurant that I got outed on a pick up from the parking lot shop where the order took over an hour to come out. I had never met the manager face to face but he claimed he knew who I was after reading the timings on that one.
I did a theater venue visit. The show that night was Thunder Down Under. The shop requirement included alcohol and VIP seating. Best mystery shop ever!
Oh, if we are talking best shops:
The bonused Crate & Barrel shop where I got a fully reimbursed high quality shower curtain;
The shop where I found my Tax Dude;
The Big Lots shops that kept me stocked in TP at the beginning of the pandemic
The bonused Crate & Barrel shop where I got a fully reimbursed high quality shower curtain;
The shop where I found my Tax Dude;
The Big Lots shops that kept me stocked in TP at the beginning of the pandemic
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Not strange, but different. Shopping pickup at chain pizza place, I reported that the drivers were standing around loudly talking to each other using foul language. The franchisee got my name and phone number from the mystery shop company and called me to get more details and descriptions of these employees. Not cool of the MS company.
The shop that was approved and paid. Several months after the check cleared I was contacted by MS company asking for more details.
Identifying businesses that are pirating cable services. You go in and videotape and prove that they are using cable or showing pay-per-view events illegally. We went to a bar one time on a tip and there was a bunch of police activity and the m s c still wanted us to go figure out what was going on and see if they were airing the fight. Husband went up there and it was a Hispanic bar and neither one of us speak a word of Spanish. They were not showing the fight and had been busted by the cops for illegal drugs! We got the heck out of the parking lot in a hurry!
Anybody else remember measuring the water that your toilet bowl held if you had one of three particular brands?
@OCyou2 wrote:
Anybody else remember measuring the water that your toilet bowl held if you had one of three particular brands?
I don't think I did this one but I did the one with the mirrors in the toilets before.
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