I was spotted as a shopper (Apartments Only)
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Why? Some people see us as the enemy. There's also a gotcha factor.
You’ve got to mix it up. Get a working rotation of 10-20 different emails, Burner numbers, and aliases.
If they asked if you were a mystery shopper, always deny it with something like "a mystery what?".
Just pass it off as you are just checking out which of the various apartments in the area you want to live in. They all have to have their pros and cons.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2021 08:00PM by wrosie.
Just pass it off as you are just checking out which of the various apartments in the area you want to live in. They all have to have their pros and cons.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2021 08:00PM by wrosie.
Or when you meet the same agent at a different property, and have to pull that off. 
@kenasch wrote:
What is a 3pm$ job?
Use your imagination, flip the 3 right to left and take slash out of the $ to get the MSC. They could have just said EPMS because they didn't name the client.
@sbobgal wrote:
Or when you meet the same agent at a different property, and have to pull that off.
If someone is truly looking for places to live they are going to search and visit several apartments.
Most places require ID so you have to use your name that matches your ID.
@wrosie wrote:
@kenasch wrote:
What is a 3pm$ job?
Use your imagination, flip the 3 right to left and take slash out of the $ to get the MSC. They could have just said EPMS because they didn't name the client.
Thanks. That hint went right over my head.
You have to show your ID to tour the apartment.
@jdoj wrote:
You have to show your ID to tour the apartment.
So show your ID, and if they question it, just say you are just checking out which of the various apartments in the area you want to live in. They all have to have their pros and cons.
A target gave the MSC a nickname. Of course I could not reach the target, so I was given permission to ask for her. When I arrived at the property for my tour, I asked her about the nickname.
She said it was how she identified mystery shoppers.
She said it was how she identified mystery shoppers.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I do have different accounts but one ID. They scan IDs now, for some companies it tells what properties you have visited.
I figured that one too, a lot of times we are given their full names like Timothy but they prefer to be called Tim. I try not to ask for them by name.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If they know I am the mystery shopper near the beginning of my shop (when it actually matters), then why do they not get a perfect score? Recognizing your prospect as a mystery shopper near the beginning of your presentation is like having a cheat sheet with all the questions and answers when you take an exam.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2021 02:19AM by AZwolfman.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2021 02:19AM by AZwolfman.
I have only been spotted as a shopper a few times, and not on an apartment shop. So with apartments, I changed from I'm looking for something for me to I'm also looking for something for my mother when I discovered I was calling a senior 62+ property. Oops! Or when I had 4 apartment shops in the day for a company in one area, they offered to set me up for others I was interested in at the same time, and I said I don't really know right now, I'm at work I will call back when I see something else. So I lined up 4 in one day and just kept with the same response that I was looking for something closer to work and I really liked the pics I saw and this is the day I have set aside.
But seriously, they know someone might be a mystery shopper and they still aren't getting things right? Maybe they need more training and role play.
But seriously, they know someone might be a mystery shopper and they still aren't getting things right? Maybe they need more training and role play.
That's the main reason why we shop them, for trainning purposes. Very rarely do I see a shop with 100%. I think the saddest part about it is them blaming us, like we set the guidelines.
Guys I am just getting into the apartment video shopping game. I worry about this as I plan to do quite a few local and traveling if I possibly can. This does not seem possible to give an alias when you have to give an ID with you address. This would make burner emails and phone numbers useless as well. Can I get any hints with this or if this is something I should not really worry about.
@jrj76
I've been doing them for three years and only been spotted once maybe twice. I have 15 email accounts and only 4 phone numbers. My email accounts match my aliases. So if my name was Beverly Ashley Johnson, I would use Bev, Bee, Beevee, Ash, BJ, BeeJay, AJ are such variations of my actual name. That way my ID semi matches. Now I will say the companies that requested videos for my jobs, the agents are a bit lax. You can tell when they spot you because they try to hit every point, it's almost perfect. I have not been physically approached and they called me a shopper. They report it to management or the client before it gets back to you. When it comes to ID, very few pay attention to the name. They usually just toss it in a draw, they don't look at your address. You should be fine, good luck.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2021 05:46AM by Lassie12.
I've been doing them for three years and only been spotted once maybe twice. I have 15 email accounts and only 4 phone numbers. My email accounts match my aliases. So if my name was Beverly Ashley Johnson, I would use Bev, Bee, Beevee, Ash, BJ, BeeJay, AJ are such variations of my actual name. That way my ID semi matches. Now I will say the companies that requested videos for my jobs, the agents are a bit lax. You can tell when they spot you because they try to hit every point, it's almost perfect. I have not been physically approached and they called me a shopper. They report it to management or the client before it gets back to you. When it comes to ID, very few pay attention to the name. They usually just toss it in a draw, they don't look at your address. You should be fine, good luck.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2021 05:46AM by Lassie12.
Thank you for putting me at ease. Can you explain the actual need of giving an ID? Is it so they have proof for followup or is there some other legal purpose that is serves?
Her employer should require that she use her real name.
It's a safety thing. They keep the ID in case something happens so they know who's entering the property or who's out with the agent at that time.@jrj76 wrote:
Thank you for putting me at ease. Can you explain the actual need of giving an ID? Is it so they have proof for followup or is there some other legal purpose that is serves?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2021 01:37PM by foodluvr.
ID is required because there is a whole category of criminals who prey on apartment and realestate agents. If your job was to accompany complete strangers to empty apartments , homes or offices you would soon understand the need.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
that has happened to me. same agent-different property. So I played it by ear..." still looking...I want to make this next move my last move "
Dittos on the burner numbers, emails, etc. I have several google numbers, emails, etc.
Dittos on the burner numbers, emails, etc. I have several google numbers, emails, etc.
@Lassie12 wrote:
I do have different accounts but one ID. They scan IDs now, for some companies it tells what properties you have visited.
Use your passport. The ID scanners in leasing offices are set to scan drivers licenses, not passports or military IDs. If asked, you can always say that you left your DL at the last apartment community and are headed back to get it after this appointment.
I like this idea if it works. Why couldn't the agent just take a photo of your passport with their smartphone and upload it into their computer?@ColoKate63 wrote:
@Lassie12 wrote:
I do have different accounts but one ID. They scan IDs now, for some companies it tells what properties you have visited.
Use your passport. The ID scanners in leasing offices are set to scan drivers licenses, not passports or military IDs. If asked, you can always say that you left your DL at the last apartment community and are headed back to get it after this appointment.
There is an easy solution to this if you are a woman or Asian. A woman can always give a different last name and say she divorced since the ID was issued. An Asian immigrating to USA usually adopts an American first name to go by, but still retains their birth name on their ID.@jrj76 wrote:
Guys I am just getting into the apartment video shopping game. I worry about this as I plan to do quite a few local and traveling if I possibly can. This does not seem possible to give an alias when you have to give an ID with you address. This would make burner emails and phone numbers useless as well. Can I get any hints with this or if this is something I should not really worry about.
If you are an American male, then it gets really difficult, especially if you have a name like mine that can have no possible variation to use as a nickname. I have used my name, my middle name, and a variation of my middle name. Eventually I had to make up generic nicknames like, Buzz, Buddy, Bud, Rusty, Skip, and that gets next to impossible after enough apartment shops. I have also googled "male nicknames" to help. Some are riduculous, but some are helpful suggestions.
However, a fake name only helps during the pre-visit phone call. It does no good when you make the in-person visit and give the agent your ID. If asked at that time, then you give a reason why you go by a different name. Most helpful is that about 5% of the agents fail to ask for your ID, and another 45% just immediately put it in the drawer without looking at it.
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