I did a shop yesterday at a pretty good restaurant. Several MSC's are offering this shop. Would it be a problem to do it again for a different company?

NT..I as well do the same restaurant for two different MSC's, one is a bar audit only and the other is lunch, dinner or takeout. I work for both MSC's, it doesn't matter as the reportss are quite different. I gather they are looking for different things. I also have done a high end retail for different MSC's, one a no purchase, the other a P/R. Since we are not asked if we ever did the shops for other MSC's, I don't see why they'd care.

northtexas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I did a shop yesterday at a pretty good
> restaurant. Several MSC's are offering this shop.
> Would it be a problem to do it again for a
> different company?

This comes up from time to time in my area. I know the rotation of the shop for company A is an internal rotation requirement because they break it readily when they can't get it done. They say nothing about not shopping the location for anyone else. Company B has somewhat different observations and a different rotation and also says nothing about shopping the location for someone else. I know the restaurant well enough that I know I have only once seen the same server in there and he was not our server on our first visit when I saw him but on our second. So as far as being identified as 'the shopper', there is little likelihood of that because of staff turnover. The question becomes, then, whether the client is getting the variety they might want, and I would argue that the client is getting a fair and objective set of observations, which is what they are paying for. Of course the "correct" answer here is to ask the schedulers at both MSPs. The differences in the sets of required observations tells me that these are two different shops, so I did not inquire.

I have done the same dealership for two different companies on several occasions but the requirements are totally different and so is the pay. One of the dealerships has three different companies doing three different types of shops. I just can't keep going back to the same dealership.

I see restaurants, electronic/technology stores, grocery stores, occasional banks, and of course a pizza joint shopped by multiple MSPs. Some are competitor shopped, others not. I read the guidelines and adhere. When the guidelines are black and white, I don't ask permission. Sometimes, the shops are scheduled by two MSPs at the same location, same day. Weird. Do the client and MSP(s) know what's going on? Surely, the shopper is not the only one to realize it.

I do my wings restaurants for three different companies. I'm a "frequent eater" at those places and blend in well. I have only done the reveal shop at two of them. I realized I was going to knock myself out of my gravy train if I kept doing the reveals. lol

I see an offer to do a bank several miles from me. Both companies want the same info; is it proper to do both at the same time?

Carefully, read the guidelines and adhere. If either MSP prohibits doing shops for another MSP at the same location, date, etc., don't do it. Otherwise, you need to ensure you can complete both sets of observations and interactions in one fell swoop. Potentially, you have two shops to lose, as well as gain. Losing is not good.

I have 2 different MSC that are doing the same location for the same client. I was going to do bioth at the same time as both the guidelines are basically the same. The only difference is the amonut you spend for the shop to be reimbursed. 1 MSC wants a front picture of the shop the other doesn't. both aredoing this at 2 different locations. I'm a littel leary of doing 1 shop for 2 different MSC's. What do you people think?

I do the same restaurant for two different MSC'a monthly....one a straight dining and the other includes a bar audit. Two very different reports, this happens often with restaurants and retail. Never been a problem.

I did a double like that at a store where one shop was done by the store and the other was done by a company whose product was sold in the store.

plbell627 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have 2 different MSC that are doing the same
> location for the same client. I was going to do
> bioth at the same time as both the guidelines are
> basically the same. The only difference is the
> amonut you spend for the shop to be reimbursed. 1
> MSC wants a front picture of the shop the other
> doesn't. both aredoing this at 2 different
> locations. I'm a littel leary of doing 1 shop for
> 2 different MSC's. What do you people think?


When in doubt, check with both MSCs. Better than winding up with two rejected reports, a restaurant bill you have to foot yourself, and possible deactivation! As the old adage goes, "Honesty is the best policy".

I had an experience recently, where I did a location at the same time for two MSCs, BUT I cleared it beforehand. The clients were different, and I will note that it was not a competitor shop -- the goal of both reports was to keep up standard of service, not to spy. If you're curious about the shops, you might want to think about doing a different location for each MSC.