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Mystery shops that are impossible to do covert.

January 12, 2024 10:07PM
I've done shops where they want you to take pictures inside a store covertly. Some stores that's impossible. The store is small the the employee is standing at the counter watching you. They want a picture of the counter, that is impossible to do covertly. The employee is is right there. I've finally told the clerk I was doing a shop and they wanted pictures of the store. Most employees have no problem with that.

In the past I've done clothing stores where I had to go to several racks, and count 12 items in a row to see if they are the same. The employees would walk over ahead of me and straighten out the racks. Sometimes it's what you order that gives you away. I had one friend who worked for a fast food place. He told me, they know who the mystery shoppers are, by what they order. I had a cell phone shop owner who told me they know who the mystery shoppers are. They are the ONLY one's asking questions.

Do people designing these shops understand the questions give the mystery shopper away?
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January 13, 2024 12:16AM
@ServiceAward wrote:

As far as covert pictures, you can do it with an employee looking right at you, and they will never know. You have to be natural and not appear nervous. You tell on yourself otherwise. I think we often let our minds freak us out on this. You are just a normal customer to the guy behind the counter until you do something to draw attention to yourself.

Asking a lot of questions certainly can be a giveaway. If I am designing a shop, I would design it with no more than 3 questions. Anything over 3 is a red flag for any seasoned retail or the service industry worker. The one good there is there is so much turnover in those industries, many won't have a clue.

You have to take pictures of several areas of the store. It's a small store. I don't understand why they just won't make it an open audit.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2024 12:17AM by johnb974.
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January 13, 2024 01:13AM
Over a 17 mo. period, I completed 54 shops where my job was to check on a worker's attendance and their job effort. The client then decided they desired a full head shot of the agent covertly snapped. These were in a main aisle at Wal-Mart, with nowhere to hid and zoom. I moved on to other work.

Predicated upon some of the ridiculous requirements of clients, there is no doubt in my mind we, as shoppers, are occasionally outed. Back when I was attempting to succeed as a full timer, I was required to request a receipt for 1/2 dollar. The cashier's question of, "You want what?" It was a one and done assignment for me.

The worst part of the above is that if the person reports you as a shopper, you might not be paid.
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January 13, 2024 02:05AM
@johnb974 wrote:

I've done shops where they want you to take pictures inside a store covertly. Some stores that's impossible. The store is small the the employee is standing at the counter watching you. They want a picture of the counter, that is impossible to do covertly. The employee is is right there. I've finally told the clerk I was doing a shop and they wanted pictures of the store. Most employees have no problem with that.

In the past I've done clothing stores where I had to go to several racks, and count 12 items in a row to see if they are the same. The employees would walk over ahead of me and straighten out the racks. Sometimes it's what you order that gives you away. I had one friend who worked for a fast food place. He told me, they know who the mystery shoppers are, by what they order. I had a cell phone shop owner who told me they know who the mystery shoppers are. They are the ONLY one's asking questions.

Do people designing these shops understand the questions give the mystery shopper away?

There is a local fried chicken place here in Texas. Notoriously small restaurants. The MSC wanted a shot of the order board inside the business.

What I did was tell them that I’m going to take a picture and text it to someone to see what they want instead of reading it off to them.

It worked.
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January 13, 2024 02:48AM
I can't speak to their reliability or effectiveness, but there are body cameras made for covert use (Google body cameras) that look like a pen in your pocket. I assume that you could get screenshot stills from video files of shops.
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January 13, 2024 03:11AM
@ServiceAward wrote:

As far as covert pictures, you can do it with an employee looking right at you, and they will never know. You have to be natural and not appear nervous. You tell on yourself otherwise. I think we often let our minds freak us out on this. You are just a normal customer to the guy behind the counter until you do something to draw attention to yourself.
Any tips on how to naturally get photos of the gas pump, pump toppers, main building, closeup of main building sign, window signage, underside of the canopy, side of the canopy, price sign, landscaping, planters, pavement etc. when the client doesn't tell you that the gas station you're assigned to is on a tiny little parcel and has a pump attendant who walks up to you the minute you get out of your car, then stays by your side to pump the required gas purchase while you try to get your photos? Because that happened to me once.

Then it's inside to a "store" that's more cramped than the Marx Brothers' stateroom in "A Night at the Opera." Where they want photos of the counter, promotional signage, merchandise racks, drink cooler, coffee station, soda fountain, and, of course, the restroom, which is actually an unmarked broom closet with a toilet. And don't forget to get a receipt for that pack of Lance Toast Chee which is all the client reimburses for!

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2024 03:14AM by KokoBWare.
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January 13, 2024 06:21AM
@KoKo.... "Unmarked broom closet with a toilet." Yes, I am still laughing out loud.
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January 14, 2024 01:42AM
I think your choices are to either use creative lying skills, or don’t take the shop.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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January 14, 2024 01:44AM
-delete because my internet had a case of the stoopids-

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2024 02:12AM by drdoggie00.
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January 14, 2024 12:55PM
Act like your a personal shopper/ stylist. You gotta get real creative with these covert shops lol
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January 14, 2024 01:27PM
At small stations where I absolutely cannot do the photos covertly, I just straight up say I am taking taking photos for X brand and start taking pictures. I know at least one brand says absolutely never identify yourself as a mystery shopper. I've never run into any tiny locations for those, and I'm not in a full-service state, but if it happened I would just give a knowing smile take the photos and hope they go along.
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