Do you remember how bad some shops use to be?

I remember one restaurant shop, you couldn't take home a "doggie bag" because it would mark you as a mystery shopper. I remember one MSC wanted to deduct $2 from your pay each time they had to contact you about the shop. Another MSC you had to have the exact same cell phone you're shopping for. Even though you were told not to bring in your phone or even mention what you own that phone. That really limited who could do that shop.

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I remember having to call in results by phone.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

One shop they wanted you to discreetly take pictures inside a bank.

Write your long narratives on a paper forms, send in a copy, and also type everything again into a computer form.

Wearing video equipment that had a backpack full of batteries that I’d Ace bandage under my shopper shirt. After about 30 minutes, it would get HOT!

Tell the clerk you won a million dollars and need to wire $5,000 to a stranger to collect it. With a straight face.

@mystery2me wrote:

Tell the clerk you won a million dollars and need to wire $5,000 to a stranger to collect it. With a straight face.

I did two of these shops where the employee agreed to do the money transfer.

Being told it's a "hot shop" but it's $9 reimbursement for food and a $0 shop fee. Oh wait, that's happening today on Market Force!

I remember that one !!!

My first non-fast food shop was 20 yrs. ago. I was given seven days to visit and 24 hrs. to report. My fee was $10, with a $30 reimbursement. Just a tad of narrative, no pics of the food or building and zero food requirements.

In the event you wonder why assignments are radically different today, it is due to shoppers accepting more work for the same or less money. Yesterday, I received an offer to visit an apt. community for exactly the same fee, $50, I was paid in 2003; I did not apply but offered to complete the work for $70.

Remember the KMart shops where you had to interact with I think six different associates?? Tons of fun.

@Snuffycuts99 wrote:

Remember the KMart shops where you had to interact with I think six different associates?? Tons of fun.

Some shops for Giant Eagle recently felt like this but thankfully they streamlined it fairly fast and now we only need to report on two departments and our checkout experience.

@jp43209 wrote:

@Snuffycuts99 wrote:

Remember the KMart shops where you had to interact with I think six different associates?? Tons of fun.
Some shops for Giant Eagle recently felt like this but thankfully they streamlined it fairly fast and now we only need to report on two departments and our checkout experience.

Lucky you! A regional grocery chain here still requires 6 interactions plus check out. Oh, and the exact quote for the greeting from each, which you rarely receive, and "no greeting" is NOT an acceptable response. Horrible.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2024 01:24AM by bradkcrew.

I remember one where they wanted to know the exact time you entered and left each department. I think there were 5 different departments in the grocery store. There was one shop I did, they wanted to know the eye color of the person you spoke to.

Brad, I was going to write the same thing....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2024 02:13AM by Nikki21.

The first mystery shops I did were for movie theaters, and I had to fax my receipts to the MSC.

Yes apartment shops where you wrote things out long-hand and have to fax in the narratives. I got a phone call back stating that it "looked" incomplete.

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Do you remember how bad some shops use to be?

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