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Grocery shop question

October 06, 2024 08:15PM
A new round has started for me, after a hiatus.
I am pretty good at striking up conversations in all the areas and keeping it natural and believable
except I stumble at the butcher shop/meat counter...
I can't think of what a typical shopper would want to know there that they couldn't
already find out by looking through the meat cases.
I started asking about meat platters and the last guy told me that would be handled
at the deli lol.
You all are good at this.
What do you ask the meat people when you chat them up?
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More About Grocery Store Mystery Shopping
October 06, 2024 08:27PM
I don't do this shop but some things that I'll ask at the meat/seafood is what's on special this week, is x cut more of a low and slow or quick sear kind of cut, do you carry salmon poke, have you tried this brand of smoked salmon, where is x seafood from?

You could also ask if they do large briskets or standing rib roasts, if they thin slice ribeyes, if they have Korean marinated meat for bulgogi or Mexican for carne asada, etc.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2024 08:40PM by olympia tennenbaum.
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October 06, 2024 08:30PM
I usually ask meat people, even when I'm not shopping, if I can order bulk organ meat, like hearts, kidneys, livers, melts (spleen), or lungs.
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October 06, 2024 10:12PM
I would ask the difference between shrimp caught in our waters and shrimp caught overseas (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia).

I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast, where you could buy shrimp straight off the boat, so I guess I'm a bit of a shrimp snob.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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October 06, 2024 10:20PM
Thanks for the ideas.... I tend to shop small town rural stores where some of these would be unusual requests - although I am sure they do get unusual requests from time to time....
I think asking for shrimp from the US or weekly specials might be typical...
Thanks
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October 06, 2024 11:01PM
BB: I hope this helps.

For meat you can ask: What the freshest cuts currently are?; What grades of beef do you have?; What meat is best for smoking/grilling/crockpot?;

For seafood you can ask: Is <insert fish name> wild caught or farm raised?; Are deep sea scallops in season?;

Or make general inquiries: Can I use <pick a seasoning mix near the counter> this on meat/chicken/fish?; Do you sell the wood skewers you use for shish kabab?
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October 07, 2024 03:11AM
Butcher asked if he could help me and I stood there a few seconds and said " I just forgot my question! Give me a few minutes and I'll be back." Meanwhile I saw his name badge ad checked out his height and age.

Next time I sincerely asked about the ad for black angus steak "what makes it black? The hide?"

Another time I was in a store I know I will not be returning to. I watched the butcher assist another customer and stared at the hat with the name badge. Butcher thought I was a wierdo but I won't be back there anyhow.
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October 07, 2024 10:44AM
Skewers is a good question, especially for the summer months. Thanks
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October 07, 2024 10:48AM
oh, I need to pay it forward, in case it helps anyone else....for bakery, deli and seafood, I ask where they keep the party planner ordering lists...(they're usually in a brochure holder nearby)
Works like a charm, appears natural and gives them opportunity to earn good rating. True story, I once asked a seafood dept guy for a party planning list and he whipped it out from behind the counter, grabbed a pencil and started planning a party along with me....asking me tons of questions that forced me to improvise right on the spot - lol - by the time we were finished, it was a party we both wanted to attend lol - lobster tails, cocktail shrimp, steamed clams lol.
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October 09, 2024 04:27PM
If this is the grocery store where you approach the meat counter and see how they greet you, I've done one of three things. Working on the Produce part of the report in front of the meat case. They come up, greet me. I say, "Sorry, I don't need anything." Second, "Do you have liver?" 3. Do you sell Brown Sugar Bacon?"

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
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October 09, 2024 04:55PM
I ask if any of the fresh sausage is made from chicken. I already know the answer is no, so I say just thank you and move along.
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October 09, 2024 06:08PM
What's the best cut for a pot roast. Normally they'll walk me to where the chuck roast is in the display case.
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October 10, 2024 03:30PM
These are all good inputs. Thank you in case I ever do the markets again. Used to be a locally owned one but that contract expired. Now it is another locally owned grocer with 10 departments to shop for $40. No thanks.
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October 11, 2024 01:20AM
@BarefootBliss wrote:

A new round has started for me, after a hiatus.
I am pretty good at striking up conversations in all the areas and keeping it natural and believable
except I stumble at the butcher shop/meat counter...
I can't think of what a typical shopper would want to know there that they couldn't
already find out by looking through the meat cases.
I started asking about meat platters and the last guy told me that would be handled
at the deli lol.
You all are good at this.
What do you ask the meat people when you chat them up?

But aren't the questions on the report solely based on whether or not they escort you to a particular item that you asked for? To me that is the awkward part that prevents me from doing them. How many times can I pretend to the same employees that I can't survey a small area and find what I am looking for in their department? And the deli person is certainly not going to ever come from behind the counter to find something for me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2024 01:27AM by bradkcrew.
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October 11, 2024 10:20AM
Are these the grocery stores found in northeast , mostly in NY and New England?
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October 11, 2024 11:29AM
@Morledzep wrote:

I usually ask meat people, even when I'm not shopping, if I can order bulk organ meat, like hearts, kidneys, livers, melts (spleen), or lungs.

Crab/crawfish/gator bait? Inquiring mind here!
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October 11, 2024 02:47PM
Being mostly carnivore, I would ask them if they have free or low cost beef trimmings.
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October 11, 2024 10:50PM
As the meat dept and seafood are together I ask if they carry Dover Sole Filet- usually get a weird look in response and then am asked what that is- I say my mom always wants dover sole filet but I cannot find it anywhere and walk away. I used to buy it all the time when I lived in the NY area- have not found it anywhere else.
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October 11, 2024 11:33PM
Off topic, but we are getting to soup season.

Mom used to use beef shanks to make vegetable beef soup. The big name grocery store would have to special order them and the price was outrageous. Found in Dallas if I went to the Mexican grocery store, they had them in stock and less than half the price of the special order stuff.

They also had organ meats and stuff you don't normally see at the chains. In the butcher case.

Or you can just buy short ribs for 3 times the price.
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October 11, 2024 11:38PM
Rosie,

I seriously miss California Mexican grocery stores. There is nothing that compares to a good Mexican grocery meat selection for variety or price.
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October 12, 2024 01:39PM
@eileencear wrote:

Are these the grocery stores found in northeast , mostly in NY and New England?

Yes, that is what I am talking about, the cost axer group, lol. Maybe others are talking about a different chain, because there is nothing on the report regarding a question interaction, despite what the guidelines say. I reached out to the scheduler regarding that after my first shop a long time back. I was told not to worry about asking questions, that the guidelines "could use a review," so I have never asked questions after the first shop I completed. The report is solely based on them escorting you to a product you ask for, so again, I would love feedback on what others are asking for, and why you are focused on a question interaction when there is no place to report it? I avoid these because I just can't come up with items to ask for that are 1. Actually in their department
2. Far enough away that they can't just point 3. It isn't blatantly obvious for me to find.
Thanks!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2024 01:46PM by bradkcrew.
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October 15, 2024 12:31AM
I ask for tips on cooking: can I make this in an air fryer, I not familiar with cooking fish would this be okay to make in a pan or does it need to be in the oven, can I grill on these on a barbecue.
Are these the cooked shrimp or the raw ones. Have you tried this meatless plant based hamburger.
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October 15, 2024 01:28PM
Some ideas that I use in real life.... For seafood, I ask if the fish has been previously frozen. For deli, I ask for a recommendation for low salt turkey or ham

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain
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November 11, 2024 05:52AM
@bradkcrew wrote:

@eileencear wrote:

Are these the grocery stores found in northeast , mostly in NY and New England?

Yes, that is what I am talking about, the cost axer group, lol. Maybe others are talking about a different chain, because there is nothing on the report regarding a question interaction, despite what the guidelines say. I reached out to the scheduler regarding that after my first shop a long time back. I was told not to worry about asking questions, that the guidelines "could use a review," so I have never asked questions after the first shop I completed. The report is solely based on them escorting you to a product you ask for, so again, I would love feedback on what others are asking for, and why you are focused on a question interaction when there is no place to report it? I avoid these because I just can't come up with items to ask for that are 1. Actually in their department
2. Far enough away that they can't just point 3. It isn't blatantly obvious for me to find.
Thanks!

The question you asked and the response used to be on the report. The evaluation has been redesigned recently but the guidelines have remained the same except to add the required deli purchase. For butcher you could ask about dog bones. "Do you sell your marrow bones for dogs?" I have a ton of these locations near me. Every store is different. Some are free, and they'll just hand you a wrapped bone with a paid sticker, some are in the frozen section (bonus they might take you there!) and some are right behind the display case.

This is my dog's favorite MS.
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November 11, 2024 12:45PM
I ask the produce people if they have pearl onions. They almost always walk me over to get them. Score for both of us.
Most other kinds of produce seems kinda obvious to me...maybe not kiwis. lol

Appreciate the other ideas here very much. Thank you.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/11/2024 12:46PM by BarefootBliss.
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November 15, 2024 07:50PM
@Momtreal wrote:

@bradkcrew wrote:

@eileencear wrote:

Are these the grocery stores found in northeast , mostly in NY and New England?

Yes, that is what I am talking about, the cost axer group, lol. Maybe others are talking about a different chain, because there is nothing on the report regarding a question interaction, despite what the guidelines say. I reached out to the scheduler regarding that after my first shop a long time back. I was told not to worry about asking questions, that the guidelines "could use a review," so I have never asked questions after the first shop I completed. The report is solely based on them escorting you to a product you ask for, so again, I would love feedback on what others are asking for, and why you are focused on a question interaction when there is no place to report it? I avoid these because I just can't come up with items to ask for that are 1. Actually in their department
2. Far enough away that they can't just point 3. It isn't blatantly obvious for me to find.
Thanks!

The question you asked and the response used to be on the report. The evaluation has been redesigned recently but the guidelines have remained the same except to add the required deli purchase. For butcher you could ask about dog bones. "Do you sell your marrow bones for dogs?" I have a ton of these locations near me. Every store is different. Some are free, and they'll just hand you a wrapped bone with a paid sticker, some are in the frozen section (bonus they might take you there!) and some are right behind the display case.

This is my dog's favorite MS.

I am so confused about everyone's responses. I just did one, only because it was bonused to $18, and the only interaction questions were the quote of how they greeted you, whether they offered to take to to the product you asked about, and did they ask if you needed anything else. There are no questions about striking up a conversation, asking a question, or about how they respond or interact with you. To fairly and accurately fill out the survey you must ask them where something is, and the product question is moot, no?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2024 07:51PM by bradkcrew.
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November 15, 2024 08:18PM
Bradkrew,

The report has changed not too long ago to exclude some things that were talked about here.
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