Morals

September 16, 2025 03:17AM

One company, has a shop that involves going into a grocery store and placing something on the bottom of the shopping cart. They want you to see if the cashier notices.

These stores are local to me that I regularly shop in, and I'm uncomfortable for cashiers that recognize me (or anyone) to think I'm trying to steal a case of water.

They don't want the shoppers to steal, if the cashier doesn't ring it up then it's supposed to get pointed out, and then the cashier is supposed to be reported in the report.

It's easy to ignore the shops listed or emailed, but they call and ask me to do that shop. I make up excuses. I'm nervous if I tell them I don't want to do those types of shops that I won't get any shops.

Can I get some advice from the more experienced shoppers please?

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September 16, 2025 04:40AM

Just be honest. Tell them you are uncomfortable doing it. It should not count against you.

For me, I wouldn't care so much about about them thinking I am trying to steal the water, but would care more about cashiers with whom I deal with regularly getting in trouble over it.

September 16, 2025 04:51AM

I have done those shops in the past. Usually, they did notice the item.
I hope they get scored on what happens but not get into trouble. I'm always hoping the report is for learning.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

September 16, 2025 06:28AM

I tell them straight up that I will NOT set up employees for failure that might get them fired. Everybody has bad days, everybody makes mistakes. And I'm not going to make someone's day worse for $20 worth of groceries.

September 16, 2025 07:19AM

How are they going to get employees to improve in their job if they don't monitor this? If employees do not get "in trouble" or get a "teaching moment" from this, then they will continue to not pay attention. No one is going to get fired for a 1x offense. If that same cashier keeps ignoring the bottom of the cart, then they are sloppy and should not have that job. Maybe have them stock shelves or something else that requires less attentiveness.

It's no different than a restaurant server who is not upselling additional items. Maybe you prefer they don't upsell, but the restaurant wants them to. I view it the same way. I report it. If this employee consistently fails to upsell after repeated violations (and trainings/warnings), then they do not care enough.

This is part of the shop. They have a job to do and they are being tested to make sure they do their job correctly. Of course people can have a bad day and make a mistake. If that same person is repeatedly making that mistake, then it's time for a different job.

September 16, 2025 08:16AM

Just skip them in your town and if on your way or close enough do them in another place where you dont know the people and dont have to see them walking down the street the following day.

September 16, 2025 11:45AM

I do these kinds of shops and it is not a dilemma for me. I have experienced 3 different outcomes with a large item on the bottom shelf of my cart.

One is that they see it and ask, do you want that pack of paper towels, water, etc.? Or, they will just walk around the counter with a wireless scanner and scan it.

Second is that they announce a subtotal without the item, and then I realize I forgot to put the item on the conveyor and have them add it.

A third outcome is that a good samaritan customer will point out the item and I have it scanned and note what happened in my report.

Never would I leave the checkout without paying for anything.

September 16, 2025 02:20PM

My issue isn't if employees check or don't check, my problem is presenting myself as someone who would try to shoplift by putting something in the bottom of my cart, and not bring it to the attention of the cashier. When I do my regular shopping, and need to put something in the bottom of my cart, the first thing I say after I'm greeted by the cashier is that I have water in the bottom of my cart and I'm going to pull it up so they can scan it.

A lot of times , they have something by the register that they can scan or the codes to punch in.

September 16, 2025 03:01PM

I do these shops all the time, most of the time, they cashier does not notice. After I pay, I say OMG, I am so sorry, I forgot about the soda. I am not going to get it today, I will just leave it over here and I plop it on the counter.

The self checkout scenarios almost always see them.

The way the store is designed, the cashiers have a hard time seeing the bottom of the cart unless they physically lean over to look. It is a dumb set up . The store it self set it's employees up for failure.

Don't think too much about it. But if it doesn't make you comfortable, don't do it.

September 16, 2025 03:15PM

I just did this shop. Before the cashier could check/announce the total, the woman behind me loudly pointed out to the cashier that I had something on the bottom of my cart. It was not fun to be treated like a thief by a random customer, but the cashier was very polite and did not act like I was trying to pull one over on her. I fully get where you are coming from, Amber because I want to be an honest regular customer too. I do not find any joy in setting up an employee. I also have to agree with hbigdaddy here and say - had the cashier caught it from the start, then I also wouldn't have been called out by a random customer behind me. After working in a grocery store for two years, I can say that the store is very concerned about items on the bottom of your cart because the store loses a lot of money when cashiers don't pay attention. Just be ready to say that you have something down there that you "forgot" to put on the belt.

September 16, 2025 03:47PM

I just asked if they got the item on the bottom. I never felt like anyone thought I was trying to shoplift.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

September 16, 2025 04:38PM

I dislike this part of a grocery shop as well. At the places I shop, the cashier usually can not view the item with the way the lane is set up. Even if there is one of those bottom scanners present, they don't usually work. After I pay, I tell them I forgot the item was there, and leave it with them, saying I don't really need it anyway. But I agree, it's a bit uncomfortable especially if they see it and I don't really want it. It's like, "Oh, I don't really need that, but I would have taken it if you didn't notice." So, the best thing to do is to put something down there you might want anyway, just in case they notice it so you don't feel like a total a-hole if they catch it. The worse one is Lidl when you've got about 4 small things in the cart...ha, they have never noticed it on my shops there though and I get to leave it. I avoid those mostly now anyway.

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

Mark Twain

September 17, 2025 10:34AM

If you know you do not want to do these in the future at all, you can contact the MSC and ask to be excluded in these jobs. I've been blocked from jobs because I've requested so. I have a few jobs I don't want to do, the same reason you do.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

September 19, 2025 04:45AM

It is a fact that some shoppers actually do forget an item on the bottom of the cart, just as some are trying to get away with it. Do not worry about it. You know you were not trying to steal it, period.

No matter how the store is set up, whether they can or cannot see the bottom of your cart, it is their job to look, lean or ask. They are all trained in asset protection. And most know that grocery workers are trained to remember "Bob," (bottom of buggy). Cashiers are encouraged to help each other when they see their fellow cashier has missed it, by saying: "Have you seen Bob?"

September 21, 2025 05:35PM

I have a golden phrase that works in so many situations: "Thank you for bringing that to my attention."

September 22, 2025 04:58PM

Moral can't buy bread and gas, money does

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2025 04:59PM by kisekinecro.

September 22, 2025 07:05PM

I understand why the companies do these shops, and I also understand why shoppers choose to do these shops. What I don't understand is the lack of empathy that people have about WHY an individual might feel uncomfortable doing these shops. Amber - my advice to you is to decline the shop if you don't feel right doing it. That is your feelings, and they are valid. There are so very many mystery shops out there - there is no reason why you need to do this particular one if it makes you uncomfortable. For the record - I do lots of shops, I've been doing this since 2000 (25 years) and spent three years doing it full time. I never did this shop (which has been around forever) for the reasons you state. I don't want people to think I am trying to steal, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I totally understand why someone else might want to do this shop though, so no judgement.

There are other shops I won't do - such as the one (not around anymore) where you were staying at a luxury property in NYC and you had to short the doorperson with a tiny tip ($1.00) to see if he complained or tried to get more money out of you. I would not do that shop either, despite it being a wonderful luxury hotel experience that was quite desirable.

September 22, 2025 08:30PM

I completed hundreds of these shops over 15 years ago. When I learned that the scenario was pretty common, I had no problem "forgetting" about the item at the bottom of my cart. We received a mass email sent to shoppers telling them not to leave the store with the item at the bottom of the cart. Apparently, some shoppers thought the gig was to see if they could leave with the item. Likely poor instructions on the part of the company. There is a scanner that alerts the cashier to an item at the bottom. Doing these shops may alert the client to needs in better training, controls, and whether their automated technology items are working as designed.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.

September 22, 2025 08:45PM

The cash registers at Aldi flash a message right after totaling your order. It says something like "Check the bottom of the cart"....to remind the cashier. I think they maybe have to click a button to acknowledge it before they can close out the transaction, not 100% certain.

September 22, 2025 11:56PM

@MickeyB wrote:

I understand why the companies do these shops, and I also understand why shoppers choose to do these shops. What I don't understand is the lack of empathy that people have about WHY an individual might feel uncomfortable doing these shops.

I find it very interesting that you choose to use the word "lack of empathy" to describe those who disagree on people who OP's discomfort on doing the shop. The reality is that people who disagree isn't lack of empathy, but simply understand the full scope behind the reason, the importance and the necessity of such job and test. Fearful over "someone losing a job" due to his incompetence is actually an insult on anything giving empathy over OP's action, if anything because such action is the reason why we promote incompetent, instead of getting better.

If you don't want to get fired at your job, you get good, you do not rely on someone's covering up your poo poo. On the other hand, the whole purpose of "secret shopper" is to find the imperfect behavior of the employee, and so both the company and the employee can improve upon it. This is what we are paid for. If you do not understand this, I honestly have no idea why you in this business at all.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2025 12:01AM by kisekinecro.

September 23, 2025 12:10AM

Precisely as @kisekinecro states. All of our shops and audits could potentially get someone in trouble, written up, fired, whatever the criteria is that merits the employer's actions. If one feels they cannot proceed as a shopper because of those potential repercussions, just do not do these shops. And it is not a moral issue to pretend to forget what is under the shopping cart. Taking said item out the door would be, period.

September 23, 2025 07:09AM

To further add to @kisekinecro and @purpleicee ....

You don't know what any employee's status is at any shop you do. What if the person you are interacting with is on warning and the next infraction gets them fired? It could be for not upselling items at a fast food location or restaurant. It could be for all kinds of reasons. So if your reasoning for not taking these "item under the cart shops" is because you are truly worried about costing someone their job, then your reports for any other shop should be glowing excellence because they could be on thin ice for any number of reasons. Maybe the person is at too many men burgers and they have been told repeatedly to change gloves between activities or upsell the shake and you report they did not do this and now they are out of a job?

I am guessing your defense is "you are not intentionally setting them up to fail?"

I look at it as my job is to do the scenario provided and report the results of what happened. If the employee gets rewarded or punished because of their actions is not my concern.

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