Reporting Bad Visits

December 16, 2025 12:25AM

Every time I have a shop where the employees don't do what they are supposed to do, I have a sense of dread. Not only are the reports longer and more complicated, it seems that these are the reports that are sent back more often. I fear the location disputing my reporting and getting banned from future visits even though I am reporting the truth.

Does anybody else dislike reporting visits where things go very wrong?

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Reports

December 16, 2025 12:50AM

I don't like to report a bad shop. It's a hassle. But, I take the good with the bad.

I understand your feeling of dread. I get the same feeling. I always fear they will not accept the bad reports because some companies (Clients and MSC) don't like them. I finally decided to stop stressing, and just report the facts. It is what it is.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2025 12:50AM by ArkLaMissshopping.

December 16, 2025 01:42AM

I've found, more often than not, that if you just state facts, without opinions, they may question it, but they will accept it. Don't make comparisons, don't make judgements, just state the actual event factually.

December 16, 2025 01:51AM

Over the yrs., on one each apt. and health club, my report stated neither target attempted a close. I was notified both were accusing me of "hitting on them." I denied the claims and did not receive any additional comments from either MSC.

December 16, 2025 02:02AM

I have submitted adverse reports on occasions and they were fact based and objective. I have never had one returned or questioned.If you are an owner of a business and you just want to read good reports you're wasting your mystery shopping budget.

December 16, 2025 03:45AM

Years ago, I had one MS company fight me for weeks regarding a job having to do with credit reports. I know I had to make some calls and ask some questions. The MSC did not like my answers and wanted me to change them.
I stood by answers and repeatedly told the editor I was not changing my correct, truthful answers.

I finally got paid.

December 16, 2025 03:47AM

I rarely MS these days but will do TRH. Last one was just a cluster and I was pissed that I had to write a much longer report than normal.
I have never had a problem being honest in my reports. That is why they want us to go in the first place.

December 16, 2025 02:54PM

It's often a backward rewards system.

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on

December 16, 2025 04:09PM

Report the facts as they pertain directly to the questions in the guidelines.

December 16, 2025 04:33PM

While I don't do MS jobs that require a lot of narrative, such as apartments or hotels, whenever I do run into something negative in my report, I try real hard.....**IF** I can......to balance it with something positive. For instance, last week I did a convenience store job where the cashier is supposed to try and upsell me something at the register. She didn't. So I had to report that. But she WAS friendly and smiled during our transaction, so I reported that as well. It was approved.

December 16, 2025 04:33PM

Yes, I don't like those for two reasons. As you say, the reports can be a pain, as you must explain things in more detail. I don't necessarily worry about the business disputing my report, but I do worry about the extra details and unusual circumstances causing me to be outed and unable to shop there again.

December 16, 2025 07:01PM

Out of principal, we are supposed to be honest and accurate in our reporting. I hate it when a visit is not good. I don't like having to give a bad report. I know the client will not be happy, and there could be consequences for the employees. Several years ago, when McDonald's used to be mystery shopped, I would get pushed back on every negative report that I sent in. I would just reply that I was accurate, honest, and completely sure of everything that I reported. They always accepted the evaluation.

I've never had any pushback on any other shops that I've done, and I have done thousands. I think the important thing, as has been stated above by multiple shoppers, is to State the facts. Be honest and accurate. Simply state that the employee was distracted and dismissive. Or had a gruff demeanor. Or did not provide a greeting or a closing remark. State the facts, don't exaggerate, and provide the client with accurate information.

December 16, 2025 08:00PM

Over the years, I have had pushback.

One location of Ace Hardware would always dispute bad reports. While the company may want the mystery shop, the franchise owners are not always so keen.

A couple of times I have had the client try to get me in trouble with the MSC when the audit report was not good. One complained that I crossed the street dangerously to get a photo. Luckily, a piece of the crosswalk was visible in one of the photos.

December 16, 2025 11:56PM

I do recall one instance of pushback, which years later is now funny to me.
I was a brand new shopper, shopping a restaurant. The question was whether the server took my order from memory or wrote it down. I honestly thought she took it from memory because I didn't recall seeing an order pad.
The editor sent me an email of a short video....asking - is that you? yes, that's me. Do you see her writing? yes, now I do.
They approved it. I remember being a bit taken aback, but I was learning - or at least that's my excuse lol.
Then I remember thing - what the heck, if they video everything, why do they even need us?

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on

December 16, 2025 11:57PM

@BarefootBliss wrote:

I do recall one instance of pushback, which years later is now funny to me.
I was a brand new shopper, shopping a restaurant. The question was whether the server took my order from memory or wrote it down. I honestly thought she took it from memory because I didn't recall seeing an order pad.
The editor sent me an email with a short video....asking - is that you? yes, that's me. Do you see her writing? yes, now I do.
They approved it. I remember being a bit taken aback, but I was learning - or at least that's my excuse lol.
Then I remember thinking - what the heck, if they video everything anyway, why do they even need us?

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2025 11:57PM by BarefootBliss.

December 17, 2025 01:57AM

@guysmom wrote:

While I don't do MS jobs that require a lot of narrative, such as apartments or hotels, whenever I do run into something negative in my report, I try real hard.....**IF** I can......to balance it with something positive. For instance, last week I did a convenience store job where the cashier is supposed to try and upsell me something at the register. She didn't. So I had to report that. But she WAS friendly and smiled during our transaction, so I reported that as well. It was approved.

A question, did the report ask if she was friendly and stuff or did you just add that in because she did not do her (I would assume since they asked) upsell job?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2025 01:59AM by 87Supra.

December 17, 2025 03:10AM

I sent in a report that objectively stated the cashier did not ask me about rewards or walk around the counter to hand me the bag. I wrote that Cahier was so polite and efficient that I didn't mind or miss not hearing about rewards or having the bag handed to me.

December 17, 2025 03:28PM

I recently had an awful experience. Usually, I also do the whole thing of thinking how it stinks how much more work it would be. But this time it was so bad that I was really pissed off. I attacked that report and detailed every screwup from start to finish. It includes the manager being friends with the guy at the next table and totally ignoring us while comping items for the friend. I also asked the host to move our table twice and was rejected. We had been seated in that murky area of seats by the bar where you question is it dining room or bar so I really wanted to be moved to the main area. We were being served by the bartender so I was doubly concerned. But he was so bad, even as a bartender, that they should have fired him. He left the restaurant while we were waiting on food and went to a neighboring smoothie place and returned to the bar with his smoothie in hand after being MIA for over 5 minutes while the food was in the window. It was the first time I 100% said I would not go back and gave almost all 2 and 3 ratings. So I guess a 95% bad report ends up as easy as a 95% good one if you are in the right headspace.

December 17, 2025 04:38PM

@87Supra wrote:

@guysmom wrote:

While I don't do MS jobs that require a lot of narrative, such as apartments or hotels, whenever I do run into something negative in my report, I try real hard.....**IF** I can......to balance it with something positive. For instance, last week I did a convenience store job where the cashier is supposed to try and upsell me something at the register. She didn't. So I had to report that. But she WAS friendly and smiled during our transaction, so I reported that as well. It was approved.

A question, did the report ask if she was friendly and stuff or did you just add that in because she did not do her (I would assume since they asked) upsell job?

Yes, the report had several narrative areas where I was to report on the attitude of the associates and cashier, as well as reporting on whether or not the cashier asked certain questions.

December 18, 2025 12:05AM

@catmom23 wrote:

I recently had an awful experience. Usually, I also do the whole thing of thinking how it stinks how much more work it would be. But this time it was so bad that I was really pissed off. I attacked that report and detailed every screwup from start to finish.

This rings quite true. There is a satisfaction in knowing that your feedback will be seen.

December 18, 2025 03:37AM

Yeah, my TRH report should have told them they have major scheduling problems among other things.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Reporting Bad Visits

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine