@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

@ArkLaMissshopping wrote:

Just ordering a burger and waiting for the employee to ask if I want fries and a coke.

This one I act uncertain through the whole transaction. I will ask about the size difference between small and medium... I didn't forget about fries, I just wasn't sure which size to get and was taking my time silently contemplating (LOL). Same with the drink, I might ask if refills are included or do they have orange soda or whatever amuses in the moment.

@SBP wrote:

@metro25782 wrote:

I always find the dine-in Black and White Bear shops where you don't order a drink to be a dead give-away. I wouldn't be surprised if the cashier yelled out "Mystery Shopper Special" right here" when I decline a drink with my spicy kung pow.

I haven’t seen any impediments to asking for a cup for self serve water (grin)

@metro25782 wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Are there requirements that you find are dead giveaways that you are a shopper?

Asking for an employee name?
Getting caught taking photos of certain things?
Asking questions or ordering something in a way that regular customers would never do?

One that recently hit me hard was that my trusty truck-stop shops now “require” you to go through the human-check out instead of using the self-check out. The only people who used the cashier are professional drivers of those who are ordering prepared food from the steam table. So I’m standing there for a few minutes with my pack of gum while there are 3 idle self-check out machines not being used.

I don’t think this is a “dead giveaway” or anything like that but the cashier is probably wondering why I’m bothering him or her instead of just paying at the self-serve area.

@metro25782 wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

Whenever a anyone comments about why I need a receipt, I tell them that I use the Fetch app to collect a few pennies per receipt. Many admit that they do also. [BTW, I do use Fetch as well as CoinOut, Merryfield, and Pogo.]

I've got to look into those things....

@Maria72 wrote:

I did a gas station revealed audit not too long ago and the cashier told me they had already had their secret shopper a few days before. I asked how she knew and she said she saw her take a picture of the pump before she came in. Another gas station/C-Store I did a revealed was very on guard and slightly aggressive when I came in because he’d watched me sitting in my car on the security cam several minutes doing paperwork or checking on jobs (or who knows what i was doing, i just didn’t put my vest on and come in right away). They were alarmed and all the managers had to come out and find out what I was doing. That was a weird one, but yeah, watching you on security cam doing stuff other than coming in or getting gas on camera, and taking pictures of the pumps were the giveaway.

@joanna81 wrote:

@Maria72 wrote:

I did a gas station revealed audit not too long ago and the cashier told me they had already had their secret shopper a few days before. I asked how she knew and she said she saw her take a picture of the pump before she came in. Another gas station/C-Store I did a revealed was very on guard and slightly aggressive when I came in because he’d watched me sitting in my car on the security cam several minutes doing paperwork or checking on jobs (or who knows what i was doing, i just didn’t put my vest on and come in right away). They were alarmed and all the managers had to come out and find out what I was doing. That was a weird one, but yeah, watching you on security cam doing stuff other than coming in or getting gas on camera, and taking pictures of the pumps were the giveaway.

I do the truck stops by me regularly - usually a couple visits a month for the past 4 years (unrevealed shops) and I'm pretty sure they all know who I am at this point. Usually within a minute or two of me entering the store, I hear a little chime go off inside the store and they'll announce that it's time for a courtesy check.

Luckily, most of the ones by me are in good shape and wind up with good reports, so we all just keep doing our thing.

@Momomomo wrote:

@viv0412 You brought up using glasses for a car wash shop. Do you have a pair of these glasses and use them on your shops? Are they the Metas or are you talking about a different brand. The Metas have a feature with a light that blinks from the time you start recording until you finish that makes it clear you are recording them. Apparently Meta does it for privacy issues.

Asking the gas station's store hours seems like a giveaway. Besides shoppers, who else is asking this question? Too many times the cashier thinks that I am asking what their, the cashier's hours are, and I have to quickly explain, no the store, the store hours. Plenty of gas stations don't have uniforms or maybe a backcourt t-shirt, but in most of those cases no nametags. Asking the cashier's name can seem aggressive and put them on guard. Why would a customer need to know that? Doesn't asking them for their name put them on the defensive and think why is this person asking this?

@Morledzep wrote:

hmm, I've never seen a truck stop with a self check out. And I go to a LOT of truck stops.

The dead giveaways that are no longer, are the stupid questions we used to have to ask at grocery stores. How to cook a piece of meat, when it's obvious that the child behind the meat service counter can't even boil water without help. Or asking the same employee in the deli four different times how to order something in advance.

Most gas stations finger out that you're the shopper because you come inside to get a receipt for $4 or $6 worth of gasoline when the pump doesn't print it for whatever reason, and asking for a receipt for a piece of gum that you paid for with cash in a C-store. But most are going to reveal themselves anyway, but it still seems stupid to play the game first.

Most of the ones that I think I would be revealing myself if I follow their rules, other than gas stations, I just don't do.

@Dino29 wrote:

I'm a paying customer, and I expect you to do your job. Check me out, da*m it.

I will wait until they make me use the kiosk, and I am writing that interaction into my report.

@metro25782 wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Are there requirements that you find are dead giveaways that you are a shopper?

Asking for an employee name?
Getting caught taking photos of certain things?
Asking questions or ordering something in a way that regular customers would never do?

One that recently hit me hard was that my trusty truck-stop shops now “require” you to go through the human-check out instead of using the self-check out. The only people who used the cashier are professional drivers of those who are ordering prepared food from the steam table. So I’m standing there for a few minutes with my pack of gum while there are 3 idle self-check out machines not being used.

I don’t think this is a “dead giveaway” or anything like that but the cashier is probably wondering why I’m bothering him or her instead of just paying at the self-serve area.

@gigishopper wrote:

I feel like filming an entire car wash and being required to capture the crew members faces (requiring the shopper to move their cell phone position as the crew members move) is too obvious.