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Salesman called to say he knew I was the shopper

January 23, 2026 01:17AM
What do you think of this? I did a car dealer shop. It was accepted and all. But then the salesperson called me back to first say he knew I was the shopper and to thank me for a good shop (um i just report what I observe - so you only have yourself to thank really. But I guess you can be glad you have an honest, detailed shopper with a good memory). So anyway I was surprised he was told who the shopper was. But then at the end of the message he asked me if I was still interested in buying the car lol. (Tbh I am in the market for a car probably this summer - but it’s a different model that they didn’t have enough of in stock, and I’m going to have to purchase it in Florida, where my husband is most of the year).
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January 23, 2026 09:27AM
I had the same thing happen to me when I did a long term assistance home. The lady told me she remembered everything that happened in the report and who it was. I was freaked out a bit. I learned then not to use my personal phone and information. If I had submitted a report that affected her job, something might have happened with her having all my personal info.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
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January 23, 2026 02:35PM
While I think that the call was totally inappropriate, I see no reason for you to report it to the MSC and risk getting banned from the client. He is certainly one tenacious salesperson!
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January 23, 2026 02:46PM
Oh no I wasn’t plannning to report it. I thought it was kinda funny. But was also just so surprised by it too. I feel like I can't do any future shops there (even if he stops working there, the manager might still be around and he would know - and they like almost always bring out the manager).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2026 02:49PM by ebit123.
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January 23, 2026 03:14PM
@NinS wrote:

While I think that is inappropriate, I wouldn't report it to the MSC and risk the chance of future assignments. That is certainly one tenacious salesperson!

Totally agree. I worked at a furniture store years ago, we had a guy we called The Scraper because he would do anything to scrape together a sale and I could see him doing something like this.
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January 26, 2026 12:58AM
I did a video apartment shop a few years ago. I was told to dress down like I worked in a warehouse or something. I walked in and stated I had an appointment with so and so. They were "Supposedly" on a conference call. Another agent assisted me. She went to make floor plan copies and pick up some stuff from the printer. The agent who had been on the phone came out and started telling the girl about the mystery shoppers who had come around. How it was a scam, their quarterly bonuses shouldn't depend on how they did their job, etc. The trainee said you shouldn't say that; that woman could be a shopper. I happened to turn around when she said "That woman" (I wanted them on video) just as my agent walked back into the room. She got the keys to the golf cart and apologized for her co-worker's comments. Briefly explained the program, and we went to look at apartments. Long story short, since it was on video apparntly she lost her job over it. She saw me at Walmart, started yelling at me about how I cost her job, and went on and on about how it was my fault. I just looked at her like she was stupid, said, "Well, I guess you didn't get your quarterly bonus," and walked on. My husband was like, you shouldn't shop at home anymore.
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January 26, 2026 03:41AM
Wait what Dino---agent who had been on phone was fired? trainee was fired? agent with golf cart was fired?
Actually the response should be to point out that if someone was fired it was due to their actions and not your report.
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January 26, 2026 04:20AM
@Rho wrote:

Wait what Dino---agent who had been on phone was fired? trainee was fired? agent with golf cart was fired?
Actually the response should be to point out that if someone was fired it was due to their actions and not your report.
Golf cart lady, the one who made the snide remark about the bonus.
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January 27, 2026 01:58AM
There was an automotive shop (that I probably did one too many times) where a low level salesman decided to call me out as a shopper. He thought he was so clever in doing so like he had some kind of power over me, so I ripped him to shreds. I could tell it put a bit of a scare into him and the other guy behind the counter. I doubt he’ll try that sh*t again. Nothing of consequence happened afterwards as evidenced by the MSC continuing to beg me to do more of them.
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January 27, 2026 01:21PM
What did you say? I've been asked twice if I was a shopper and would LOVE a good response.
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January 27, 2026 04:47PM
@Nikki21 wrote:

What did you say? I've been asked twice if I was a shopper and would LOVE a good response.
I was asked once during a grocery mystery shop if I was their shopper. I played dumb and asked what they meant. The person went on and on about it. So I acted excited and said, "Oh, I can get paid real money to come shop here? How do I sign up?" That did it....the person looked said and gave up!
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January 27, 2026 07:51PM
@Nikki21 wrote:

What did you say? I've been asked twice if I was a shopper and would LOVE a good response.

It started with him telling his co-worker (who was busy at a cash register) that I was a mystery shopper, while looking at me with a smug, self satisfied look his face. I gave him a squinty eyed ‘WHAT?!?!’ with a confused/disgusted look, while shifting my eyes between him and his co-worker (who was looking down, nervously trying to think of something to say to ease the tension)
He goes ‘You’re one of those mystery shoppers’ while moving a bit closer. I said ‘What the HELL are you talking about? Then he said ‘You’ve been here before.’ So I said ‘SO WHAT IF I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE?!? while staring him down, looking like I was ready to open a can of whoop ass. Then he quickly jumped onto his computer as the smug smile faded to a slack jawed, cowardly look. Then I said ‘You should know what you’re talking about before you accuse someone of something.’ He didn’t respond, so I grabbed my keys and stormed out. The last thing he expected was for me to go gangsta on his ass. I knew at that point it wouldn’t go any further.

Don't start nothing, it won't be nothing
Don't start nothing, it won't be nothing
You wanna start something, it's gon' be somethin'
You wanna start something, it's gon' be somethin'
~ DMX
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