For clarification, I am in the UK.

I recently had a job for a grocery home delivery audit carried out by the company store itself. When I went to the door and began picking up the items the driver made a comment about how I "get paid and get to keep the stuff". Is my cover blown or how may they have known ?

Many thanks in advance for the advice,
Maxo

Many businesses mark shoppers in their computer system, after they get the reports and details that allow them to identify the shoppers.

It sure sounds like it!

It's no big deal. I find that when they suspect I'm the shopper I get much better service. But NEVER tell them that, and never admit it when they guess.

So last week I went to a place I have shopped three times before. Got the server I have had twice including on the last shop in March. He made a comment about my last visit being fun. I assume because I ripped him apart for poor service. So my mother (who had never been there before) commented that he knows. I said he might. Then we got terrible service. So if I were there shopping, he’d get an even worse report! I don’t know if he figured I couldn’t be shopping because of the time (we went for happy hour an hour earlier than shop period begins) but for the second time in a row, I was not greeted, no reminder of his name and he didn’t even give us menus. So service was awful before I ordered apps and burgers instead of the usual shop selection (HH apps with entrees plus drinks). When I asked for the happy hour menu (which changed since my last visit), he actually asked “Haven’t you memorized it?” SMH

So do I go again? I normally think I would not since it would not be normal service but I didn’t get better service this last time and question whether I would next time. Btw, there are only 2 servers I’ve seen at this place and they alternate bar and dining room coverage so it’s 50/50 that I’d get him. The other server is great.

I wouldn't go back again unless the pay was very good. But it's pretty obvious that he really doesn't know you're a shopper, or he would have done everything right. Or at least they usually do. I'm sure there are idiots out there that refuse to do their job correctly even when they know they are being shopped, but they are few and far between.

You could be flagged in the system, or the shop requirements may be so specific an alert employee can suss out who might be a shopper. They may not know for sure sure, but they suspect, and may be testing you out.

Imagine what he's doing to your food behind those kitchen doors if he's that hostile. I'd never go back. Trust me. I've seen it all.

Smile. I had my cover blown many times. I'm already known at certain spots. They know you know we all know. You play your game and I play mine. I betcha they checked the security cameras to figure out the shoppers. Once as I was walking in, I saw the manager leaving. I saw him scurry back inside to alert the staff. Another time more than 10 years ago, a young kid manager's face was like he saw a ghost. He knows the business messed up because the place was a pig pen. The restroom was dirty. Too late to correct that.

I just got home from a dinner shop. Terrible server. Plus the kitchen screwed up and made me the wrong app (2 with same protein and they misread it). Server told me that he was gonna ask the manager to take something off our check from that appetizer which sounds great. Except when I got the check, it included both appetizers and no deduction. So then the check was taken back and they took off the appetizer I had sent back and gave me a $20 credit. But I was using a loyalty reward (permitted on this shop) and then that would not go through because the $20 credit was put in as a coupon and you cannot use to coupon/discounts. Manager tries to convince me that I had not activated my reward and shows it to me on his screen. I finally figured out what he had done wrong so he then took the $20 credit off and deleted the appetizer. I get the new receipt and tender my credit card. The manager takes it back and then decides to comp two more items. So now my check comes back and does not show any appetizer or another required item. I also went from being right at my reimbursement as I planned it to now being $25 under while having a monster of a report to write. (I could have ordered more food!) Plus, we used my reward!

My guest thinks I’m now not going to be able to return even as a paying guest (we sometimes go for lunch or HH) for a long while. I’m not sure. The service staff has a quick turnover except for one server who has been there over 20 years. We haven’t had her for over a year. Manager told me he’s filling in from another state. Bartender was great and did everything right. So HH might be safe. Now I need to start that f’in report.

I would just include all those details about the check in your report. Also email the scheduler directly. I had a gift card for TRH, which you can use but the server rang it as a coupon, which you can not use. I emailed my scheduler and explained that. It went through without a problem.

Don't overplay the shopper card. This is all just a game. They don't like it when you ruffle to much feathers for their clients. They rather get a report from you that the business is doing well. This is my sense of things. I had many antagonistic and push back from the mystery shopping companies. One company refused to reimburse me for fees and expenses because the national chain (the big one) had me wait like 15 minutes at drive thru. I timed it exactly to the sec using my track handheld timer. They eventually caved and only gave me the expense back. So I just wasted my time. They probably didn't submit the report that made the client look bad. That is my guess.