Fish out of water

September 08, 2011 05:36AM

What do you do in situations where you're clearly a fish out of water? It's obvious you otherwise don't belong there...and you stick out like a sore thumb?

I have one shop in particular where I experience this. At first, I was treated terribly and I wonder if my reflection of this in my report somehow was noticed, because I'm generally finding better experiences there anymore. Overall, I don't care (or at least trying not to), it's a good shop and easy report so who cares what they think.

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September 08, 2011 01:38PM

I generally don't take shops where I know I'm going to be a 'sore thumb' shopper because I feel the store deserves a more typical shopper for a more typical report. When it surprises me (note to schedulers: please don't advertise a 'gentleman's club' as a 'bar') I just brazen it out. As you said - who cares what they think.

September 08, 2011 01:54PM

My thought is that nowadays the concept of sticking out like is sore thumb is becoming more irrelevant. All kinds of people of all kinds of backgrounds shop at all kinds of places for all kinds of reasons. Being a man I would have no issue taking a Victoria Secret job assuming it paid well, I can always be shopping for a significant other. Just act like you belong there and nobody will ever question you, its when you start freaking out and being uncomfortable that you stick out like a sore thumb.

Triple Platinum Certified - Shopping South Central Kansas

September 08, 2011 02:48PM

DKK - Please don't concern yourself with what they think. Whatever their behavior, that's what reportable. It's the store's job to provide outstanding customer service, and it's your job to report what they provide.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

September 08, 2011 03:10PM

Fake it til you make it!

I just look at it as a good acting experience.

I had to do a construction type store yesterday and I felt very much like a fish out of water around all these construction-y type guys...but I just keep on keeping on!

They say that you can make people believe anything if you have confidence in what you're saying.

September 08, 2011 03:40PM

I had to do some college live on campus book shops and really felt like I stuck out the first time. then I had to swallow my pride and pretend I was a parent of a student to fit in better.

September 08, 2011 04:11PM

I think my oddest was an upscale women's clothing store where the sizes are super tiny. Nobody in my genetic line of big boned folks would ever be able to even put their skeleton in the garments. They literally looked like doll clothes. I quickly invented a petite daughter-in-law to be buying for. It did bother me a bit to be the largest person in the store--I was sort of afraid of accidentally stepping on somebody and causing them grievous bodily harm.

September 09, 2011 12:30AM

I just signed up for another company last night and on part of their application it mentioned 'ethnic shops' and to be aware of this and not accept shops where you might stand out.

This might describe my situation a little better.

I've done upscale types shops where I clearly don't look the part, but I've never really felt uncomfortable with those. I can drool over designer stuff pretty good.

September 09, 2011 01:17AM

I've actually done a supermarket two or three times where I stand out horribly. It's an ethnic thing and I am absolutely the only person of my race in the store. I did it a few times & honest don't think they ever knew I was the mystery shopper, but I always felt odd when performing that shop.

That particular store has now closed, so it's no longer an issue for me.

September 09, 2011 01:50AM

I've been the only person of my color within a mile; the only person who spoke English; and, then there was the bar where ! ! ! I won't even go into that one.

Guidelines don't always clue us in. Acting, and being able to think fast on your feet, help get you through it and get you paid

September 09, 2011 03:07AM

I can bend and fit into it all....never take locations I know I won't be comfortable with...never!

Live consciously....

September 09, 2011 09:58AM

dkk5685 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What do you do in situations where you're clearly
> a fish out of water? It's obvious you otherwise
> don't belong there...and you stick out like a sore
> thumb?
>
>
> I have one shop in particular where I experience
> this. At first, I was treated terribly and I
> wonder if my reflection of this in my report
> somehow was noticed, because I'm generally finding
> better experiences there anymore. Overall, I don't
> care (or at least trying not to), it's a good shop
> and easy report so who cares what they think.

just so long as it doesn't interfere with my report and they pay me. i sometimes feel like this if i do a shop which is too far from home and they ask me why i am so far from home. assuming they have my address, that is.

September 09, 2011 11:47AM

I think this would concern me when I was younger. While I do not relish my forming wrinkles or extra weight, I would not trade them in for my self-conscious youth.

I never stay out of any store. I'm as white as they come, but I appreciate culture and am drawn to stores for different cultures whether for food, clothing or gifts. I became a certified diversity trainer years ago, and I find myself anxious to get into situations where I don't 'fit in.'

For me, being a fish out of water just another new experience and challenge.

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 09, 2011 04:15PM

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think my oddest was an upscale women's clothing
> store where the sizes are super tiny. Nobody in
> my genetic line of big boned folks would ever be
> able to even put their skeleton in the garments.
> They literally looked like doll clothes. I
> quickly invented a petite daughter-in-law to be
> buying for. It did bother me a bit to be the
> largest person in the store--I was sort of afraid
> of accidentally stepping on somebody and causing
> them grievous bodily harm.

OMG-dying over here.........................you sound like my husband feels everywhere. He's 7' and 350 lbs, he tells me all the time in crowded places-make sure I don't step on anybody!!

September 13, 2011 02:38AM

I'm just an actor playing a part and basically doing improv in these situations. I was definitely a fish out of water going into an adult store for the first time and having to ask a product knowledge question. It came out sounding like a Grey Poupon mustard commercial. I had to ask a friend from California what stuff was and then was horrified that a certain item wasn't just a decorative statue.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

September 13, 2011 02:50AM

Funny subject. I recently did a very young hip new concept pizza bar in a youngish area, and I fit in, loved it and felt we both (myself and the restaurant) learned from each other. I talked to the cute young waitress,
about the entertainment Co. that handles this restaurant, knowing their located in Chicago and told her a story about when they handled Oprah's restaurant many years ago, and she told me how their pizza dough is made by two Italian men who do nothing but make pizza dough....we bonded, and I had a great time, leaving me once again thinking, age is just a #. Now put me in a senior home, and I'd feel like a fish out of water...

Live consciously....

September 13, 2011 01:58PM

I am laughing at all of this. I spent most of my working life as the only woman, or the only Anglo or the only white person in numerous organizations, restaurants, meetings, church basements, houses of worship of all flavors, etc. My notion: if I am a fish I should act as though everything around me is water, and swim.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

September 13, 2011 02:00PM

Wales you rock. Personally I've always learned that it is your attitude that people notice, not the color of your skin or size of your behind when it comes down to it. Have a great attitude and everything else goes away.

September 13, 2011 06:10PM

That's funny, Flash.

September 16, 2011 02:28PM

I was once the only white fish in a very black sea at an apartment complex. The agent didn't have a clue or she would have done a better job. Banks and cell phone stores in segregated neighborhoods are places I usually avoid.

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!

September 28, 2011 12:21PM

Act as if.

If you start thinking that you don't belong in a certain place, your actions will reflect it. If you convince yourself that you do, 99% of store employees won't know and most could care less anyway.

Besides, there's no better way to improve your speed with a camera than doing a revealed photo audit in a sketchy area at 11:30 at night.

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