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Action Research Group?

September 25, 2011 11:12PM
I got an email from them for a shop, with kind of a weird requirement. One shopper must be Caucasian, and the other must be minority. The shop is to be completed same day, by the Caucasian and minority. The weird part is "The shopper we contract with is responsible to secure a trustworthy counterpart (If you a r white Caucasian you need a minority to partner with and vice versa). You are responsible for all of the paperwork for both shops." It goes on to say that the fee can be split however the shopper of the first part decides.

The email does not provide a link to their site. Email addresses of the scheduler and the company are provided. I am not registered with them and don't know how they found me. Asking me to find a qualifying cohort to complete the assignment? Sounds rinky dink to me.
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September 25, 2011 11:19PM
That does sound weird.
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September 26, 2011 01:50PM
Those are legitimate fair housing shops. The protocol is well known and an established method of revealing leasing or selling practices such as offering to rent to one shopper and not to another when it is documented that vacancies are available. This has been essential in fair housing enforcement for decades.

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.
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September 27, 2011 01:07AM
Walesmaven, mine was not a question about fair housing. Requiring me to find a partner for the same day? I haven't been approached with this "protocol" before. I don't happen to have a database of shoppers at my disposal. I thought that was the scheduler's job.
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September 27, 2011 01:22PM
Well, perhaps the housing industry is not the only one being tested in this way. There are more companies currently operating under consent decrees concerning disparities in service according to race. Several large restaurant chains come immediately to mind, as do some hotels, loan companies, and others (yes, in this day and age!).

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.
Reply
September 27, 2011 01:51PM
It's been awhile but I havev seen shops like this before. Basically they are testing how different groups are treated during the same time periods. It works best if you can do it as a team so the shopper and her helper can go in at similar times. If a scheduler tries to do it, its possible but just works better if you can get the team in place through the shopper.

Liz
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