I just got totally scammed by CX Orlando. I was doing a shop for a local restaurant in my area, not a chain. Maybe that was my first mistake. Anyway, guidelines specifically state they will not reimburse without the server’s name (mind you this is fast casual so there are no “servers”). None of the employees at this establishment wear name tags. The receipt does not have the cashier’s name. Did they think I was going to randomly ask an employee for their name as if that wouldn’t be suspicious? It also says they will not reimburse if food is ordered to go. Well, the cashier didn’t ask if I wanted my food for here or to go and packed it up to go, so my receipt says take out. I just didn’t even fill in the survey because they don’t deserve real answers when they aren’t going to refund me. I just completed required boxes and wrote about how I will never go back to this local restaurant based on this experience.

I learned the hard way to just ask the name. It seemed really silly to ask a name of someone who just pointed to an aisle . Didn't get paid, I learned to just ask.

Personally, I'd probably fill out the survey anyway, explaining that the employee bagged it up and called it Take out without my request .

I've been lucky, getting paid when things like that happen.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2025 12:57PM by prince.

That's terrible! If they NEED a name so badly then they NEED those employees to wear tags. Not having one on should result in THEM being marked as not dressed appropriately, not the person checking being penalized!

I know it's awkward, but sometimes you just have to straight up say,, "What is your name? Thank you, (name.)" I guess it helps if you are older and they figure it's just a boomer thing.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2025 05:12AM by juliak18.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

That's terrible! If they NEED a name so badly then they NEED those employees to wear tags. Not having one on should result in THEM being marked as not dressed appropriately, not the person checking being penalized!

Right! Plus I saw six employees (chipotle style line of employees making bowls) and none of them had one.

@mystery2me wrote:

I know it's awkward, but sometimes you just have to straight up say,, "What is your name? Thank you, (name.)" I guess it helps if you are older and they figure it's just a boomer thing.

I don’t think I can bring myself to do that I’m just gonna stop doing shops that require a name lol

Many yrs. ago, I shopped Abuelo's Mexican locations for a long defunct MSC. Four names were required, but none of the workers wore a tag. There is no question in my mind, I was outed.

@juliak18 wrote:

@mystery2me wrote:

I know it's awkward, but sometimes you just have to straight up say,, "What is your name? Thank you, (name.)" I guess it helps if you are older and they figure it's just a boomer thing.

I don’t think I can bring myself to do that I’m just gonna stop doing shops that require a name lol

Exactly, that has an "old fashioned manners" feel about it and works well if you are at least a couple decades older than the cashier.
If more similar in age, you could give them an uncertain look and ask their name then explain the question by saying they look SO MUCH like someone you used to know? Heck, make it your 3rd grade teacher if they are older than you.

Hubby, who is older than a Boomer, often asks people their name.
I watched how he did it, and I practiced when I was not on a shop. It gets easier.

Some shops don't require a description if one gets the name. So, now I'd rather ask the name instead of remembering a description.

@juliak18 wrote:

I just got totally scammed by CX Orlando. I was doing a shop for a local restaurant in my area, not a chain. Maybe that was my first mistake. Anyway, guidelines specifically state they will not reimburse without the server’s name (mind you this is fast casual so there are no “servers”). None of the employees at this establishment wear name tags. The receipt does not have the cashier’s name. Did they think I was going to randomly ask an employee for their name as if that wouldn’t be suspicious? It also says they will not reimburse if food is ordered to go. Well, the cashier didn’t ask if I wanted my food for here or to go and packed it up to go, so my receipt says take out. I just didn’t even fill in the survey because they don’t deserve real answers when they aren’t going to refund me. I just completed required boxes and wrote about how I will never go back to this local restaurant based on this experience.

Yes, they think you are randomly going to ask their name. When this happens you can simply say "Hi how is your day going? (wait for a reply) then say something about it and say I'm so in so what's your name, wait for the reply then say (insert their name) I hope you have a great day today. Thank you"

I feel for you, juliak. But you really can't say you were scammed by an MSC when the directions were clear and you didn't follow them. Sorry to be harsh. That's not a scam.

@sestrahelena wrote:

I feel for you, juliak. But you really can't say you were scammed by an MSC when the directions were clear and you didn't follow them. Sorry to be harsh. That's not a scam.

Agreed, the directions were clear but I understand the frustration of being surprised by something unusual, too. The guidelines really should be worded "ask the name of the person you are ordering with". They know that this is necessary but IMO, they leave it out to get more people to take the shop.

At least, the one that I did a few of where I had to awkwardly ask their name at the drive though speaker box disclosed the full task and they had trouble getting people. I know because they were asking those of us doing them to share our process so others might try.

I agree. If the instructions say to get the name to get paid, then get the name. That's not a scam.

I think I've seen you at my church...is your name Jeff?

I can see both sides, but you were not scammed. I wasn't aware that there were so many optional sections on the report that you can choose to fill out and still expect to get paid. It is bizarre that none of the employees were wearing IDs, but you should've asked. If at that point they decline to provide it, then you would just include that exchange the report along with their description. Then you would've done everything reasonable in trying to get their name. I am not sure I get the "Chipotle style" reference, but they don't wear no stinkin' badges either at Chipotle.

The term of getting totally scammed is not a generational one. As others have noted, you were not scammed.

This works for one employee but not an entire staff. I usually say that the individual looks like someone who was in my class years ago (if the age fits). If they are too old, I ask if they are the parent of a child I taught. That is a great way to ask the name. "You're Melissa, right?" No, "My name is Joan."

@jgardn02 wrote:

I think I've seen you at my church...is your name Jeff?

If questionnaire has a line for the name but the guidelines don't specifically say a name is required I just put "no name tag" or "name not offered" and add a detailed description. I've never had an issue with this.

I once had an "eat dinner at the bar" shop for a now-defunct MSC (think: also Florida based, and actually did scam shoppers by not paying them). The instructions very clearly stated that I needed the bartender's name. No name tags. No introduction (ie "if you need anything else I'm Wendy"). Receipt comes and it just says "PM Bar." Keep in mind I'm a middle-aged guy and the bartender is a 20-something female so I'm trying to figure out the least creepy way to ask. When she hands back the change I say "If I decide to write a Google review who should I say took such good care of us?" and she smiles and tells me both her name and her colleagues name. Report accepted (and paid -- I think I got in just under the wire before the MSC started stiffing shoppers).

On the CX Group shops that I do, the guidelines say to put Unknown in the box instead of the name if you couldn't see or couldn't read their name tag, or if they weren't wearing a name tag. And it says to put N/A in the name box if there was no employee available. But the shops I do for them are not restaurant shops, I don't know what the requirements are for those shops.

Juliak, these issues are all part of the learning curve of mystery shopping. I notice your tag says you have been shopping? 2 years. I am quite surprised you have not run into either of these situations before as they are quite common in the shops I do, both retail and food service. Speaking of the example shop someone used with a line, that was a bear for me when those were shopped. We needed to get the name of each line server. Often there were 5 and since it only took a couple of minutes to put your order together you had to collect 5 names in under a few minutes. Those employees did have names. They had some sort of chalk board on their hats and evidently could write in whatever their whim was for the day. Often it was almost rubbed off when I arrived.
The name issue and the to-go issue are fairly common. You have gotten some ideas for how to get a name. As for the to go vs eat here, if not asked it is okay for you to speak up after giving them a chance to ask you. I would usually say something to the tune of I am eating in so please don't pack it up to go. As I am bent on saving the planet one little change at a time I usually will say something about saving the bag and saving the earth for you and your future children (as the majority of the line servers are quite young). But you dont have to choose what is a controversial topic for some. Just come up with a good reason. On a recent visit for a dine in at a Asian fast food my receipt said to go but my photo clearly showed I was served my food in their eat in bowl with no cover.

@NinS wrote:

I once had an "eat dinner at the bar" shop for a now-defunct MSC (think: also Florida based, and actually did scam shoppers by not paying them). The instructions very clearly stated that I needed the bartender's name. No name tags. No introduction (ie "if you need anything else I'm Wendy"). Receipt comes and it just says "PM Bar." Keep in mind I'm a middle-aged guy and the bartender is a 20-something female so I'm trying to figure out the least creepy way to ask. When she hands back the change I say "If I decide to write a Google review who should I say took such good care of us?" and she smiles and tells me both her name and her colleagues name. Report accepted (and paid -- I think I got in just under the wire before the MSC started stiffing shoppers).

So you're handsome enough or so so suave you've never gotten a fake name or number with that approach?