If you do the same shops every rotation, they know you are a shopper
Of course some places know who the shopper is. That is the way the business works. I call it mutual respect. If they do what they are suppose to do then I'll take care of my part and we both benefit.
@7star wrote:
Of course some places know who the shopper is. That is the way the business works. I call it mutual respect. If they do what they are suppose to do then I'll take care of my part and we both benefit.
QFT
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Not always true, but I'm sure it happens often. Other times you give yourself away as a MS simply due to the guidelines (e.g. asking for a receipt for a candy bar at a gas station) and they don't need a picture.
Other times they seem clueless. I did a car test drive with the same employee 3 times in the span of a year and while the employee improved in knowledge over the course of the 3 visits, she still didn't do simple things that are evaluated, and it was clear that she did not recognize me.
Other times they seem clueless. I did a car test drive with the same employee 3 times in the span of a year and while the employee improved in knowledge over the course of the 3 visits, she still didn't do simple things that are evaluated, and it was clear that she did not recognize me.
OP, did you realize you cross posted this same thread 11 times in the General Chat area? Please delete those.
One of my MSC's just added a mandatory "call ahead to verify store hours" to A GAS STATION. Do ya think that might be a giveaway that a shopper is coming? wHO CALLS A GAS STATION located on a HIGHWAY if their open in the middle of the day? It's bad enough that you always have to pump only $5. Is it any wonder that when I went in to buy my $0.99 tea ("May I have my receipt please.") the attendant asked, "So how are the other stores doing?" Me: BLANK LOOK. We did the nudge nudge wink wink when I went back in a few minutes later with my vest and authorization letter.
If you know for sure they are open each day and there isn't a restriction on when you have to call, then call them one or two days prior to the shop date. That will throw them off.
Is the phone call a part of the report?
If not, the call is only to make sure that you don't show up at a gas station that closed. If you are willing to take the risk, you can skip the call. (Just don't expect to be paid if the place is closed...) I generally don't call unless the location is remote and I am making a special trip.
When I do call, I can ask a question, based on geography.
* For a location in them mountains during cold weather, I can ask how the roads are.
* I can say that I'll be driving through in a few days and need to know if they'll be open.
I always make sure that I mention a day different than the one of my actual visit.
If not, the call is only to make sure that you don't show up at a gas station that closed. If you are willing to take the risk, you can skip the call. (Just don't expect to be paid if the place is closed...) I generally don't call unless the location is remote and I am making a special trip.
When I do call, I can ask a question, based on geography.
* For a location in them mountains during cold weather, I can ask how the roads are.
* I can say that I'll be driving through in a few days and need to know if they'll be open.
I always make sure that I mention a day different than the one of my actual visit.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I did a bank and have evaluated the Vice President who sits in the front desk (no office) while doing investments.
I go targeting another Banker in an office and have to walk by 1st. Banker. I notice and his being so handsome
remember him...I quickly turn back to him and wasn't caught but had a hairy moment. Banks can be a bit hairy and easy to detect shopper, thank goodness their so hungry, naive positivity......
I go targeting another Banker in an office and have to walk by 1st. Banker. I notice and his being so handsome
remember him...I quickly turn back to him and wasn't caught but had a hairy moment. Banks can be a bit hairy and easy to detect shopper, thank goodness their so hungry, naive positivity......
Live consciously....
Uhm, yeah. Pretty obvious. There are some places that I do too often because they need to be done. The report is never perfect. Even so, it’s in their interest not to let on. It’s the devil they know.
@kryswyn916 wrote:
One of my MSC's just added a mandatory "call ahead to verify store hours" to A GAS STATION. Do ya think that might be a giveaway that a shopper is coming? wHO CALLS A GAS STATION located on a HIGHWAY if their open in the middle of the day? It's bad enough that you always have to pump only $5. Is it any wonder that when I went in to buy my $0.99 tea ("May I have my receipt please.") the attendant asked, "So how are the other stores doing?" Me: BLANK LOOK. We did the nudge nudge wink wink when I went back in a few minutes later with my vest and authorization letter.
It doesn't bother me if asking for the receipt gives me away on a gas station audit. The shop is over with at that point. They can't take back not greeting me, suddenly put on their uniform, or being on their phone up to that point. Or clean the bathroom, or paint the bollards, etc etc. There's very little they can correct at that point.
As for the call, I ask if they sell diesel, then "you'll still be open around 11, right?" I have no intention of being there then, but it will give you a clue on when they will close, which answers the q the client wants.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2019 11:00PM by KA047.
Sometimes it's a dance routine. They know, you know they know, they know you know they know, everybody pretends they don't know. As long as everybody does his/her job it all works out just fine.
If the MSC or client want it otherwise, then don't put stupid crap or Dunce of the Day stuff in the shop guidelines. As someone posted recently- sorry, I forget who- we're invested in doing the job according to the guidelines. If that gives us away, so be it.
Edited to add: That said, some of my self-imposed rotations are longer than those called for by the MSC. You do what you can, after all, to avoid being outed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2019 01:31AM by panama18.
If the MSC or client want it otherwise, then don't put stupid crap or Dunce of the Day stuff in the shop guidelines. As someone posted recently- sorry, I forget who- we're invested in doing the job according to the guidelines. If that gives us away, so be it.
Edited to add: That said, some of my self-imposed rotations are longer than those called for by the MSC. You do what you can, after all, to avoid being outed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2019 01:31AM by panama18.
I have done the call-ahead to gas stations and have had wrong numbers provided by the MSC for two in the same day. I was thinking that it is possible that the client may have been having a hard time keeping up with all of the locations hours, and phone numbers. I was able to provide the correct information for one of the stations but not for the other. The other didn't even have a phone number printed on the receipt!
Many of the gas stations I've been calling have been personal phone numbers I think of the owners. some of the stations in more questionable areas when I call and ask about their hours the clerks gets very nervous and ask why I want to know or hang up the phone.
And some have no working business phone or fax-only numbers.
Not all businesses have video. And not every firm having a particular location shopped have access to that location's recordings: firms having competitors shopped, retail management companies having leasees shopped, manufacturers having retailers shopped, etc. There are also some where traffic is so significant that a clerk could not possibly remember a person, month-to-month.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/2019 05:17AM by Rousseau.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/2019 05:17AM by Rousseau.
Also, many types of businesses see the same people regularly: parking garages, libraries, pharmacies, banks, grocery stores, fast and fast/casual eateries, bars, to name just the first few that come to mind. I may shop the same garage 6 times a year; they have other visitors who show up once a month or more often. Just because a few attendants welcome me "back" does not mean they know that I am a shopper. Proof positive: more than a few have been caught stealing/committing ticket fraud after as many as 10 visits by me.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
If they knew I was their shopper, they'd do a better job. I'm not concerned.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I own a small furniture store so not only am I the salesperson, but also the bookkeeper, stock person, janitor, and might as well be everybody else, too. The other day I was pitching sales into a mirror and I spotted my reflection as the mystery shopper.
If they know I am the shopper, why are they still not upselling me or asking me for my rewards card? If they know I am the shopper, why are they on their phones texting or using profane language and having inappropriate conversations with their coworkers right in front of me? Seems like they should be scurrying around cleaning up the food debris on tables in that empty dining room instead of slouching and leaning against the counter when there only a few other customers besides me in the place.
The call IS part of the report. If you answer NO an ominous warning comes up that threatens you with being removed from the program.
Not true at all! I do the same places and sometimes get the same associates and if they knew, they would be hitting all the right marks, but they don't. I know Five Guys knew me, but I shop the same postal clerks over and over, and some do everything perfect and some just don't. I don't let myself worry about that or get paranoid over it, so what if they think they know? That just gives them a chance to do everything right and get a great review!!
I "shop" the local grocery store every 2 weeks. I'm also there a couple times a week without getting paid. They do treat me really well. Offering to substitute products if something is out of stock, marking down products for me, etc. I always wonder if they know I'm the shopper. The questions this MSC makes us ask are asinine. I try to pick the question that won't make me look like a moron. I always wonder if when I ask the question, they know if I'm the shopper. So many of the questions are obvious to me, but then again, I cook/bake a lot and attended culinary school years ago.
I have a gas station I was doing regularly monthly undercover and 1/4 audit. One visit, the clerk (after the audit reveal) says pointedly he thought he recognized me and confirmed with his wife who was working the last time I did one. Went off about supposed to be different people and tired for paying for the program. Letting that location slide for a while...
I walked in to ShopRite to do a shop for the first time in forever, because the pay is awful, but it was a high bonus. I went to the customer service desk and I see my friend's mom who I haven't seen in forever and she immediately laughs and belts out "Oh, are you mystery shopping us again"? Ugh
Shopping the South Jersey Shore
So what did you do ? Did you report that to the MSC ?
@Jenny Cassada wrote:
I walked in to ShopRite to do a shop for the first time in forever, because the pay is awful, but it was a high bonus. I went to the customer service desk and I see my friend's mom who I haven't seen in forever and she immediately laughs and belts out "Oh, are you mystery shopping us again"? Ugh
There are locations I haven't audited since the first one due to the nasty rude attitude of the owner. One guy followed me around as I snapped photos asking insulting questions. Couldn't I get a real job? How much would he have to pay me for a good report? Why do I harass upstanding business owners ? The way he said most of these things made it clear to me that he wouldn't have spoken that way to a man. I never responded to him except to say excuse me when he was in my path.
@daveclark5 wrote:
I have a gas station I was doing regularly monthly undercover and 1/4 audit. One visit, the clerk (after the audit reveal) says pointedly he thought he recognized me and confirmed with his wife who was working the last time I did one. Went off about supposed to be different people and tired for paying for the program. Letting that location slide for a while...
@CoffeeQueen and how nit-picky was his report after that train wreck? I love going to the locations where the employee is a total a$$ because I'm super vindictive and love that they feel like they have the upper hand when it's obvious that they don't.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Haha I wish I could be like that. He had just bought the place and had really brought it back up to standards. All I cared about was getting out of there never to return. It was back in the day when not completing one location of a route could deprive you of the route bonus. Otherwise I would have just left. I had several hundred dollars riding on that route.
@Hoju wrote:
@CoffeeQueen and how nit-picky was his report after that train wreck? I love going to the locations where the employee is a total a$$ because I'm super vindictive and love that they feel like they have the upper hand when it's obvious that they don't.
@CoffeeQueen I'm happy to teach you my ways. 
You can start by obnoxiously calling out the trolls on here. It's good practice.
You can start by obnoxiously calling out the trolls on here. It's good practice. ______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
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