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Have you ever gotten feedback from a manager about another shopper?

May 15, 2024 03:57AM
I was doing a gas station audit today. It was an open audit. The guidelines do say the manager can help you. I'm talking to the manager and they tell me about another shopper that was there. The manager offered help and the shopper said, "I'm not suppose to talk to you, I'm not here to be your friend"

Please be kind to the store workers. I hear too many of these stories.
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May 15, 2024 05:03AM
I had one manager tell me that she likes when I'm there, cause I'm nice.
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May 15, 2024 05:27AM
I am keenly aware of other shoppers as the gas audits. There is the elderly man and his wife who work as a team, and a middle-aged white lady who comes down hard on pavement cracks. Honestly, I am probably the hardest. I am by the book on the audits, but I am fair. I do not volunteer information or discuss my findings. If someone asks about a previous report, which happens, I may clarify something on that if it is one of mine. I have seen things mentioned that I never marked or said, and was never made aware about. A lot of owners think that we also do the scores, and I've had to explain numerous times that I do not give a score and I do not know the value of each question. I observe and mark. I'm friendly and I enjoy the conversations I have. Many are immigrants, so I learn about their culture and their thoughts on this amazing country, how they feel about the current state of illegal immigration, etc. But - watch out, because if you have a sign attached to your MID, ServiceAward is coming for you. ')
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May 15, 2024 05:58AM
@pegleg2000 wrote:

I had one manager tell me that she likes when I'm there, cause I'm nice.

I get that from managers too. They like me.
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May 15, 2024 06:23AM
The manager of a property that I shopped in 2012 recognized me in 2021. I was at the farmer's market next door, which I rarely go to because parking in that area is a pain. He randomly came up to me and I had no idea who he was. He said that I'd shopped him years ago, and I was so good that he did not guess that I was the shopper. He then asked me where I'd parked, and said to feel free to use their guest parking whenever I want. He said that their recent shopper was so obvious when he said something about the apartment being in a "rich" neighborhood. I then saw him a few months after that and gave me his off days in case I wanted to shop one of the other leasing agents

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2024 06:26AM by AnonymousGirl.
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May 15, 2024 11:07AM
Occasionally I'll have someone comment about other shoppers. Usually it's that they don't spend a lot of time on site.

I try to use my MS encounters as opportunities to practice mirroring. I'm a big, outgoing guy with a big voice. Through my various sales gigs over the years I've learned the value of more closely matching my demeanor to that of the person with whom I'm interacting.

While I'm not doing them as often with the platform change, one of the local Exxon chains runs a pretty tight ship, with very consistent employee performance and very little turnover. I can usually expect to run into the district manager at one of the locations, and we joke about who's stalking who.

While she didn't go into detail on one occasion, she did say she was always glad when I was doing their evaluations as she knew I'd be fair and treat her employees with respect.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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May 15, 2024 12:33PM
Yes, I have been told about another shopper who comes in already wearing the vest and starts taking pictures before doing the required mystery shop purchase, and then berated the staff for things that are missed even though we are not supposed to discuss the results with the staff. Two separate locations complained to me about this shopper.
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May 15, 2024 04:08PM
One thing I do is many times I am offered a drink or something. I politely decline, saying that I'm good or if they persist, that the instore purchase covered that. Unless someone states that they'll give me something for a good review, I do not assume I am being offered a bribe.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
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May 15, 2024 07:04PM
I'm often offered drinks or snacks for free after I've revealed myself. I NEVER take them up on it, EVER. One owner I had to explain to him that it seems like a bribe, and I can't afford to have my integrity questioned by the MSC or the client. He seemed to understand and backed off. Mostly I just say, no thanks, I have drinks in the car.
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May 15, 2024 07:41PM
ya, multiple times I came across store owners telling me about one guy who constantly brag about how he claimed doing this as hobby and dodging IRS taxes while shaking their heads and feel sorry for that guy and said that they can see him miles away with his broken phone cos he constantly shaking his phone in multiple directions trying to find a signals.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2024 10:24PM by kisekinecro.
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May 17, 2024 06:17AM
I did another gas station audit this week. The manager was complaining about the same shopper. They told them the shopper was rude to him. Told him his store was a mess (which it wasn't). The shopper tried to go into the back room, the manager stopped them. The manager asked the shopper for the LOA, and the shopper refused to show them.

Doesn't all this get back to the MSC? Can't the store manager report rude or bad shoppers?
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May 17, 2024 07:51AM
@kisekinecro wrote:

ya, multiple times I came across store owners telling me about one guy who constantly brag about how he claimed doing this as hobby and dodging IRS taxes while shaking their heads and feel sorry for that guy and said that they can see him miles away with his broken phone cos he constantly shaking his phone in multiple directions trying to find a signals.
They’ll be happy to know he just got a new phone.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2024 07:53AM by drdoggie00.
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May 17, 2024 07:57AM
@drdoggie00 wrote:

@kisekinecro wrote:

ya, multiple times I came across store owners telling me about one guy who constantly brag about how he claimed doing this as hobby and dodging IRS taxes while shaking their heads and feel sorry for that guy and said that they can see him miles away with his broken phone cos he constantly shaking his phone in multiple directions trying to find a signals.
They’ll be happy to know he just got a new phone.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Wasn't me, I'm always nice to the employees and managers..
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May 17, 2024 01:20PM
@drdoggie00 wrote:

@kisekinecro wrote:

ya, multiple times I came across store owners telling me about one guy who constantly brag about how he claimed doing this as hobby and dodging IRS taxes while shaking their heads and feel sorry for that guy and said that they can see him miles away with his broken phone cos he constantly shaking his phone in multiple directions trying to find a signals.
They’ll be happy to know he just got a new phone.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

except that the new phone has proven to be too advanced with the new AI cos the AI has realized his action of dodging income tax and refuse to help him uploading pictures for his hobby

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
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May 17, 2024 05:36PM
May I please ask a favor? IMO, John trolls a lot and gets off on the attention. Will other members of this forum please stop feeding him? Not only do responses cause him to post even more, but many of the responses come across as nothing more than personal attacks (whether deserved or not).

This forum is so often inundated with John's trolling posts and responses to those posts that I now dread visiting it.

ETA: John doesn't always troll. This thread is a good example. It's bad enough when forum members make mocking posts in response to his trolling posts. Now, a legitimate thread is getting derailed.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2024 05:45PM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.
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May 17, 2024 05:40PM
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

May I please ask a favor? IMO, John trolls a lot and gets off on the attention. Will other members of this forum please stop feeding him? Not only do responses cause him to post even more, but many of the responses come across as nothing more than personal attacks (whether deserved or not).

This forum is so often inundated with John's trolling posts and responses to those posts that I now dread visiting it.

If you don't like what people are posting, don't read the posts. Seems you're trying to control what people say on here.
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May 17, 2024 07:18PM
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

May I please ask a favor? IMO, John trolls a lot and gets off on the attention. Will other members of this forum please stop feeding him? Not only do responses cause him to post even more, but many of the responses come across as nothing more than personal attacks (whether deserved or not).

This forum is so often inundated with John's trolling posts and responses to those posts that I now dread visiting it.

ETA: John doesn't always troll. This thread is a good example. It's bad enough when forum members make mocking posts in response to his trolling posts. Now, a legitimate thread is getting derailed.

You can always block seeing any of John's posts. But they may appear in other posts that quote him.

I think you do it by clicking or right clicking on his user name on one of his posts.
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May 17, 2024 08:30PM
I hear you, Busy, and for the most part I agree with what you said. He’s 95% troll, and starts threads with the intention of “starting” something else. But do you realize how hard it is not to put him in his place, even when he doesn’t realize you’re doing it? I figure he’s probably just a lonely old man and this is one of his few means of social interaction with others. I can’t promise I’ll never react to him again, but if it’ll make you happy, going forward I’ll do my best to hold my tongue.

My apologies to all the folks who enjoy my wit and snark.

Seems it would be simpler for Jacob to remove one person than expect many to remain silent and everyone to put up with his tripe.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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May 17, 2024 08:37PM
@wrosie I toggled John more than a year ago but, yes, I still see some of his posts when others quote him.

People will do what they want to do. I am asking for a favor and it's up to each person to grant it or not. I have done what I can. If participating in this forum gets to be too toxic or becomes a poor use of my time, I will simply take a break. No big deal.
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May 17, 2024 08:37PM
Thank you! I have been trying to figure out if there was a Mute or Hide option like there are in most forums. I just did this and it worked

Click on User Name
Click on Toggle User Visibility

Oila! Posts are hidden. Everyone wins.
@wrosie wrote:

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

May I please ask a favor? IMO, John trolls a lot and gets off on the attention. Will other members of this forum please stop feeding him? Not only do responses cause him to post even more, but many of the responses come across as nothing more than personal attacks (whether deserved or not).

This forum is so often inundated with John's trolling posts and responses to those posts that I now dread visiting it.

ETA: John doesn't always troll. This thread is a good example. It's bad enough when forum members make mocking posts in response to his trolling posts. Now, a legitimate thread is getting derailed.

You can always block seeing any of John's posts. But they may appear in other posts that quote him.

I think you do it by clicking or right clicking on his user name on one of his posts.
Reply
May 17, 2024 08:38PM
I’ve done the same. After realizing the common sense and logic chip was not present, I just stopped responding and also hope others will follow suit.
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

@wrosie I toggled John more than a year ago but, yes, I still see some of his posts when others quote him.

People will do what they want to do. I am asking for a favor and it's up to each person to grant it or not. I have done what I can. If participating in this forum gets to be too toxic or becomes a poor use of my time, I will simply take a break. No big deal.
Reply
May 17, 2024 09:24PM
@Cassiespark wrote:

I’ve done the same. After realizing the common sense and logic chip was not present, I just stopped responding and also hope others will follow suit.
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

@wrosie I toggled John more than a year ago but, yes, I still see some of his posts when others quote him.

People will do what they want to do. I am asking for a favor and it's up to each person to grant it or not. I have done what I can. If participating in this forum gets to be too toxic or becomes a poor use of my time, I will simply take a break. No big deal.

So you want to try and control what people read on here? If you don't like someone's post, you don't want others to see them either
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May 18, 2024 10:01PM
@drdoggie00 Thank you. Much appreciated.
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