Anyone else get the Secret Shopper email about getting employee names? I haven't done a shop for them in over a year, so I'm guessing it went out to everyone. Good that they are giving fair warning that shops will require name AND description if it's in the guidelines or they likely won't be paid.

I like that it says if you don't see a name tag or get a business card you need to ask them for their name.

Usually they say NOT to ask for a name.

Yep, got the email as well and it has been a while since I've shopped for them too.

There are only two of their clients where I live now, but I used to do lots of shops for them regularly when I was in NYC. So, now I do just those two shops every month and both require asking for the person's name if it is not given nor visible, as well as providing a description . If I recall correctly from years ago, they've always had those requirements for all their shops.

I sent a reply and got an answer. It said it went out to everyone who had ever worked for them.

I got same email

Oh yes--e-mail was received right after I submitted a looong report for another company that required me not to ask names. Once I realized e-mail had nothing to do with my submitted report my heart started to beat again.

I likewise had just done a long report the night before and thought the email was in response to that, but then realized it was a different MSC,

Yeah I got that stupid email. I replied and asked why it was sent to me. The reply I got back was that it was sent to all of their active contractors. I've done exactly four shops for them and I haven't done any at all in 6 months or more.

Problem with this email is, certain shopping situations don't lend themselves to asking for a name. This company has a small handful of clients in my area. In most, it's fairly easy, if the employee is out of uniform and doesn't identify themselves, to get the name. For example, one such client provides TV/internet/mobile services. That's no problem, you can always ask for the name at the end "in case I have more questions."

Ditto for the hardware store client they have locally.

But one is an ice cream client, the American one with the fake Dutch name, that is usually set up around here in seedy shopping malls. This company is clearly paying dirt wages to its employees as, in my experience, they often seem unhappy and conduct themselves like they'd just as soon shoot you as serve you. They never, EVER introduce themselves and often are out of uniform. And even if "in uniform," the name tags are hand-written and often smeared beyond readability.

Since Secret Shopper is very quick to admonish you that you must never, EVER do anything that might flag you as a shopper, I'd appreciate some tips from them on how to smoothly and discreetly elicit a name from a harried ice cream clerk who is shooting daggers through me as the transaction is concluded. "Hi, what's your name in case I have more questions? ... about ice cream? I'll call you. Assuming there's a telephone in this mall kiosk. I'd really like to call you later and discuss at length this waffle cone I'll have eaten in 10 minutes. What's your name?"

Perhaps Haapless-Dorksz ice cream could apply some of the money they're saving paying sub-poverty wages toward keeping records on who works what shift and when at their kiosks, so that a good description would be satisfactory?

For 15 bucks with no reimbursement on a $7-$8 scoop, they can take this shop and stick it where the sprinkles don't shine.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2023 08:30AM by KokoBWare.

In cases like that, for any MSC who wants a name, I use the old, "You look so familiar - I think I know you from somewhere. What's your name?" Or some version thereof.

@KokoBWare wrote:

Since Secret Shopper is very quick to admonish you that you must never, EVER do anything that might flag you as a shopper, I'd appreciate some tips from them on how to smoothly and discreetly elicit a name from a harried ice cream clerk who is shooting daggers through me as the transaction is concluded.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2023 02:46PM by dhortondroid.

I did one years ago for a minor league baseball stadium where you had to get the name of the worker at the concession stand. They didn't wear name tags. Awkward. The concession person wasn't smiling or anything, so my guest just asked her, "What's you name?" Then when the puzzled employee gave it is as Julie, she said, "Julie, you looked stressed, Take a deep deep breath." It worked for that situation, but in general it's awkward asking for names of employees that you generally don't need to know.

Nyc,
I'm too old for something like that.. I possibly could adapt it and ask if they know one of my grandsons, or if I have seen them with one of them at a game, they were both in the marching band in high school.

Thats a really good idea..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2023 12:03AM by Morledzep.