MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD XI ** New people make sure you read the first 2 Posts **

ukmonkey wrote: »

To MEET them?!?!

Jeez, they supposedly fire you if you ring them, what will they do to you for having the audacity to meet them, chop off a limb?! :rotfl:

I'm back (all limbs intact!) twas very interesting. About 13 shoppers outnumbered 2 to 1 by burger managers! Interesting to hear just how much the reports make a difference in terms of pay rises etc and also just get a few clarifications in terms of why the briefs are they way they are. I don't think we really came up with anything useful though. Someone let slip to all the managers about the "special projects" that have just started cue 30 manager franticly scribbling the info down haha. The managers pretty much said that unless you're wearing a suit/work attire whenever you ask for a receipt it's pretty obvious who you are.

Also interesting to see the reports that the managers are sent. Very basic % score plus x out of 8 key points. The managers don't know what we're asked and we don't know what the key points are. They get more detailed points split by section but not the full details. They do however get the full comments box and like it if we put lots of detail in there!

I think the managers were very keen to get a better idea on how we were "trained" asking about whether we had 1 on 1 training or if it was all online, quite critical on shoppers who don't take it seriously. They made it very clear that they didn't know when they were going to be shopped, all they knew was that it was twice a month between 8-10, 12-14, 17-19:00. They get the reports 3 days later, however in Canada they are trialing holding them until the end of the month before they send them over so basically stops them becoming complacent at the end of the month.

In terms of queries they do have to identify who the shoppers were before they can query things so don't be so worried if you get an e-mail asking to confirm if the description is accurate or not.

Didn't really get the chance to speak to them about the company as a whole, someone mentioned people getting sacked at the drop of a hat and it was just brushed off, they did however say that they avoid phone calls because of the cost involved in calling Australia! They chucked up a list of their regular clients and I was suprised to see a few clients I've never seen before! Particularly interested to see a travel company up there.

To be honest I was a little disappointed at the attitude of some of the shoppers there. At the start (away from burger people) someone said about the range of people there and that they "must stick out like a sore thumb" in the burger place, made me wonder why people do jobs in places that they wouldn't normally shop in. Also we went round the table and we were asked about why we do mystery shopping and a couple of people said "free food", which in front of a client was just shocking really. I do wonder if they will no longer be allowed to do burgers. Also I was shocked that one of the managers recognised a shopper and told everyone about how they have a nickname for her husband!!! For me I was suprised that people keep shopping in places where they know they are recognised and this lady commented on how that particular place always get good reports :rolleyes:.

So yeh, I can see a few shoppers being banned from burgers after today. On the plus side I got paid for my 2.5 hours this morning which I shall look forward to receiving. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!