The Mystery Shopping thread - IX

emmas42

I just wanted to ask, if you get "Ousted" as a MS do you get paid for the job or not? Especially interested in ABA regarding this

sophie131

Good news RE TNS and my ripped receipt. They forwarded my receipt to head office and they have said I will be paid for the visit but it will still need re-shopping.
At least I get paid!

KaramelRose

emmas42 wrote: »

I just wanted to ask, if you get "Ousted" as a MS do you get paid for the job or not? Especially interested in ABA regarding this

I'm sure many people on here have been "outsted" for the burger jobs on Gap, including me! I got paid for it so that was fine.

I did an ABA-i petrol job once where I'm not sure if they sussed I was a MS'er after I left, as when I got back itno my car, I noticed the cashier pointing to me to the duty manger.

emmas42

I was just curious because I work in a large shop chain and we regularly spot MSers. We make a note in the diary about when they visited and a description. We never let on that we know but enjoy our high scores because of it!

KaramelRose

I think it's a real shame actually that clients are able to spot MS'ing - as surely this defeats the object? Also, I think it shouldn't matter if you're a MS'er or not - every customer should be treated the same in my opinion.

Briefs should be constantly changed by the clients so it's not so easy to spot. Some things just scream that you're Mystery Shopping as it's such a shame that by following the breif, you're risking the chance of being treated differently.

emmas42

TBH we are given a "heads up" as to what the brief is likely to contain as we are told to concetrate on selling certain groups of goods for periods of time.

A real customer is normally clueless about these items and needs to be pushed into asking about them, whereas a MS is already aware that the product exists and will "prompt" you to guide them towards the product.

I don't think our system is particularly fair to busier stores. We get marked zero if the customer is not attended to even if we have 7 other customers and only 4 members of staff that day. In my company people get sacked for bad MS reports

duchy

I used to work for a certain well known pub chain and the ONLY time we ever sold espresso was to mystery shoppers. Just wasn't the customer profile in most spoonies. It is daft when companies give MSers totally unrealistic briefs

emmas42

duchy wrote: »

I used to work for a certain well known pub chain and the ONLY time we ever sold espresso was to mystery shoppers. Just wasn't the customer profile in most spoonies. It is daft when companies give MSers totally unrealistic briefs

I wonder if it has something to do with "answering to the city" Give the MSers a brief that will flag them up as being unusual customers and then the company can brag about customer service levels being high as well as profits being up?

(Well not for most companies at the mo, but you know what i mean! :rotfl:)

KaramelRose

emmas42 wrote: »

I wonder if it has something to do with "answering to the city" Give the MSers a brief that will flag them up as being unusual customers and then the company can brag about customer service levels being high as well as profits being up?

(Well not for most companies at the mo, but you know what i mean! :rotfl:)

That's a really interesting theory, had never thought about it like that before...

If a company only cares about bragging about unrealistic results, and not improving their actual customer service - that's REALLY disappointing.

On another note... I'm very excited as I'm cooking myself a cheese toastie at work...

Scrap that - I just burnt it and I have no more bread. Gutted. Looks like carbonated toast sandwich for me for lunch. Yum...

angel13

duchy wrote: »

I used to work for a certain well known pub chain and the ONLY time we ever sold espresso was to mystery shoppers. Just wasn't the customer profile in most spoonies. It is daft when companies give MSers totally unrealistic briefs

ive not done any ms for them but i do buy coffees when i go in them so they must think i am a ms-er anyhow