Mystery Shopper cover blown!

nicolerooney

i have been on both sides of the retail shop. I used to be a store amnager, where the mystery shops used to be done- some people make it very obvious, as a mystery shopper you need to hide your examination and questions in different ways. The people in the shop will have seen results before and know exactly what u are looking for!

Plus you NEVER give away whether you are doing a mystery shop or have done one before!! If youre not discrete enough to respond to that...your not discrete enough to be doing m. shops!!

xxvickixx

lol at this thread. I do a very good "dizzy blonde" character when I have to ask stupid questions, a lot of apparent daydreaming is great for looking around the store slowly! Have never been rumbled yet...

mossy

Ah you've got to love the daft scenarios....I never need to take my 'look at me I'm a mystery shopper' bag or tshirt because many scenarios are so painfully obvious!!

Where I used to live I did a stamp shop every couple of months but the msing company in their infinite wisdom would not change the scenario (with ridiculous questions), one time I went into the small shop and the staff member swapped over to serve me, as I asked her the same questions I'd asked for the last six months and I have to admit that we were both stifling our laughter....needless to say I haven't mystery shopped that branch since. I didn't think it was worth it seeings as I wasn't going to be able to provide any useful feedback as they knew I was a mser...I also didn't feel the urge to go through the cringe worthy situation again and as my cover was clearly compromised by the msing company rather than me there was no point. Deep joy!!

welshgirl78

I hate the one in a fast food chain where you have to go in alone, ask for a receipt and sit there for 20mins... even with a magazine it is ridiculous to be in this particular place for soooooo long - I always see flurries of staff rushing out to clear tables as I walk away from the til!

xxvickixx

welshgirl78 wrote: »

I hate the one in a fast food chain where you have to go in alone, ask for a receipt and sit there for 20mins... even with a magazine it is ridiculous to be in this particular place for soooooo long - I always see flurries of staff rushing out to clear tables as I walk away from the til!

Pay by card then you are given the receipt, and eat very slowly!

joshclem

silkyuk9 wrote: »

What an embarassing situation to be in.

Well recently I had done 2 mystery shopping assignments in my town both were in 2 well know betting shops (both same company) not far from each other. Well went in today just to put on a bet and went to the counter to pay. well after I was served one of the shop assistants said 'He is that mystery shopper' to the other 2. Well I was a bit embarrassed and just said, how did you know that, she said 'We know everything' I wish the ground could have opened up and swallowed me.

How the hell did they know, there is something fishy here. I am thinking that they knew I was going to be doing those 2 shops and were prepared.

i would love to be a gambling secret shopper!

how how how!

Lil_Me_2

xxvickixx wrote: »

Pay by card then you are given the receipt, and eat very slowly!

And read the notes thoroughly before you go! Then you would see that it's 15 minutes, not 20.

nuttyp

I worked for a leading bookies, and we are breifed that we are getting a visit over the next few weeks. The usual thing we spot is reading the special offers in the window and them coming in and asking about them. They only place a pound bet and then ask for the odds. They usually decline the offer of a free hot beverage but always ask to use the customer toilet.

Oh and they stare at you as they enter, usually waiting to see if you have noticed them!! When you have a queue sometimes we could only smile to acknowledge.

It does make an interesting game, spot the MS - I just hoped i managed a high score if they ever came in, our bonus depended on it lol

DevilsAdvocate1

I did a mystery phone call one to a company I had never rang before. After the greeting I asked my question. He politely asked me to hold on and then I heard him shout "Bob, its the mystery shopper, do you want to take it?"

The funny thing was, he was so flustered he didn't say the things he was supposed to say (special offers, discounts, my name and contact details) so his report was not great!

D.

PS. I told the mystery shopping company and they changed the scenario. It had been the same for 3 years!

hcb42

they did that with the MS scenario at my company. we sussed them out over the phone, they dont act spontaneously like a regular caller.

Email queries are harder though.