Anyone here ever been a mystery shopper?

[BlondieK143]

I'm going on my first 'job' tonight at a resteraunt. I'm a little nervous just because I want to make sure I get all the details correct. Any tips if you have shopped before or if you just want to share your experiences?

[Wapsie B]

1. I've been a shopper before.

It was for a restaraunt chain as well. I was given a checklist of things to look for and any observations I had about the place itself, the way the food was presented, the service; the usual stuff. I'd say just give your honest observations of your dining experience. That's all anyone can ask.

[ghostsofgiants]

2. Mystery shopper?

Please explain.

[BlondieK143]

3. Businesses recruit you to go to their stores.

Whether it is a clothing store, bar, or resteraunt. They have a list of guidlines and details you must get while you visit the store. You are reimbursed for your purchase plus what you will be paid to 'shop' for them. You just type out a report (they give you all the guidlines and specific info. you need) and you send in all your receipts. http://www.satisfactionservicesinc.com/home.html (That is who I am going through). It's an easy way to make quick cash. :)

[ghostsofgiants]

6. Interesting

Never heard of that before.

[BlondieK143]

8. Maybe you should look into it?

I mean, if you're interested in that sort of thing and need to make a few bucks. :shrug:

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Haha, couldn't hurt

I just might.

[supernova]

5. You go into a store or business

and "shop."

Really, what you are doing is reporting back to the HQ about the quality of service at the store.

The idea is to look as much like a plain jane customer as possible. It's the service industry equivalent of a spot inspection.

I've never done it, but it sounds like fun, to me. :D

[flamingyouth]

4. I've been on the receiving end of it (funny story)

It was during the impeachment hearings. We didn't know anyone was in the store (for the record, I actually owned the store but the mall's owners hired this firm to mystery shop us) and we were talking about what a bunch of shit the whole thing was. We obviously wouldn't have been talking like that if we'd known anyone was in there, but lo and behold, she was behind a display and just popped over to us.

Needless to say, she didn't quite agree with our assessment of the situation. Her write-up of us was HILARIOUS - I saved it for years. LOL - I can tell my grandkids someday how I was mystery-shopped by a Clinton hater. :D

Anyway, sounds like a good gig and you'll do a great job. :hug:

[BlondieK143]

7. Thank you!

And thank you for the story! That's so funny! I know as a server we're be soooo scared of having one of them come in. I'm just glad you didn't get in trouble! (with the mall's owners earlier).

[blondeatlast]

18. Another from the receiving end--I can only imagine!

Sounds almost like a great idea for a chick-lit book! :rofl:

I was always able to get a good report, partly because I was usually able to spot them for some reason.

This was 20 some odd years ago, and I don't think they spent as much money then--one of the tip-offs was if they never went to the dressing room!

I once was EXTREMELY busy (first swimwear price break) and got shopped. She was absolutely astonished at my ability to handle the madness (that was almost her exact words, too).

[BlondieK143]

19. That's an awesome report!

:)

[blondeatlast]

24. I still remember that day, my colleague called in sick.

It was the Memorial Day price break, generally the first time swimwear is marked down. I worked at an upscale store here in Phoenix, so you can imagine the demand for swimwear. I had only TWO dressing rooms available--the store, in its wisdom, decided to refurbish my tiny area that same week, despite mine and my supervisor's protests.

I must've had a hundred women in an are about 20x20 feet. It really was madness.

I'm so happy for her generous report; I did try very hard to greet ebveryone (essential in swimwear for it's loss potential), but wow--it was unbelievable.

I had a nice glass of wine at lunch--my supervisor bought it for me (against store rules, too!).

[BlondieK143]

25. Niiiice!

(the wine part! lol).

Seriously though, wtf were they thinking about the dressing rooms?

[elehhhhna]

10. No but Hubs' & met a couple on a cruise once who were mystery-shopping

Carnival! For a week! Plus booze money (they had to spend $$$ to prove they were on the cruise.) Very KEWL.

[BlondieK143]

12. That's awesome!

I want to do THAT!

[lumberingbear]

11. Used to go with a friend of mine...

who critiqued Boston Markets and Bob Evans resturants.

Free food!!!!

:9

[BlondieK143]

13. Nice!

I've got to find someone to go with me before tonight!

[blondeatlast]

20. That was another tip-off for us on the receiving end--

lone shoppers.

Good strategy to get a buddy to go.

[BlondieK143]

21. Plus, the call ahead thing!

That's a dead give away as well!

[LynzM]

14. My in-laws used to do it a lot

For various food chains and stores. Decent money, if you can find places nearby. I never did it because the places on the list I subscribed to would have cost me more in gas than I would have been paid, almost! Good luck, though! It's a decent gig if you can get good ones!

[BlondieK143]

16. Thanks!

:) I'm only going to do it a few times (just to have something to do lol). I don't think there are too many opportunities around here anyway. We'll see. But HEY nonetheless! :hug:

[Mutley]

15. I've always wanted to do this.

But all of the sites I've found make YOU pay THEM up front for the privalege. Is that the case with these guys?

[BlondieK143]

17. Well, you have to pay for what they tell you to buy.

But, get a receipt and you get reimbursed for everything that you buy. Take for instance this job - I have to order two drinks, an appetizer, and two entrees. All of which have to be under $40. I'll fax them my receipt and they'll give it back to me (along with the money I make for actually doing the 'shopping'). Plus, since this is a last minute thing, I get an extra $15 bonus.

[Mutley]

39. Excellent.

I may need to try this! I could use a few extra bucks.

[blondeatlast]

22. How'd you line this up?

I think I might be interested, but don't know where to begin?

Having been on the receiving end, I always thought it was a good gig. I promise not to get revenge--I did get a pretty middling report once.

[BlondieK143]

23. Try this link

http://www.satisfactionservicesinc.com/home.html

It's really easy to sign up and you just list the cities that you want to work from. Then, you just wait for an e-mail. I signed up earlier this week and within 3 days, I had an e-mail for a job. Good luck with it and hope it works out!

Glad you didn't get a bad report or anything! I'm glad I never had one as a server!

[Deja Q]

26. No, but I'd love to be.

:D

[BlondieK143]

27. Try the link I've given above.

:D Good luck!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

28. A friend of mine has been doing it for years- now gets AMAZING assignments

I think he's been mystery shopping for 20+ years now... However, He now gets 3 day stays at really nice hotels- like several stays on the NC outer banks.... complete with a requirement that he has to eat in each of the restaurants and get at least 2 drinks at the bars per night... The last one had an massage requirement built in...

His wife often is sent to shop at Nordstrom's... she absolutely loves it.

I keep trying to remember to ask them how they got started...What a great way to get free meals or merchandise!

[BlondieK143]

30. Wow, that's wonderful!

And you're right, you can't beat the work that you have to do to get it. Does he have another job as well and just does this for fun?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

32. He's mostly retired now-

Does some subcontracting/project time-limited work also, and really enjoys the quality of life!

[BlondieK143]

33. That must be nice!

At least he can enjoy himself!

[jmm]

29. I've been on the receiving end

When I got my first retail job the store I worked in had an average of 65 from the secret shoppers. After I had been there a few weeks one came in and I helped her. We got a 93. The only reason why they took points off was because I didn't try to sell her socks. That type of thing mattered to the store. Apparently I should've pushed them on her even though socks would've looked ridiculous with her outfits. My boss gave me the we-need-to-get-our-upt's-up speech in front of the district manager during a store meeting until I reminded her that the last time she helped a secret shopper we got a 62.

As for tips, relax and enjoy the free meal. As long as you don't make yourself too obvious acting like you're reading from a script and write a decent report you should do fine.

[BlondieK143]

31. Thank you!

And thanks for sharing your experience! Way to go for you! A 93 is really good! :)

[bridgit]

34. who are you doing it for?

[LoZoccolo]

35. Can you antagonize the employees?

To see how they deal with irate customers?

[bridgit]

38. so far as i am aware, that's not proper...

if management has a line on some employee routinely treating customers ill, they usually have that info sitting on their desks in the form of direct complaints, i wouldn't care much to be pushing anyone's button who is already dealing with contentious people on a daily basis

[skygazer]

36. Receiving end here regularly

The grocery store chain that I work for is shopped some 13 times per quarter. All I can say to Lo Zoccolo's suggestion of harrassing the employees to see how they manage an irate customer is piss off! It's hard enough to work retail without having some moran purposely try to fuck with you!

I don't mind getting shopped - I always try to maintain a friendly and professional demeanor whether I think my customer is shopping me or not. As a matter of fact, I don't waste my time trying to pick out the shopper. My only quibble with the business is that it seems like some shoppers have a need to go out of their way to find things to criticize. Be honest and look at it from the point of view of any consumer (while adhering to the guidelines the company you work for wants, of course).

[Pale Blue Dot]

37. As someone who gets mystery shopped 3 times a month

I agree with everything skygazer said. :thumbsup:

[patricia92243]

40. My friend who was a shopper would not eat the food from McDonalds, etc

she brought it to me. I ate and enjoyed!!