Mystery Shopping is best left a 'mystery'
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
United States
November 13, 2015 8:31am CST
I was a Mystery Shopper for more than 6 years. There are rules, believe it or not. The first thing you learn is that you don't tell people you are a Mystery Shopper. Obviously, your spouse and kids would know but you aren't to go telling the world about it. There are reasons...mystery means just that.
Worse than telling you are shopper is to mention the name of the locations you shop. I have not shopped in two years and still to this day I won't give the names of the places I've shopped. Instead I can say this:
I have shopped:
Banks
Fast Food
Cell Phone Stores
Casual Restaurants
Fine Dining
Retirement Homes
etc.
Those of you still shopping might want to consider not giving away too much information! It might come back to bite you.
I have heard of several shoppers who were caught giving TMI.
7 people like this
8 responses
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill No, it's a different one, though I have heard of that one too.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Nov 15
@paigea I used the v a lot and that's how I got into merchandising which led me to some very high end jobs in doctors' offices.
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
13 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill It's a very famous quote from a film called 'Fight Club'. I have to admit I've never seen it but I know the line.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
17 Nov 15
I was a mystery shopper as well. Grocery stores, home repair stores, fast food joints and even casual restaurants. It was ok but not something to make a living out of.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
17 Nov 15
To earn a living you have to have high end shops and live in a metro area - then you shop all day and do reports all night - that wasn't what I signed up for! I did it part time - which some days meant nothing. I liked 'routes' the best. I had a rout of 7 banks that I did quarterly plus any bonus shop that came up in that same area they gave me.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
13 Nov 15
The more who know the easier it is to slip up.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
14 Nov 15
Right! I still have that website you messaged me on this, I totally need to look into this again. I had fun doing that back in the day
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
14 Nov 15
If we lived in a better shopping area I'd still do it.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
14 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill that might be my issue here too, dunno, wanna try though
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
14 Nov 15
Yes, it is a given. I guess some people just like to talk.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
13 Nov 15
Is it to protect the places so they don't come back and sue you?
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
13 Nov 15
No - if I shop McDonalds and your daughter is just staring to work there and you tell her I told you I was going to shop there that day - it would ruin the report if she knew ahead of time. That's just one example.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
13 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill ok that makes sense..you need an honest surprise report not people on their best behavior..
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
13 Nov 15
@Rosekitty Exactly. And the reports the shoppers write have to be fair and accurate.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
13 Nov 15
It's fun but hard work with all the long detailed reports.
