Yeah we got an ebony shopper with a big ol fro that hits our store every few weeks..we are a mostly white store so we get low scores everytime. Every white worker gets the same name and description. Don't know how they keep their jobs..err i answered my own question.
Here's how I know when mystery shoppers are in our store... When I have multiple people come up to me and ask for the same product each time (and it's always something extremely random, like "can you tell me where I can find a grill pan?" Or "can you tell me where I can find cheese cloth?" I had 4 different people approach me on the same day asking for the same product, even asking the same way each time, and also you can tell because as soon as they spot you, they make a b line to you and stare at your name tag while asking where something is, lol. My store manager was kind enough to let me know that the mystery shoppers at our location always come on Sunday's.
We weren't supposed to know who the Mystery Shoppers were. Hence the name 'Mystery Shopper' but we always found out who they were. It's not hard to figure out. With us it was:
1. Staring at a certain product as if "fascinated" by it, or they look puzzled by its presence on the shelf.
2. Staring at you for about 30-40 sec to see if you will look their way
3. Asking you "odd questions" about product that they should know the answers to
4. To change it up, asking for and about "weird difficult to find" products that take longer to answer. His happens ALOT at our store.
Personally, I can do without them. If a Mystery Shopper is having a bad day when they come in to shop, then you're or your store is going to have a 'bad day (shop) as well.
Here's how I know when mystery shoppers are in our store... When I have multiple people come up to me and ask for the same product each time (and it's always something extremely random, like "can you tell me where I can find a grill pan?" Or "can you tell me where I can find cheese cloth?" I had 4 different people approach me on the same day asking for the same product, even asking the same way each time, and also you can tell because as soon as they spot you, they make a b line to you and stare at your name tag while asking where something is, lol. My store manager was kind enough to let me know that the mystery shoppers at our location always come on Sunday's.
Hmm now that is why 4 people asked me where apple sauce was. One guy asked, walked him to it, he thanked me, then walked right on by it without picking it up or anything.
I actually know the company and have seen the Kroger Mystery Shop audit. It's pretty silly and long for the amount of money it pays. I think they give the shopper a $3-4 allowance to buy several items. Of course they need to go thru the cash register and audit both the cashier and the courtesy clerk. One of the biggest things I remember about the audit was it required the shopper to make contact with at least four workers in service departments - bakery, produce, deli, meat & seafood. They have to count all other employees they see in the other departments. Yea - some of them have prompted questions they need to ask - "where can I find....", "how do I cook..". etc. about 4 years ago I started to do one and said F this a few minutes into it.
Other ones I have seen is where they have people stand at the front door to do an 'exit interview' where you give out $1 to the guest. I think you have to provide the money up front ($50) & they will reimburse you within a week.
I actually know the company and have seen the Kroger Mystery Shop audit. It's pretty silly and long for the amount of money it pays. I think they give the shopper a $3-4 allowance to buy several items. Of course they need to go thru the cash register and audit both the cashier and the courtesy clerk. One of the biggest things I remember about the audit was it required the shopper to make contact with at least four workers in service departments - bakery, produce, deli, meat & seafood. They have to count all other employees they see in the other departments. Yea - some of them have prompted questions they need to ask - "where can I find....", "how do I cook..". etc. about 4 years ago I started to do one and said F this a few minutes into it.
Other ones I have seen is where they have people stand at the front door to do an 'exit interview' where you give out $1 to the guest. I think you have to provide the money up front ($50) & they will reimburse you within a week.
The shop rite shops that I do pays $10 for food reimbursements. The payment for the shop ranges from $5 and the highest I've been paid was $35(depending on how urgent they need it done). The report takes like 10 minutes to do so overall it is decent cash for the amount of work involved. I've been doing this for a year and it is an enjoyable side job.
