We all worry about being found out while mystery shopping. One time, on a restaurant assignment, part of the shop required a visit to the restroom to observe if there was a cleaning schedule posted, and if it was current. As I was studying it up on the wall, in comes the cashier who took my order! Yikes, I didn't know what to do, so I casually smiled and said hi, and returned to the dining area. Thankfully my order just came up. I grabbed it and high-tailed it out of there!

Did you have to take a photo?

No, thankfully no photo needed. But I was to read it and see if it was current. I got a quick enough glance to see that it had been.

You would be surprised at how often you think you are caught and not. I learned along time ago. Start always asking for receipt even when not on a shop. Less of a flag if it’s a store you tend to shop.

It's funny because I always ask for a receipt anyway, so that I can get my Fetch Rewards.

Doing a carwash shop one time...

You're supposed to disconnect your bluetooth on your cell phone because on this one recording app, it uses your car speaker as an amplifier. Whatever is recorded is broadcast at whatever the volume level your car is set at.

The lady from the car wash comes over and does her little, "Hi, I'm Tiff, let me get you checked in" and walks to the back of my car together my plate number. I hear her voice over the speaker and like a ninja, turn off the stereo.

I only use the built-in app from now on.

I got caught long time ago when I first started mystery shopping. It was for a cellular company. I totally forgot I had my work badge on me so the sales person knew my full name. LOL

I get a receipt for everything now as well even when not mystery shopping. Use the receipt and scan into Receipt Hog and Receipt Jar (Canada only) to earn gift cards. I am sure there are other ones out there.

Thanks for all the good tips.

Back when I first started mystery shopping in the 19080's, I had what was my least favorite type of shop. It was a pay and dash. The client wanted the shoppers to select a piece of candy and leave the exact amount or slightly more on the counter and run out before getting a receipt. I did exactly that and when the cashier called me back and I kept going out the door,.The security guard who was over 250 pounds of pure muscle came out and grabbed my arm and brought me back in the store. Despite the fact that I had left $1.00 for a .78 cent item, he made me speak to the manager. Several customers in the store stood there watching as we waited for the manager to come out of of the back. I asked if I could speak with him in the back and he insisted I spoke to him with the people watching. We had been instructed that in such an instance, we were to show our id to the manager letting them know what we were. Needless to say, I never went back to that location. I also refused any of those types of assignments, especially since I never prefer to draw attention to myself.

Laura_16485312805421 @ Oct 21, 2022, 3:27:28 AM

We all worry about being found out while mystery shopping. One time, on a restaurant assignment, part of the shop required a visit to the restroom to observe if there was a cleaning schedule posted, and if it was current. As I was studying it up on the wall, in comes the cashier who took my order! Yikes, I didn't know what to do, so I casually smiled and said hi, and returned to the dining area. Thankfully my order just came up. I grabbed it and high-tailed it out of there!

Sometimes I suspect I have been caught because the service suddenly becomes very attentive. I have a friend who accompanies me to a lot of dining shops but is not a mystery shopper herself. She says that when she dines out alone or with other friends, she takes pictures and checks out the restroom. She wants them to suspect she is mystery shopping. She swears that she gets better service.