Handling Repeat Visits To The Same Sites (Ask The Coach)

Question:

“I enjoy reading your great information regarding mystery shopping. I am a mystery shopper for a company here in Auckland, New Zealand, and would like some advice on how to handle revisits to the same bank site. Normally there is a 3 month stand down, but I always feel that person knows me from before. Often we have to ask the same question such as "I want to buy a home and would like to know how much I can borrow?”. Any help would be much appreciated.”—T. C.

Answer From Coach Melanie:

I think in this case, you have to trust that the mystery shopping company that is hiring you to do the research has designed an appropriate study, including shopper rotation. Often, we feel that the employee involved knows who we are, or that there is a big sign that says "mystery shopper" on our foreheads giving us away. The reality is that most employees see so many people, unless you have done something unusual during the shop to stand out, you should be fine.

I did some apartment shops and car shops myself where the rotation was either 6 months, or 3 months, respectively, and ran into exactly the same employees I shopped before, but they did not have a clue that this was the case.

Have a great day and happy shopping!

“Taking the mystery out of professional mystery shopping”—Melanie Jordan
http://www.mysteryshoppercoach.com

Copyright 2004 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing