The Mystery Shopping Restaurant Bind Part II (Anecdote/Ask The Coach)

When we last left our heroine... (just kidding).

In part one of this post called "The Mystery Shopping Restaurant Bind", we learned of Ellen's situation and I had advised her what I thought she should do about filing her report. Here's what Ellen wrote back and told me she actually did:

Ellen:

I did decide to call the scheduler to see how he wanted me to handle the shop report. He called back and we talked it over before I filled out the report.

The scheduler told me it was too bad that I ate alone, but that he liked the way I handled the situation. He also said it was good that I ordered a hot item for my meal, and a cold salad plate for my friend's meal, because the client actually wanted data on both hot and cold dishes evaluated. I was advised to fill out the report completely, and add the information about my friend not showing up in the narrative in sections of the report when it was appropriate.

My scheduler thanked me for being honest and told me that he appreciated the feedback BEFORE I submitted the report. He also praised me for always getting my reports in the same day when I do shops for him (this was my third), because it really helps him get his job done on time.

Then, I was pleasantly surprised because my scheduler offered me two more non-restaurant shops to do this month! I had been trying very hard to get non-restaurant shops from this scheduler, and had not succeeded until then. He added that because of the way I handled the restaurant situation, he would feel good about giving me the other shops to complete.

So, it seems that perhaps this sticky situation turned into a little goldmine for me! I never thought it would turn out this way!

Thanks Melanie for your encouragement!

Coach Melanie's Note:

See what I mean about developing relationships with schedulers? So many shoppers just don't get this concept. They worry more about how many hundreds of web sites they can sign up to be a mystery shopper and fail to see that the real key to getting lots of quality, repeat mystery shopping work--which is how you eventually make the "big bucks" in the field--is to focus on working with a few good schedulers as you make connections, and do a great job for them, so you get another job!

Ellen clearly demonstrated her professionalism and her ability to think on her feet, and she was rewarded with the shops she really desired. She will also be that scheduler's "go to" person in her area now. That's the ultimate in mystery shopping success! Way to go Ellen!

Have a great day and happy shopping!

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

Copyright 2005 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing