Shops where you shop

I live in a smallish town next to a larger town. What are the general guidelines/etiquette for doing shops at places you actually shop? For example, there is a supermarket down the road from me where I do my in-between grocery runs. They certainly recognize me there because I go a couple of times a week to pick up a few things. Would it be ok for me to do a shop there? Part of me thinks that it would be perfect because no one would raise an eyebrow about me being there, wandering the aisles.

How about the gas station where I usually get gas? I never go inside, so I doubt the cashiers would know who I am.

I'm not friends with any of the people who work at these places, so that wouldn't be an issue. I just wonder how people usually deal with doing shops in a small town.

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.

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Many of us like to take assignments any place that we would go whether on assignment or not! If you have not been in the habit or requesting a receipt every time you shop such a place, now is the time to get into the habit so that you are not just getting a receipt when on assignment.

I would, of course, advise against ever doing a revealed shop i a small town; but, then, I'm the one that advises against all revealed shops!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Thanks maven. Is there a way to find out which company does shops at a specific grocery store? People aren't supposed to reveal which companies do which clients, right? I'd love to shop the Food **** grocery near me and have no idea how to find out how to do that.

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
No, we can't reveal client names along with the MSCs or vice versa. No all types of business or all brands of a particular type of business is shopped. You need to sign up with as many MSCs as possible and do the leg work. It is hard work at times but it pays off in the end. You are now running a small business.
I live in a smaller town. I have been mystery shopping for a few years. I mystery shop at a grocery store that I have been going to for many years before I did any mystery shopping. They just know me as a regular customer.
I can tell ya it does exist though and they are a top 10 on here. It is small pay and small reimbursement but if you're already there.. it's super easy to do.

MegglesKat
Why wouldn't you shop where you normally shop. I've shopped Best buy forever, and now do their jobs. They have no way of knowing you shop. For instance the grocery stores I shop, I have shopped on my own for years before Msing. The employees get to know you as a regular customer who returns. Customers always go back to stores or restaurants they enjoy. Just keep acting like a customer......

Live consciously....
For me it is not a question of whether I patronize the place on my own, it is if me being a regular will influence the way I'm treated. For some places it absolutely would. An exception was my car dealer for service shops. The client was interested in having regular customers too.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Back when I started I shopped at the Aldi where I do my 'big' shopping. It was too uncomfortable to ask associates I knew the required question and I decided to pass on that particular store.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
@LisaSTL wrote:

For me it is not a question of whether I patronize the place on my own, it is if me being a regular will influence the way I'm treated. For some places it absolutely would. An exception was my car dealer for service shops. The client was interested in having regular customers too.

Lisa I definitely see your point. At this particular place I am certainly recognized as a regular customer but I'm not friendly with anyone there (friendly above typical courtesy). I've never noticed them treating me differently, like giving me preferential treatment, so I'm thinking it should be ok to shop them.

I will know I'm a successful MS'er when I make enough to pay someone else to scrub my toilets.
In that situation I would probably complete a shop there. I tend to avoid the shops at places where employees know me by name and will stop what they are doing to chat.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Being a customer your just that, you don't have a personal relationship with the employee your evaluating, a curtious smile and what's on sale today is about it. The program I do wants the help to be more engaging with customers, and for me asking a quick question, example: Are the berries from CA is not time consuming. I couldn't really find work in a place I've never been...just saying....I've been around too long....smiling smiley

Live consciously....
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