Mystery Shops and keeping time

Hello,

Is it common for a Mystery Shop Company (MSC) to ask that you wear a watch with a second hand on it? If they answer is "yes", how strict are they about that? I haven't used a watch in years. I keep time with my cell phone but it doesn't show the seconds. I'd like to do these shops w/o having to go buy a watch if I can. What do you think?

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It is very common because most shop assignments that require timings require them *to the second*. If you cannot comply, don't take the shops. You can buy a digital watch that displays seconds for about $18.

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.

Yes, it is frequently required that timings be in minutes and seconds. The shop guidelines will specify such and the timings will be input in the report. You will need an accurate timekeeper. It may be a stopwatch, or a watch with a lap timer function.

Fast food shops for example, require several timings. What time did you enter the line, how long before you were acknowledged, how long until you placed your order, how long until you received your order.

Restaurant shops may require time of seating, initial visit by the server, time of order and service of drinks, time until service of appetizers, first course, etc.

Grocery shops, what time did you enter the line, when were you acknowledged, when were you assisted? At checkout, time you entered the checkout line, time until your first item was scanned. . .

The list of shops requiring timings goes on and on. It is a critical element of what a shopper reports. It is essential to have a watch or other device that ensures accurate reporting.

Absolutely you need a watch with minutes and seconds for virtually every 'speed of service' shop. I buy $10 digitals from Walmart that work for about 2 years until the battery dies.

If you have a micro-cassette recorder or Flip Camera laying around, those can work as well. Lately, I've been using my Flip. I keep it in my pocket or purse, and when the timing begins, hit the record button, then hit it again when it stops. It doesn't record the actual shop, but it works as an accurate timing device.

I do wear a watch, but just found a keychani with a stopwatch (very detailed) at Wal-mart and keep it in my purse where it's easy to see and large enough as well, and no one else see's it. You have to do timings so, need something like I have if you don't wear a watch...you can wear one only for your work.

Live consciously....

I wear my favorite Mickey Mouse watch (I worked for the Disney company for five and a half years) and there is a second hand that spins around and Mickey's arms point to the time. So I just pretend that I am a big shot in a hurry in these lines and keep looking at my watch. (Hmm, maybe big shots do not wear Mickey Mouse watches, it just occurred to me.)

I got a cheapo digital watch at Walmart, and I use a digital recorder for whatever I can get away with. If you note the first time required (either on your watch or say it into the recorder) then you can tell the time everything else happened when you put the message on your computer and see the times that each thing was said. I just did a very expensive restaurant and had to have every tiny little thing documented (when they took the plates, when I went to the restroom, when they refilled our glasses, etc.) and everything is on that recorder so that I knew they times. Who can reasonably remember about 20 time stamps???

Yup.

Well I broke down today and bought a Casio digital watch just for the stopwatch part of it. I had a big blunder today. Did a fast food. Ordered inside. Waited 10 minutes and then did the drive thru. Well, I received a drink and a bag which I thought was my complete order and started to drive away. I am at the edge of the parking lot waiting to merge onto the street and an employee comes flying out of the restaurant with another bag, containing the fries! So now I have a total mess up as to how long it took to get my complete order, so I will just reshop it later this week (with my new stopwatch, yes!)

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Mystery Shops and keeping time

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