They knew our names

We went to a bar dining shop. The bartender knew both of our names. We interacted with this bartender three months ago. I think our pictures are in the back!

Anything like this happen to you?!?

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I mostly shop alone. If a bartender knew both my and my guest's names, I would hesitate to shop there again.

OTOH, some bartenders are ridiculously good at remembering people's names and their drinks of choice.

Yes, one time my guest gave a fake name, but the receipt had his real name!

@Niner wrote:

We went to a bar dining shop. The bartender knew both of our names. We interacted with this bartender three months ago. I think our pictures are in the back!

Anything like this happen to you?!?

Many yrs. ago, I shopped an older grocery store where the only access to the rest room was through an employee area in the back of the building. As I was walking, I noticed a paper on a bulletin board describing various shoppers, of which one was me.

This type of thing has been going on for years already. With not so modern now technology companies know who I am as soon as they see my phone number if I ever called them before. And they can also run a system where if they enter your credit card your previous visits might show up. So aside from those who are wonderful at names there are all sorts of cheats built into some restaurants systems that you may be surprised when you call somewhere or go somewhere years later even and they have your name.
At least 10 years ago I had a restaurant job I did every 6 months or so where I had to ask directions to the place. As soon as I made that phone call every time they knew not only which dates I had been there before but also what table I sat at and with what server and what I ordered. I had to keep making excuses about why I needed directions again (coming from the other direction etc) and they wanted to know if i wanted the same table and server.
So long story short if you gave your card to run a tab or even made a reservation for dinner there after the bar all your info may have come up. Don't fret about your photo being in the break room!!!! Just fret about big brother knowing all that is to be known about you instead. That is a lot more scary to me.

*67 when you call.

I have a pretty decent sized friend group and try to rotate partners when I can. I have 2-3 people who do the really big jobs with me, but the rotation on those is usually longer (hotels, resorts, international travel, etc.).

I was recently recognized at a small store by a clerk who remembered our encounter over a year ago. I was greeted my name. I've never mystery shopped the store - and given the fact that it is a single location locally owned enterprise which is not affiliated with any chain I doubt they have mystery shoppers.

That said, my personal policy, is never to mystery shop the same location of any enterprise more than once per year.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2023 06:53AM by Rousseau.

We did not call ahead and I paid at the end. Well, service was fabulous at least.

I used to live in SWFL and shopped a beach front hotel restaurant- a very high end place- that for some reason despite good food was ALWYAS empty! Shop rotation was 6 months and every time I was assigned the same bartender was working there. As we were always the only people at the bar the bartender chatted with us- I am sure she knew I was a shopper as I paid cash and watched what she did with the cash- making me kinda obvious- but that is what the directions said. Since have moved out of SWFL and have not done any restaurant shops.

All stores keep data on customers if they have the time and technology to do so, even Costco. i tried to buy something but my CC didn’t work. The next day, i went to Costco again and attempted to buy the same item and the clerk hesitated, reading a note in their computer system. I was flagged. Clerk looked at me as if i was a criminal trying to use a fake credit card and started to look around for a supervisor.

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

If you make repeated returns to your local Target department store (the one with the bullseye--nationwide store), your face is likely to be recorded in their security system. I don't know if it's to the level of telling store employees about you but they definitely know who you are and if you come into their store.

Years ago I had to do a shady compliance job at BJ's (the warehouse store) where I had to try and return something without having paid for it. I had to take it off the shelf and go directly to return. They must have flagged me in their system, because the next time I went to that store (I'm not a member) I was told I was barred. BTW, they failed the shop and offered me a credit.

I haven't tried any other shops there requiring my ID and don't want to become a member, but geesh, you would think the MS company would have corrected the problem and cleared their system. I did have to meet with a manager and he was aware of it all and watching. But I'm the one who got banned from the store..go figure.

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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

MS Co. used you, you take a huge risk for what, $8 profit?

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Judi,

I have a standard policy, I never ever do anything illegal for a mystery shopping company. And I won't do anything to set up an employee to fail.

I understand what you're saying, but it was all above board with the store and district manager aware and watching the whole thing. It paid very much higher than $8 and it was sort of fun to see how it would go. It was around the holidays and apparently was something they were training employees about due to the likelihood of it happening. With that said, I'm still not happy about being told I could never apply for membership at that store 'cause I was banned. It was a bit embarrassing.

Oh and I remembered what happened now. They would not let me return it without the receipt or member's name who purchased it for a gift, but they let me walk out the store with the item, where the manager was waiting to collect it and hear about what happened. He wasn't happy. They were testing to see how employees would react. I probably should have contacted the store or MSC about the issue at the time, but it's not important to me as I don't have a desire to be a member there.

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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

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