Worst shop ever completed?

January 08, 2025 12:00AM

Was driving somewhere and wifey noticed a Rain Forest Cafe. She was surprised to see one and I told her they did not go out of business. They just aren't everywhere like a Chili's or Denny's would be.

It reminded me of one of the worst shops I ever completed. I remember the report being horrendous. I want to think it was with the 3 letter "knee" MSC. I have no idea if RFC is still shopped or not, but if it is anything like what I did years ago, I'm not even remotely interested.

Just wonderings what other people's "worst" shops were. I'm guessing I will see some gas stations shops mentioned.

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January 08, 2025 01:13AM

Worst for me would be Shell, Exxon, covert price scanning, and the Catholic church shops with the visiting priests. No, thank you to all of those.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown

January 08, 2025 02:12AM

On a very very cold day with icy roads, I dragged my husband to lunch at a casual restaurant in a hotel.
We were the only customers in the restaurant. The place was drafty, we were chilly.
It was a long wait to order. Then a long wait until the server returned to say they were out of that. This happened a few times, they were even out of fries.

Finally she told us that there’d been an event the night before, they were short of many things and deliveries were late due to roads. (More glares from Hubby)
I asked what is available and we managed to order two different things.

The same thing happened at dessert until I asked her to see what there was. She brought us each a small dish of ice cream and comped that on the bill.

I didn’t argue that I wanted to pay. ( I have done so at DQ) I worried whether I’d be paid. But I was.

So, when people cancel due to road conditions, it makes sense, The restaurant might be out of everything anyway. LOL

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

January 08, 2025 02:29AM

I’ve had several dreadful shops, but I think the worst was a $50 reimbursement only fried chicken shop at a bar/grill establishment (the specialty food is their fried chicken and family style sides). The food was terrible, service was worse and I was out of pocket $11. THEN, to add insult to injury, my husband ended up with food poisoning. I even had to pitch the leftovers. Never again!!

January 08, 2025 02:49AM

Let's see.. the worst recent shop.. like since I've been here. Would easily be those stupid price checks. I did one round, and got paid for them all, even though a lot of them didn't have prices on the items. I was kicked out of several of the convenience stores, and at least one Publix while doing them. Then the second round they kept changing the pay, and when I couldn't get all the same prices that I couldn't get the first time they refused to pay me.

Worst restaurant would have to be Red Lobster. Between rubber calamari at two different restaurants, and shrimp that was so over cooked that it was as tough as a pencil eraser. And a manager substituting at one store and then seeing us again at his regular store and recognizing us. He promised I wouldn't get over cooked shrimp again, and I didn't, but I felt like I was walking on egg shells through the entire shop. And our waitress at the second shop was great, but her tips were being stolen to give to the cooks and bussers, so I slipped her a $20 bill in addition to the required 20% tip that I paid for with my card.

January 08, 2025 02:53AM

Cirrus. Completed and reported shop on time and accurately. My invoice was never paid despite repeated requests. That's the worst. If they wish to engage me again, they must pay up and send payment in advance for any new shop.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2025 05:58AM by Rousseau.

January 08, 2025 03:08AM

A photo shop for office supplies. I'm sure I whined about it here before. I went into the office supply shop to photograph certain supplies. The associate pointed me to a certain aisle. Turns out it was the wrong aisle and thus I reported 90% of items were out of stock. I finished the shop and was browsing for items I needed for myself when the assistant manager approached me and threatened to toss me out of the store, I forget why but I left and bought my items elsewhere.

January 08, 2025 04:38AM

Mine would be a Smashburger where my wallet was stolen. I think I stupidly left it on my table while I filled my cup at the soda machine -- just a few seconds but long enough for someone to grab it and run. It was the end of a multi-city trip and I'd arrived at the location via a bus from another city. I probably didn't have a ton of cash but after the shop I was supposed to rent a car and fly out the next morning. Well without a license the car rental didn't happen but it turns out if you don't have an ID they will let you board a plane if you go through extra screening. (Arrive very early!)

A few days later someone found the wallet which had been tossed after they took the cash -- they were nice enough to locate me and return it.

And here's the kicker: When I asked the manager to review the footage he said there were no cameras in the dining room! So much for the threat about making sure your report lines up with the video footage...

January 08, 2025 10:07AM

A very long time ago, I completed a pool store shop. I was in my early 20's at the time, and the much older employee seemed to think I was engaging in conversation with him because I found him attractive. He kept winking at me throughout an awkward conversation about a pool party that I was supposed to be planning. To make matters worse, I had to make a $1 purchase. I had to scour the place to find something remotely close to that price. I eventually found an ugly little elephant toy.

The employee was chuckling at my purchase as I made up a story that I was buying it for my younger brother who "loves elephants." He insisted that I "just take it" despite my begging to pay for it. I started to head out the door, without my receipt, then I caught a glimpse of some bottled drinks. I walked back in, my cheeks burning from embarrassment, and headed back to the counter to purchase a beverage. Thankfully, another employee appeared and rang me up. I grabbed my receipt and turned to run for the door, just in time to catch the first employee who was now smiling ear to ear. He gave me another wink as I hurried out.

Needless to say, the report was pretty interesting.

January 08, 2025 02:38PM

I had a love/hate relationship with the pool shops! It was so awkward to have to make such a small purchase. I would usually grab some sort of stupid little piece of junk by the register too. Funny about the "love elephants!" I think I purchased something similar.

@AmandaCA wrote:

A very long time ago, I completed a pool store shop. I was in my early 20's at the time, and the much older employee seemed to think I was engaging in conversation with him because I found him attractive. He kept winking at me throughout an awkward conversation about a pool party that I was supposed to be planning. To make matters worse, I had to make a $1 purchase. I had to scour the place to find something remotely close to that price. I eventually found an ugly little elephant toy.

The employee was chuckling at my purchase as I made up a story that I was buying it for my younger brother who "loves elephants." He insisted that I "just take it" despite my begging to pay for it. I started to head out the door, without my receipt, then I caught a glimpse of some bottled drinks. I walked back in, my cheeks burning from embarrassment, and headed back to the counter to purchase a beverage. Thankfully, another employee appeared and rang me up. I grabbed my receipt and turned to run for the door, just in time to catch the first employee who was now smiling ear to ear. He gave me another wink as I hurried out.

Needless to say, the report was pretty interesting.

January 08, 2025 03:11PM

My best and worst were all hotel shops.
I think I told the story here before about the worst - a Comfort Inn that turned out to be a drug den
A Ritz Carlton where I was abused by the scheduler.
Best were two shops for Hilton brands and one resort...I forget the MSC...but they were adequately paced, not ridiculous, fair compensation. Homewood Suites and Doubletree as I recall. The resort shop was great...a few bar visits...I was tipsy by the end of the night.
I do laugh at the memory of the Homewood where the desk clerk commented that my home address wasn't far away...I told him I was having my place repainted. That seemed to satisfy him.
All of these were before COVID = more amenities overall.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2025 03:11PM by BarefootBliss.

January 08, 2025 05:44PM

In 2005, I was still attempting to be successful as a full timer. I accepted a mattress job from a defunct MSC; I was to visit the client and then a competitor. After completing both reports, an unannounced third appeared. That page contained two questions; if in need, which store would I visit and why? I selected the competitor, then price and hit submit. That was when the problems began, as the box with WHY required 800 characters. Folks, while I have the ability to stretch 6 to 800, it was a nerve wracking and time consuming task. I informed the scheduler, going forward my fee would either double or triple; I do not recall which number.

January 08, 2025 08:44PM

I did a mystery shop for a fast food place that required a late night visit on a terrible part of town. One of the requirements was to take a picture of the restaurant from outside.

I took the picture and had forgot to turn the flash off on my camera. A man and woman, who were doing something in a truck in the parking lot, thought I was taking a picture of them. They chased my vehicle for about 5 miles and even pulled next to me screaming.

The 911 operator I called during the high speed pursuit was very confused about what was happening.

January 09, 2025 01:07AM

My worst was a casino evaluation- the whole place was run-down and I felt terrible for the staff. The drinks were tiny and not free- yes, I got reimbursed, but I can't believe anyone would actually pay for a shot glass of mixed drink. The food was basically inedible- picture gas station "Weenie Wheel" roller- cooked hot dogs. My husband played poker for a little while and came out of the poker room reeking of smoke and desperation. Plus the report took forever to fill out. Never again.

January 09, 2025 01:13AM

You could at least tell us what hellhole casino this was :-P

Obviously not Vegas if you had to pay for drinks.

@FrugalCat wrote:

My worst was a casino evaluation- the whole place was run-down and I felt terrible for the staff. The drinks were tiny and not free- yes, I got reimbursed, but I can't believe anyone would actually pay for a shot glass of mixed drink. The food was basically inedible- picture gas station "Weenie Wheel" roller- cooked hot dogs. My husband played poker for a little while and came out of the poker room reeking of smoke and desperation. Plus the report took forever to fill out. Never again.

January 09, 2025 01:21AM

@Comtrainer2 ok, I’m sorry. This is so funny.

January 09, 2025 01:31AM

Not the worst, but one of the most memorable, was a Red Lobster shop where the server hit the edge of the table while setting down my salad bowl and promptly dumped half of it (laden with 1000 Island dressing) into my open purse which was sitting on the chair beside me. To add insult to injury, he apologized for the slow service by explaining that he had a large group in the back which had been his priority. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when that report was read.

January 09, 2025 09:40AM

@FrugalCat wrote:

My worst was a casino evaluation- the whole place was run-down and I felt terrible for the staff. The drinks were tiny and not free- yes, I got reimbursed, but I can't believe anyone would actually pay for a shot glass of mixed drink. The food was basically inedible- picture gas station "Weenie Wheel" roller- cooked hot dogs. My husband played poker for a little while and came out of the poker room reeking of smoke and desperation. Plus the report took forever to fill out. Never again.

"weenie wheel"
"smoke and desperation"
I'm dying over here.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown

January 09, 2025 01:34PM

Years ago I did a ski resort mystery shop. A lesson was supposed to be included. The beginners teacher left early so they assigned a black diamond level teacher to my never even on skis before self. He was an older gentleman who spent most of the lesson commenting on my weight and body size. Faintly praising me for being willing to try to ski at "my size." I am plus sized but not heavy enough to have to restrict my activities in any way. In fact at the time I had recently been snorkeling, hiking, and zip lining on a vacation.

Can you even imagine the report. The scheduler was more upset than I was at the way I was spoken to. I appreciated the support and the education that they promised to give to an instructor who was more than old enough to understand that he was being inappropriate.

January 10, 2025 01:03AM

Thank you Frugal for making me remember my one and only attempt at doing casino shops.. It was a terrible smoke filled day of hell, and my shop was excluded because I didn't understand the instructions or the way the casino multipurposed their venues. And I was sick for days afterward from being stuck in that thick smoke all day. I was new to mystery shopping, and the Prophet platform was confusing at best. I haven't done another casino shops since then, and I won't in future either.

January 10, 2025 05:10AM

My worst are not nearly as bad as some of these so I will keep my mouth shut. But thank u all for some entertaining posts. All major channels of my tv have been on full time 24/7 fire news for three days now so I need this source of entertainment.

January 10, 2025 11:43AM

I had a frightening time checking if a C-store was open past midnight. When I arrived, there was a menacing guard at the door who said they are not closed and I can’t come in. I had to open the door behind him to show it was not locked. I’m not sure what was going on there but I felt like there was some type of crime happening. There were multiple indigents in the parking lot yelling unintelligible things. There was a lady passed out on the street corner in a dress with the alcohol in her hand. It look like she just fell down. Police were across the street but not paying any attention. This area is too sketchy nothing good is happening after midnight.

This is no fault of the beloved MSP. I am just not doing that anymore around here. Too dangerous. During the day though, I love testing western union locations in same neighborhood.

January 10, 2025 11:47AM

I’m in SoCal too. I had no power for 2 days so went on shops in next city over where they have underground power lines. I can’t think about the fire just have to stay busy.

January 10, 2025 07:06PM

The fires are horrible.. but the drought, the fires, and the intense heat that never really lets up are some of the major reasons why I considered finding a way to leave CA.

January 10, 2025 08:11PM

There are better reasons to leave CA and that is the taxes and mindset of the voters. Single party rule by either party is problematic.

Hate to leave the stable weather, but so glad to have house 2x the size and half the property taxes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2025 08:12PM by hbbigdaddy.

January 10, 2025 08:19PM

This was not my worst shop, but a memorable one. I was filming a DT fast food establisment and started my video while sitting at the red light before I turned in. I filmed a wreck! I was able to turn in and then got stuck trying to leave after I ordered due to the EMS vehicles. I submitted my video and wondered what the editors thought. I am going to edit to add that the DT was extremely long and horrendous. Someone else stopped to help the person and there were no major injuries. The emergency vehicles arrived quickly (well, within the time I was at the location). I would have stopped filming if it had been a major accident or someone needed my assistance.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2025 08:22PM by gigishopper.

January 10, 2025 08:21PM

@gigishopper

care to say what fast food place had you doing video shopping? never heard of that before for fast food drive thru

January 10, 2025 08:23PM

Ralleys. This was an AI order board shop about 2 years ago.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@gigishopper

care to say what fast food place had you doing video shopping? never heard of that before for fast food drive thru

January 10, 2025 09:08PM

Haven't done this shop but I've received emails about CustomerOptix's food bank shops. $0 pay and $0 reimbursement. Your compensation is the food that the food bank gives you.

January 10, 2025 09:22PM

Dicks Last Resort where their thing is to insult the guests. My husband and I were much too old for the demographic as I later told the msc. As we were leaving, a server shouted out, “Say goodbye to the mystery shoppers.” As I remember I still got paid

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