IPSOS banned me from all cell phone shops because I was outed one time.

@nellybean212 wrote:

I do a gas station that I'm sure the employee knows its me the second I walk in. Because I've been there a few times before doing revealed audits. If I got banned from every gas station I'd be bummed too.

doing this they will lose some good shoppers. It's sad some companies will do this.

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Interesting, I don't think it was the manager who complained. I remember the store manager told me to wait a month before coming back. I did tell IPSOS I had been spotted as a mystery shopper and could not complete this shop. However, about a year ago I was doing a gas station audit for IPSOS and took a picture of the employee, the first time for this shop. (not of their face, just the uniform) The scheduler sent me a message, telling me not to take a picture of the employee and if I did it again I would be removed from that project. I think the issue of being banned is from an IPSOS employee.

Sorry this happened to you. I find there is so much turnover in the cell phone stores that 99% of the time get a different person than I got last time. At one store they always want to look up my account (and see my name, etc.) so I decline that saying I am in a hurry. Its possible the Manager said they know who the person is but they don't, I rarely get a Manager and like I said 99% of the time I visit the cell phone stores it is all different people working there. They get tons of turnover in my area.

@Paula7928 wrote:

Sorry this happened to you. I find there is so much turnover in the cell phone stores that 99% of the time get a different person than I got last time. At one store they always want to look up my account (and see my name, etc.) so I decline that saying I am in a hurry. Its possible the Manager said they know who the person is but they don't, I rarely get a Manager and like I said 99% of the time I visit the cell phone stores it is all different people working there. They get tons of turnover in my area.

Interesting, when I started asking about phones, the employee recognized me from before. They went into the back area and that's when the manager came out. It may be, this store is outing mystery shoppers.

@johnb974 wrote:

Interesting, when I started asking about phones, the employee recognized me from before. They went into the back area and that's when the manager came out. It may be, this store is outing mystery shoppers.

No. The store is not outing mystery shoppers. Unfortunately, you have outed yourself. You've mentioned that you've informed the scheduler that an employee (and store manager) found your behavior (or appearance) to be suspicious. The employee AND manager remembered you from your previous visit. Whether or not they exclaimed "You're the mystery shopper! We know it!" doesn't matter. Your prior visit to the store was so memorable that the sales associate definitely remembered you and felt the need to inform the store manager because something was "off". And if they asked you to leave the store, something was very "off". And it's likely some of the other stores you've shopped also remembered you but didn't "out" you. It's already been explained to you in your other post that the mobile provider is not the actual client for this shop. But for some reason you're still assuming the large manufacturer of electronics is communicating with small individual retail stores about a mystery shopper. Therefore, stores are on the lookout for "the mystery shopper" and will out the shopper? No. They are not. Doing some self-reflection regarding the situation will be helpful in understanding and improving the outcome for future shops and audits.

There are so many projects out there. The cell phone shops are monotonous and low paying. Maybe this is a great opportunity to spread your wings and work on other projects?

@Cassiespark wrote:

There are so many projects out there. The cell phone shops are monotonous and low paying. Maybe this is a great opportunity to spread your wings and work on other projects?

I am picking up other shops. I also noticed many of the cell phone shops I would have done are not being picked up. Their loss.

IPSOS told me a store suspected I was the shopper because I went in with a pen and paper and was taking notes during the shop. I have never brought a pen and paper. I clearly remember the shop and did not have anything of the sort. They told me I can still do the shops, but not that location.

On a side note, one manager flat out asked me if I was the mystery shopper because I asked the same questions about the same phone three months in a row. I looked very confused and told him I did not know what a mystery shopper is. There are two locations that I suspect know who I am. One bends over backwards to give me good service, the other plays along.

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IPSOS banned me from all cell phone shops because I was outed one time.

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