Mystery shopper programs have been around for decades and there is nothing illegal about them. However, if an employee fails to improve their attitude and performance, they may be at risk of being fired. It is important to take this seriously and make sure to do your best. When it comes to mystery shoppers, they should not make strange requests unless it is part of the customer's requirements.
Companies use the observations made by mystery shoppers to identify areas where they can improve. In some cases, the buyer's identity must be provided in order for the program to work. A woman recently shared a story on Reddit about a Best Buy assignment that made her rethink her work as a mystery shopper. Once assigned, the buyer should be informed of all the requirements of the program so that they can produce a high-quality report.
The only type of secret purchase that could get someone into serious trouble or get them fired is buying alcohol or tobacco tests. If someone is not supposed to be a mystery shopper or if their employer has a bad design for their mystery shopping program, they could be in trouble. It is important to make sure that the buyer does not cause someone else to lose their job due to their evaluations. Mystery shoppers often evaluate retail stores, restaurants, and banks and may be asked to compile reports, complete questionnaires, and follow specific purchasing instructions.
Employees may fear or resent secret shoppers because they think that if the buyer gives them a poor report, they could lose their job. Potential buyers should consider that if their request or evaluations show that they are looking for poor performance, they will get little or no work. A successful mystery shopping evaluation should ask unbiased questions so that the buyer only reports on what happened during their experience. In some cases, customers may need help finding an item and if an employee does not help them, nothing bad may come of it other than a reminder to take customers directly to the items they need help finding.
If there are any questions or concerns, customers should rely on their service provider to contact buyers and not communicate directly with evaluators.
