Secret Shopping
Alex, who has recently moved back to Atlanta after
living in Memphis for several years, mentioned a week or so ago that one of the
things that he does to help pass time is "secret shopping." As he told about
some of the shopping experiences he'd had in the last several weeks, I was
intrigued and decided I'd sign up on line to see how it might
go.
Filling out my on-line application
early in the week, I felt that the possibility of ever being chosen to shop was
quite remote since there were literally hundreds of people in Atlanta who had
already completed the application as well. To my surprise, last night, I had an
email from the company offering me the opportunity to secret shop Hard Rock Cafe
for lunch either today (Saturday) or tomorrow. I immediately replied indicating
I would and then discovered what I'd have to
do.
I'd have to call Hard Rock first to
determine their telephone personality and then show up for lunch at 12:30 today.
Specifics included: having to remember everyone's name (greeter, bartender,
server, manager), sitting down at the bar to order a wine or beer to see if the
offer to upgrade would be made and also to observe the bartender's "hospitality"
quotient. being seated in the restaurant, ordering an appetizer, entree, and
dessert, and specifically asking for water (again to see if something besides
tap would be offered), and then finally a trip to the restroom to observe it's
cleanliness.
And all of this had to be
done without taking a single note. Last night after I downloaded the 12 page
survey I'd have to complete after the visit "within 24 hours" of the visit, I
almost chickened out. This was going to be more difficult than I'd thought--at
the very minimum, it would take the "fun" out of going out do dine, since so
much observing of so many specific things would have to be made. But, obviously,
I went ahead, overspent by $1.00 the $30.00 I was "allowed" for the meal, and
tonight spent almost an hour completing the online report, scanning my bills so
that I could be reimbursed, and getting it all completed within the deadline.
There went my planned stress-free
weekend.
At a minimum, I had a $30.00
meal (and stayed on my low carb diet--the cheesecake got brought home for
Thomas), and earned an extra fifteen bucks for my time; but I'm not sure it's
worth it. Oh, well. Maybe I'll try a few more, if I'm offered them. Yes, my
submission will be analyzed to see if meets the expectation of the company
before I am offered any more secret shopping
ventures.
If anyone ever tells you
secret shopping is easy, have them speak to me.
Posted: Sat
- August 9, 2003 at 10:45 PM