A former McDonald’s employee says you should always ask for a receipt. According to Kamran Adnan, who says he worked at a London McDonald’s for a year, “In the UK we have 2 periods which are known as Gapbuster Times. Basically between 12-2 and 5pm-7pm workers have to be extra careful because that is when gapbusters (mystery shoppers), who are paid, visit McDonald’s restaurants and rate their experience.”
According to Adnan, “It is easy to spot a gapbuster because they always ask for a receipt (so they can get their food costs reimbursed by the company employing them). So, if you ask for a receipt in that time everyone will be immediately alert that you could be a potential gapbuster and they’ll make sure to serve you the freshest burger and fries and give you priority over everyone else.”
Although this refers to McDonald’s in the UK, here in the US employees of all kinds of businesses are also big on trying to spot the mystery shoppers. Of course, the truth is that many customers ask for receipts, even at McDonald’s, for a number of reasons. However, if employees believe that means that the customer may be the mystery shopper, smart employees will provide top-notch service to that customer. Of course, the truly smart employees will provide top-notch service to every customer.
Here is why it is smart for you, as a mystery shopper, to ask for a receipt whether you are mystery shopping or not: As a mystery shopper, we need receipts almost 100% of the time. If you get in the habit of always asking for a receipt, even when you are not mystery shopping, you will never forget another receipt.
Any time you are not offered a receipt, ask for one. That applies whether you are in a fast food restaurant, an upscale restaurant, a department store, a coffee shop or anywhere you make a purchase. It is a good habit, and it might even get you better service. ;o)
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