Mystery Shopper's Manual

  • Blog
  • About
    • Privacy/Disclosures
  • The Mystery Shopper’s Manual
  • Mystery Shopping Companies
You are here: Home / Preparing for the Mystery Shop / Remembering a Mystery Shopper Scenario

Remembering a Mystery Shopper Scenario

May 25, 2010 by Cathy Stucker Leave a Comment

Most of the time mystery shoppers enter businesses as themselves. They use their real names (if any name at all) and they just act like normal customers. However, there are times when, as a mystery shopper, you may have to pretend to be someone you are not. It might mean posing as the mother of a toddler for whom you need daycare, a parent who needs an assisted living facility, as a bride-to-be, someone looking for an apartment or a new bank, a pet owner or any number of possible situations.

Although it can be fun to act the part of someone else, it can also be a little scary. What if they ask a question and you are unsure how to answer? Or what if you forget what you told them earlier and give inconsistent information?

I once did a series of shops where I had to make appointments using different names. I am used to being called “Cathy,” so it wasn’t natural to respond when someone called Ann, Nancy or Karen. In preparing for those mystery shops, I had to remember who I was that day, and make sure I answered to the correct name. That is not as easy as it may seem!

Here are some tips for keeping your facts straight when you are using a scenario on a mystery shop.

Know the guidelines inside and out. It is always important to study the guidelines, but it is especially important when the shop includes a specific scenario you must follow. Are they certain answers they want you to give, or should you come up with your own answers? What is the objective of the shop? The shop objective may influence how you answer certain types of questions.

Ask your scheduler for guidance. If you are unsure about how something should be handled, ask. Your scheduler can tell you what other shoppers have done, and how the client wants the shop scenario presented. Do not be afraid to ask for advice.

Keep the scenario as close to the truth as you can. If you are to make up facts to present, use facts you can easily remember. For example, if you are doing a bridal shop, use the real facts of your wedding when answering questions from the bridal consultant, even if that wedding was 15 years ago. Or imagine someone you know who fits your imaginary scenario, and give the answers they might.

Keep your stories simple. The more elaborate they are, the more likely you are to get confused about the details. Also, the more elaborate the story the more fishy it sounds. Keep it simple.

When the mystery shopping company gives you facts that you are to present in the scenario, learn them completely. The client may have a reason for wanting you to answer questions a certain way, so make sure you get it right.

Don’t stress over it. If you are stressed you will be memorable (a big mystery shopper no-no) and you are also more likely to make mistakes. Be prepared and you will be fine.

If you do make a mistake, get past it. Let’s say that you said your three-year-old’s name was Tom, then you referred to him as Jerry. Oops. Don’t launch in to a big explanation. Just laugh it off and move on, “Oh, my brother’s name is Jerry. Guess I have him on my mind. Anyway…”

Playing a scenario can be fun, but it requires preparation and, sometimes, the ability to think on your feet. Just think of it as improvisational acting, and enjoy yourself!

Filed Under: Preparing for the Mystery Shop, Secret Shopper How-To Tagged With: Mystery Shopper Jobs, scenarios

« Giant Eagle Stores Looking for Mystery Shoppers
Stretch Your Budget with Mystery Shopping »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Mystery Shopping Companies

Updated 4/20/18! Access my free curated list of more than 150 legitimate mystery shopping companies.

Scam Warning

If you received a check or money order with instructions to cash it and wire money to someone, DON'T DO IT! This is a scam.
Click here to learn more about
mystery shopper scams.

Get ‘The Mystery Shopper’s Manual’

NEW 7TH EDITION!

Get your personally autographed copy of The Mystery Shopper's Manual here.
mystery-shoppers-manual-3d

Connect with Cathy

Follow Me on FacebookFollow Me on Google+Follow Me on TwitterFollow Me on LinkedInFollow Me on YouTubeFollow Me on PinterestFollow Me on RSS

Recent Articles

  • Do Millionaires Mystery Shop?
  • Mystery Shopper Resolutions
  • Mystery Shopping for Mystery Shopper Pros
  • Keep the “Secret” in “Secret Shopper”
  • The McDonald’s Receipt Hack

Categories

Applying to Mystery Shopping Companies Customer Service Dealing with Mystery Shopping Companies Dealing with Shopping Emergencies Employees and Mystery Shopping Grammar and Spelling Green Mystery Shopping Hazards of Mystery Shopping Holiday Mystery Shopping How to Become a Mystery Shopper Identity Theft Independent Contractor Issues Industry News Make Money Online Memory Improvement Money and Mystery Shopping Mystery Shopper Certification Mystery Shopper Ethics Mystery Shopper Fun Mystery Shopper Jobs Mystery Shopper Scam Mystery Shopper Scheduling Companies Mystery Shopper Secrecy Mystery Shopper Taxes Mystery Shopper Tools Mystery Shopping Clients Mystery Shopping Company Mystery Shopping Pay Mystery Shopping Providers Association Mystery Shopping Recordkeeping Mystery Shopping Resources Online Security Opportunities for Mystery Shoppers Preparing for the Mystery Shop Profitable Mystery Shopping Secret Shopper How-To Secret Shopper Quick Tips Secret Shopping and the Law Secret Shopping Confidentiality Sticky Secret Shopper Situations Technology and Secret Shopping Types of Mystery Shops Video Mystery Shopping Working Online Writing Mystery Shopper Reports

Copyright © 2004 - 2022 · Cathy Stucker

Copyright © 2022 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in