Secret Shoppers and Ga-zillions spent on Market Research.

     If you have ever worked in retail you can have a tough time pleasing everyone.
     One of the most difficult things to do is to  be diplomatic and upbeat all the time.
     Add to this, that most retail stores have a list of other things you must do-to ( this is written here on purpose) the customer, as well.
    As an avid shopper, and I am not kidding-I have mystery shopped for companies-and I have been a clerk, and an assistant manager  in retail stores.
    I have also participated in market research panels and product evaluation.    
    It Was really fun!

    Kind of on both sides of the counter and in-between......

    I have worked Holidays, as a clerk,  where you wish you could ask for  some of the most obnoxious and angry people to have stayed home.
    And to Please  stop torturing their poor children, by dragging them out-hungry and screaming, for you to amuse, or more likely, babysit, while they shop your store.
    It is one thing to have last minute shopping and be on edge---quite another to be a rude individual that the store clerk never wants to see again, or probably anyone that person ever comes into contact with feels the same about them , as the clerk.

    At the last place I did retail time at---we had a special name for those people who had a special attitude. Will not share here.

   In complete fairness, we also had the most lovely and wonderful customers you could ever hope for. And usually there was a huge difference between them.

   What is objectionable, for a clerk, dependent on commission, is spending all of their time with a customer that is a "Shopper".
   Usually, whatever you spend valuable time selling them-gets returned as part of their "shop".
   And some companies ding the clerk for this return......really does not foster happiness.
    And it is not fair......but for those who work in retail, most companies don't always care what their employees think. Really stupid.
    Some retail establishments have what is called a "revolving door" policy-----no one will stay employed there very long-due to whatever bad conditions exist.
    However, some wonderful companies are the exact opposite and benefit from a happy and positive work force.

Back to the Shoppers:
    Some shoppers are doing a job-for a company that handles market research-for that  retail shop. Actually, schedules people to go into a store-restaurant-etc., and then later provide an evaluation of their experience.

   Also, I have been so incensed at a bad shopping experience-that I have contacted the home office-usually online-to have the matter at hand corrected.

    This is much appreciated by most companies, as if you do not relate this---and I want to say here-that most people who have a bad shopping experience will simply never "darken the door" of that place again, they ( the company who hired this nutter)   have no way of knowing you had a bad experience-----their reduced sales do not reflect names.

    However, if you have the time-relax and calm down-and contact the offending sales clerk's company ( home office-customer service) --they usually will def. correct the egregious error committed by offensive clerk.
    Sometimes very nicely.
    It is nice to honor a clerk, also, who gave you outstanding service.......I do this often.
   So, go online-----and look for Secret Shopper opps.
   If you have to pay a fee, I will tell you there are companies where you do not have to do this.
   Think of a large company in Cincinnati that sells toilet paper. This is market research. They have you evaluate a product they produce.....or are in the process of putting on a grocery shelve.
   Secret Shopping is usually handled by an independent company, providing this service, ( a report of the shopping experience)  for many different retail establishments.
   Restaurants-clothing-car parts-cell phones-----it can and does-the list- go on and on.

    I recommend a personal referral for the Secret Shopping experience.
    Ask someone who you may know who is doing this.
    It will not cut into their opportunity, as you will only be able to shop for the same company or do market research for  the same  product line, about once every so many weeks/ months.
     You do get paid and sometimes, very well paid, for a fun shopping experience.
     If this is what you find interesting-----go for it-you really are helping everyone have a better shopping experience.