Okay. So it's time to talk about the toilet, but first a Readers Digest version of the last year of my life (it's relevant): I resigned my position of 16 years in May '07, decided to take the summer off and regroup. I did work that summer at a fun job at a store some friends of ours own. It was a good experience to clean the career pallet you might say. Just when I was beginning to shed my mental baggage of the past 16 years at "adult daycare" - I faced a health crisis in August. I had surgery to remove a portion of my intestine that was possessed by diverticulitus. I never knew I had this. In fact, I have never had ONE health issue in my entire life. So, I guess getting the mother load all at once seemed fitting to the powers that be! The surgery went okay - but there were major problems early and I narrowly escaped with my life a month later! Thank you, Mayo Clinic. I am doing fine now and will have one more surgery later this summer to make me completely right with the world again.
My recovery was snail pace slow and I was warned it would be. I got to a point, though, where I was stronger and feeling good (and restless with so much TIME). Working full time or even part time was not really in the cards for me yet - but I wanted to find something to fill up a few of my days!
I became a Mystery Shopper! What an amusing way to fill a day! It felt alot like working for the FBI. I would get my "packet" in the mail. "Smith & Co." wants to find out how their employees are stacking up. They want to know if the customer is really having the experience they had hoped it would be! And is the "product at said establishment" up to snuff? You study the packet and then continue the remainder of the requirements online. Some shops can be quite involved - even testing your knowledge on the establishment before you are allowed to shop it.
Each "shop" (thats the lingo ;-) is different. My last particular string was for a chain gas station, where after making some purchases and buying some gas - I had to retreat secretly to my vehicle and fill out a rather lengthy critique (they must even have the correct color of paint on their curbs and logo's displayed to specification.) Once that is complete, with this particular string (more lingo there) you have to go back in, meet the manager and basically tell him/her THE JIG IS UP! "I am grading you today... on you, your business and how clean you are! BUSTED!" Well, not really! LOL
It's all quite professional and you explain your purpose and then give them the horrific news you will be taking an assigned number of photos to be sent back to their headquarters. That usually makes people groan like their lunch is coming up. I felt bad doing this part of it, really. To have people look at you like you have the power over space and time to flick their livelihood from them like a fly on your shoulder. So I tried to be pretty nice.
Most shops are just following the instructions on what you are to buy and questions you are to ask of the employees. You don't normally reveal yourself, so those I really like. My next string is a chain restaurant and I have to order carry-out on a few days and and dine in on a few. I have to order what they tell me to order which sometimes is NOT what I would normally get - and then come home, get online and complete the critique on their website (and I usually eat some of what I had to buy about here!) I have no clue what happens to anything or anyone after that. So, I get paid for my time, reimbursed for gas and reimbursed for my purchase. I will probably keep doing it even after I go back to work. I have read some people actually make a living doing this. While I don't know if I could support myself on it - it is a fun way to make a little extra cash.
So, the toilet. When I began this blog, I wanted to load a picture to see how easy or hard it would be. When I opened up my PIC folder, there it was in all of its glory. A toilet at one of my shops. I thought, now there is a conversation piece. Turns out I was right!
footnote: ...the toilet didn't make out too well on my critique...
2 comments:
You as a mystery shopper is a grand thing! Where on earth did that foul toilet picture come from? Did you let anyone know that the lid was left up? This, of course, is also your womanly duty- letting men know when they have violated a cardinal rule of bathroom etiquette. Men, of course, hate hearing about it.
Can I go with you on your next run?? Wouldn't it be fun to find the nastiest place on earth and just pretend to be a mystery shopper? How about the Huba Huba in Waukon? Yeee haw!
Yes, tis a grand day in NE Iowa! Me as Mysterioso Shopero! Only, tomorrow night I have to find a place to unload a large pepperoni pizza and an order of breadsticks! I read one of Janice's post about her hubby and it has inspired me to drop it off the police department! I hope they don't think I am some kind of freak peddling tainted 'za!
I have seen some really nasty places! If I ever get the Huba, I will let you know!
Post a Comment