Mystery shopping questions...

[hsmommyto1]

1) Do most companies expect you to do the eating out mystery shops by yourself, or are they usually okay with you bringing your children and/or spouse with you??

2) Are you supposed to bring their checklist into the restaraunt with you and try to fill out very discreetly, or are you supposed to wait until you get back out the car??

3) I will be doing my first mystery shop for national shopping service this Tuesday. We'll be going to lunch at Friendly's. They said they will reimburse me up to $16.00 and my meal must include an appetizer, an entree, and dessert, and they said I must pay by credit/debit card. So, if my husband and daughter come with me, do I need to get my own separate receipts with just my meal on it for them to reimburse me? Or, is it okay to send them a receipt that has all three of our orders on their (as long as it shows that it includes one each of the things they asked me too)??

[crdurham]

I'm not postive on all the different companies but for the ones I've done here's what I do:

1. None of them say that I have to be alone....so I usually have dh or ds... there was one I used to do that was in a Sports bar/restaurant before ds came along that you had to be 21 so of course no kids there but for Friendlys the whole family would be ok.

2. Most of them don't want you to take your paper work in with you...I keep a note pad and act like I'm making out my grocery list or writing myself notes while eating dinner....then jots down the rest of stuff I need to remember when I get to the car.

3. I don't get separate receipts just make sure you order all thats required. It doesn't matter what the total bill is, they will still just send you the $16.00.

Hope this helps!!

[baronmom]

When I did shops in the past for friendly's, I always took someone with me. Since you are suppose to do this without them knowing, having the kids along will throw them off. I bought a recorder and kept it in my purse. So, If I have to remember specials and soups, it would pick up what the waitress said. I always paid with my debit card so that I would not have to ask for a receipt to give it away. The total of your meal could be $50 but they will only send you the $16, so your total doesn't really matter. The shops are easy but remembering all the names of the waitress, cashier and manager can be hard so it was nice to have the recorder so that I could casually say the names so that I would not forget them. I always liked doing those shops because the food was good, and the paperwork was not that hard to fill out. Have fun!