Nov 19 2008
People are Strange
Life as a mystery shopper surely does not lack for humor. So there I was - parked in my car outside of a local drive-thru with my trusty stopwatch marking the service times off on my little clipboard. No, I wasn’t parked anywhere the store employees could see me and if one happened to wander outside I had my little pretend cell phone all ready for me to pretend to talk to so I could appear to have a plausible explanation for my presence. I did however, have a prime view of the customers placing their orders, and thank to my open window, I could hear a good bit of the conversations as well. I was completely amazed at how many people nodded at the speaker and then seemed to get upset when the cashier repeated the question. Is anyone else having a ‘duh’ moment? I mean you’re placing your order to a little metal box and you expect it to have video? While this might just be a possibility for the future it surely isn’t common practice now. I swear I just have to roll my eyes thinking about it.
I also have to have the ‘duh’ moment about the ordering techniques. Honestly people, do you really expect to tell whoever is taking your order that you want a soda/drink and just expect them to know what you mean? When the cashier asks the question to get clarification on the drink/soda to be ordered the people just get all offended and answer in that snotty tone. You know the one I mean, you’re probably used it a time or two yourself. Lord knows I’m even guilty of this one myself on occasion. I get that we’re all a little absent-minded at times, but from the high level of occurrences during just my little sample gives me a whole new batch of sympathy for those poor souls taking the orders.
