Secret shoppers

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I have a question for any of you secret shoppers out there. I've always been curious about this...do the companies you "shop" for ever give you specific roles to play? For example, many years ago, I worked for a mid-upscale womens' clothing store. We had one customer who would come in on occasion, who was just so blatantly obnoxious that it was hard to believe she was for real. She would even announce that she was "going to be obnoxious today". And boy, was she ever! (On her last trip-she was nearly "escorted" out of the store when she started insulting other customers.) I've just always wondered about her-if she was being paid to be a pain- to see how the staff would react. :)