Nothing says hospitality like expired baked goods!
By snowy
@snowy22315 (180840)
United States
April 16, 2018 4:45pm CST
So, part of my job is to assess the hospitality of the establishments I go to while mystery shopping. Many places offer refreshments. As I was looking over the refeshments, I saw some little packaged things with a plain white wrapper. I asked one of the staff what it was, she said oh those are just some little cakes. I said OK...well I took them to the car with me and went to eat one when I was finished with the shop. I saw on the package they had an expiration date of April 6. 
. Ok, it is not like it is going to kill anyone to eat something like that..but baked goods are cheap enough...umm don't you think unexpred ones would make a better impression???
I do! I should mention it in the report..but I am always paranoid of blowing my cover.
. Ok, it is not like it is going to kill anyone to eat something like that..but baked goods are cheap enough...umm don't you think unexpred ones would make a better impression??? I do! I should mention it in the report..but I am always paranoid of blowing my cover.8 people like this
9 responses
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Apr 18
Where do you do this mystery shopping? It's very interesting, to me.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
16 Apr 18
All around the area..I can't say too much about it. If someone was looking they would figure it out. Mum is the word. There is a mystery shopper forum under that name that will tell you all about various companies and what they do.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Apr 18
@snowy22315 We only have three stores to shop at. After doing them once, where would someone do more mystery shopping?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
16 Apr 18
@kobesbuddy Mystery shopping is not just done in stores..there are restaurants, oil change places, amusement parks, beauty salons, grocery stores, apartment complexes, motels..all kinds of places use shoppers. If you live in the country though you would probably have to drive to a larger metro area like I usually do.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
17 Apr 18
Still looking for a mystery shopper gig here in Manila. Unsuccessful so far.
Agree with you that those expired cakes should be reported. A customer can claim that he got sick after eating an expired cake offered by the establishment. That smells like big trouble.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
They weren't that old, but probably purchased at a bakery thrift shop or something. I would think Manila would have mystery shoppers.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
18 Apr 18
@allen0187 Some are shady..you need to try to pick a company that has been around for a while and is fairly well known..
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
No, they weren't selling them..see above.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr 18
@snowy22315 I did read your post but it doesn't actually say that she just gave them to you - which I presume she did. Sorry I misunderstood.
1 person likes this
@MrsPumpkins (466)
• Philippines
17 Apr 18
I've been wanting to be a mystery shopper. How can i be one?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
I would go online to the mystery shopper forum you can find out about the various companies and i think the last page is a job board.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
@ivanituut Yeah, I don't think they do it everywhere.
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
First you need to find out if it is offered in your country.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72141)
• United States
18 Apr 18
It probably should be written in the report I think. Even if they were free people should be warned before eating then that they are expired. I eat expired food but many people would not want to.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Apr 18
I would have a problem if they were for sale.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180840)
• United States
17 Apr 18
They weren't for sale. This wasn't a grocery store. They were offered as a courtesy, but I don't think expired products make a good impression. It might be better to just offer coffee or something that isn't expired.
1 person likes this
