What would make a restaurant think you’re an inspector?

[Lunificent]

I’m eating on my own in a pizza chain. I’ve asked for a couple of variations to the menu and asked where the loos are.
I suddenly thought: I wonder if they think I’m doing a secret inspection.
what would be the signs someone is actually an inspector or secret diner?

A clipboard.

Pretty much what you’re doing. Especially if you order a soft drink.

You’ll be getting some excellent service😂

I might try this , see if I get wonderful service.

On a side note, how do you get into this line of work?!

A notebook used discretely

I signed up to do mystery shopper stuff with ipsos. I got a meal and drinks for 2 at pizza express and £12.

I walked into one years ago after work so was dressed smartly and I also was carrying a folder. They thought I was an inspector. They didn't speak English so it was really difficult to sort out.

Asking for a receipt and putting it carefully away is another sign.

They're probably used to spotting them.

We used to spot all the mystery shoppers. We'd get top marks as we could tick all the survey boxes.

Ask for specific details about the ingredients in your meal e.g. “Is this buffalo mozzarella?” Or “Is this ham cured?”
Ask them to recommend your a wine that would compliment your pizza. Ask what the house wines are but then order a soft drink.
Request a pizza cutter if they don’t give you one.

When I did mystery dining they always asked you to phone to book, and ask a question about one of the dishes while there. You had to order different dishes to each other and you had to remember a lot about timings and who served you so I often tried to make discrete notes on my phone. Also always asked to pay cash at the end. I'm pretty sure they usually guessed!

Conspicuously check your watch.

Ask for a receipt at drive through Maccy Ds.

Ask a question for the sake of it.

Conspicuously check the loos.

Make it obvious that you are checking on uniform and that staff are wearing name badges.

Notepad and pen

I think a deerstalker hat and very big magnifying glass.

IME they're usually quite specific about things, demanding in the sense they ask questions, directions, look around, sometimes ask to move (tables, rooms if a hotel to see how accomodating you are) and ask for a receipt, but what usually stands them apart is that they're polite and engaging whilst doing it, straight to the point but not rude or condescending, or kick off if something isn't right and demand the moon on a stick or the impossible and get personal and shitty if it can't happen.
They do stand out a bit more these days as people get ruder in general, but gone are the days where you could spot a test purchase for trading standards or undercover police - they're really good at thinking up scenarios to try and trip you up and they don't stand nursing one pint all night at the end of the bar watching the bar staff like hawks 🤣

@Maverickess what was your inspection result?!

Interesting thread but... it's DISCREET not discrete

McDonalds aren’t checked like that anymore. They don’t use mystery shoppers but a separate company so you can’t pretend to be one now.

Happened to me in an Indian restaurant in Darlington. I was in the area for work, alone, the days before tablets and the like (so about 2007 or so), had a notepad and pen as well as a camera and a terrified waiter asked me if I was an inspector. I don't think he believed me when I said I wasn't!

Well rumour is that you're only told you've had one if you fail - and I've failed two in 15 years on and off in hospitality, one for not being at the desk for a check in and the other for not answering the phone (was with other guests both times). Both in my younger days, and arguing got me nowhere 🤷🏼‍♀️.
Others have failed on other points but I'm not pulled up on anything so I assume I've passed my bit 🤣.

I did fail a test purchase for an age restricted product once, luckily from the retailer and not trading standards or the police, got a disciplinary and wasn't allowed to serve age restricted products until given more training, that was actually quite scary and it risked our store being allowed to sell that product as the retailer could withdraw.

What on earth was the inspection that you were “failed” for those things?

Mentioning an allergy and checking they follow that procedure is a thing in some now.

Years ago I went into MacDonalds. It was late and a weekend. I had dd with me ( think we had been to a late rehearsal as part of her hobby). I was smartly dressed as had picked her up straight from work. I’m not a huge MacDonalds fan so I wasn’t familiar with the menu.
Several staff kept coming up to me and asking if everything was ok with my meal. They also asked if there was anything else they could help me with. I’m sure they thought I was a mystery shopper.
Kind of wished I had been because they were so helpful. 😆😆

This thread explains why I seem to receive excellent service. When I worked in retail I used to hate people being rude so when we eat out I always look for a name badge and make a note of the servers name.
We are a difficult group, dh is lactose free, dsil is celiac, I'm vegetarian so we always need the allergy boom. As a result I'm extra nice because of the extra work and responsibility we are bringing. We also tip well for good service.
If there is a problem I have no problem in bringing it to the servers attention and make it clear that it needs to be rectified but I make it clear they are not at fault.
I've never thought about it before but maybe they think we are mystery shoppers.

Lol my husband is a secret shopper for restaurants so we get loads of meals out and I always feel like im being suspicious.
Asking odd questions about the menu, making substitutions, asking for recommendations, taking photos and scrolling through phone desperately checking the brief to ensure he's not missed anything so he still gets paid are signs mystery shoppers. We often spot other who are om the same assignment as they order exactly the same as we do and then take photos 🤣🤣

How dd he get into this line of work?