An employer asking an employee about his age or income status is a surefire way for that employer to wind up sitting in court with a discrimination lawsuit. Yet with mystery shopping, we as mystery shoppers are asked very personal information before we can even be approved to work with a provider. We are asked everything from our age, education level, and income level to the kind of car we drive and our physical attributes like weight and height.
Then when we peruse the job boards looking for assignments, we see additional requirements for each job. A common requirement may be that the mystery shopper is under 35 years of age, or has a minimum income level of at least $50,000. This can seem like discrimination, especially for mystery shoppers who regularly fall outside the criteria for the majority of assignments, but in reality it isn’t. Perhaps most importantly, this is legal because we are contractors rather than employees.
What Is Going On? Retailers who request a mystery shop of their location generally want to get feedback on what a “typical” customer who visits the store will experience. Sure, a 65- year old woman can just as easily shop in a children’s clothing store as a 35-year old woman, but the large majority of that store’s clientèle are moms. So the store is requesting a mystery shopper who fits into the mold of their typical customer.
Age Is Deceptive. A person’s numerical age can be incredibly misleading. One can even argue that it’s an arbitrary number that is made even more useless by the proliferation of hair dye, wrinkle cream, plastic surgery, and more. While some women may wear mini skirts into their 40s and not have children until close to menopause, others choose to have children at far younger ages and live the “settled down” life at a much earlier age. So what may be a common store to shop at for one age group does not necessarily mean others that fall outside of that range don’t frequent the store regularly.
Play The Part. If there is an assignment that you want to go after but you don’t fit into the profile guidelines the provider is looking for, contact the scheduler and plead your case. You can try to explain that you are already a frequent customer of that store. Or perhaps you feel that you should have a shot at playing the role of someone purchasing a gift for someone else. In this economy, we all need extra money. So if you think you’ve got a shot at picking up an extra assignment this year, it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask. Just be mindful not to harass your scheduler about working every assignment that you don’t quite match the profile for!
How Old Are You? Some restaurant and even grocery store assignments require the purchase of alcohol. So it is not at all uncommon to see these assignments require a mystery shopper to be of legal drinking age. Just because you’re working doesn’t mean you can break the law in your state! If you are going to ask your scheduler for a break on the profile requirements, be sure you are of legal age first.
These rather personal profile requirements of a mystery shopping assignment, while seemingly pointless and invasive initially, serve as a vital part of ensuring the retailer who ordered the mystery shop gets a report back that best suits their needs. So try to find assignments that match your unique profile, and when you feel you are a good candidate for an assignment that you don’t quite fit the bill for, ask for an exception.
I have been discriminated against by Finishline. I loved their stores, requested more shops by them. Was told I MUST be 40 or younger to continue shopping for them. I am 46 and look 36. This upset me as I wrote excellent reports for them and believe their sales staff is some of the best I have come into contact with. Unfortunately, they will no longer be getting any of my business, nor any of my friends and/or family’s business as a result of this.
Similarly, Bed Bath and Beyond has the same rule for their wedding shops! COME ON! I have seriously beein thinking of filing a class action law suit against both of them as people get married at all ages AND invidivduals over 40 usually have MORE MONEY TO SPEND on their weddings.
Neither makes sense, but in both shops I have been discriminated against and not allowed to shop for. Finishline after I completed two shops, set the rule. Bed Bath and Beyond, I have never had the opportunity to shop.
It’s wrong and it should be dealt with. This is America.
I agree with you Tina. I am 51 and folks think I am 35-38. I’ve actually had to show my drivers license to prove to them how old I am. I also would like the chance to do the BB&Y shops, but they must not think someone over 40 would ever get married. They must not have heard that many are waiting to marry later in life.
I see some of the Mystery Shops as needing a certain criteria being meet. If MS providers are seen as discriminatory because of age, weight or height, so could the movie industry. I see mystery shopping as being an actor. They need a certain type person to fill a characters roll. I am a retired male and almost 65. The day I turn 66, I can no longer shop for a motorcycle because they want ages 21 to 65. I may look 55, but a line has to be drawn somewhere and they are the ones conducting the casting call.
No big loss on Bed Bath & Beyond. I did not do a wedding shop for them, but just an overview of the store. I spent about 45 minutes in the store, and spent over an hour filing the report, and got paid $8.00. Tina and “K” – you are better off elsewhere. I’m not even shopping there anymore. Also, I feel any company that discriminates against age is clueless. By the way, George, my 75 year old neighbor owns several motorcycles.
WOW: Good article, yes I agree to a degree.
I do believe it is discrimination but then you have to look at it from the clients point of view. I find the same discrimination in doing surveys, I do not qualify for alot more than I am able and allowed to do, but life goes on, right?
However, I have enjoyed this article it tells me other people are feeling a little bit angry as I am. Thanks
If a retailer provides product and services to a cross section of society, yet mainly targets one sector, is that discrimination? The retailer may have invested financially in marketing to a particular clientèle and may want to assess the returns. They may want refocus or set up a marketing strategy. Would that really be discriminating? Can all retailers provide all things to all persons? Moreover their focus is really the bottom line.
I am so glad that someone wrote about this whole situation. I know that I have been discriminated against as far as age is concerned because when I first got my computer I was doing Survey’s, and once they ask you your age after you have finished the long very long survey they tell you sorry you do not fitted their criteria, and you have wasted hours doing those surveys because they know when you are getting tired because they will keep saying every few paragraphs that you are almost finished and when you do and they ask your age, they tell you that you do not fit their criteria. This has happened to me plenty of times believe me so now I do not want to be bothered with doing surveys because when you let them know that you do not want to receive any more the constantly swarm with Different surveys that they want you to do. The only way I got rid of them, I had to get a new e-mail address with a different company and that is the truth. I had 500 on my computer, and I got rid of them by getting a new e-mail address and I am not sorry that I did it. I never want to do another survey again.