Is This Cheating?

In My Humble Opinion
1

First of all let me preface this by saying that, this means nothing in reality, but it just bugs me on some level.

I lost my job in August and have had a bunch of low paying minimum wage jobs. Anyone I have one for the holidays, it ends next week.

So I work in a retail store and part of the stick is we get “graded” so to speak. The manager grades us and secret shpppers grade us. OK fair enough, we were given a book and told you are expected to ask the customers things when they check out.

Make sense, so I got two 100% from the secret shopper and I kept getting 100% from the manager. Sounds good right? No the GM says it’s suppposed to be impossible to get 100% and soimething is not right. So I overhear the operations manager tell the GM, that she was “secretly” watching me and I did get 100%.

So the GM asks me how I’m doing it.

I tell him, “Simiple, I just made a list of the things in the book it says to ask each check out.” I wrote it in small letters on a note pad, from 1 - 15. (We have 15 things to ask) And when someone checks out, I just glance at it and start down the list, so I don’t forget. And if a customer strays, I still go back.

OK granted it’s irritating to the customer, but I can see the company wanting such things. It’s not really a lot, it’s like

  1. Greet customer
  2. Ask if they found everything OK
  3. Ask how they heard of us.
    and so forth, till the end,
  4. Thank customer and remind them to come back and to shop online.

So after I show the GM says, he says, real loud, “No wonder he gets 100%, he’s cheating”

For some reason this bugs me. OK it means nothing as I’m only there temporary. So in a week I’ll be gone, but I must admit for some reason it bugs me.

No one said, I couldn’t use a list. It’s pretty much hid under a stack of flyers we hand out and I was by the Ops Manager that they liked me and I could come back next Christmas, and they’d keep my name on a list for part time openings. So they seem happy with my work.

So is using a list cheating. I was told when I started, we would be shopped and expected to ask everything in the book to each customer.

What do you think?

2

Not cheating at all. You followed the policy using a method that makes perfect sense to me. Unless the handbook forbids keeping a checklist, they need to sit down somewhere with that.

3

That’s not cheating. They are jealous.

4

It’s not cheating. It would be one thing if you broke out some three by four cards and methodically went through them in front of the customer.

Fifteen questions is over the top annoying. I’d be wanting to choke you at question seven.

5

For the record, I wouldn’t call that “cheating” in any way. You did as you were instructed to do, using visual aids to help you. And unless the visual aids were proscribed in your employee manual, then you’re golden.

Did the GM say “he’s cheating” like he was angry about it, or did he say it lightly like he was making a joke? If the former, then as you say it’s only a temporary job anyway. If the latter, then you might have earned yourself enough positive visibility to get a permanent gig. Either way, I wouldn’t lose any sleep about it.

6

It’s supposed to be impossible?! Meaning that it’s been specifically designed for you to fail?

Sounds like it’s one of those bullshit corporate things invented by a bunch of people in a meeting room who have never actually worked in one of their own stores. If it was really that important to them, they’d encourage the use of such a list to ensure it was being done correctly. The way they’re doing it, it’s a pointless, self-defeating exercise.

7

How dare you try to be organized and efficient in carrying out your supervisors’ directives! :mad:
(I wish there were more “cheaters” in my office.)

8

That is really the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If they didn’t know you were using the list until they drilled down and “caught” you at it, why does it matter? You were following instructions! This makes no sense — but the older I get, the more I realize that people are dumbasses and there really often is no explanation.

9

Fifteen things? Wow. If I go in to make a purchase and am hit with fifteen questions, I would add the store to my list of places to avoid.

10

No, it is not cheating. I suspect the boss made this comment in jest or off the cuff because he was intrigued by your creativeness. He jumped to “cheating” because he had not thought of it so it must have been cheating. This protects his ego, but deep down he realizes that you found a better way then he did.

Bottom line> I read it as a compliment.

11

And the GM is dumber than you, much dumber. He’s also used to dealing with employees who are even dumber (and/or lazier) than he is. You’re not cheating, and he is an idiot. Rest assured.

12

Not cheating, and there will be a list like that next to every cash register before you know it. If he was serious in saying that, he is an idiot.

13

You’ve got 100% so far–I too say it’s not cheating. They have a policy you’re supposed to be following it, and you’re following it.

Besides, what the hell does the manager mean by “cheating”? You’re not doing anything illegal, like embezzling, or committing fraud of some type. You’re asking questions, for cryin’ out loud. I see your point that you’re gone in a week, so this instance doesn’t matter, but I can also see why it bugs you. It’d bug me too.

The manager’s an idiot. I worked for the same sort years ago, who literally said, “Why should I thank (that employee) for doing his job?” He didn’t realize the power of positive reinforcement. Most managers are morons.

14

People whose job is to ask other people questions almost always use lists. It isn’t like it’s a college exam. I’d be tempted to ask the GM why they would prefer their employees not to take steps to make sure they remember to do everything they’re told to do.

15

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the opinion of a person whose job it is to enforce the interrogation of customers.

16

When I worked as a bank teller we were required to use such a checklist after graduating from training and starting work in a branch. The checklists made sure you don’t forget any steps. After a while you would have the steps for frequent tasks down cold, but I’d always go back to my book of checklists for a job I hadn’t done in a while. It’s just good sense!

What a dope!

17

Wow, its the Kobyashi Maru of retail secret shopping!

18

In my experience, there is no such thing as “cheating” in the real world. I first applied this concept to art, but it applies to most of the world.

There is stealing, there is lying, there is breaking the law; but any and all shortcuts, mnemonics, workarounds, checklists, etc., are fair game. The end result is the only thing that matters. Frankly I’m surprised they don’t provide your checklist to employees already. Checklists are the greatest thing ever.

19

I agree. The OP’s approach makes perfect sense, and there is nothing “dishonest” about it, but the GM is enough of an idiot to be threatened by it.
My sympathies on having to work for someone dumber than you. I know how frustrating that can be. Hope you are able to move on to something better.

20

If your job is to memorize the 15 questions, it’s cheating.

If your job is to ask the 15 questions, it’s smart.