As a professional etiquette consultant, I’ve observed an alarming and annoying trend involving two distinct groups: Individuals posing as “mystery shoppers” and corporate teams excessively requesting price comparisons. Both practices raise serious concerns regarding integrity and professionalism.
First, let’s address the “mystery shoppers.” These individuals disguise themselves to gather information about our services under false pretenses. This behaviour is annoying, especially from those who claim to uphold high standards of integrity and likely trade competitors. Such actions are unprofessional and can be easily uncovered with modern technology. If you are resorting to these tactics, I urge you to reconsider and conduct yourself with honesty and transparency.
On the other hand, there are corporate teams that request multiple quotes and revisions, often in an attempt to match competitor specifications at a lower price. While price comparison is a legitimate business activity, doing so at the expense of our time and resources, without any genuine intention of collaboration, is unprofessional and wasteful. If your primary concern is securing the lowest price, then it is more respectful and efficient to engage directly with providers who meet your budget criteria.
Some even go as far as asking for our trade secrets. These elements often contain proprietary information that distinguishes a business’s offerings, including the expertise and qualifications of our trainers and the pricing strategy which are generally protected to maintain confidentiality and exclusivity. We are not responsible for your administrative tasks, and it’s inappropriate to involve us in your efforts to impress your superiors at the expense of our time and resources. Whatever information you’re seeking can be found on our website, and we encourage you to use those resources for your research. Some of these requests even come from governmental entities, but we will stop you from any sense of superiority to justify crossing our boundaries! In the worst scenario, we will reveal your corporate idenity if these practices continue.
These two groups— ugly mystery shoppers and those focused solely on price comparisons—represent different issues but share a common disregard for ethical standards. Whether it is an individual acting independently or a corporate team pushing their agenda, such behaviour undermines the integrity of the industry.
Healthy competition and personal growth come from focusing on one’s strengths and developing a unique professional identity. Simply copying or mimicking others does not yield the same results, as delivery, presentation, communication, and resources play significant roles in the quality of services offered.
To both groups, I encourage you to adopt a more honourable approach. Let’s work together to foster a culture of civility, respect, and professionalism in the industry. True success and happiness come from integrity and ethical conduct, not from deceit or manipulation.
Oftentimes, you may not realize if such actions are right or wrong, as no one directly points out these arrogant and narcissistic behaviours. However, they often occur openly and unchecked. Let me make it clear and open for you: these practices are unacceptable. We should all contribute to maintaining values of mutual respect and transparency in our industry.