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The Daily Dot

Mars Ramos is a museum educator and freelance writer. She loves long walks in nature, doing yoga, and baking brownies!

Mars Ramos

Woman walking around walmart with text "They kicked me out of Walmart for scaring a secret shopper"(l+r), Walmart sign(c)

Walmart customer says he was kicked out for doing this to a floorwalker

‘The way she’s creeping up’: Walmart customer says he was kicked out for doing this to a floorwalker

Mustafa Gatollari has been an internet culture writer for over a decade. He has a passion for connecting what’s trending on social media to solid research—helping to separate clout-chasing claims from facts.

Mustafa Gatollari

Secret shopper gets cheeseburger meal from 'super clean' and 'friendly' Five Guys location. They still failed

five guys secret shopper

‘Now I know why I’ve never been there’: Secret shopper gets cheeseburger from ‘super clean’ and ‘friendly’ Five Guys location. They still failed

Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine, and more.

Melody Heald

Woman goes ‘secret shopping’ at Costco, is asked to spy on sample givers

costco secret shopper

‘I don’t want anyone to get in trouble’: Secret shopper heads to Costco. She gets asked to spy on the sample givers

Stacy Fernández is a freelance writer, project manager and communications specialist. She’s worked at The Texas Tribune, The Dallas Morning News and run social for The Education Trust New York. Her favorite hobby is finding hidden gems at the thrift store, she loves a good audio book and is a chocolate enthusiast.

Stacy Fernandez

target-secret-shopper

‘You’re getting this upset over a $4 item?’: Target customer says secret shopper forced him to check out immediately after picking up toothpaste

Charlotte is a regular Daily Dot contributor with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Masters&#8217;s degree in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London.

Charlotte Colombo

Walmart customer slams secret shoppers for following the 'wrong people' around the store

walmart secret shopper

‘Who takes their time to steal clearance items?’: Walmart customer slams secret shoppers for following the ‘wrong people’ around store

Ramon Ramirez is the managing editor, and formerly the Dot&#8217;s news director, entertainment editor, and evening editor. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Grantland, Washington City Paper, Austin American-Statesman, and Austin Monitor.

Ramon Ramirez

A woman speaking to the camera, a McDonalds sign, and a McDonalds burger. There is text in the middle of the photo that says 'Main Character of the Week' in a Daily Dot newsletter web_crawlr font.

Main-Character-of-the-Week-05-03-2024.jpg

Main Character of the Week: McDonald’s secret shopper

Amara Thomas is a freelance writer and cultural worker. She has written for the FADER, the Village Voice, Gothamist, and Highsnobiety.

Amara Thomas

‘Imma need y’all to hire real actors or something’: Target customer confronts secret shopper for following her throughout the store

Black shopper says she can't browse at Target anymore

target mystery shoppers

‘It’s so exhausting’: Black woman says she can’t just browse at Target anymore after repeatedly being followed by secret shoppers

Beau Paul is a freelance writer from Austin, Texas. Beau also wrote narrative and dialog for the gaming industry for several years before becoming an entertainment journalist.

Beau Paul

Customer confronts ‘secret shopper’ after they follow him around store, offers to buy them goods

Secret Shopper

‘You want something? You can pick out whatever you need’: Customer confronts ‘secret shopper’ after they follow him around store, offers to buy them goods

McDonald’s customer gets told ice cream machines are broken. So he lies and says he’s a ‘secret shopper’

McDonalds Secret Shopper

‘I order online.. they can’t say no’: McDonald’s customer gets told ice cream machines are broken. So he lies and says he’s a ‘secret shopper’

Walmart secret shopper asks Walmart worker for a price-check. It’s a setup