Even with hours of planning, reviewing guidelines and having experience at a specific type of assignment, shoppers can still have unexpected hurdles during a visit.

The best way to deal with a surprise during an assignment is to relax and not appear stressed. Being good at role playing can also be useful. Sometimes the most experienced shopper can have a hurdle that they didn't see coming. Here are some tips for handling the unexpected moments during a shop.

You already understand that you have to order two different types of entrees, share an appetizer and dessert and listen to the server's knowledge of the wine list. Since you have a dinner shop, you will also be visiting the bar. Your guidelines specify that you MUST have a dinner receipt AND a bar receipt in order for reimbursement. The details are not only printed in bold, they are also highlighted and mentioned more than once in your instructions. You visit the bar and have a nice discussion with the bartender. He has noticed that you had an expensive meal and he comps your drinks. You won't have a bar receipt. Most people really enjoy being given free items. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask for a receipt. All you can do is explain your situation to your scheduler and enter the details in your report. Since you won't have a receipt, you can say, "thanks so much what is your name?" You can make a mental note of the exact time you were served and have an accurate description of the bartender. You can still report on the service and the flavor of your drinks.

You are assigned a hotel shop where you are role playing. Your assignment is to look for ballroom space for a business meeting with lunch, dinner and refreshments for breaks. You must meet with a targeted employee. You have made your pre-visit call and took detailed notes during your conversation. You made your appointment and double checked all your instructions. The day of your meeting, your targeted employee has gotten sick and you are meeting with someone else. There is nothing you can do and there isn't time to check with your scheduler. All you can do is have the visit and tour the facilities. You can contact the company when you leave the location and explain your situation. Sometimes your shop will be invalid even though it wasn't your fault. Sometimes you can still save your assignment. The important detail is to remain calm and not show any signs of stress.

You have a lunch assignment that fully expects two people for the visit. You are waiting at the restaurant and your guest is 30 minutes late. With only 20 minutes left during the time you are allowed to visit the restaurant, you have to leave. The only thing you can do is phone the company and explain your guest did not show up. You may not be able to reshop the visit. All you can do for the future is make sure you have a totally reliable guest.

You have a grocery store assignment that you have completed many times before. You glanced at the guidelines but did not completely read every single detail. You are at the store and realize you do not know what your customer service question is supposed to be. It is a good idea to always keep a list of phone numbers with you. The company contact, your scheduler and any relevant extensions should always be left in a safe place. You never know when you might need some help.

You have a dinner shop and you are at the restaurant. You have already ordered your appetizer and you are not certain if you also have to share a dessert. You don't have your scheduler contact number with you and there isn't a way to check on the guidelines until you get home. Be safe and order the dessert. The worst thing that can happen is you won't be reimbursed for the dessert, but you will get reimbursed for the other items. It is important to double check your instructions before walking into the restaurant. It is a good idea to jot down the basic details of your assignment. You can always check your notes while in the restroom.

It is a good practice to think about any unusual events that you just can't plan during a visit. Having a back up plan can be useful. There will also be times when there just isn't anything you can do. The best way to not jeopardize your identity is to be prepared and expect the unexpected.