Mystery Shopping -- An Excellent Part Time Job Or Additional Income Source

Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the concept of
mystery shopping is actually straightforward. Also referred to as
secret shopping, performance evaluations, service checks and frontline
evaluations to name a few, mystery shopping allows companies to obtain
a "snapshot in time" by trained researchers who know in advance what
they are to evaluate. It provides management a method to quickly yet
efficiently evaluate their business practices, deliverables, and
employees from the perspective of a non-biased consumer. Mystery
shoppers visit or call businesses posing as ordinary customers and
provide detailed evaluations of their experience using written reports
or questionnaires.

Mystery shopping is used in a wide variety of industries such
as retail, restaurants, financial institutions, convenience stores and
gas stations, service providers, manufacturers, department stores,
travel and entertainment, etc.

Though there is a certain level of responsibility and
professionalism required to be an effective mystery shopper, you should
never have to pay to get a job. There are dozens of companies claiming
that by paying them a registration fee they will send you job
opportunities and teach you the steps to becoming a shopper. This may
be true, but is also completely unnecessary.

The legitimate mystery shopping companies in the industry NEVER
charge fees to the shopper. Training, tips for improvement, and
shopping opportunities are provided free to registered shoppers.
Mystery shoppers are either paid a pre-arranged fee for a particular
shop, a reimbursement for a purchase or a combination of both.
Though it is possible to make a living solely from mystery shopping, it
is not very common. Most shoppers view this as a second income source
or as a way to obtain fully reimbursed meals, products, and services.

The registration process with leading mystery shopping
companies has improved over the years. Most provide a simple online
form that takes only a few minutes to complete. Once you have
registered with a company or two, they will start informing you of
shopping opportunities. Most of these are “first-come, first-serve”, so
be sure to provide the company with an email address that you check
regularly, and a phone number where you can be easily reached.

Be willing to accept last minute assignments and treat
bottom-of-the-barrel assignments just like top-of-the-line assignments.
At first, take whatever you can get. This will allow you to build a
reputation with each company. The old adage, “You never get a second
chance to make a first impression,” is exceptionally true in this
industry. Make sure you completely understand the instructions for the
particular shop, be impartial, and focus on accuracy. You may be
required to document employee names and descriptions, prices, inventory
evaluations, etc.

Go hi-tech. More and more mystery shopping companies are
requiring shoppers to have access to the Internet, email and a fax
machine. Some shops even require the use of a digital camera to capture
product placement, signage, cleanliness or other focus points.

Complete all assignments on time. If you absolutely cannot
complete an assignment, contact the mystery shopping company
immediately so they can reschedule the assignment. Dependable shoppers
get the best assignments!

Assignments can be as basic as sitting in the parking lot of a
fast food restaurant for 20 minutes to document drive-thru service
times to taking an all-expense-paid trip to a resort for 2 weeks to
document your daily service experiences.

Now that you understand the mystery shopping industry a little
more clearly, the next step is to locate a few top mystery shopping
providers and register, remembering that even if a firm doesn’t have a
client in your area today, they may next month. Once registered with a
company, it would not hurt to call or send an email to express your
willingness to shop and to confirm your professionalism and attention
to detail. Just make sure that you do not send an email full of typos
and grammatical errors – definitely not the type of first impression
that you want to leave.

Another method for finding potential shopping opportunities and
to gather further industry knowledge is by monitoring online mystery
shopping message boards and forums. To locate a few, type words like
“mystery shopping message board” or “mystery shopping forum” into your
favorite browser.

Mystery shopping may not become your next career, but it will
provide you with some extra income, free goods, and maybe even a few
adventures along the way!