Mystery shopping

[pla725]

What is involved? I'm thinking of doing this over the holidays.

 

[Brandy456]

I think it's usually done by news startions and news papers. You pretty much go arround and 'shop' on their expense and rate the stores quality. On how good the staff was.. how clean the store was. You're pretty much a 'spy'

 

[TinysMom]

Asking what is involved with mystery shopping is a bit like asking "What is the best breed of rabbit?" or something like that....because every shop is so different and every company wants different things.

I mystery shopped from 1998-2002 and then again for the last two years. I've backed off from mystery shopping in the last few months because I was getting burnt out and tired of the paperwork and the pay was dropping.

But first some important information you will need to know.

• When you mystery shop - you often do not get paid immediately. For instance - with many many companies - if I do a mystery shop today - since it is during November- this means they'll process the payment in December...which means I might get paid by Dec. 25th (several companies pay on the 25th of the month or the 20th of the month following the hop). Or I might get paid the first week of January...it depends upon how they do their payroll (they usually tell you that upfront). You need to remember though - they have to process your shop information, turn it in to the company that ordered it, bill the company and then get paid by the company - before they pay you.
• When you mystery shop - you sign (electronically) a "confidentiality agreement" - meaning - if I shop Walmart for company X - I can't tell ANYONE that I shop Walmart for them - especially not company Y. (Many companies may be mystery shopping Walmart - especially around the time they're getting ready to change their contract and go with another company.)
• You must write your report in full sentences and with proper English. You can't say, "She sells me this for $5." but instead, "She sold me the item for $5" or whatever. If your English writing skills are not good - then don't try to be a mystery shopper for the detailed jobs.
• Your observation skills must be good. Oftentimes when applying for companies, you will be asked to describe a recent shopping experience (good or bad). I had mine saved in a Word document and then just copied and pasted it into the application.
• There are over 300 mystery shopping companies that I know of (I think - maybe less now as many of them have merged). A company may have work in my area - but not in yours. It is important to apply with as many of them as you can.
• If you're not willing to follow through on a commitment to complete a job - then don't take it. I once lost a rabbit (I think it was Pow Wow) one morning - and then headed out to do my job that afternoon - in spite of the fact I was so devastated. I had a commitment to do....and had to complete it.
• Your pay is usually set up like this (here are three examples):
  • Pay for shop is $5 plus $5 reimbursement (you need to buy an item to get a receipt for the shop to prove you were there - they will pay up to $5 for whatever you buy - but if you buy a pack of gum for $1 - that is all they'll pay).
  • Pay is $12 total - but you must buy $5 in gas and an item of at least $1 in store.
  • Pay (for a restaurant meal) is $16 for up to two people having breakfast (at a leading pancake house). Anything over...you pay.

Some other very important things to remember...

• Mystery shopping is NOT a scam - BUT there ARE scams out there that are about mystery shopping. Never pay to mystery shop (like if you pay $50 we'll make sure you get jobs) - and don't ever take a "Mystery shop" where you accept checks from folks and then send them back the difference...like they send you $2000 and you send them back $1500....or something like that. Those are scams.

• The best place to find mystery shopping companies is:

[align=center]
[/align][align=center]www.volition.com
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You can read a bit more about my experience in this thread:

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=38675&forum_id=5&highlight=mystery+shopping

I think I sat down and figured out one time that during the years I mystery shopped - I probably made about $5,000 - $7,500 total...something like that. Years ago it was possible if you lived in a city to make a living off it - but pay for shops has dropped over the years and I don't know of as many people doing it for a "job" that they can live off of. Many people do it along w/ merchandising and live off the two different jobs together.

Finally - if you get into mystery shopping and really enjoy it - it is worth the $15 to take the mystery shopping exam and get certified through the Mystery Shopping Provider's Association....I'm silver certiified through them and find it helps. I also paid to join Shadowshoppers.com because I get a number of job offers through them...so it was worth it to me.

But you should never pay a COMPANY to shop for them....

 

[pla725]

Thanks Peg. I appreciate the information. I wasn't sure. It may not be for me. It was just an idea.

Hope your Thanksgiving isgood one. I'm heading out inabout 15 minutes to have mine with my family.