The Real Secrets of Mystery Shopping Success (from a real person who has actually done mystery shopping)
There are a number of different marketing and research companies that supply mystery shopping for quite a variety of businesses. Everything from hamburgers, to oil changes, to luxury hotels could be offered to a shopper for evaluation.
Do NOT pay a company to let you shop for them. The only thing you should ever pay for is certification with Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), if you choose to be certified. For a small fee and completion of an online test, I got my silver certification. To get gold certification you must attend a training workshop and successfully take certification tests. I've never missed an opportunity because I didn't have gold certification and only a few assignments preferred a Silver certification.
What is Secret Shopping or Mystery Shopping?
A shopper is employed by a mystery shopping company to go into a business (without revealing their shopper identity) and observe, interact, and complete the outlined details for a shop. Secret shoppers have a chance to help companies improve their customer service, recognize top performance and truly see their business through a customer's eyes.
- Some companies are very specific about what you do on a shop and have very detailed forms to complete.
- Some assignments will give you a certain scenario to use - specific questions to ask, expressing an interest in a particular item, or watching for certain activity by employees
- Sometimes you are asked to take and submit digital photos of a purchased product -- pizza, a display setup, maybe even the inside of a toilet (yes - there are actually shops that require you to take pictures of bathrooms, including the inside of toilets.)
- A mystery shopper is part actor, part secret agent, and part consumer advocate.
- A good eye for detail and a good memory are two very helpful traits to have! You are not allowed to take notes in public and often you have a lot of details to remember.
How Do you Get Paid to Be a Mystery Shopper?
You will receive payment from the shopping company from which you receive the assignment. A lot of the companies are now using PayPal.
Your payment may be a full or partial reimbursement for items purchased. There might also be a shopper's fee, ranging from $3 - $25 on average (depending on how complicated the shopping instructions are, or how badly the shopping company needs a shop completed).
You will not get rich doing this, but you can get reimbursed for a variety of items or services you might have purchased anyway.
You will NOT be an employee of the mystery shopping company. You will be an INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR and will be ask to sign a contractor agreement.
How Do you Get Started as a Mystery Shopper?
There are many companies that employ secret shoppers. Different companies offer various types of shops and have assignments in different geographic locations. Some companies allow you to self-assign shops on their website. Others are scheduled by email or phone. You may have a representative of the shopping company email or call you to request you for an assignment. Most companies have a job board online where you can review potential shops.
You can review this list of mystery shopping companies and read the information on their websites for specific instructions on how to become a shopper.
Things to know before you start:
- One thing the mystery shopping companies all have in common is that confidentiality is of the utmost importance. They don't want you sharing information about the identity of their clients.
- You will be required to complete an application
- You may be required to complete an online evaluation or certification to perform certain shopping assignments.
- Some companies require a certain level of certification through MSPA.
- Certain shops may require previous shopping experience. Start with smaller, easier shops..then work your way up.
- Keeping your commitments is very important. The shopping company has commitments to its clients and must be depend on shoppers to complete assignments on time and correctly.
Okay, what's the real scoop? What types of shops have I done?
I've completed lots of shops, including fast food, ice cream, pizza delivery, pool supplies, banks, motorcycle dealership, expensive restaurants, various shops in airport locations (food, beverage), cell phone, prescription glasses, children's retail clothing, sports center and more! I have had to check the restroom on restaurant shops, but no pictures of toilets!
There are all a little different and I quickly learned what I liked and what I didn't. Mystery shopping can be fun. Don't over commit yourself when you get started... I went so gung-ho that I was applying for everthing and almost overloaded myself. Now I pick and choose what and when I want to shop.
Good luck to you and your mystery shopping adventure.... have fun!
MYSTERY SHOPPING COMPANIES - Not all companies are listed here, but this is a representative sample.
A Step Above Service Evaluations
Bare International - Lots of Airport Shops! I like working with them
Corporate Research International - Restaurants, Hotels, Retail I like working with them
Coyle Hospitality Group - Specialize in high-end hotels, restaurants, and an occasional cruise I like working with them
It's not easy to get into this company as a shopper. You will be required to submit detailed written exercises to be reviewed for consideration as a shopper.
Shoppers Critique International