Mystery shopping is a legitimate way to make money; however, if you received a large check and were told to wire money somewhere, don't do anything until you read about mystery shopping scams.

Business Cards for Mystery Shoppers?

Posted on August 29th, 2007 in Mystery Shopper Tools, Mystery Shopping Resources by Cathy Stucker

Why would a mystery shopper have business cards? After all, our work is done secretly. However, business cards can be an important marketing tool for a mystery shopper, and set you apart as a serious professional. Learn what should be on your business cards, and the important ways to use your cards to enhance your reputation as a professional mystery shopper. …continue reading Business Cards for Mystery Shoppers?

Save Money on Gas and Make Secret Shopping More Profitable

Posted on August 29th, 2007 in Profitable Mystery Shopping by Cathy Stucker

Are high gas prices making it harder for you to make a profit with mystery shopping? Here are a few tips to help you reduce your gas expenses. Remember that every dollar you save on expenses goes straight to your bottom line, increasing your profits. …continue reading Save Money on Gas and Make Secret Shopping More Profitable

Mystery Shopping, Recording and the Law

Posted on August 28th, 2007 in Mystery Shopper Tools, Secret Shopping and the Law by Cathy Stucker

I recently wrote about buying a digital voice recorder. That prompted some readers to ask about the legality of recording mystery shops. This should not be considered legal advice, as I am not a lawyer. However, there are some basics about recording conversations you should know if you are thinking about using a voice recorder on your mystery shops. I will also share resources where you can find out what the laws are in your jurisdiction. …continue reading Mystery Shopping, Recording and the Law

Make Mystery Shopping More Profitable

Posted on August 20th, 2007 in Profitable Mystery Shopping by Cathy Stucker

Do you want to make more money as a mystery shopper? You do not necessarily have to work at lot harder to have more money in your pocket.

One way to make more is to get paid more for the time you spend. That may mean making more money per shop, or it may mean using your time more effectively to get more done in less time.

And at least as important as making more money is keeping more of what you make. Cutting expenses, and finding ways to save money on taxes, will let you hang on to your hard-earned cash. …continue reading Make Mystery Shopping More Profitable

Free Mystery Shopper Job Opportunities at Jobslinger

Posted on August 19th, 2007 in Mystery Shopper Jobs, Mystery Shopping Resources by Cathy Stucker

John Hsu, SurfMerchantsWould you like to be able to search job postings from hundreds of mystery shopping companies, all in one place? For free?

There is no reason to pay for access to mystery shopper job listings, and that is the idea behind Jobslinger.com. Jobslinger is sponsored and maintained by SurfMerchants, the folks who bring you SASSIE. John Hsu of SurfMerchants (pictured here) is the diabolical genius behind Jobslinger, and partners in Jobslinger include the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), Volition, SASSIE and Demozilla. John and his team gave a presentation demonstrating the awesome power of this new mystery shopper job board at the MSPA Shopper Educational Conference last month. Here is what you need to know about putting Jobslinger to work for you.

…continue reading Free Mystery Shopper Job Opportunities at Jobslinger

Top Ten Secret Shopper Report Writing Tips

Posted on August 17th, 2007 in Writing Mystery Shopper Reports by Cathy Stucker

Here are some tips for making the process of writing mystery shopper reports more effective and efficient, and making your reports better. …continue reading Top Ten Secret Shopper Report Writing Tips

Video Mystery Shopping Tips

Posted on August 14th, 2007 in Video Mystery Shopping by Cathy Stucker

Melinda Brody and Company provides premier video mystery shopping services to new home builders across the country. Here are some tips from Melinda and her staff on filming a great video. …continue reading Video Mystery Shopping Tips

MSPA Gold Certification Instructors

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) began the Gold and Silver Certification programs in 2002. From November, 2002 until late in 2006, I presented all of the Gold Certification Workshops. But in 2006, we found three really amazing new instructors who are taking certification across the country along with me.In 2007, the four of us are presenting a total of 30 workshops, from Miami to Spokane. Meet (from left to right) Karmi Anna Mattson, Chelsea Benning and Gail Witt. The selection of these three talented presenters was a long and difficult process, but in Karmi, Chelsea and Gail, we found exactly the presentation skills, mystery shopping experience and, well, that WOW! factor we were looking for. …continue reading MSPA Gold Certification Instructors

Get Mystery Shopping Jobs through Mystery Shopper Scheduling Companies

Posted on August 7th, 2007 in Mystery Shopper Jobs, Mystery Shopper Scheduling Companies by Cathy Stucker

One way to get more mystery shopper jobs is to work with independent scheduling companies. These services often make assignments for many mystery shopping providers, and can be a great source of shopping opportunities. Here are some common questions about mystery shopping scheduling companies. …continue reading Get Mystery Shopping Jobs through Mystery Shopper Scheduling Companies