The Mystery Shopper’s Manual

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association is the leading industry association. To become members, secret shopping companies have to be approved by the MSPA board, and agree to uphold ethical standards defined by the MSPA. If they violate those standards, they can lose their membership. When a company is a member of the MSPA, you can trust that they are a legitimate mystery shopping company.

But how do you know if a company belongs to MSPA? One way is to look for the MSPA logo on the company’s web site. Of course, that is not foolproof. Some member companies do not display the logo. And an unscrupulous company could slap a logo on their site even without belonging to MSPA. However, there is a quick and easy way to determine if a company is a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association . . .
…continue reading Mystery Shopping Companies - A Quick Way to Verify MSPA Membership

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Do businesses keep up their regular schedule of mystery shopping over the busy holiday season, or should you expect a slow December? Although some clients will maintain a typical number of mystery shops, some will temporarily suspend secret shopping programs, and others may actually increase the number of shops. Here’s how the holidays affect the number and timing of mystery shops available . . . …continue reading Mystery Shopping and the Holidays

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Have you wondered what it would be like to be a mystery shopper and get paid to shop, eat and more in your spare time? In this class, you will get the truth about what mystery shopping is all about, how to get started, how not to get scammed, and lots more insider secrets from Cathy Stucker, author of “The Mystery Shopper’s Manual.” …continue reading Mystery Shopping for Fun and Profit Class in Houston

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In surveys and other opinion research, you are asked for your opinions; however, as mystery shoppers we are asked for facts. Although some questions on a mystery shop report may ask for your opinion, such as, “Would you recommend this business to a friend?” most ask for the answers to objective questions: Were you greeted within 30 seconds? Did the server suggest a specific appetizer? Did the salesperson tell you about the extended warranty?

When writing comments on your reports, keep them objective. Here are some examples . . . …continue reading Keep Secret Shopper Reports Objective

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Looking for a way to expand your opportunities and make more money? Go beyond mystery shopping and try doing merchandising or demos. Merchandising involves working with the presentation of products to display them in ways that make them attractive to buyers, and make it easy for them to locate the products. Demos are one-on-one presentations of merchandise to customers. …continue reading Merchandising and Demos

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Being green when it comes to secret shopping is not only good for the environment, it can be good for your wallet, too. Many eco-friendly choices for transportation, supplies and your home office can also save you money.

The basic mantra of green living is: Reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce how much you buy and the amount of trash you discard. Reuse products by repairing them, buying used or finding new uses for items. Recycle by sending paper, glass and plastic waste to facilities where they can be processed and used to manufacture new products.

Here are some tips to help you save cash and the environment at the same time. …continue reading Mystery Shopping and Being Green

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