The Mystery Shopper’s Manual

The new year is almost upon us, and that is the time many of us make resolutions. This year, in addition to the usual resolutions about losing weight or getting organized, there will be an emphasis on resolutions to spend less and save more money. That is where mystery shopping can help.

Mystery shopper jobs allow us to earn extra money that can be used to build our savings, or pay down those credit card bills. And, by choosing assignments wisely, we can also get many things for free, or at a reduced price, that we would normally have to pay for.

In my career as a professional shopper, I have been reimbursed for meals, haircuts, eye examinations, dry cleaning, car oil changes, groceries and much more. In addition, by using a rewards credit card for many of my reimbursed purchases, I have received gift cards and other perks from my credit card company.

We can even splurge a little now and then, thanks to mystery shopping. …continue reading Mystery Shopping and Money Resolutions

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Perhaps if you were a very good mystery shopper this year, Santa brought you a new computer. But wait! Before you dispose of that old computer, make sure you protect your private data.

Computers sold on eBay or donated to charity often include confidential information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, financial data and more. Simply erasing the files, or even formatting the hard drive, may not be enough to remove all traces of data. There are programs that can be used to recover files that have been erased.

Here is how you can avoid having your data fall into the wrong hands. …continue reading Erase Your Hard Drive When Disposing of a Computer

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Most mystery shopper scams involve the bad guys taking money from innocent victims. This is one with a satisfying twist, though: The bad guys were the ones who got scammed—by the good guys! The Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Department, to be specific.

Investigators sent letters to 6300 fugitives with outstanding warrants. The letters were from the fictitious company “Shoptastic Solutions,” and said that they had been selected to participate in a survey that would help retail stores figure out shoppers’ needs during the holiday season. Just for showing up and taking the survey, the “invited guests” would earn $500.

Well, when the fugitives showed up to collect their $500, they got a trip to jail instead. Sixty-one of the targeted fugitives were arrested, and the sting resulted in a total of 230 arrests. (I guess some of the bad guys brought their bad guy friends along.)

“We tried to tap into people’s Christmas spirit,” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said, “then threw a big Grinch on top of it.”

What do we always say about mystery shopper scams? “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” A group of former fugitives in Cook County would probably agree.

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Question from a mystery shopper:

You recently wrote about doing mystery shopper jobs while traveling on vacation. I think that might be a good way to make my trips more affordable, and I also had this thought:

If I mystery shop on my vacation, may I deduct the cost of my trip from my taxes?

I am not a CPA or tax professional, so this should not be considered legal or professional advice. In fact, the best thing to do is to consult with your tax professional to get his or her opinion. However, here are some portions of the tax code that seem to apply to this question.

…continue reading May I Deduct My Vacation Costs if I Mystery Shop on the Trip?

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By now I hope you have heard about the check-cashing, money-wiring scam that has taken thousands of dollars from each of an untold number of victims. In this mystery shopper scam, the scammers send a check with instructions to cash it and wire part of the money to someone, usually in Canada.

The victim is told that they are evaluating the service of the wire service, or that they are to make some purchases to evaluate a retailer. A few weeks later, the victim learns that the check was a forgery, and they are responsible for repaying all of the money to their bank.

In the Hartford Courant, columnist George Gombossy asks if banks are actually aiding the mystery shopper scammers by omission. He has a good point. Although he is addressing the situation at one particular bank, the problem is not exclusive to that bank. …continue reading Are Banks Helping Mystery Shopper Scammers?

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Question from a mystery shopper:

Can I mystery shop while traveling on business or vacation?

I love to travel, and I make at least two or three trips a year. In addition, my job sometimes sends me on the road to our remote offices. Would it be possible to mystery shop while I am traveling for business or pleasure?

Yes, certainly. Here is what you need to know. …continue reading Can I Mystery Shop While Traveling on Business or Vacation?

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Question from a mystery shopper:

I just completed a secret shop, but I have forgotten the name of the employee who assisted me. The report requires the name. What can I do?

Whenever there is a problem in completing a report, one option is to contact your scheduler and ask what you should do. For example, they may be able to accept a description of the employee instead of the name.

You may be able to salvage this situation on your own, though. If you did get the name, but just can not remember it, make an attempt to recall how you got the name. Was the employee wearing a name tag? Did she introduce herself? Did you overhear another employee call her by name? The more you can recall about how you got the name, the more likely you are to remember the name.

Still don’t have it? …continue reading Forgot a Name – What Can I Do?

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As mystery shoppers, we do not offer our opinions unless specifically asked. Instead, we document the objective story of what happened. Think of yourself as a journalist. Your job is not to affect the outcome or to give your opinion, but just to report the facts.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing reports to keep them objective. …continue reading Mystery Shopper Reports Minus the Opinions

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When you write a mystery shop report, you are giving the client a snapshot of what happened during your visit. Although some mystery shopper jobs include taking digital photos, most of the time we make the picture of our experience appear through our words.

You paint the picture through your choice of answers to the yes or no questions, and with your comments and narratives. The facts and details you include, as well as your choice of words, tell the story of your customer experience.

Mystery shopper reports are objective, so it is important not to shade or color your answers. Simply present the facts in a straightforward way.

Give details. The more you can tell the client about your visit, the more useful your report is to them.
…continue reading Mystery Shopper Reports Paint Pictures with Words

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