The Mystery Shopper’s Manual

Question from a mystery shopper:

In some recent articles, you talked about getting reimbursed for things you purchased on a mystery shop. I would like to be a mystery shopper, but I am a little nervous about putting out my own money then waiting (and hoping) to get reimbursed.

How long does it take to get reimbursed for mystery shopping expenses? Should I be worried about not getting paid? How much money will I have tied up in this, and for how long? …continue reading How Do Mystery Shopper Reimbursements Work?

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Question from a secret shopper:

Would it be okay to return the purchase? I still have the original receipt, as the mystery shopping company just had me input the receipt number in my report.

The answer, as is so often the case, is “it depends.”
…continue reading May I Return Broken Merchandise from a Mystery Shop?

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This is one in a series of posts on mystery shopper best practices.

This week we examine five points in the MSPA Code of Professional Standards and Ethics For Mystery Shoppers that address confidentiality. All secret shoppers who achieve MSPA certification commit to uphold this code, and they are standards that all mystery shoppers, whether certified or not, should follow.

Confidentiality is critical–that’s why they call it “secret” shopping–however, many mystery shoppers seem not to understand the importance of keeping proprietary information secret. If you are an MSPA certified shopper and you violate confidentiality, you could lose your certification. Any shopper who violates confidentiality risks being dropped by the company they burned. Confidentiality is important to mystery shopping providers and clients. It should be important to you, too. …continue reading Mystery Shopper Best Practices – Confidentiality

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Ralph Fontaine of GfK Mystery Shopping recently answered some questions about mystery shopping for GfK. GfK has more than 15 years of global mystery shopping experience, covering over 2,000,000 mystery shops in markets including retail, wireless telecom, quick service restaurants, travel and transportation, petroleum/convenience stores, grocery, financial services, and automotive.

Here is what you need to know about being a secret shopper for GfK Mystery Shopping.

…continue reading GfK Mystery Shopping Company

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Question from a secret shopper:

Should I have written a complaint letter to a restaurant I was mystery shopping?
…continue reading Should I Write a Complaint Letter After a Bad Mystery Shop?

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This is one in a series of posts on mystery shopper best practices.

This week we examine four points in the MSPA Code of Professional Standards and Ethics For Mystery Shoppers about mystery shopper professional conduct. All secret shoppers who achieve MSPA mystery shopper certification commit to uphold this code, and they are standards that all mystery shoppers, whether certified or not, should follow.

I will not contact a client directly without approval of the shopping company.

As mystery shoppers, our professional relationship is with the mystery shopping company, and the company has a relationship with the client. We do not have a relationship with the client, and should not insinuate ourselves into the mystery shopping provider’s client relationship. …continue reading Mystery Shopper Professional Conduct

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I have a list of 200 legitimate mystery shopping companies on my web site, and I get calls and emails all the time from new shoppers who want me to tell them which mystery shopping company is best. “I don’t want to apply to all of those companies. Can’t you just give me the names of a few companies that are best?”

Well, no, I can’t. The companies that I think are the best might be useless to you. Here are some of the things to consider when deciding which mystery shopping companies are the best for you. …continue reading The Best Mystery Shopping Company

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If you pay quarterly estimated income taxes, your second-quarter estimated tax payment (using form 1040-ES) for 2009 is due on June 15, 2009.  Although most mystery shoppers who accept occasional mystery shopper jobs will not have to be concerned with paying quarterly estimated taxes, if a significant portion of your income is derived from secret shopping or other independent contractor activities, you may need to file quarterly tax returns.

Not sure if you have to pay? You can figure it out by consulting the IRS web site at http://www.irs.gov/publications/p505/ch02.html

Need to know more? …continue reading Quarterly Estimated Income Taxes Due

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This is one in a series of posts on mystery shopper business practices.

This week we examine three points in the MSPA Code of Professional Standards and Ethics For Mystery Shoppers about communication with mystery shopping providers. All secret shoppers who achieve MSPA mystery shopper certification commit to uphold this code, and they are standards that all mystery shoppers, whether certified or not, should follow.
…continue reading Mystery Shopper Best Practices – Communication

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