The Mystery Shopper’s Manual

There are times when you may have someone with you on a mystery shopping assignment. Although you may be required to do some shops alone, others allow, encourage or require you to have someone with you. This is most common in situations where real customers may have a spouse or friend with them, such as assignments that take you to restaurants, new homes, etc.

At times, both of you will be contracted and paid by the mystery shopping company. However, most of the time one person is the secret shopper and the other is along for the ride. If your companion is not an “official” mystery shopper, it is your responsibility to make sure that he or she knows what they need to do to help you get a complete and accurate evaluation—and they definitely need to know what not to do, so they do not affect the integrity of the shop.

Your companion’s error could cause the shop report not to be accepted by the client. That means you would not be paid, and you might even be barred from future assignments.

Here is how to make sure anyone with you on a mystery shop knows exactly what to, and what not to do. …continue reading Training Your Mystery Shopping Companion

• » Comments (0)

When you become a secret shopper, you may want to tell everyone you know about your cool new job. However, letting people know that you are a mystery shopper could have negative consequences.

For one thing, your friends may “out” you during a shop, intentionally or unintentionally. Imagine you are in the middle of an assignment, talking to a salesperson, when your neighbor walks up to say hello. You politely chat for just a moment, then return to the business at hand, saying to your friend, “I’m kind of rushed today, but let’s get together for lunch next week.” Suddenly, a light bulb goes on over her head as she realizes what you are up to. But instead of saying, “Sure. See you later,” she blurts, “Oh, you must be doing one of your mystery shops. I’ll let you get back to work.”

She didn’t mean any harm, she just didn’t think. But now your cover has been blown and you might as well end the shop right there. And forget about ever coming back to this store once they know that you are a mystery shopper.

Being outed in the middle of a shop is only one way being indiscreet about your profession can come back to haunt you. Read on for more, including tips on how to deal with curious friends and family. …continue reading Keep the “Secret” in “Secret Shopper”

• » Comments (0)