Mystery Shopper's Manual

Your Mystery Shopping Staycation

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Lots of people are cutting expenses, but still want to have a summer adventure. They may be choosing a “staycation” and having fun without leaving town, over a vacation involving trips far away from home. Mystery shopping can help you have a fun and rewarding staycation.

A mystery shopping staycation means working during your adventure—there are observations to make and reports to write—and you have to take your mystery shopping assignments seriously, even if you are thinking vacation. But you can have fun you might not be easily able to afford without mystery shopping. Here are a few ideas.Continue Reading

Mystery Shopping On the Road

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A shopper asks:

I am getting ready to retire and my spouse and I want to hit the road, travel across the country and stay at lodges (Fairway Holiday Park Isle Of Wight: check out our log cabins for sale). Is it possible to mystery shop while we are on the road? Anything we need to watch out for?

Sure, you can mystery shop on the road, whether you are on a one-week vacation, you regularly travel for your job, or you have become a permanent road warrior.

There are a few things you may have to do differently to make mystery shopping while traveling work for you. Here are some things to consider.
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Find Legitimate Secret Shopping Companies

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I often hear from people who want to become mystery shoppers, but do not know how to begin. It is actually simple, especially with all of the resources available through the Internet that enable you to easily find mystery shopping companies, complete applications and locate assignments.

The problem for many of these potential secret shoppers is that they are having trouble finding legitimate companies that do not charge shoppers to apply. Even many of the sites that claim that they will protect you from the scams are themselves scams. How do you know which companies and sites can be trusted?Continue Reading

How Can I Make Myself a Favorite of Schedulers?

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Having great relationships with schedulers means you will be on their minds when they have jobs to fill. Here are some ways to be one of their favorite mystery shoppers:

Make your application complete. Answer every question. Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation on your application. If you haven’t worked with them before, all they know about you is what they see on the application.

Be dependable. If you accept an assignment, do it. About 25% of the time, secret shoppers who accept jobs don’t complete them. Imagine having to do your job twice 25% of the time. You wouldn’t like it, and schedulers don’t appreciate it either.

If an emergency comes up and you have to cancel, Continue Reading

How Many Miles Are You Expected to Travel to Do a Mystery Shop?

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A shopper asks:
How far do mystery shopping companies expect us to drive to do a shop? I often get requests to do jobs hundreds of miles from my home! Do they really expect me to travel that far for a $15 assignment? My gas would cost more than that!

No, they do not expect you to drive hundreds of miles to do a shop. Getting a notice of an available shop does not mean that you are expected to do it. Mystery shoppers are independent contractors, and we decide what assignments we are willing to do and what fees we will accept. So why did they send it to you?
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An Offer is Not an Assignment

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Question from a mystery shopper: I got an email from a mystery shopping company about a restaurant mystery shop in my area. I went right out and did the shop, but I couldn’t figure out how to put in my report and get paid. When I sent them an email, they said they had not assigned the shop to me. I spent $30 and now they say they aren’t going to pay me. What can I do?Continue Reading

What To Do With Food on Fast Food Shops

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Question from a mystery shopper:
I do mystery shopping and get free fast food. I’m supposed to taste it but I don’t want to eat the whole thing b/c I’m trying to stay healthy and I feel guilty if I throw it out and I also don’t want to give it to anyone because I wouldn’t even eat it myself. I’m CONFUSED!

Whew! First of all, take a breath. That second sentence is a long one! Although you are confused, there are several possible solutions to this dilemma.Continue Reading

Creating Your Dream Mystery Shopper Job

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One of the things I like best about mystery shopping is that I can make the job whatever I want it to be. When you work at a “real job,” you have to work the hours they set, and do the work you are assigned, while surrounded by supervisors and co-workers you may not like very much.

As a mystery shopper, though, you work on your own terms. Don’t like doing certain types of shops? Then only accept the ones you enjoy. Don’t like working with that mystery shopping provider? Dump ‘em! Hate working weekends? No problem.

Here are some of the things to consider when making mystery shopping your dream job. Answer these questions and build the career you want.Continue Reading

Mystery Shopping Sharks

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I have done some unusual mystery shops, but I have never mystery shopped a shark! The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC) has hired secret shoppers to check out shark dive experience tour operators to make sure they are properly engaging with the wildlife. Shoppers are also being used to monitor dolphin and whale watching tours, kiwi viewing, guided walks and adventure tourism.
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Mystery Shopping from Coast to Coast

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People are doing more traveling this summer, jumping in the car to visit Grandma, taking a family vacation to a favorite theme park or heading to a new destination. According to USA Today, one of the reasons for this rise in travel is a drop in gas prices. On May 15, 2015 they reported that this will be the cheapest driving season in 6 years. Further, they indicate that the typical American household will spend $675 less for gas this year as opposed to last year, an additional financial incentive to travel. But what if one plans yet another way to make vacation time more affordable?

Jancyn Evaluation Shops suggests that cash-strapped families use mystery shopping to subsidize their travels. According to Vicki Dempsey, Vice President of Jancyn, “Mystery shopping as you travel is a great way to earn some extra cash as you make your way across the USA. Our Project Coordinators are experts in assisting shoppers to create mystery shopping routes to fit their travel plans.”

Ms. Dempsey continues, “Most shoppers sign up with several companies in order to increase their chances at having multiple projects to choose from and to find projects that best fit their personal needs. The MSPA maintains a list of member companies you can be sure are qualified and reputable. When it comes to incorporating mystery shopping into a family vacation experience, get the kids involved too! Asking them to help look for key project details, such as the name of their server or the cleanliness of a restroom, hones their observation skills and turns it into a fun spy game! Not all shopping assignments allow children, but many do.”

Many companies, including Jancyn, offer self-assign job boards where shoppers can select assignments along their planned route. Depending on the mystery shopping company, shoppers may find assignments that will reimburse for meals, gasoline, attractions and activities, hotels and more.

To get the most opportunities, apply to as many companies as you can. Refer to my list of 200 legitimate mystery shopping companies. Contact any schedulers you have relationships with to let them know you want assignments you can do while you travel. You may be able to pick up some shops that they are having trouble filling, and that will make you one of their favorite shoppers. You may even be able to work out a bonus or two.

Incorporating a bit of mystery shopping into your vacation can stretch your budget and make vacationing more affordable. Of course, if you spend all of your time mystery shopping it isn’t really a vacation; however,  you can certainly work in a few shops to help cover your meals, hotel and other expenses. Have fun!