Mystery Shopper's Manual

  • Blog
  • About
    • Privacy/Disclosures
  • The Mystery Shopper’s Manual
  • Mystery Shopping Companies
You are here: Home / Hazards of Mystery Shopping / Staying Safe While Mystery Shopping

Staying Safe While Mystery Shopping

March 21, 2014 by Cathy Stucker Leave a Comment

Take care Mystery shoppers travel to unfamiliar places at all times of the day and night. Although the vast majority of mystery shops are perfectly safe, some locations may pose dangers related to crime, road conditions or other hazards.

There is also the chance of your car breaking down or getting into an accident. Some shops require that we consume alcohol. Sudden changes in weather can make travel to a previously scheduled shop hazardous. Get in touch with www.lawlavin.com/wrongful-death/ in case of death or injury due to accidents.

How can you make sure you stay safe from harm while mystery shopping?

Never accept an assignment that requires you to go somewhere you do not want to go. Do not go out in dangerous weather conditions to do a shop. There is no job worth endangering your personal safety or your property.

Beyond that, here are some tips to keep you safe when doing mystery shops, or any time you are out and about.

Check the location before accepting an assignment. If the client is in a “bad part of town,” or you are required to pass through an unsafe area to get there, just say no. When you are not familiar with the area, take a look at it via Google Maps Street View. You can check out the neighborhood and see how things look, and also scope out things such as the availability of convenient parking.

Don’t practice distracted driving. Leave texting, phone calls, and checking email or apps on your phone for times when you are not behind the wheel. There are lots of studies showing that distracted driving is at least as dangerous as driving drunk.

Speaking of drinking and driving, don’t do it. If you are required to consume alcohol on a shop, don’t overindulge. Most people can have one drink or glass of wine with dinner without becoming impaired, but that can change based on the individual’s weight, metabolism and other factors, such as any medications they may be taking. This chart shows that even two drinks can put some people over the legal limit. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum, or have a designated driver. Another option is to take a cab or public transportation when you know you will be consuming alcohol.

Check the weather reports to be aware of any expected severe weather. If there is a storm or other hazardous weather headed your way, get your shop done ASAP or, if it is really too dangerous to go out, reschedule for another day.

Keep an emergency kit in your car. You can buy packaged kits with things such as jumper cables, flashlights, etc., or make your own. Be prepared for the situations you may encounter. Here in Houston we don’t get a lot of ice, but if you live in an area where you may have to deal with snow and ice, put some kitty litter and a small shovel in your trunk.

Trust your instincts. They notice things you do not. If you have a bad feeling about a place, get out.

No matter where you are, be aware of your surroundings. If you are distracted because you are fiddling with equipment or reviewing shop forms, you will not be aware of what is happening around you. Pay attention!

Filed Under: Hazards of Mystery Shopping Tagged With: alcohol, driving, safety, Travel

« Nosy Questions on Mystery Shopper Applications
Why Are Some Locations Mystery Shopped While Others Aren’t? »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Mystery Shopping Companies

Updated 4/20/18! Access my free curated list of more than 150 legitimate mystery shopping companies.

Scam Warning

If you received a check or money order with instructions to cash it and wire money to someone, DON'T DO IT! This is a scam.
Click here to learn more about
mystery shopper scams.

Get ‘The Mystery Shopper’s Manual’

NEW 7TH EDITION!

Get your personally autographed copy of The Mystery Shopper's Manual here.
mystery-shoppers-manual-3d

Connect with Cathy

Follow Me on FacebookFollow Me on Google+Follow Me on TwitterFollow Me on LinkedInFollow Me on YouTubeFollow Me on PinterestFollow Me on RSS

Recent Articles

  • Do Millionaires Mystery Shop?
  • Mystery Shopper Resolutions
  • Mystery Shopping for Mystery Shopper Pros
  • Keep the “Secret” in “Secret Shopper”
  • The McDonald’s Receipt Hack

Categories

Applying to Mystery Shopping Companies Customer Service Dealing with Mystery Shopping Companies Dealing with Shopping Emergencies Employees and Mystery Shopping Grammar and Spelling Green Mystery Shopping Hazards of Mystery Shopping Holiday Mystery Shopping How to Become a Mystery Shopper Identity Theft Independent Contractor Issues Industry News Make Money Online Memory Improvement Money and Mystery Shopping Mystery Shopper Certification Mystery Shopper Ethics Mystery Shopper Fun Mystery Shopper Jobs Mystery Shopper Scam Mystery Shopper Scheduling Companies Mystery Shopper Secrecy Mystery Shopper Taxes Mystery Shopper Tools Mystery Shopping Clients Mystery Shopping Company Mystery Shopping Pay Mystery Shopping Providers Association Mystery Shopping Recordkeeping Mystery Shopping Resources Online Security Opportunities for Mystery Shoppers Preparing for the Mystery Shop Profitable Mystery Shopping Secret Shopper How-To Secret Shopper Quick Tips Secret Shopping and the Law Secret Shopping Confidentiality Sticky Secret Shopper Situations Technology and Secret Shopping Types of Mystery Shops Video Mystery Shopping Working Online Writing Mystery Shopper Reports

Copyright © 2004 - 2022 · Cathy Stucker

Copyright © 2022 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in